President Clinton's proposed national service plan is prompting some changes in the University's financial aid program.
The plan, which is pending approval by the Senate, would allocate $1.5 billion for financial aid over the next three years to students nationwide participating in community service projects.
The funds would be distributed through loans and work-study programs, said Jenny Frankenburger, interim director of the University's Community Service Center.
The bill may go into effect for the 1994-95 academic year. To lay the foundations for the new program, the University's financial aid office has begun to work with the Community Service Center.
The financial aid office is allocating $100,000 of federal money for community service internships this year, said Trinity junior Christin Bassett, co-student director of the CSC. The money will create 60 work-study internships this year.
"In the past, students on work-study couldn't find the time to get very involved in community service," Bassett said. "This is the perfect way to bridge the two opportunities together."
But not everyone is as optimistic.
"It's hard to gauge how successful this program will be," said James Belvin, director of the office of undergraduate financial aid. "My biggest concern is taking money from other funds. We have 1,600 students on work-study, and this program will only serve a fraction of them."
For University students, participation in off-campus community projects may be difficult.
"Considering students on financial aid are not allowed to keep cars on campus, I think transportation is going to be a problem," said Trinity sophomore Kathie Luongo.
"We're predicting it may be a problem," Bassett said. To minimize the problem, the CSC will give students bus schedules, find internships within walking distance for students and let students use the CSC's van and car for transportation, she said.
This year's internship program with the CSC equals about 5 percent of the total federal funds allocated to the University for work-study programs.
The bill is expected to require about 10 percent of next year's federal funds for financial aid given to universities, Bassett said.
The CSC will use this year's money to fund internships with about 35 non-profit organizations in Durham such as the Durham Library Council, the American Dance Federation and the Durham Literacy Council. These agencies applied to receive interns, and all participating agencies have agreed to pay $425 of each student's salary themselves.
The agencies are hiring students who applied for the positions through a general application designed by the CSC.
The jobs' hours and wages will also be worked out between the students and the organizations. Students cannot work more than 19.9 hours per week.
Interns will hold a variety of positions, from serving on administrative committees to engaging in more hands-on work, such as child care or tutoring, Bassett said.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.