Seton Hill University recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Peace Corps, marking the beginning of its partnership with the agency's Fellows/USA program. As Fellows/USA partners, universities offer returned Peace Corps volunteers (RPCVs) financial benefits for their graduate studies and place them in internships in underserved U.S. communities. RPCVs are well suited to filling hard-to-staff positions or working in multilingual environments because of the language, intercultural and practical skills they acquired while living and working in developing countries. As one of the Peace Corps' domestic programs, Fellows/USA has established similar relationships with more than 30 universities nationwide.

"Seton Hill University is thrilled to begin this new relationship between our graduate programs and the Peace Corps," said Seton Hill President JoAnne Boyle. "The Seton Hill community - faculty and students - has always held humanitarian community service in high regard. The introduction of the Peace Corps Fellows/USA Program will strengthen the University's commitment to address social issues in Greensburg and the surrounding regions. We look forward to working with returned Peace Corps volunteers as they look to continue their education while supporting their community."

At Seton Hill, Fellows will work toward Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration or Master of Education degrees while providing humane assistance to public and nonprofit organizations in Greensburg and surrounding Westmoreland County areas. Internships in education, environmental protection, child services, disability services, housing services, medical services and counseling services will be available through organizations such as the Westmoreland County Courthouse, Westmoreland County Housing Authority, Environmental Resources Department of Environmental Protection, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Westmoreland County, Westmoreland Blind Association and Westmoreland Regional Hospital.

Since 1961, more than 170,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health and HIV/AIDS education, information technology, business development, the environment and agriculture. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a two-year commitment.

"The graduate office is delighted to begin recruiting returned Peace Corps volunteers,” says Jenell Krymowski, Program Advisor for Seton Hill’s Office of Graduate and Adult Studies and coordinator of the Fellows/USA program at Seton Hill. “We feel that the individual qualities in those who make a difference through the Peace Corps correlate to the mission of our institution. We welcome this new group of students to the Seton Hill community." Krymowski can be contacted at 724-838-4283 or krymowski@setonhill.edu. For more information about Peace Corps Fellows/USA, please visit the Peace Corps website at www.peacecorps.gov/fellows.

Seton Hill, chartered in 1918, is a coeducational Catholic liberal arts university with more than 30 undergraduate programs and 8 graduate programs, including an MBA. Seton Hill brings the world to its students through its distinguished lecturers and nationally and internationally renowned centers. For more information on Seton Hill please visit www.setonhill.edu or call 1-800-826-6234.