Frequently Asked Questions
What do Oregon Campus Compact (ORCC) VISTA members do?
ORCC VISTA members work on a variety of projects related to building the capacity of their college, university, or community organization to meet the needs of low-income populations through strong service and service-learning programming. While each campus will have its own specific focus area and goals, many ORCC VISTA members will focus on:
ORCC has four main goals for the VISTA Program:
Oregon Campus Compact provides the living allowance, health insurance and workers’ compensation to the AmeriCorps*VISTA members. The living allowance is paid in equal installments every two weeks. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) offers loan forbearance (if applicable) and provides the education award or cash stipend upon successful completion of the term of service.
Can sites pay the member to subsidize their small living allowance?
Cash subsidies to the living allowance are not permitted. An AmeriCorps*VISTA member commits to a year of service, not a regular job. They are provided with a small living allowance to cover basic living expenses so they can devote the year to service. However, your organization or the community can help your member in other ways:
When a member successfully completes a term of service, members submits a form to the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) stating the member has completed their year of service and is eligible for an education award. CNCS then sends the member a voucher in the mail and the award is posted on the member’s my.americorps.gov portal. The member can take this voucher to any Title IV educational institution to pay for individual classes, enrollment or to pay back student loans. The institution bills CNCS for the educational costs. The member has up to seven years after completing the term of service to use the education award. It may be used in whole or in part over time. For example, a member may use $1,000 to pay off an existing student loan, return to school next year and use $2,000 to complete a bachelors degree, take a year off to travel in Europe and then use the balance to return to school for a maters degree. Things to remember about the education award:
If a member chooses to receive a cash stipend instead of the education award then upon completion of their year of service, members will receive either a cash stipend. This will be provided to them through the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Can a member hold a job or go to school while serving in AmeriCorps*VISTA?
AmeriCorps*VISTA members commit to a year of full-time service through our program and the AmeriCorps*VISTA commitment takes precedence over all other commitments.
VISTAS must be focused on indirect, capacity-building service related to fighting poverty. Administrative work, direct service, or doing work that is commonly done by other staff is prohibited.
Is the member a volunteer or an employee?
Neither. He or she is an AmeriCorps*VISTA member of the Oregon Campus Compact AmeriCorps* VISTA program, who is completing his or her service at your campus. It is important to make a distinction between your AmeriCorps*VISTA member and regular staff at your organization. Please do not use the term “employee”, “employment”, “staff”, “wages”, “paycheck” or any other term that implies the member’s service is employment.
What training will ORCC or CNCS provide for VISTAs?
All VISTA members are required to attend a 3-day Pre-Service Orientation (PSO) sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service before they can begin their term of service. At PSO, members learn about poverty and diversity, program basics, conditions and benefits of VISTA service, and information about health insurance and education awards. In addition to the PSO, ORCC provides several In-Service Trainings (IST) to members throughout the year. These trainings are between 2 – 3 days long, and include education about service-learning, campus-community partnership building, recruitment and support, planning service days, evaluating service programs and much more.
Can a member complete his or her term of service early?
No, members must commit to serving a full-year.
ORCC VISTA members work on a variety of projects related to building the capacity of their college, university, or community organization to meet the needs of low-income populations through strong service and service-learning programming. While each campus will have its own specific focus area and goals, many ORCC VISTA members will focus on:
- Establishing and strengthening campus-community partnerships with organizations that address the needs of low-income populations.
- Working with faculty and staff to strengthen and coordinate service-learning courses and programs.
- Recruiting, training, and placing volunteers
- Increasing student leadership and civic engagement
- Building the capacity for campuses to create sustainable service programming
- Planning and coordinating service days and projects
ORCC has four main goals for the VISTA Program:
- Increase student civic engagement and leadership in the community.
- Establish and/or strengthen academic service-learning programs and courses that address poverty.
- Increase the number of campus-community partnerships with organizations that serve low-income populations.
- Increase campus infrastructure and resources to support service and service-learning.
- A subsistence allowance dispersed by Oregon Campus Compact in equal installments every two weeks. To receive this benefit, members must be an active in our program as demonstrated in monthly timesheets and other required documents. The living allowance is not a salary or a wage and it is taxed.
