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SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Rollins Election Day Initiative

At RSPH, courses are held asynchronously on Election Day for RSPH Community Members to participate in civic engagement and community service activities. The Rollins Election Day Initiative (REDI) is a nonpartisan leadership program of RSPH students who collaborate with the Emory Votes Initiative and faculty, staff, and students to plan the Rollins Election Day On, held on Election Day each year.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV) bring a unique perspective and skill set to the study and application of public health and are recognized as a vital part of the Rollins student body. There is a vibrant and thriving Peace Corps community at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University with over 70 RPCVs enrolled in the MPH program. The perspective that Peace Corps experience offers is valued in and out of the classroom. Rollins grants a $15,000 tuition scholarship to all admitted, full-time RPCV students working toward their MPH or MSPH degree.

Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers pursuing a career in public health are eligible for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship. The Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship advances the third goal of the Peace Corps, to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans by developing and maintaining educational partnerships that place returned volunteers in internships in underserved U.S. communities. Furthermore, it supports Rollins’ mission by creating an environment supporting excellence in service, and training public health leaders to promote health and prevent disease in human populations around the world. In order to be considered for the fellowship, applicants must be admitted to any department for the MPH/MSPH degree program and indicate their Returned Peace Corps Volunteer status on their SOPHAS application. An applicant must submit a completed SOPHAS application by the school- wide priority deadline. Once an eligible applicant’s SOPHAS application is received by Rollins, they will be sent the Paul D. Fellowship Supplemental Application. Supplemental applications are reviewed by the current RSPH Coverdell Fellow Class and the RSPH Coverdell Fellowship Program Administrators. This program requires 2 years (4 fall/spring semesters) of full-time enrollment at Rollins to fulfill the additional job responsibilities associated with the fellowship. Rollins greatly values the experience, perspective and service of all RPCV students. Those selected as Paul D. Coverdell Fellows receive an award package including partial tuition scholarship, Rollins Earn and Learn award, and an applied practice experience award. The award package is provided to Coverdell Fellows to facilitate community-engaged learning programs and to coordinate activities on campus in the Atlanta community.

The Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Fellows are required to complete a 150-hour internship by the time they graduate. The requirements for the internship include:

  • Complete 30 Service Hours with a community partner each semester: Collaborate and foster relationships with at least one of our community partner organizations;

  • Complete 10 Coverdell Project Hours each year: Choose from a “menu” of projects to work on. Examples of project items include planning and hosting a student organization event, participating in a school-wide committee, hosting community-building events with Coverdell Fellows throughout Emory University, participating in the RSPH Community & Diversity Committee, etc.

  • Attend 6 Professional Development Sessions hours each year through: These professional development sessions will take place throughout the academic year and are hosted by the Professional Advancement and Student Experience (PASE) Center.

  • Participate in the Coverdell Recruitment Process each year: Collaborate with fellow. Coverdell participants to select the incoming cohort of Coverdell Fellows.

AmeriCorps/Service Corps Student Leaders

The Rollins School of Public Health greatly values the experiences, perspectives, and service of students connected to AmeriCorps and national service. In recognition of the ongoing commitment to service and leadership at Rollins, a one-time $7,000 award is offered to admitted students in any department who have completed a minimum of one year of service (1,700 full-time hours) with a national volunteer agency like AmeriCorps or an AmeriCorps-affiliated agency.

First-Gen at Rollins

Led by the First-Gen at Rollins Student Advisory Board and advised by the Office of Student Affairs, First-Gen at Rollins is a program that provides opportunities for service, community- building, and professional development for first-generation students at the Rollins School of Public Health. The First-Gen at Rollins Student Advisory Board consists of first- and second-year master’s level students who aim to plan, implement, and evaluate events for first-generation students and their peers. They collaborate with First-Gen at Rollins Faculty Advisors and Emory First, a center dedicated to first-generation students at Emory University.

International Exchange Peer Network and the Rollins International Student Advisory Board

Led by the Rollins International Student Advisory Board and advised by the Office of Student Affairs, the International Exchange Peer Network promotes cross-cultural relationships for all RSPH students and seeks to form a community among international students and their peers. The Rollins International Student Advisory Board consists of first- and second-year master’s level students who aim to plan, implement, and evaluate events for international students and their peers. Through the International Exchange Peer Network, international students and their peers can develop and enhance skills related to intercultural communication and cultural sensitivity. Additionally, they establish relationships with campus resources that serve international students, including International Students and Scholar Services, Emory Campus Life Offices, and other student organizations.

Online Student Advisory Board

Advised by the Director of Online Programs and the Office of Student Affairs, the Online Student Advisory Board is dedicated to supporting online students by connecting online MPH, MHA, and DrPH students to school and university resources, providing opportunities for leadership and professional growth, and building community and increasing a sense of belonging among all online students at Rollins. This board consists of representatives from all online degree programs, who work collaboratively to assess the needs of online students, in addition to planning, implementing, and evaluating community-building programs and initiatives.