1. When does the fellowship begin and end?
The fellowship does not have a fixed start and end date; however you must work a minimum of 8 weeks. The campus summer housing dates are May 20 through August 10th.
2. What type of work do Van Amson fellows pursue? Do they have to pursue service work related to their service internships?
Van Amson Fellows pursue a variety of work. See our past Fellows profile section for more information about what they have done in the past. The internships are full time, and although we always encourage community service we do not require Fellows to pursue volunteer service work simultaneously.
3. How would work as a Community Impact intern differ from work as an intern for another nonprofit organization, under the Van Amson Fellowship?
If your internship is with Community Impact, as opposed for another nonprofit organization, you will work on your own project. The application is also slightly different, since you propose a project to work on over the summer. You have a considerable degree of autonomy and get to see a whole project through as you propose.
4. What types of projects have Van Amson Fellows completed in the past?
In our section on past Fellows you can see where the placements have been and what type of work fellows have done.
5. Is there a requirement for how long a person has had to intern for a non-Community Impact internship in order to apply for the Fellowship?
There is a requirement that you have secured an internship by the time you apply. You must have the offer and have the employer verify this when you submit your application.
6. When will I hear if I have received the Fellowship?
On March 30th the Fellowship selection committee will notify applicants if they have received the fellowship.
7. Are there restrictions, such as religious affiliation, on what type of nonprofit organizations I can work at?
There are no restrictions of what type of nonprofit organization you work at; however, the internship must be full-time and unpaid.
8. What privileges and responsibilities come with being named a recipient of the Fellowship?
There are a number of privileges and responsibilities that come with being a Van Amson Fellow including being honored at a ceremony, featured in Community Impact publications, and opportunities for private consultation with Community Impact alumni and staff. Fellows are also responsible for fulfilling all the requirements of the fellowship, including attending all organizational events, writing a final essay, submitting an evaluation, and speaking at special CI events.
9. Will I be a good candidate for this fellowship if I have multiple, short-term internships rather than the specified 8-week work period?
In order to qualify for the Van Amson Fellowship, you must have one full-time internship that lasts for a minimum of 8 weeks.
10. Are letters of recommendations required?
No, letters of recommendation are not required, however, references are. Please provide the name and contact information for two professional and/or academic references, whom a member of the selection committee can contact before granting the fellowship.
11. If I don’t need housing over the summer, does that mean I will get more of the stipend?
No, this stipend is a fixed amount and is not affected by whether or not you receive the sponsored campus housing. Please note there is a fee for the campus housing, which must be paid in advance, i.e. before you receive any installments of the stipend.
12. What if my employer doesn’t submit the Employer Verification Form by the due date?
We cannot accept any late or incomplete applications. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all application materials are submitted by the due date, March 19, 2012.
13. How can I ask more specific questions?
To ask any questions, email cifellowshipfund@gmail.com.
