Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The priority date for filling out the FAFSA form is January 4th of each year. This is when you can receive the most money possible for your financial aid. The FAFSA forms are available at the financial aid offices and you can also do it electronically online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. *When you fill out the FAFSA form please make sure that you mark YES when asked if you are interested in work-study!*
Important Numbers and Info
- FAFSA Online
- CNM Financial Aid & Student Employment Office: 505.224.3090
- UNM Financial Aid Office: 505.277.2041
- UNM Work-study/Student Employment: 505.277.3511
Starting in 2010 eligible UNMSC members are enrolled in AmeriCorps through the Bonner Foundation in New Jersey. To know about the program requirements, visit this link.
Member Eligibility: Required Documents
Be a U.S. Citizen or Legal Resident Alien | Please submit a legible copy of one of the following:
Please note that legal name change documentation is also needed if the name that appears on your citizenship documentation is different than your current legal name (e.g., copy of Marriage Certificate or court order). |
Pass a Criminal Background Check and Sex Offender Registry Check | Please submit a legible copy of one of these acceptable forms of government-issued photo ID:
|
Other Requirements
- Signed Social security Card
- Have already obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent or agree to obtain a GED before term of service end date.
- Be 18-years-old or be at least 17-years-old and have signed and parental consent if starting an AmeriCorps before becoming 18-years-old.
- May not have exceeded the term limits (4 Terms) or the award amount of two full time Ed. Awards
Term and Award
Members can serve up to four terms (either 450 or 300 hours of service)
Member Benefits
HOUR REQUIREMENT | AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARD |
300 hours (one year term) | $1,175 Education Award |
450 hours (one year term) | $1,468 Education Award |
Accessing an AmeriCorps Education Award
Upon successful completion of a term of service, a student will be certified by a National Bonner AmeriCorps Enrollment Manager as eligible to access an Education Award directly from the National Service Trust. After a student has been certified as eligible to receive an Education Award and sees that their status in BWBRS has changed to "Alumni" for the term in question, the student should register at my.americorps.gov and create an account which will permit allocation of the Award. AmeriCorps Education Awards are not accessed or allocated through the Bonner Foundation.
- Click on the following link (https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do)
- Next, click on “Register to create a new Member/Alum account” shown in red on the site and follow the prompts or log in if you have already created an account.
- Log in to the system
- From home page, select “Education Award Payment Request”
- Verify your information
- Choose whether your payment will be used to pay a loan or pay for current educational expenses. (If the latter, enter the semester or term for which you are authorizing payment.)
- Enter the amount authorized
- Search and select your Institution (see troubleshooting section for more directions)
- Check certification boxes
- Click “submit”
- Log in to the system
- From home page, select “Forbearance Request”
- Verify your information
- Search and select Financial Institution (see troubleshooting section for more directions)
- Click “submit”
- Log in to the system
- From home page, select “Interest Accrual Benefit Request”
- Verify your information
- Search and select Financial Institution (see troubleshooting section for more directions)
- Click “submit”
To determine if a service position is an eligible placement for National Bonner AmeriCorps, refer to the list below of currently eligible position types:
After School Programs (ASP)
In order for an after-school program to serve as a placement site for a Bonner AmeriCorps member, the following must be true:
- The population served should be from an at-risk population, defined as at least 51% eligible for free or reduced lunch
- The youth/children served should participate in programming at least 5 hours/weekly for at least 16 weeks.
Capacity Building (CB)
Eligible positions under capacity building must meet two criteria:
- Fall within one of our five categories and
- Be based at an organization which addresses at least one of the following CNCS priority issue areas:
- Disaster Services: Concerns regarding the preparation, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts that relate to disaster events.
- Economic Opportunity: Addresses unmet needs of economically disadvantaged individuals, including financial literacy, affordable housing, and employment‐related assistance.
- Education: Topics related to unmet educational needs within communities, especially those that help at-risk youth to achieve success in school and prevent them from dropping out.
- Environmental Stewardship: Matters regarding energy and water efficiency, renewable energy use, at-risk ecosystems, and behavioral change leading to increased efficiency.
- Healthy Futures: Addresses unmet health needs, including access to health care, increasing physical activity and improving nutrition in youth, and increasing seniors’ ability to remain in their own homes.
- Veterans and Military Families: Addresses unmet needs of veterans, members of the armed forces, and family members of deployed military personnel.
There are many types of service activities that may connect with capacity building, and a capacity building position may involve a number of the following activities:
- Volunteer Management including volunteer recruitment, volunteer training and/or volunteer recognition
- Training and Program Development including curriculum development, implementing new programs and/or organizing staff training
- Fundraising including organizing a fundraising event, identifying grant or other funding sources, and/or writing grants (but for no more than 10% of your originally agreed-upon hours)
- Communications including website development and/or social media implementation
- Research including program surveys and/or community-based research