What is the CCC Student Ambassador Program?

The CCC Student Ambassador Program trains community college students to conduct outreach to their peers in order to promote statewide health and basic needs resources. The Foundation for California Community Colleges will train selected student ambassadors around programs and services that address student’s basic needs and effective outreach strategies. By using a peer-to-peer outreach model, the program aims to spread awareness and reduce stigma around services, such as CalFresh, that increase student success in college. Student ambassadors will build a network, learn, and collaborate with wellness centers, food pantries, CalFresh enrollment centers, foster youth liaisons, homeless youth liaisons, and mental health counselors. Student ambassadors will have the support of staff members at the Foundation for California Community Colleges and an on-campus advisor.

The CCC Student Ambassador Program typically accepts applications in late spring and early summer. To apply, please complete this application. Selected students will be notified over the summer between June and July. All questions can be directed to ambassador@foundationccc.org.

What organization operates the CCC Student Ambassador Program?

This program is operated by the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC). FoundationCCC serves as the official foundation supporting the Board of Governors, Chancellor’s Office, and the entire California Community College system, including 116 colleges and 73 districts, serving 2.1 million students.

Who is eligible to apply for the CCC Student Ambassador Program?

To be eligible for the CCC Student Ambassador Program, you will need to be at least 18 years of age at the start of the program and enrolled in at least one unit at one of the participating community colleges for both fall and spring semester.

Is there a minimum G.P.A. requirement to be eligible?

There is not a G.P.A. requirement for this program.

Do I have to be enrolled at a California Community College for the entire length of a student ambassador program term?

Yes, all student ambassadors must be enrolled in at least one unit for the entire length of the program, which operates over the fall and spring semester.

Is this an employment opportunity?

This is not an employment opportunity; it is solely a volunteer opportunity which includes a $1,500 stipend which will be dispersed in multiple increments upon completion of outreach milestones.

When will ambassadors receive their stipend?

Ambassadors will receive their $1,500 stipend in multiple increments throughout the fall and spring semesters. The first stipend will be issued after the required training and onboarding process has been completed. The following stipends will be issued after the completion of required reporting and outreach milestones throughout the fall semester and the spring semester.  The disbursement of the stipends will be dependent upon the ambassador meeting the milestone and reporting requirements. Payments will be made through the form of a Visa gift card, check, direct deposit, PayPal, or Venmo, depending on the preference of the ambassador. All ambassadors will be asked to submit a W-9, which does ask for personal information, including a social security number or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). 

What activities will ambassadors be expected to complete?

Throughout the length of the CCC Student Ambassador Program, ambassadors can expect to conduct a combination of digital, and in-person outreach activities. All safety precautions surrounding COVID-19 will be dependent upon the guidelines set by each individual college and/or county.

What are examples of outreach events?

• Conducting classroom presentations (Zoom or in-person)
• Participating in existing events, such as food distributions, Health & Wellness Fair, Club Rush, etc.
• Attending workshops
• Providing trainings for students about resources
• Emailing peers about resources
• Sharing resources at basic needs centers, student centers, or food pantries
• Posting to official social media accounts (i.e. Associated Student Government)
• Many more! Creativity is encouraged

Due to COVID-19 and safety protocols, what if students are not allowed to conduct in-person outreach or events on campus. How do student ambassadors conduct outreach with these limitations?

Student ambassadors will be provided with digital toolkits to assist in reaching students through virtual platforms. In addition, students will receive an Adobe Creative Cloud Express training, which will provide them the opportunity to create their own outreach materials. Students will also be able to host webinars to  present virtually and conduct outreach from their campus social media accounts. Ambassadors will be connected to on-campus advisors for additional outreach support.

How much time commitment is expected from an Ambassador?

Ambassadors can expect to commit 8-10 hours per month for the length of the program.

What is the timeline for this program?

May - August: Recruit, select, and onboard student ambassadors

August: Mandatory training series

September - June: Outreach activities, check-ins, and trainings

What on-campus support does the ambassador receive throughout their time in the program?

Ambassadors will have a staff advisor who will serve as the point of contact to provide on-campus support. The role of the on-campus advisor is to help the students navigate campus policies and connect them with the appropriate network to conduct their outreach within the college campus.

What are the reporting requirements for this position?

All ambassadors will be required to conduct a certain number of outreach activities, including presentations, social media outreach, and events. Student ambassadors are provided with a monthly report document to assist in tracking all students reached through the outreach efforts. Ambassadors are required to submit a brief monthly report for each month of outreach (August through June), describing both their quantitative and qualitative outreach activities. In addition, visuals such as photos and videos from events and activities will be requested. 

When is the application due?

The CCC Student Ambassador Program typically accepts applications throughout the spring semester and early summer. To apply, please complete this application. Selected students will be notified over the summer if they have been selected to serve as an ambassador at their college. All questions can be directed to ambassador@foundationccc.org.

What components will strengthen an application?

A competitive application will demonstrate an intentional effort to collaborate with other student serving organizations. Having previous volunteer or outreach experience is greatly appreciated.