As part of the program, Paul D. Coverdell Fellows undertake a minimum of 150 hours of community service in underserved communities here in the US. As part of this service experience, Fellows gain experience with and ties to a local organization, leveraging an opportunity to apply their Peace Corps skills to a broad range of development issues. The CDAE department is part of a well-developed network of local organizations, and possible service-learning opportunities run the gamut of student interest.

Past CDAE activities have included collaborations with organizations such as the following:

The UVM Office of Community-University Partnerships & Service Learning (CUPS) whose mission is to connect the university and community as partners in addressing real-world challenges through engaged scholarship and transformative learning experiences. CUPS offers matchmaking services for community partners with UVM faculty and students.

The UVM Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC) whose mission is to build the capacity and effectiveness of citizen organizations while developing strategies to ensure that university decisions have a positive economic impact on the city, and to open up Burlington's suburbs to housing for low-income residents. Specific projects have included a study of local economic impact of UVM spending, community leadership training and development, fair housing programs, and community network development.

The Center for Rural Studies (CRS), a nonprofit research organization that addresses social, economic, and resource-based problems facing rural people and communities in Vermont, the United States, and abroad. Housed within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, CRS provides consulting, research, and program evaluation services in all aspects of community and economic development. CRS also serves as the U.S. Census Bureau's Vermont State Data Center.

The University of Vermont's Extension Services which provides education and training to citizens of Vermont in sectors ranging from organic gardening to household finance and computer technology. Its purpose is to "improve the quality of life of Vermonters by bringing the benefits of research and technology to them, and to provide educational programs and practical information concerning Vermont communities, families, homes and farms." This mandate is undertaken though research and outreach; working to improve agriculture, natural resources and the environment, health and food safety and economic and community development.

Coverdell Fellows are eligible to receive nine tuition-free credits toward their degree through the Peace Corps Analysis course, in which they prepare a paper reflecting on their Peace Corps service and the UVM studies. Application fees will be waived. Contact Julie Starr at jstarr2@uvm.edu to request a fee waiver code. Coverdell applicants will also be considered for additional financial aid, including partial tuition scholarships, on an individual basis. In addition, out-of-state applicants to our professional Master of Public Administration program automatically receive a 33% tuition reduction. Reflecting the Peace Corps’ “Bring the Lessons Home” focus, Coverdell Fellows will commit to undertake 150 hours of community service over the course of their studies with local organizations of their choice.

CDAE also houses UVM's on-campus Strategic Peace Corps Recruiter. This assistantship is available to applicants every other year and provides full two-year funding for a RPCV to pursue their MPA or CDAE MS degree.