Earn College Credit with AMIGOS!

Together with the Center for Learning and Innovation of Western Colorado University (WCU), AMIGOS is offering the political science courses POLS 197: Global Citizenship and POLS 197: Global Citizenship 2.0 for college credit.

Volunteers completing three-week AMIGOS projects are eligible to register for POLS 197: Global Citizenship (2 credits).

Volunteers enrolled in the four- and six-week AMIGOS summer projects and the Gap Program may register for POLS 197: Global Citizenship 2.0 (3 credits).

 

Course Description 

These courses offer an introduction to Global Citizenship and cover different topics related to leadership, cultural humility, and service through a lens of social justice. Students that take part in the course will develop several skills that are essential in their path to become effective agents of change for themselves, their community, and the world.

AMIGOS volunteers do not need to do any additional coursework beyond completing the AMIGOS program in order to earn credit for one of these courses.

Fees and Payment

WCU charges $170 per credit, with a total of $340 due to register for POLS 197: Global Citizenship and $510 due to register for POLS 197: Global Citizenship 2.0. Course fees must be paid directly to WCU.

AMIGOS volunteers may also pay for both their AMIGOS program fees and this WCU course through a 529 fund. 

How do I sign up for this credit?

To register for college credit through Western Colorado University, please:

  1. Apply for your AMIGOS program. All volunteers joining AMIGOS 3+ week Summer Programs or the Gap Program are eligible to receive college credit. Click here to apply. (If you have already been accepted to AMIGOS, skip to step #2.)
  2. Once you have applied to AMIGOS program, paid your application fee/deposit, and received your acceptance into the program, complete a course registration form.
  3. Once you have submitted the Course Registration Form, the AMIGOS Admissions Team as well as the Western Colorado University team will be in touch with next steps regarding billing.

How to Pay for College Credit and the AMIGOS Program Fee/Family Fee

AMIGOS volunteers may elect to pay for their college credits through Western Colorado University using a credit card, a check, or a 529/Educational Savings Plan.

Additionally, volunteers may elect to pay for their AMIGOS Program Fees/Family fees using a 529/Educational Savings Plan when also completing this course credit. However, payments already made to AMIGOS HQ via the National Chapter or to a local AMIGOS chapter may not be refunded. Any remaining payments may be paid from a 529/Educational Savings Plan.

Application fees, deposits, and airfare payments are not eligible to be paid from a 529/Educational Savings Plan and must be paid directly to AMIGOS.

How to use College Savings Plan (529)

  1. Fill out the Course Registration Form as described above. On this form, you will indicate your preferred method of payment for your course credit fees and/or AMIGOS Program Fee/Family Fee.
  2. Once submitted, AMIGOS and Western Colorado University will use the information provided to bill you for the indicated amount and to confirm your successful registration for course credits.

 

FAQs

Below are frequently asked questions about earning college credit through AMIGOS. If you have any other questions, please reach out to our Admissions team at [email protected].

 

Who is eligible to register for this course credit?

National and local chapter volunteers who are currently enrolled in or are in the process of applying for the 3+ week summer projects or the Gap Program are eligible to register.

 

Do I have to be registered for college credit through Western Colorado University in order to pay for AMIGOS from my college savings account?

Yes, in order to use funds from your college savings account, you must also be enrolled to receive college credit through Western Colorado University.

 

What if I want to pay for my program fee or family fee using my 529 account? Can the amount I have already paid be refunded so that it can be paid through my college savings account?

For high school summer programs, payments already made cannot be refunded. However, any payment installments not yet complete can be paid from a college savings plan via Western Colorado University.

 

Can I only register and pay for course credit?

Yes! If you would like, you can simply register for course credit and remit payment directly to Western Colorado University. Please contact [email protected] to get started.

 

Can I pay for my airfare from my 529 account?

No. At this time, only the college credit course registration fee and the AMIGOS program fee, less the $50 application fee and $425 deposit (for National Chapter volunteers), can be paid for using 529 accounts.

 

Can I pay for my application fee or deposit from my 529 account?

No. At this time, only the college credit course registration fee and the AMIGOS program fee, less the $50 application fee and $425 deposit (for National Chapter volunteers), can be paid for using 529 accounts.

 

Can I pay for supplemental expenses such as immunization costs or gear from my 529 account?

No. At this time, only the college credit course registration fee and the AMIGOS program fee, less the $50 application fee and $425 deposit (for National Chapter volunteers), can be paid for using 529 accounts.

 

Is there any extra coursework for volunteers who sign up to earn the college credits?

No. Western Colorado has approved our existing curriculum for the POLS 197: Global Citizenship and Global Citizenship 2.0 courses, so volunteers who register for these credits will not be required to do any course work above and beyond what is already part of the program.

 

Which AMIGOS programs are eligible to earn credits through Western Colorado University?

All 3+ week high school projects within the Summer Program as well as all Gap Programs have thus far received approval for these college credits. The 2-week projects are not eligible.

 

Do I have to go to college at Western Colorado University to claim these credits?

No, you can earn these credits through Western Colorado University without attending the school for college. These credits are transferable to many colleges and universities in the United States, please check with your current or future institution to confirm if they accept these credits and what the process for transferring them will be.

 

How is the course graded?

At the end of the program, all volunteers will be assigned a letter grade relating to their participation in the program.

 

What if I don’t complete the AMIGOS program? Will I still receive credit?

In most cases, if a volunteer does not complete the program, they will not be eligible to receive credit. However, in certain circumstances, the volunteer may be able to finish their coursework and receive credit without completing the full program. This will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

 

What is the cancellation and refund policy if I choose to pay for all or part of my AMIGOS program fee through Western Colorado University (either using a direct payment or a 529 fund?

Regardless of the method of payment, AMIGOS cancellation and refund policies apply for all program fees. Please refer to your Family Financial Agreement (for local chapter volunteers) or the Finance Policy (for National Chapter volunteers) for more information. The course registration fee may be refundable according to Western Colorado University’s refund policies. More information can be found on Western Colorado University’s FAQ section on this webpage.

 

How can I request a transcript for these credits?

Visit www.getmytranscript.com and follow the instructions. Select “Western Colorado University” as the school and reference your invoice from Western Colorado University to retrieve your Student ID.

 

Are these college credits transferable to another college or university? How do I go about transferring them?

Yes, these college credits are generally transferrable to other colleges or universities. Please contact your current or future institution Transfer Evaluator to determine if your Western Colorado University credits will be transferrable.

 

Have more questions or want to talk to our team? Email [email protected]!