VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is a service learning program that offers free tax help to low-and moderate-income families. Eleven students in Policy, Poverty and Practice (Econ 235), taught by Lecturer in Economics Margaret Morgan-Davie, trained and then worked to assist local residents in applying for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Through their efforts, these Hamilton students are becoming more aware of their civic duties and increasingly proficient in the language of tax returns.

The Vita program was initiated by the Mohawk Valley Asset Building Coalition (MVABC), the United Way of the Mohawk Valley, and the IRS as a way to ensure that qualifying taxpayers would receive Earned Income Tax Credits. The Levitt Center coordinates with MVABC to enlist college students' help with the program. Students in Policy, Poverty and Practice attend the IRS TaxWise training and obtain at least basic-level certification. Thereafter, they complete at least 15 hours of electronic tax filing as a part of their class requirement. This year, the students worked at the Resource Center for Independent Living (RCIL) in Utica to complete their hours.