Indiana Careers at Saint Mary's College

Summer Experiential Learning Grants for Faculty

Saint Mary's College offers faculty the opportunity to help students explore the career options and economic opportunities available to college graduates in the State of Indiana through Summer Experiential Learning Grants. These grants will provide summer stipends and other financial assistance to faculty interested in helping students engage in an internship or working with students to develop internship opportunities with a business, government agency, or non-profit organization located in Indiana.

The overall goal of the Summer Experiential Learning Grants Program is to involve Saint Mary's students in the economic life of the State and prepare them to take advantage of the economic opportunities that Indiana provides.

SELs Grants are modeled on the popular and successful Student Independent Study and Research (SISTAR) grants that are available through the College’s Center for Academic Innovation. However, instead of supporting scholarly research as the SISTARs do, SELs will require recipients to engage in an activity that helps to identify or develop meaningful economic opportunities in Indiana.

The College expects faculty will use these grants to engage in internship-like experiences themselves, develop new experiential learning opportunities for students, or work collaboratively with students on projects of mutual interest.

Preference will be given to projects that involve a significant partnership between students and faculty. Special consideration also will be given to SELs that seek to involve participants in activities beyond the South Bend area and/or have the potential to impact the creation of additional economic opportunities in Indiana.

Faculty who receive a SEL must describe how their project will generate an experiential learning opportunity for at least one student.

Please explore the information below to learn more about grant eligibility, resources, and number of awards available, and information about the selection process, application guidelines and requirements.

Eligibility

All faculty are eligible to apply for Summer Experiential Learning Grants. Preference will be given to faculty who propose to collaborate with a student applying for a Summer Experiential Learning Grant for Students and/or engage in an activity outside of the South Bend area.

Resources Available

The following resources will be available to the recipients of Summer Experiential Learning Grants for Faculty:

1. A taxable summer stipend of up to $3,500 (please note that faculty who propose projects that do not involve a direct partnership with a student will only be eligible for a summer stipend of up to $2,500)

Number of Awards Available

There will be two Summer Experiential Learning Grants for Faculty available in Summer 2008.

Application/Selection Process

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all grants are awarded. Faculty are encouraged to discuss their ideas for a grant with the director prior to writing-up an application. Please check with the Office of the Director, 032 College Student Center, email sjeffirs@saintmarys.edu or call 4775 with questions.

2007 Application Guidelines

Faculty interested in being considered for a Summer Experiential Learning Grant will be required to submit an application packet consisting of:

1. A cover letter that identifies the applicant and all of his/her proposed partners

2. A project description (see below for specific limitations and criteria)

Project Descriptions

Project Descriptions will be limited to two (2) single-spaced pages with one-inch margins and a font size of no less than 12.

Project descriptions should address the following items:

1. The scope of the activities the applicant will pursue.

2. The benefit that these activities will have on the professional development of students

3. A description of the partners (both internal and external) that will be involved

4. A plan for sustaining the experiential learning opportunities that are developed Summer

Questions?

For more information about INC @ SMC or any of its programs, please contact:

Stacie Jeffirs, CCO Director
032 College Student Center
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Phone (574) 284-4775
sjeffirs@saintmarys.edu

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Indiana Post-Baccalaureate Fellowships are made possible by a grant from the Lilly Endowment's Initiative to Promote Opportunity through Educational Collaborations.