National Partnership for Student Success (NPSS) First-Year Community Leaders Program

What is the NPSS?

The National Partnership for Student Success is a public-private partnership committed to providing the support that will help our students succeed. The NPSS envisions an education system that provides every student the support they need to succeed and thrive in our 21st-century democracy and economy. One of the primary ways this will come to life is through connecting college students to public schools and community partners to provide mentorship, coaching, and tutoring. In Baltimore, no one is better positioned to support these efforts than Johns Hopkins University.

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Who are the NPSS First-Year Community Leaders?

The students who make up the NPSS FYCLP are incoming Blue Jays eligible for Federal Work Study who wish to utilize that funding to develop leadership skills through Community Service-based roles.

This program, designed for students eligible for Federal Work Study, offers a unique chance to make up a cohort that will:

• Secure a Federal Work-Study position that pays for community service work by or before coming to campus.
• Support the local Baltimore community, developing desirable leadership skills at a higher hourly wage than on-campus roles and
• Have exclusive support around the position to ensure they can better leverage the experience to secure a summer experience (internship, research, global, etc.) in Summer 2025 or the near future.

We expect to enroll 60 students in the program this year, and the application should take no more than 20 minutes and close on Friday, July 26^th

Please note that students do not have to participate in the cohort to use their federal work-study funding toward community service-based roles. You are encouraged to consider Community Service opportunities with your FWS even if the leadership program doesn’t fit your goals or schedule.

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Timeline and Expectations

Upon being selected, students in the cohort will be supported in securing their community service position through Federal Work Study and ensuring the hiring process and payment setup is completed efficiently.

Throughout the semester, the cohort will meet regularly to engage with many leadership development topics broadly and as they pertain to their experience. Topics include self-exploration, cultural competence, responsible community engagement, coaching skill development, leadership and collaboration, career exploration, future planning, goal setting, and reflection.

Meetups will take place on campus, scheduled around the academic calendar, and will be at most 90 minutes. Most often, food will be served.

Frequently Asked Questions