USU-based Utah Conservation Corps Receives Accreditation
Corps Network President and CEO Mary Ellen Sprenkel and UCC's recruiter Lindsay Thalacker.
Following an in-depth evaluation of internal operations, financial management practices, risk management practices, governance standards and youth programming operations, Utah Conservation Corps received accreditation from the Corps Center of Excellence, the national accrediting body for Service and Conservation Corps. As part of the accreditation process, the Utah State University-based UCC received endorsements for the Bilingual Youth Corps and disability-inclusive crews for nationwide best practices for inclusiveness and diversity.
“As an accredited corps, UCC has proven its ability to provide safe, appropriate and meaningful experiences to the young people they engage in service projects,” said Sean Damitz, the director of the Center for Civic Engagement and Service-Learning. “They have also proven their ability to provide high-quality project outcomes to their many federal, state and local partners with whom they collaborate to develop service opportunities for Corps members.”
The Corps Center of Excellence is administered by an advisory committee made up of retired and former Conservation Corps leaders, retired and former federal land management agency staff and other experts. During the accreditation process, an accreditation team comprised of persons with expertise in Youth and Conservation Corps operations review a Corps’ service project and corpsmember outcomes, internal documents and financials. The team also conducts a multiple-day site visit at each Corps undergoing the accreditation process. Results of these reviews are presented to the Advisory Committee for discussion and approval. Accreditation lasts for five years with each Corps required to provide an annual update.
In 2014, 165 UCC AmeriCorps members created or maintained 177 miles of trail, constructed or repaired 8.5 miles of fence, restored 14,996 acres of public land and recruited 4,214 volunteers serving 9,582 hours on projects throughout Utah.
More information on UCC can be found at www.usu.edu/ucc.
Contact: Sean Damitz, Center for Civic Engagement and Service-Learning, (cell) 435-770-6104, sean.damitz@usu.edu
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