- Healthcare is coordinated by the Corporation for National and Community Service. NOTE: It is important to remember that this is health CARE and NOT health insurance. The intention is that Members will be taken care of if something happens to them during their term of service. Preventative care may not be covered by the plan.
- A childcare allowance is coordinated by the Corporation for National and Community Service (if eligible).
- Members will receive either an education award or a cash stipend upon successful completion of service (based on member selection during application process).
- Interest payments on loans placed in forbearance. If the member has received forbearance on a qualified student loan during the term of service, the National Service Trust will repay a portion or all of the interest that accrued during the term of service upon successful completion of the program. The interest is taxed.
- Loan Deferment is available based on economic hardship.
- Workers’ compensation for in-service injuries.
- Some campuses and community organizations are able to offer free or reduced housing, a meal plan at the school, or a parking or bus pass.
Oregon Campus Compact provides the living allowance, health insurance and workers’ compensation to the AmeriCorps*VISTA members. The living allowance is paid in equal installments every two weeks. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) offers loan forbearance (if applicable) and provides the education award or cash stipend upon successful completion of the term of service.
Can sites pay the member to subsidize their small living allowance?
Cash subsidies to the living allowance are not permitted. An AmeriCorps*VISTA member commits to a year of service, not a regular job. They are provided with a small living allowance to cover basic living expenses so they can devote the year to service. However, your organization or the community can help your member in other ways:
- Help VISTA member find affordable rentals or alternative living arrangements
- Provide a vehicle for VISTA member to use for service or a bus pass
- Provide VISTA member with reduced cost or free membership to a gym/community center
- Offer VISTA member lunch tickets to the school or office cafeteria
When a member successfully completes a term of service, members submits a form to the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) stating the member has completed their year of service and is eligible for an education award. CNCS then sends the member a voucher in the mail and the award is posted on the member’s my.americorps.gov portal. The member can take this voucher to any Title IV educational institution to pay for individual classes, enrollment or to pay back student loans. The institution bills CNCS for the educational costs. The member has up to seven years after completing the term of service to use the education award. It may be used in whole or in part over time. For example, a member may use $1,000 to pay off an existing student loan, return to school next year and use $2,000 to complete a bachelors degree, take a year off to travel in Europe and then use the balance to return to school for a maters degree. Things to remember about the education award:
- It is taxable as income
- It is non-transferable (if you're under 55 years of age)
If a member chooses to receive a cash stipend instead of the education award then upon completion of their year of service, members will receive either a cash stipend. This will be provided to them through the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Can a member hold a job or go to school while serving in AmeriCorps*VISTA?
AmeriCorps*VISTA members commit to a year of full-time service through our program and the AmeriCorps*VISTA commitment takes precedence over all other commitments.
- Members MAY NOT hold another job or position.
- Members MAY take classes as long as the classes do not interfere with their service and they receive prior approval from ORCC.
VISTAS must be focused on indirect, capacity-building service related to fighting poverty. Administrative work, direct service, or doing work that is commonly done by other staff is prohibited.
Is the member a volunteer or an employee?
Neither. He or she is an AmeriCorps*VISTA member of the Oregon Campus Compact AmeriCorps* VISTA program, who is completing his or her service at your campus. It is important to make a distinction between your AmeriCorps*VISTA member and regular staff at your organization. Please do not use the term “employee”, “employment”, “staff”, “wages”, “paycheck” or any other term that implies the member’s service is employment.
What training will ORCC or CNCS provide for VISTAs?
All VISTA members are required to attend a 3-day Pre-Service Orientation (PSO) sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service before they can begin their term of service. At PSO, members learn about poverty and diversity, program basics, conditions and benefits of VISTA service, and information about health insurance and education awards. In addition to the PSO, ORCC provides several In-Service Trainings (IST) to members throughout the year. These trainings are between 2 – 3 days long, and include education about service-learning, campus-community partnership building, recruitment and support, planning service days, evaluating service programs and much more.
Can a member complete his or her term of service early?
No, members must commit to serving a full-year.