Community Impact at Columbia University’s

George Van Amson Service Fellowship

SUMMER 2015

Established by Community Impact, the George Van Amson Fellowship is awarded tosix

undergraduatestudents (fromCC, SEAS, Barnard or GS) who arecommitted to social change. Fellowsearna $3,000stipendand sponsored summerhousing[1] to participate in an unpaid project- or research-based internship supportingnonprofit or service learning work. Fellows work with partners in New York City for eight weeks, for 30 hours per week.

Three GVA Fellowship types[2] are available:

  1. TheGVA Public Interest Fellowworks at a local NYC nonprofit organization in a project- or research-based internship capacity[3];
  2. TheGVA Community Impact Brinkley Fellowwill work at Community Impact on a self-initiated project or researchthat fulfills a specific organizational need;
  3. TheGVA Faculty Service Learning Fellow will assist a faculty member in the development and research of a service-learning projectto be offered as part of a fall 2015course.

Applicants will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Impact of theorganization on the community;

Impact of the fellowship projectwithin the organization;

Impact of the project on the Fellow;

Project’salignment with Community Impact’s mission toadvance the public good and instill the importance of life-long service;

Applicants’ passion for the project and depth of understanding about how the project influences broader social change.

If selected, Fellows are required to:

Participate in weekly online reflection and discussion forums to deepen understanding of professional development and methods for influencing social change.

Attend TWOProfessional Development training sessions over the course of the eight week fellowship period. (Dates forthcoming.)

Submit TWOemployer evaluations at the mid-point and conclusion of the fellowship.

Compose a final reflection essay synthesizing the Fellowship experience.

Present fellowship project/research highlights at an annual breakfast focused on civic engagement and service learning as facets of strong campus-community partnerships.

Community Impact at Columbia University’s

George Van Amson Service Fellowship

SUMMER 2015

APPLICATION

Instructions

  1. Complete theApplicant Information section below, and indicate the Fellowship type for which you are applying.
  2. Answer the essay questionsrelevant to the fellowship for which you are applying.
  3. Compose a resume.
  4. If you are applying for the GVA Public Interest Fellowship, submit the Employer Verification Form.

Submit the application materialslisted above in a singleWord document to with the subject line “2015 Van Amson Fellowship Application” by March 30, 2015, at 5pm EST.

Applicant Information

NAME:

PHONE:

EMAIL:

MAJOR:

SCHOOL & GRADUATION YEAR:

LOCAL ADDRESS:

  1. Do you need housing this summer? YESNO
  1. Are you in good academic standing, YESNO

according to your school?

  1. Do you participate in a Community Impact program? YESNO

If so, which one?

  1. How did you find out about the Community Impact GVA Fellowship?

Please select which GVA Fellowship for which you would like to be considered.

GVA Public Interest Fellow. Complete a project with a local nonprofit organization in an unpaid position. Please submit an Employer Verification Form (page 4) with your application.

GVA Community Impact Brinkley Fellow. Work at Community Impact on a self-initiated project. Please submit a thorough project proposal with application.

GVA Faculty Service Learning Fellow. Assista Columbia University faculty member with the development of service learning course or course component.

Professional References

Please provide the names, contact phone & email information, and nature of relationship:

1.

2.

Community Impact at Columbia University’s

George Van Amson Service Fellowship

SUMMER 2015

APPLICATION ESSAY PROMPTS

To apply for the GVA Public Interest Fellowship:

In 2-3 pages (double-spaced), please address the following:

  1. Describe the internship. Include the organization’s name, your understanding of its mission, and any daily tasks and/or responsibilities you expect to perform during your time there.
  2. What is the internship’s objective? How does this internship connect your academic experience and your long-term career goals? What do you hope to gain and learn from this internship?
  3. Discuss outcomes.How will this project benefit the mission and work of the organization? How does this project complement Community Impact’s mission and influence social change more broadly?

