Carolina Sixth in Producing Peace Corps Volunteers

Posted on Feb. 12, 2010

UNC ranks sixth on the Peace Corps‘ Top 25 list of large schools producing Peace Corps volunteers, with 78 alumni currently serving. Since the Peace Corps’ inception, 1,092 Carolina alumni have served in the Peace Corps.

Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams will speak at the University at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17 in the FedEx Global Education Center.

The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing schools annually according to the size of the student body. Small schools have fewer than 5,000 undergraduates, medium-sized schools have 5,000 to 15,000 undergraduates and large schools have more than 15,000 undergraduates. The rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2009 data as of Sept. 30, 2009, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.

Currently, there are 7,671 Peace Corps volunteers serving in 76 host countries around the world. A college degree is not mandatory for service. Relevant experience in areas such as education, health, business, IT, environment and agriculture, however, is required.

In 2009, the Peace Corps received more than 15,000 applications, an 18 percent increase from 2008. That was the largest number of applications since the agency began electronically recording applications in 1998. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.

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More online…

• UNC Alumni Rank Fourth in Peace Corps Service
  News report from February 2008
• UNC Alumni Rank Eighth in Peace Corps Service
  News report from January 2007
• International Ambition: A whole world awaits alumni seeking life abroad; whatever their route or destination, it’s bound to involve risk and rewards.
  From the November/December 2006 Carolina Alumni Review, available online to Carolina Alumni members.
• High Idealists: For four decades, Carolina has given more than its share to the Peace Corps.
  From the July/August 2003 Carolina Alumni Review, available online to Carolina Alumni members.

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