Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA Member Roosevelt University - RU Eating Healthy Chicago

The Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA program places AmeriCorps VISTA members in full service with our campus and community partners for one year. During this year, members spend 35 hours per week on their host site’s campus or with one of that campus’s community partners to work on building systems and programs that support low-income college students and community members. The VISTA members’ work is to build capacity, meaning that rather than directly serving the community, they enhance or create systems, structures, and resources that support the direct anti-poverty work. Campus Compact functions as the central VISTA program hub, performing program administration, offering training and support to VISTA members and their projects, and connecting the work happening in individual projects both to similar work happening nationwide and back to AmeriCorps. For detailed program information and FAQs, please visit our website.

Service Term: July 13, 2026 - July 12, 2027 

Please note that this start date is subject to change. Start dates are based on a federal calendar and are not flexible. Regardless of start date, the term of service lasts exactly one year. Summary of Position Details: Roosevelt University’s VISTA project will develop educational programming for students to build a foundation for healthy eating in their lives. Students come from a variety of backgrounds, including within the City of Chicago. The VISTA will develop programming for students to break down stigmas through larger conversations surrounding healthy eating focusing on its commuter student population. For example, Roosevelt University’s student pantry has seen an increase in commuter student usage, especially following the changes to SNAP benefits in Fall 2025, an initial programming concept would be built around developing recipes for a multi-person household using items readily available in the pantry. Additional products would discuss selecting healthy options in the dining center and developing understanding of product labels for a healthy diet. This project will develop targeted programming, create marketing, and assess the effectiveness of healthy eating initiatives on campus. 

Responsibilities: 

• Collaborate with Roosevelt staff and student leaders to develop educational programming for students
• Support capacity building by developing a catalog of educational programming addressing healthy eating which can be recreated in future academic years 
• Create and assess programming outcomes among commuter student population 
• Attend orientation, weekly meetings, and training retreats coordinated by the Division of Student Affairs
• Complete data collection and reporting activities required by Campus Compact and AmeriCorps
• Attend orientation, weekly meetings, days of service, and trainings/retreats coordinated by Campus Compact 
• Complete data collection and reporting activities required by Campus Compact and AmeriCorps

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience developing engaging programming for student populations
• Experience developing programmatic learning outcomes 

Requirements:  

•  Higher Education experience 
• Community organization and event planning experience ● Interest in program curriculum development 
• Interest in assessment of outcomes 
• Public Speaking 
• Leadership development 
• US Citizen, national, DACA status, or legal permanent resident 
• Must be able to complete federal background check

Logistics: 

• Status: In-person 
  •  Note: Remote in this case refers to not regularly going in person to the office; VISTA members must be located within commuting distance of their host site.
• Hours o M – F 9 AM - 5 PM 

Benefits: 

AmeriCorps VISTA Benefits: 

• Bi-weekly living allowance of $957.46 
• End of service award (AmeriCorps member must choose one of two options; requires completion of full term of service to receive) 
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ($7,395) ○ End-of-Service Cash Stipend ($1,803.10) 
• Relocation stipend for candidates moving more than 50 miles ($750)
• Mileage reimbursement for the candidate moving more than 50 miles ($0.40/mile) 
• Healthcare benefits (AmeriCorps member must choose one of two options) ○ Healthcare allowance for out-of-pocket expenses 
• Basic healthcare coverage 
  • 10 Days Personal Leave 
  • 10 Days Sick Leave 
  • 14 Days Holiday Leave 
  • Child care assistance for children under 13 years of age (income dependent) 
  • Student loan forbearance or deferment for certain loans 
  • 1 year of noncompetitive eligibility for federal positions* 
  • Access to professional development opportunities provided by Campus Compact & AmeriCorps 

Additional Host-Site Benefits: 

• On campus housing 
• Meal plan worth $2000 each semester