Submit a completed Employer Verification Form by March 30, 2015 at 5pmconfirming your unpaid position with a local nonprofit. See page 5 of this application for the form.

To apply for theGVA Community Impact Brinkley Fellowship:

Connect with CI staff members and Student Executives to gauge current organization and programmatic needs and discuss potential projects.

In 2-3 pages (double-spaced), please address the following:

  1. Project Proposal and Outcomes. What is your project idea? How will this project benefit Community Impact mission?
  2. List the CI staff and/or Student Executives you consulted to develop your project proposal, and discuss how their specific role or experience aligns with your project proposal.
  3. Skills and Experience. Whatdo you bring to the project? How do you expect to grow in/from the project? How does the Fellowship contribute to your long-term goals?

Note:While formerBrinkley Fellows have typically had experience with Community Impact, this is not a requirement. Please see our website for examples of previous projects.

To apply for the GVA Faculty Service Learning Fellowship:

In 2-3 pages (double-spaced), please address the following:

  1. Please share anybackground or experience with service learning. Describe the benefits of a learning model that offers opportunities to pair theory with practice.
  2. What do you hope to learn from the internship? How does the internship contribute to your long-term goals? What kind of contribution will this project have on students and community members who participate?

Email Lucia Rutter at to express interest and learn more about the faculty member assigned to the fellowship.

Community Impact at Columbia University’s

George Van Amson Service Fellowship

SUMMER 2015

EMPLOYER VERIFICATION FORM

(PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOW APPLICANTS ONLY)

PART I: APPLICANT INFORMATION

NAME:

LOCAL ADDRESS:

SCHOOL & GRADUATION YEAR:

MAJOR:

PERMANENT ADDRESS:

PHONE:

EMAIL:

George Van Amson Service Fellowship: Brief Background

Established by Community Impact, the George Van Amson Fellowship is awarded tosix undergraduate students (from Columbia, SEAS, Barnard or GS) who are committed to social change. Fellows earn a $3,000 stipend and sponsored summer housing[4] to participate in an unpaid project- or research-based internship supporting a nonprofit or service learning work. Fellows work at with partners in New York City for eight weeks, for 30 hours per week.

If selected, Fellows are required to:

Participate in weekly online reflection and discussion forums to deepen understanding of professional development and methods for influencing social change.

Attend TWO Professional Development training sessions over the course of the eight week fellowship period. (Dates forthcoming.)

Submit TWOemployer evaluations at the mid-point and conclusion of the fellowship.

Compose a final reflection essay synthesizing the Fellowship experience.

Present fellowship project/research highlights at an annual breakfast focused on civic engagement and service learning as facets of strong campus-community partnerships.

PART II: INTERNSHIP SUPERVISOR INFORMATION

NAME:

PHONE:

TITLE:

EMAIL:

ORGANIZATION:

ADDRESS:

WEBSITE:

PART III: INTERNSHIP INFORMATION

INTERN TITLE:

NUMBER OF HOURS/WEEK:

TOTAL NUMBER OF WEEKS:

START DATE:

END DATE:

Will the intern be compensated for his/her work?

Please describe the project to be completed by the Fellowship applicant.

Please describe the type and nature of supervision the Fellow will receive. How much support will he/she have, and who provides this support?

Please comment on any other aspect(s) of the internship or your organization you think the Community Impact GVA Fellowship program should know.

I hereby acknowledge that I have read the internship description above and certify that [intern name] has been selected to intern with our organization.

Supervisor Signature: Date:

1

[1] Housing is provided by Barnard College and does not include the summer and fall interim sessions. Additional charges apply for interim housing.

[2] You may apply for more than one of these fellowship options, but please submit separate applications.

[3] Fellows must secure an unpaid nonprofit internship by the application deadline, March 30, 2015 at5pm and submit an Employer Verification Form to confirm the position.

[4] Housing is provided by Barnard College and does not include the summer and fall interim sessions. Additional charges apply for interim housing.