Montana Campus Compact

VISTA (Vounteers In Service To America)

MTCC VISTA Project

click here go to the online VISTA quarterly reporting system

The Montana Campus Compact (MTCC) AmeriCorps*VISTA and Big Sky AmeriCorps*VISTA programs, often referred to as MTCC VISTA, are statewide National Service programs that connect campus resources with critical community needs. MTCC AmeriCorps*VISTAs serve from Montana college campuses and in partnership with community-based organizations, nonprofits, schools, and faith-based organizations. MTCC VISTAs work closely with community groups to address local poverty problems involving housing, school performance, and hunger. Past MTCC VISTA projects have resulted in new campus-community partnerships, new community volunteer programs, fully-funded grants for afterschool programs, heightened community awareness about specific poverty issues, and hundreds of mobilized community volunteers. The Montana Campus Compact member campuses offer a diverse array of resources to their communities, and the MTCC VISTA projects around Montana help to mobilize them. MTCC VISTAs do the hard work of gathering campus resources and organizing people to address the problems associated with poverty in Montana. farm to college VISTAs

MTCC AmeriCorps* VISTAs:

Assess K-12 school performance;
Assess food security and emergency food needs;
Assess low-income housing availability;
Promote service-learning;
Organize and facilitate community groups and boards;
Connect service groups with high schools and colleges to increase the number of community service scholarships awarded;
Engage youth in community service;
Expand and start campus-community volunteer centers around Montana;
Write grants to fund anti-poverty work; and
Launch community service web pages.

Click here for a Montana map with all active MTCC AmeriCorps*VISTA sites, as well other project host sites.

The Montana Campus Compact Network

The Montana Campus Compact (MTCC) is a 19-campus network of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. MTCC campuses build long-term partnerships with local nonprofits, schools, and faith-based organizations. Student volunteers, service-learners, Campus Corps AmeriCorps members, faculty, and staff volunteer their time to address critical needs across Montana. MTCC VISTAs help to facilitate much of the community planning work and start many of the campus-community partnerships in Montana.

Next Steps (for those interested in serving)

The next MTCC VISTA class will begin serving in July 2008; applications will be accepted through June 2008. If you are looking for a meaningful service opportunity and a chance to serve in the Northern Rockies, call or email to request a brochure and discuss the details. To apply, please fill out an AmeriCorps application at https://my.americorps.gov, click on “apply to serve,” then select the MTCC VISTA project (06VSPMT003-0) as the project to which you'll apply.

MTCC VISTAs serve full-time for one year in communities across Montana. All MTCC VISTAs receive a living allowance, health care coverage, and may choose an AmeriCorps Education Award or cash stipend upon completion of their term of service. Members relocating to serve may also receive reimbursement of relocation expenses for travel and shipping costs. AmeriCorps Education Awards can be applied toward tuition or to pay down existing college loans. MTCC VISTAs may receive graduate credit for their service through the ALIVE program offered through The University of Montana’s Office for Civic Engagement. Because the service term with AmeriCorps is full-time, VISTAs cannot be current students (except through ALIVE) or hold other employment.

Next Steps (for organizations and campuses wishing to host a VISTA project)

If you are a campus representative or community organization interested in hosting an MTCC VISTA and would like an application kit, download it here:

Community Placement Guidance July 2006 VISTAs