1. Planning for the Term of Service. The grantee must develop member position descriptions that provide for meaningful service activities and performance criteria that are appropriate to the skill level of members. The grantee must ensure that each member has sufficient opportunity to complete the required number of hours to qualify for a post-service education award. In planning for the member's term of service, the grantee must account for holidays and other time off, and must provide each member with sufficient opportunity to make up missed hours.
2. Member Contracts. The grantee must require that members sign contracts that, at a minimum, stipulate the following:
a. The minimum number of service hours and other requirements (as developed by the Program) necessary to successfully complete the term of service and to be eligible for the education award;
b. Acceptable conduct;
c. Prohibited activities, including those specified in the regulations;
d. Requirements under the Drug-Free Workplace Act (41 U.S.C. 701 et seq.);
e. Suspension and termination rules;
f. The specific circumstances under which a member may be released for cause;
g. The position description;
h. Grievance procedures; and
i. Other requirements as established by the Program.
3. Consistent with the approved budget, the grantee must provide members with the training, skills, knowledge and supervision necessary to perform the tasks required in their assigned project positions, including specific training in a particular field and background information on the community served.
The grantee must conduct an orientation for members and comply with any pre-service orientation or training required by the Corporation. This orientation should be designed to enhance member security and sensitivity to the community. Orientation should cover member rights and responsibilities, including the Program's code of conduct, prohibited activities (including those specified in the regulations), requirements under the Drug-Free Workplace Act (41 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), suspension and termination from service, grievance procedures, sexual harassment, other non-discrimination issues, and other topics as necessary.
4. Service-Learning. The grantee agrees to use service experiences to help members achieve the skills and education needed for productive, active citizenship, including the provision, if appropriate, of structured opportunities for members to reflect on their service experiences.
5. Supervision. The grantee must provide members with adequate supervision by qualified supervisors in accordance with the approved application. The grantee must establish and enforce a code of conduct for members.
6. Performance Reviews. The grantee must conduct and keep a record of at least a midterm and end-of-term written evaluation of each member's performance for Full and Half-Time members and an end-of-term written evaluation for less than Half-time members. The evaluation should focus on such factors as:
a. Whether the member has completed the required number of hours;
b. Whether the member has satisfactorily completed assignments; and
c. Whether the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
7. (a) Registration to Vote. The grantee should encourage all eligible members to register and vote. However, the grantee is prohibited from requiring members to register or to vote, and from attempting to influence how members vote. Members who are unable to vote before or after service hours should be allowed to do so during their service time without incurring any penalties. The site director should determine the length of absence.
(b) Voter Registration Activities Prohibited. In addition to the prohibited activities listed in 45 CFR 2520.65, staff and members may not engage in voter registration drives, and the grantee may not use grant funds to conduct a voter registration drive.
8. Jury Duty. The grantee must allow AmeriCorps members to serve on a jury without being penalized for doing so. During the time AmeriCorps members serve as jurors, they should continue to receive credit for their normal service hours, a living allowance, health care coverage and, if applicable, child care coverage regardless of any reimbursements for incidental expenses received from the court.
9. Member Death or Injury. The grantee must report any deaths or serious injuries to the appropriate Corporation Program Officer immediately.
10. Armed Forces Reserves. Generally, the Reserves of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, the Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard require reservists to serve one weekend a month plus 12 to 15 days a year (hereafter referred to as the two-week active duty service). To the extent possible, grantees should seek to minimize the disruption in members’ AmeriCorps service as a result of discharging responsibilities related to their reservist duties. If members have a choice of when to fulfill their annual two-week active duty requirement, they should do so when it will not disrupt their AmeriCorps service. In instances where the dates of active duty are inflexible and conflict with AmeriCorps service, members should be granted a leave of absence for the two-week period of active duty service in the Reserves.
Members may not receive time-off for additional Reserves-related service beyond the two-week active duty service. No AmeriCorps service credit is earned for the once-a-month weekend service in the Reserves. Grantees should credit members for AmeriCorps service hours during their two weeks of active duty service in the Reserves if it occurs during their AmeriCorps service. The member would receive credit for the number of hours he or she would have served during that period had there been no interruption. For example, if a full-time member is signed up to serve 30 hours of AmeriCorps service one week and 40 hours of AmeriCorps service on the following week, she or he would receive 70 hours of AmeriCorps service credit for the two weeks of active duty service regardless of the actual number of hours served in the Reserves.
Reservists in the U.S. Armed Forces receive compensation for their mandatory two weeks of active duty service. The compensation regulations governing the Army and Air National Guard may vary by state.
Grantees should continue to pay the living allowance and provide health care and childcare coverage for the two-week period of active duty.