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Columbia College Summer Funding Program

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Thank you for your interest in the Summer Funding Programs. The application for summer 2020 will become available on March 2, 2020. 

 

The Columbia College Summer Funding Program provides funding to Columbia College students participating in unpaid or low-paid summer internships related to their career pursuits and/or academic studies. 

FEATURES

Through the Columbia College Summer Funding Program students are awarded stipends via a competitive process which includes a written application and review by a committee of College staff from across campus.

The Columbia College Summer Funding Program: 

  • Supports undergraduate students who have secured unpaid or low-paid summer internships. (Low-paid is defined as compensated at less than the equivalent of New York State minimum wage — less than $15/hr)
  • Provides stipends ranging from $500 to $5,000 based on the nature of the internship and demonstrated student need
  • Provides support primarily for not-for-profit, arts, government, public health, scientific research, and community outreach internship experiences.

All qualified students who apply to the Columbia College Summer Funding Program and receive Columbia grant-based financial aid with a summer work expectation (Student Contribution) are encouraged to also apply for a Work Exemption Program (WEP) grant. Students do not need to submit a separate application to the Work Exemption Program. Simply check the Work Exemption Program box on your funding program application form to be considered. The WEP grant will replace a student’s summer work expectation (Student Contribution). 

DONORS

Columbia College Summer Funding Program awards are made possible thanks to the generosity of Columbia College alumni/ae, parents, and friends. Students selected to receive an award will be matched with one of the following funds based on the fund criteria.

Funds Open to ALL COLUMBIA COLLEGE STUDENTS

  • Alumni Summer Internship Fund — general fund for students pursuing unpaid or low-paid summer internships
  • Andrew Hyman Fellowship in Public Service Fund — provides support for students to pursue U.S.-based internships in the public sector, including government, community and public service. 
  • Class of 1954 Internship Stipend Fund — for rising juniors or seniors with a preference for students interning in government or not-for-profit organizations
  • Derek Wittner Internship Fund — general fund for students pursuing summer internships
  • Donald Margolis Internship Fund - general fund for students pursuing unpaid or low-paid summer internships
  • Edwin Seave and Joseph Greenwald Internship - general fund for students pursuing unpaid or low-paid summer internships
  • Eric H. Holder Jr. Initiative for Civil and Political Rights Internship Fund - supports students with unpaid or low-paid summer internships at non-profit and non-governmental organizations that are engaged in aspects of equal protection, equal rights, civic engagement, leadership and democracy, social justice, inequality and voting rights. 
  • EUGENE Group Korea Scholars Program Fund — for students with summer internships in South Korea, with a preference for non-residents of South Korea
  • Goldman Family Fellows Research Fund — for students participating in research opportunities
  • Harold F. Linder Summer Internship Fund — students must be interning at companies/organizations that employ Columbia College students
  • Kamen Family Internship — for students interning in healthcare
  • Ng Teng Fong Student Internship Fund — for students interning in business with a preference for students who are residents of China or Hong Kong
  • Pritzker Pucker Summer Internship Fund — supports students, regardless of financial need, pursuing summer internships in art, media, culture and technology to facilitate broader access to these fields.
  • Rachelefsky Family Research Fellowship Fund — supports an outstanding Columbia College student participating in a summer research opportunity 
  • Yemini Fund - general fund for students pursuing unpaid or low-paid summer internships

Funds restricted to COLUMBIA COLLEGE Students who receive grant-based Financial Aid 

  • Anonymous Internship Fund — fund to enable students with financial need to pursue internship opportunities
  • Clark Tandon Family Fund - preference for students who have an interest in creative writing
  • Gittess-Brodsky Internship Fund — preference for students working at companies that are part of the Columbia Startup Lab
  • Herman Family Foundation Summer Internship Fund - preference for students on financial aid pursuing unpaid public sector international internships
  • Robin D. and William N. Hubbard Internship Fund - preference for students interning at organizations that support environmental conservation and population and family planning
  • Roger Lehecka Summer Internship Fund — for rising seniors with demonstrated financial need who have secured an unpaid summer internship
  • Sharon and Peter Grossman Family Internship Fund - for students on financial aid pursuing unpaid or low-paid summer internships
  • Silverman Family Internship Fund — for rising juniors and seniors, in good academic standing, with at least a 3.0 GPA, who are working in unpaid summer internships

Institutional funding through this program is made available with the sole intention of supporting students’ living expenses (such as housing, food and travel expenses). This support enables students to participate in unpaid or low paid opportunities.  Funding is not provided in lieu of compensation for work and supervisors are required to acknowledge in the Employer Verification Form that participating organizations are compliant with the US Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other applicable state and local legislation.

