Alumni Service Corps

FAQs …or, how I learned to stop worrying and to ask about ASC

1. Is ASC for me?
Women and men who graduated from Seattle Prep are eligible to apply. The ASC is looking for men and women with a desire to give back in gratitude for their Jesuit education and who embody the highest ideals of Jesuit education for students at Seattle Prep today. Women and men who continue to grow in the aspirations of The Profile of the Graduate at Graduation are encouraged to apply.

ASC Volunteers will live in community and will receive a $1500 monthly stipend from August through June as a reimbursement for living expenses such as food, transportation, and health care coverage.

2. What would I do?
ASC volunteers could be involved in a variety of experiences on campus (job descriptions to be developed), including:

• Participation on retreats, school liturgies, and service projects
• Working with Alumni and Development
• Coaching, assisting in student clubs, and offering tutoring or TA expertise
• Touring 8th grade visitors, proctoring exams, and prefecting lunches

3. Are some majors preferred to others?
All BA and BS majors are encouraged to apply. We are committed to placing candidates in positions where they can be successful. We look at candidates’ overall academic performance in college, and their accomplishment in major and minor areas in particular.

4. Is there an age limit for ASC?
ASC volunteers are graduates from Seattle Prep who have earned their undergraduate college degree in the school year prior to their start of service.

5. Will I need a car?
Parking on and around our campus is a significant issue. We can not obtain permits for neighborhood parking while living in the ASC house, and due to a variety of space concerns, parking on campus is maxed out. We are strongly encouraging you to not have cars while here next year. Part of the monthly reimbursement is designed to be used for a school-purchased Orca card if you so choose.

6. When does the ASC year begin and end?
The year begins formally with the move-in date mid-August (specific date to be communicated in the spring), but communication between the incoming ASC Volunteers and the ASC Director happens throughout the spring semester. The year ends with the conclusion of the school year and completion of all responsibilities for the school. ASC Volunteers have until the end of June to move out of their residence.

7. What is involved in the admissions process?
Visit the application page for details on applying.

• What is the timeline for apps?
  Completed applications must be submitted to the ASC Director, Brian Meza, no later than February 1st of the current calendar year.
  Applications will be received and reviewed from October 1st-February 1st. It is possible therefore to conduct interviews over your Christmas break at Seattle Prep.
• Do I have to interview in person?
  We would prefer to interview in person at Seattle Prep, yet we understand this may not be possible for a variety of reasons. If a candidate is unable to interview in person, alternative arrangements will be made including phone and Zoom interviews for example.

8. What if I have not had Education classes?
We have great esteem for the field of education and for people who immerse themselves in the best thinking available to make good teaching a reality. Most ASC Volunteers have not had Education classes and very few are certified. There are many qualities that make an application attractive. With or without academic training in Education, we are looking for men and women who have the potential to be successful in a variety of areas on campus.

9. Are all ASC Volunteers practicing Catholics?
While ASC Volunteers do not have to be Catholic, they must have a desire to commit to the spiritual dimension of the year of service. ASC Volunteers possess a desire to grow spiritually, an openness to learn and be challenged, and an appreciation for the Jesuits and lay colleagues who accompany them in this journey of faith and service.

10. Can I defer my student loans?
The answer is almost always ‘yes’. Federal loans, e.g. Stafford, require some simple paperwork to defer. As long as you didn’t make too much money for the tax year it shouldn’t be a problem. If your loans are through a private lender you will need to contact the lender directly. We recommend you do this sooner rather than later.

11. Can I serve in ASC if I am married?
Sadly, no. But, congratulations on getting married (and tell us about it so we can include you in Panther Tracks)! We have found that ASC Volunteers who are engaged do a fine job with their daily duties, but are often less available to engage in the life of the ASC community. If you are moving toward getting engaged in the next year, then ASC may not be for you. However, many ASC Volunteers enter the year in committed relationships.

12. I have a relative that is getting married, celebrating a major anniversary, etc. Will I be allowed to attend this event?
ASC Volunteers are treated as faculty in their schools. Under normal circumstances, major life events can be accommodated with advance notice and conversation with administration.

13. Does ASC provide health insurance? Will my preexisting health condition be covered?

ASC Volunteers will be provided with $1500/month to cover health insurance and a monthly stipend. Those ASC Volunteers covered by their parents’ health insurance can choose to use the full monthly benefit as a cash stipend.

14. Where will volunteers live?
ASC Volunteers will live in community in a house across from school campus. Furniture, kitchen appliances and utilities are all provided, as well as internet access. ASC Volunteers should pack what is needed for the year, and are discouraged from renting moving vans. A few bags (perhaps large) should do the trick.

15. What holidays are provided? What travel is included?
ASC Volunteers will follow the school holiday schedule (Christmas break, spring break, etc) and no travel expenses are included.

16. Is Seattle Prep the only Jesuit high school that has an ASC program?
The National ASC program was founded by the Missouri Province in 1991. Shortly thereafter some additional Jesuit high schools began similar programs with their own alumni coming back to their high school for a year of service. Seattle Prep is not part of the national program in terms of volunteer placement, although we do share in mission and objectives.

The National ASC program connects six participating schools in Denver, Kansas City and St. Louis. It maintains close ties to the Jesuits, and has a strong Ignatian formation component.

17. What happens after ASC?
The program is a year of service and not a stepping stone to a job at Seattle Prep. ASC alumni have found success in a wide variety of careers. While some are faculty members and administrators in Jesuit or other Catholic schools, many serve in public school districts across the country. Others have pursued careers in law, medicine, academics, the arts, finance, religious life, business, engineering and more. Women and men from a broad spectrum of backgrounds are drawn to the program, and after ASC they go on to have wildly interesting and successful careers.