Elon University
IN-4: Innovation 4

In 2013, Elon University was selected as one of only six sites in the country to partner with the Peace Corps for the Peace Corps Prep Program. The Peace Corps Prep Program is a memorandum of cooperation between Elon University and the United States Peace Corps. It is an innovative and proactive approach to enhancing and accelerating the work of the Peace Corps (PC) in environmental protection and education, community development and food security. The Peace Corps has experienced volunteers who are not fully equipped to accomplish the PC’s mission due to lack of academic and experiential based training. The Prep Program addresses these issues in the following ways: Academic education - 33 semester hours of academic course work plus intermediate language proficiency •A minimum of 8 semester hours (sh) of Sustainable Food Systems courses •Introduction to Environmental Studies and its associated water quality lab - 5 sh •Global Awareness – 12 sh •Area Studies – 8 sh •Intermediate Language Skills Experiential based training -Volunteer service/internships in community service/development projects (combined total of 100 hours by graduation) •Work experience in a specific sector [e.g., agriculture, environmental sciences, teaching, health care, and/or construction (esp. skilled trade)] (minimum 10 weeks) •Tutoring/teaching/at risk program experience (minimum 10 weeks) •Studying/traveling abroad (minimum 3 weeks) •Students providing substantial evidence of undergraduate research in the following areas: agriculture, green design or environmental science. This research will be equal to 2 credits hours (comparable to 80 hours) Elon University is also engaging in creating program support for Alumni who are currently serving as PC Volunteers and developing a mentoring relationship between those who are considering PC service, those currently in the field and returned PC volunteers. This combination of academic and experiential training supported by a strong mentorship program will provide the Peace Corps with better prepared volunteers and ultimately stronger field programs for service to people, communities and countries around the world.