RESOURCES

Here are a few suggestions to search for unpaid or low-paid internships.

ELIGIBILITY

CriteriaColumbia College Summer Funding ProgramWork Exemption Program
Currently registered Columbia College student in good academic and disciplinary standing 

        ♦

     ♦

Rising sophomore, junior or senior

        ♦

     ♦

Minimum 3.0 GPA

        ♦

 
Recipient of Columbia grant-based financial aid *

 

     ♦

Secured an unpaid or low-paid summer internship prior to the application deadline. (Low-paid is defined as compensated at less than the equivalent of New York State minimum wage — less than $15/hr)

       ♦

     ♦

Work commitment of at least 20 hours/week during the summer (for partial funding/WEP grant)

       ♦

     ♦

* Many Columbia College Summer Funding Program donors require that selected students are recipients of Columbia grant-based financial aid. If you are unsure if you receive grant-based financial aid, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid & Educational Financing.

The following opportunities are not eligible for the columbia college summer funding program or work exemption program:

  • Any opportunity that is a component of an academic program of study or for which course credit is being offered (including research conducted for the sole purpose of a senior thesis project).
  • Any opportunity that is not compliant with the US Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers must sign and acknowledge compliance when completing the employer verification form.
  • On-campus extra-curricular activities (exceptions include CU EMS and the Double Discovery Center)

  • Any academic or experiential endeavor that requires a student to pay to participate in the program

  • Opportunities that support partisan political activity or that involve proselytizing, preaching or missionary work on behalf of a religious organization

  • An opportunity where you will be supervised by a classmate, peer, family member or friend

  • This program does not provide funding for students planning or working on their own startups

APPLICATION PROCESS & TIMELINE

Program availability

The Columbia College Summer Funding Program accepts applications for unpaid or low paid summer internships only. 

Application deadline

Monday, April 13, 2020, at 12:00 noon. 

Applicants notified of their status

Monday, May 4, 2020

Application Instructions

To apply, complete the common Summer Funding Programs application form.

Remember to check off the box to also be considered for a WEP grant, if you are eligible. Be prepared to upload: 

  • Resume — For resume help, please feel free to utilize CCE’s walk-in hours or schedule an appointment with a counselor. You can also review CCE’s Design Your Next Steps guide. 
  • Personal statement — see prompts below.
  • Budget form — Include all expenses necessary for the completion of your internship. 
  • Employer Verification form— This online form must be completed by your direct supervisor.  Please forward the link to your employer.
  • One letter of recommendation — Complete the recommendation waiver to request a letter of recommendation. We suggest completing this at least 2 weeks prior to the application deadline to give your recommender sufficient time. We will not accept letters of recommendation written by family members, friends, resident hall advisors, student leaders, members of student organizations or classmates. Your letter of recommendation must be on official letterhead, dated and signed.

Personal Statement Instructions

Your statement should be limited to three pages, double-spaced. Include the prompts outlined below in your essay to ensure you answer all questions thoroughly. 

Description of the opportunity

  • describe the organization, your role, and responsibilities;
  • describe your duties, projects to be completed and deadlines; and
  • explain why you want to intern at this organization.

Learning Objectives

  • what do you intend to learn from this experience?
  • what are your goals and how do they align with your academic interests and/or career plans?

Supervision

  • describe the supervision you will receive.
  • what kind of instruction, assistance, and training will you receive and from whom? 
  • explain how and when you will be evaluated.

conclusion

  • explain why you should be considered for this program; 
  • explain how  your plans will be affected if you do not receive funding; and
  • address your commitment to completing required webshops, submitting a donor thank you letter and a reflection project.

