Create research that builds toward positive social change! You will have the opportunity to work with one of the FHC Scholar Communities, a nonprofit partner, or focus on an issue you are passionate about by creating your own sustainable, long-term project for students to continue in future terms.
The Community Research Fellowship (CRF) is ideal for students who seek to connect theory and better understand community-identified issues to inspire action on positive social issues. Learn more by watching the Zoom info session below.
The Award
Summer: In addition to receiving a $4,000 stipend, fellows are expected to work full-time on their research projects while engaging in a seminar that will meet once a week. The time of the seminar will be determined by the cohort’s class schedule.
Academic Year (Fall and Spring): In addition to receiving a $2,000 stipend throughout the academic year, fellows are expected to work part-time on their research projects while engaging in a seminar that will meet once a week. The time of the seminar will be determined by the cohort’s class schedule.
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR AY22-23. APPLY HERE!
Details
The CRF’s mission is to provide experiential learning to students as they engage with curriculum concepts to create a socially responsible, mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources with community partners. Students will explore civic learning and develop an understanding of equity, implicit bias, and strengths-based orientation as they pertain to community engaged scholarship.
The Fellowship includes a weekly seminar to discuss, reflect, and learn about community-based research methods and best practices. Students will also post monthly critical reflections on the Pitt Honors blog. At the conclusion of the seminar, fellows will be expected to produce a final deliverable for the community partner and a final presentation to the larger University and Pittsburgh communities. These will all be dependent upon the community partner’s needs and each student’s project will differ.
Who Can Apply?
Any full-time student who has completed at least 12 credits from any of Pitt's undergraduate schools or majors at the Oakland campus, is not a graduating student, and is in good academic standing.
How to Apply
Students must apply according to the instructions via InfoReady and the “Application Instructions” link below. All application materials must be received by the date listed below. All applicants will be notified by the UHC within roughly 30 days of the application deadline.
View the recorded Zoom info session.
Click here to view the Application Instructions! Applications need to be submitted through InfoReady which can be found by searching for Community Research Fellowship.
Application Materials
Required materials include (Detailed explanations can be found via the link above, and in the online application itself):
- Project proposal
- Diversity Statement
- Resume
- Faculty Mentor Letter of Support
- Community Partner Letter of Support*
It is the applicant’s responsibility to include all materials mentioned above as a complete application package. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
*If you cannot obtain a Community Partner Letter of Support, you can include a letter from someone from a community organization who can comment on your prior experience in community engagement.
Application Launches and Deadlines
- Academic Year 2022-23 application will launch in early May and be due in July 2022.
- Summer 2023 application will launch spring 2023.
Selection Criteria
Fellows are selected based on the quality and feasibility of their research proposal, their commitment to positive social change, their academic record, the strength of their faculty mentor and community partnership letters and referencing prior research and community engagement/volunteering experience. Preference may be given to students who are pursuing the Honors Joint Degree, Honors Distinction, or who have prior research methods coursework (including the completion of a section of Honors 0001 Foundations of Scholarship & Research).
There will be two steps in the selection process. The first step includes a panel review of all submitted applications. The students whose applications are selected will be contacted and move onto the second step, an in-person interview. After interviews are held, the panel will contact students who are awarded the Community Research Fellowship.