Utah Conservation Corps Renews Accreditation for Excellence in Operations

The Utah Conservation Corps, an AmeriCorps program within the Utah State University Center for Community Engagement, has received accreditation from the Corps Center of Excellence, the national accrediting body for service and conservation corps.

Accreditation is granted to corps that demonstrate a high level of accountability to the communities in which they operate and the corpsmembers they enroll. UCC staff were presented with this recognition during a conference last week hosted by The Corps Network.

The UCC was founded in 2001and has been continuously accredited since 2004. Members serve throughout Utah in State and National Parks, forests and other public lands. More than 200 members serve with the UCC each year. As defined by The Corps Network, corps are comprehensive youth development programs that provide young people (generally ages 16-25) the opportunity to serve in crews on important community and environmental projects. Corpsmembers develop job and leadership skills, receive a stipend, and are eligible for an education award at the conclusion of their service.

“Demonstrating this level of accountability lets potential partners and stakeholders understand that your program produces high-quality outcomes,” said Mary Ellen Sprenkel, president & CEO of The Corps Network. “It shows that corps programs are an excellent investment that benefits both the young people they serve and their communities.”

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 conservation corps operations review a corps’ service project and corpsmember outcomes, internal documents and financials. This 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.

For more information about corps accreditation, please visit The Corps Network’s website.

Since 2001, 3,159 Utah Conservation Corps AmeriCorps members have served 2.2 million hours creating or maintaining 5,258 miles of trail and 550 miles of fence, restoring approximately 80,033 acres of public land and reaching over 541,674 students individuals with environmental education. For more information about the Utah Conservation Corps please visit www.usu.edu/ucc.