Late or incomplete applications and applicants who do not meet the required criteria will not be considered.

By submitting an application, you authorize the Center for Career Education to conduct academic, disciplinary and financial aid checks to confirm program eligibility and inform funding decisions. Certain University policy violations may disqualify you from consideration for this program.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS PLANNING OVERSEAS TRAVEL

In accordance with the new Undergraduate International Travel Policy, all students traveling overseas through a Columbia led, Columbia facilitated and/or recognized program must submit a school sponsorship application 4-weeks prior to departure.** When completing your school sponsorship application:

  • If participating in an established set program, enter the corresponding coordinating program
  • If not participating in a set program, add CCE as a coordinating program
  • In the funding program section, select Summer Funding Programs (CCE)

Once you have received confirmation of your school sponsorship, log in to the Undergraduate Travel Web App to complete:

  • Online Pre-Departure Orientation
  • Sign the Assumption of Risk, Waiver, and Release form

Additionally, all students must:

  • Register your travel (including side trips) through International SOS
  • Confirm that, while abroad, you will be covered by a health insurance policy that also provides coverage outside the United States for routine, urgent and emergency care.

It is critical that you thoroughly familiarize yourself with the Undergraduate International Travel Policy and complete all steps outlined above. For related questions, contact utrc@columbia.edu.

If you do not submit a School Sponsorship application and complete all subsequent pre-departure requirements, you may face disciplinary action.

*Graduate students participating in a Columbia led, Columbia facilitated and/or recognized program such as STEP are also required to complete a school sponsorship application. This policy does not replace any additional requirements from a student’s home school. Graduate students, including Columbia Engineering graduate students, are encouraged to check in with their home school prior to finalizing any travel arrangements.

** Students applying to summer funding programs with overseas opportunities who plan to travel in May should apply for school sponsorship by the funding program application deadline. Submitting a school sponsorship application does not guarantee you will receive funding. Similarly receiving summer funding does not guarantee approval of your school sponsorship application. Please note that school sponsorship applications related to summer funding programs will not be approved unless the student receives a summer funding award. Students who submit a school sponsorship application and do not receive a summer funding award must withdraw their school sponsorship application unless they are also part of the CEO or STEP programs. In those cases, sponsorship applications should not be withdrawn.

FAQs

I need to confirm acceptance to my internship program prior to the  APPLICATION Deadline. Can the Committee review my application early?

We cannot review your application prior to the deadline. Applications are reviewed collectively by a committee who meets after the application deadline. The timeline for applications is based on internship deadlines for the majority of students.

I do not receive Financial Aid; however, I can demonstrate FInancial need. Can I still apply?

We encourage you to submit an application. There are a handful of donor funds that do not require students to be in receipt of Columbia grant-based financial aid. 

Can I apply to both THE COLUMBIA COLLEGE SUMMER FUNDING PROGRAM and the Work Exemption Program?

All qualified students who apply to the Columbia College Summer Funding Program are encouraged to also apply for a Work Exemption Program (WEP) grant. Students do not need to submit a separate application to the Work Exemption Program. Simply check the Work Exemption Program box on your funding program application form to be considered. The WEP grant will replace a student’s summer work expectation (Student Contribution). 

My internship provides a modest stipend. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes. The committee will consider funding students with low-paid internships. Low-paid is defined as compensated at less than the equivalent of New York State minimum wage — less than $15/hr.

How competitive is the COLUMBIA COLLEGE SUMMER FUNDING program?

The Columbia College Summer Funding Program is highly selective and funding is limited. Interested students are encouraged to submit a strong, well-written personal statement that clearly articulates their internship and their goal in pursuing their opportunity.

I DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY SECURED AT THE TIME OF THE APPLICATION DEADLINE.  WHY IS THE DEADLINE SO EARLY?  AM I STILL ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

Deadlines for the Summer Funding Programs are set after carefully considering a date that will allow the greatest number of students an opportunity to take advantage of the program.  The funding program committee aims to notify students of a decision on their application with enough time for them to consider their employment plans if they are not selected for the program.

