CEI Summer Scholars and Fellows

CEI Summer Scholars

The CEI Summer Scholars program provides highly motivated undergraduates the opportunity to immerse themselves in a community-based research or creative project under the direction of a faculty mentor. 

Scholars spend 10 weeks during the summer in full-time pursuit of their projects in partnership with a Delaware non-profit, governmental, community-based action research, or service-based corporate activity and simultaneously pursue academic reflection under the guidance of a UD faculty mentor.

Students specifically interested in the arts (i.e., dancers, actors, visual artists, etc.) can immerse themselves in a self-guided project under the supervision of a faculty mentor, while considering the impact on the larger community.

The end product of scholars projects might be a written document (technical report, feature article, academic paper, journal, etc.) or a presentation.

Scholars typically earn three credits in preparation for the program, following their summer project, or some combination of the two. During the summer, scholars are enrolled in a zero credit P/F Sustaining Course and attend a weekly seminar led by CEI staff.

Scholars receive a stipend of $4000.  

CEI Summer Fellows

The CEI Summer Fellows program provides partial support for students who want to work part-time on a project and combine it with other summer activities such as coursework and/or employment.

The end product of this project might be a written document (technical report, feature article, academic paper, journal, etc.) or a presentation. Fellow projects vary in length of time commitment and funding.

During the summer, fellows are enrolled in a zero credit P/F Sustaining Course and are invited to attend a weekly seminar led by CEI staff.

Award stipends range from $500-$3000.

Advisement

Contact Leann Moore, Associate Director, Community Engagement Initiative at lmoore@udel.edu.

Application Information

Projects may be conducted in any major. Strong proposals will connect to the faculty mentor’s teaching or research. Proposals will explain the goals of the project and the questions studied through a combination of community engagement and research. It should also include a preliminary bibliography and timeline. 

Each application should include a one-page essay (with name on the top) indicating how this project connects to the applicant’s academic and career goals. 

Priority applications for Summer 2024 will be available through March 8, 2024.

Priority awards announced: March 15, 2024

Team Applications

Students, with support of their faculty mentor, may apply as 2–3 person teams. To do so each team member should complete an application. Team members may use the same proposal while including a one-page essay (with name on the top) indicating how this project connects to the their own academic and career goals.

Faculty should forward to CEI one recommendation letter per team.

Early Decision

Scholars or Fellows who intend to earn credits in Spring 2024 as preparation for their summer service experience may apply for Early Decision and receive provisional approval within a month.