The Peace Corps announced today Walsh University ranked No. 9 among schools on the agency’s list of top Peace Corps Prep certificate-issuing partners in 2021. Walsh University issued 18 Peace Corps Prep certificates to the graduating class of 2021.
“At this pivotal time in our history, young people have a crucial role to play,” said Peace Corps Acting Director Carol Spahn. “Through the Peace Corps Prep program, these schools have equipped students with the skills and understanding necessary to help communities near and far recover from the multidimensional and global shocks of the pandemic.”
Established in 2007, Peace Corps Prep aims to meet the demand for Peace Corps volunteers with broad and relevant areas of expertise and to support schools’ efforts to provide substantive, globally focused experiences for their students. Through the program, students learn about leadership, intercultural competencies, foreign language, and a professional sector of their choice like education, health, or the environment. While having a Peace Corps Prep certificate does not guarantee acceptance into the international service agency, enrolling in the program helps them be more competitive during the selection process.
Peace Corps works with more than 150 partner institutions nationwide to deliver programming that underscores a commitment to global citizenship, intercultural competencies and a sense of service among students. Despite COVID-19 pandemic causing a global evacuation of Peace Corps volunteers, more than 700 undergraduate students completed the Peace Corps Prep program in the 2020-2021 academic year.
“Peace Corps Prep is an opportunity for all undergraduate students to develop competencies that will fortify their aspirations to serve abroad,” said La’Teashia Sykes, Peace Corps director of University Programs. “Congratulations to the top ten Peace Corps Prep certificate issuing schools and a special thanks to all of our partner institutions for cultivating students’ interest in Peace Corps service.”
The top ten 2020-2021 Peace Corps Prep certificate-issuing partners are:
Rankings Certificates Issued
1. Virginia Commonwealth University 114
2. University of South Florida 58
3. University of Florida 37
4. Mercer University 33
5. Monmouth University 26
6. University of California Education Abroad Program 21
7. Elon University 20
8. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor 19
9. Walsh University 18
10. Pacific Lutheran University 14
For more information about the Peace Corps Prep program at Walsh University, contact Dr. Rachel Hosler at rhosler@walsh.edu.
