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History of Cal Corps:
The Cal Corps Public Service Center was founded in 1967 as the Community Projects Office by a coalition of student groups engaged in community service projects. The office was funded entirely by the ASUC and provided specialized advising and mini-grants to those student groups that received sponsorship through the office. The office reported to the ASUC Office of Student Affairs and had an operating budget of approximately $200,000 annually.
For over fifteen years, the primary focus of the office was simply working with student groups. In the mid-1980s the ASUC experienced a significant budget shortfall and contracted with the University to provide $50,000 in annual funding for the Community Projects Office (renamed Cal Corps) to maintain the campus’ commitment to public service. Eventually, the contract was renegotiated making Cal Corps a University department within the office of Student Activities and Services. The ASUC maintained its commitment to Cal Corps by assuming primary financial sponsorship for the student group sponsorship program, as well as providing office space within Eshleman Hall (including utilities and furnishings).
Under the University, Cal Corps began to grow and expand its program offerings. The first step beyond simply working with student groups was a grant-funded initiative looking at hunger and homelessness (including the creation of Cal Corps’ first co-curricular service-learning course). Other new programs included: a service-learning course in partnership with the YWCA; an AmeriCorps grant as part of the East Bay Partnership for Service that allowed for student employees within Cal Corps; the creation of a database system for listing nonprofit volunteer opportunities; a second AmeriCorps grant as part of the ACCORD for Youth partnership focused on East Bay educational development opportunities; a recruitment partnership with the Peace Corps; and administration of the Chancellor’s Community Service Awards and related initiatives per California’s 1987 Human Corps legislation. In the spring of 2000, the UC Berkeley Service Task Force issued a report to Chancellor Berdahl calling for support for the growing service infrastructure of campus in response to then-Governor Davis’ call for a service requirement for UC graduates. The recommendations related to Cal Corps’ future development were not undertaken.
A second period of growth for Cal Corps began in August 2000 with the hiring of current director Megan Voorhees. Over the past six years, Cal Corps has grown in the numbers of student staff, professional staff, program offerings, and strategic partnerships. Cal Corps launched the campus’ popular Alternative Breaks program; reinvigorated and grew the Cal in Berkeley Student Internship Program; engaged the Bonner Foundation and California Campus Compact to expand AmeriCorps service opportunities from 10 to a high of over 100; partnered with the Center for Educational Outreach to create the Destination: College AmeriCorps collaborative, expand the federally funded America Reads program, and create a dedicated staff position focused on student service in K-12 educational outreach; and laid the groundwork for a capital campaign through partnerships with local foundations and corporations. In addition, Cal Corps identified 10,000 program alumni and coded them in the campus’ alumni database for development prospects.
The ASUC continues to fund the Student-Initiated Community Service Projects program and provides office space for the Center and the University, through the Office of Student Life, staffs and administers the Center. The Center is also funded by a variety of private foundations, the City of Berkeley, state, and federal grants.
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