The funding program committee begins reviewing applicants immediately following the application deadline.  Students who are selected for the program are chosen within the context of the applicant pool for that semester and additional, individual reviews for students who miss the application deadline are not offered. We do not offer extensions to the deadline. 

I’VE ALREADY INTERVIEWED, BUT AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR IF I HAVE AN OFFER.  CAN I STILL APPLY FOR THE WORK EXEMPTION PROGRAM?  CAN I GET AN EXTENSION?

If you will be waiting to receive a final offer of employment at the time of the application deadline please contact the funding program committee directly at cce-funding@columbia.edu to discuss where you are in the interview process.  Because the committee meets to review applicants immediately following the deadline, extensions to the deadline are not offered.

I HAVE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I PLAN ON PURSUING; CAN I APPLY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR EACH OF THEM?

If you will be pursuing more than one internship, research, or volunteer opportunity during the semester or summer you may apply for a funding program award to support these multiple opportunities. At the start of the application, you will be asked to select how many opportunities you have. Based on your selection, you will then have the ability to enter application information for up to three opportunities. Please review our website for application instructions and ensure that you respond to the personal statement prompts for both opportunities. It will also be important to discuss how you will manage your time pursuing multiple professional endeavors. Your supervisors will each need to submit  Employer Verification forms detailing your work commitment at each organization.  You only need to submit one letter of recommendation and budget form (during the summer). 

I received a FUNDING PROGRAM award last year. Can I apply again?

As long as you meet all of the eligibility requirements, you can apply again for funding.

Would you recommend submitting a letter of recommendation from a professor or an employer?

Your letter of recommendation should come from the person who knows you best, can speak well of your academic, extracurricular and professional accomplishments, and who can comment on your character such as a professor, advising dean or supervisor. We advise against asking a teacher/coach from high school to write your recommendation. We will not accept letters of recommendation written by family members, friends, resident hall advisors, student leaders, members of student organizations or classmates. Your letter of recommendation must be on official letterhead, dated and signed. 

If you are reapplying to receive the WEP grant for an opportunity for a consecutive semester (such as summer continuing into fall; fall continuing into spring; spring continuing into summer) you must submit a new recommendation for the same opportunity. 

Where have previous award recipients interned?

In past summers, recipients have interned locally, nationally and internationally at organizations such as The Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation in NYC, Boston Children’s Hospital, the Center for Microfinance in India, Engineers without Borders in Uganda and Ghana, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs in NYC, the Women’s Foreign Policy Group in Washington DC, and numerous laboratories and research centers on Columbia’s campus.

Are there any fellowships that would cover expenses for a winter break and /or spring semester unpaid internship?

Eligible students can apply to the Work Exemption Program for exemption of their in-school work expectation during the fall and spring semesters. The Fellowships Office also has a comprehensive database of opportunities and their staff are available to meet with students.

Are there additional funding sources available to supplement a COLUMBIA COLLEGE SUMMER FUNDING PROGRAM award?

Yes, there are numerous fellowships and grants available to fund summer opportunities. The Fellowships Office also has a comprehensive database of opportunities and their staff are available to meet with students. Students could also reach out to professors, departmental administrators and teaching assistants to learn of fellowships and/or awards in their field of study.

I am not eligible to apply to THIS PROGRAM. I really want to do an unpaid internship this summer; however, without funding, it will not be possible for me to pursue this opportunity. What do you recommend?

The Fellowships Office also has a comprehensive database of opportunities and their staff are available to meet with students. Students could also reach out to professors, departmental administrators and teaching assistants to learn of fellowships and/or awards in their field of study.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE REFLECTION PROJECT?

The reflection project is completed and submitted at the end of the semester.  The project allows you to showcase and express your experience in a way that best suits your interest. The primary focus of this exercise should be on the professional experience you are having. Your project can be any of the following: video, blog or journal, essay, social media posts, Big Interview practice interview. 

Program Details: 

Program Semester

Summer

Program Deadline

April 13, 2020 at 12 noon


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