Student Fellowship Eligibility and Requirements

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The Edward Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning requests proposals from undergraduate and graduate students for fellowships in support of initiatives that advance the Center's mission.

MISSION

The Edward Ginsberg Center's mission is to engage students, faculty, and community partners in learning together through community service and civic participation in a diverse democratic society.

THE EDWARD GINSBERG CENTER'S GOALS ARE:

• Build student capacity for learning and leadership through community service, civic participation, and educational efforts.
• Build faculty capacity for research and teaching that strengthens student learning and involves and develops communities.
• Build the capacity of communities through partnerships with the University to improve the quality of life and enhance student learning.
• Increase the institutional capacity of the University of Michigan for student civic and multicultural learning.
• Build the capacity of the Center as an institutional vehicle for student civic, multicultural, and leadership learning.

Please click here to review summaries of some past funded projects. (44k word document)

ELIGIBILITY

All undergraduate and graduate students in good academic standing are eligible to apply for funds. Applicants must be enrolled full time for at least one more semester at the University following completion of the project.

FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION PERIOD

There is one application period for Ginsberg Student Fellowships, during the winter semester of each year. Funding supports projects during the following Spring/Summer or Fall/Winter terms.

• Fellowship applications available beginning January 15, 2009.
• Application Due to Ginsberg Center (1024 Hill Street) by 5:00pm on Friday, March 6, 2009.
• Funding Decisions announced by March 23, 2009.

AWARDS

Fellowship awards are granted based upon:

• Quality of the project proposal, including meeting community needs, feasibility, clearly defined objectives and evaluation processes, and community support.
• Potential for the Fellow's personal and civic growth and development.
• Substantial previous involvement with community service and/or social action.
• Demonstrated focus on addressing social issues through involvement in the community.

Because the Ginsberg Center is not only a funding partner but also a capacity-building partner, a Ginsberg Center staff mentor will be available throughout your project to discuss issues and to problem-solve. We are planning to organize events so that Ginsberg Student Fellows and mentors can interact and share specific lessons learned from their projects.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Student applicants should submit the application and supporting documents. Click here for the Ginsberg Student Fellows application form.

FUNDING REQUIREMENTS

Awardees are responsible for:

• PRIMARY PROJECT: Fellows will define and undertake a project in partnership with a community-based organization that will contribute to positive social change and/or create a sustainable partnership between the University and that organization. Community organizations are defined as 1) public agencies such as governmental agencies and school systems, or 2) non-profit organizations.
• PROJECT PRESENTATION: Fellows may be asked to showcase the project at the Ginsberg Center's Project Fair, held during the Spring, or at a similar event.
• MEETINGS: Fellows will participate in ongoing meetings with each other and with an assigned Ginsberg staff mentor.
• FINAL REPORT: Fellows will submit a final report within thirty days of project completion. The Ginsberg Center Final Report Template will be used to provide a review of student project accomplishments, barriers, key lessons learned, expenditures, and recommendations for future fellows. The report template can be found at Final-Report-Protocol.doc

SUBMISSION

E-mail an electronic copy: ginsberg.fellows@umich.edu

Or

Submit one hard copy:

Ginsberg Student Fellows Selection Committee c/o Dave Waterhouse
Ginsberg Center
1024 Hill Street
Ann Arbor, MI, 48104-3310

REVIEW

Each application will be given prompt attention by Ginsberg Center staff and reviewed if the submission guidelines are met and all parts of the application are complete. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of students and Ginsberg Center staff. Decisions will be announced via e-mail.

APPLICATION ASSISTANCE

Application may be more competitive when they are developed with assistance of Ginsberg Center staff. Application assistance is available before March 7th by contacting:
Dave Waterhouse, Director of Student Initiatives at hoohouse@umich.edu or by calling 734-647-8769

Download a student fellowship application now! (76K Word file)