Student Engagement Fellows Program

Read about our inaugural cohort of Student Engagement Fellows here!

The McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement is seeking five student leaders who are actively involved with a campus organization to serve as Student Engagement Fellows for the 2015-2016 academic year. Fellows will work with the McLean Institute to develop mutually beneficial community partnerships and create opportunities for students to engage with communities in Mississippi.

Student Engagement Fellows and their respective organizations should be committed to fighting poverty and improving outcomes for Mississippi children. Each year, Student Engagement Fellows plan and lead events on campus, in Oxford/Lafayette County, and in a partner community in North Mississippi to connect university talent and resources to community needs.

Program Design

Student Engagement Fellows will work closely with the McLean Institute as representatives of their respective student organizations. Fellows will meet regularly as a cohort and with McLean staff. The McLean Institute will sponsor a series of workshops throughout the year on topics such as program evaluation, volunteer management, and survey design. Fellows will be expected to attend each of these workshops. In addition, Student Engagement Fellows must complete the following:

  • A program evaluation of their student organization outlining the organization’s impact on campus and the community, and
  • A minimum of two community-based projects by the end of the academic year. Student Engagement Fellows will plan and execute one project in Lafayette County and one in a partner community in North Mississippi.

 Eligibility

Applicants must be University of Mississippi students actively involved in a student organization. Successful applicants will commit to work with the McLean Institute for 5 hours per week and have an interest in education, environmental sustainability, social justice, poverty alleviation, leadership, or other aspects of community and economic development.

 Compensation

Fellows will receive a stipend of $2,000 ($1,000 at the end of each semester) upon successful completion of the fellowship requirements. Student organizations will receive up to $1,000 to support community-based projects (up to $500 for a Lafayette County project and up to $500 for a project in a partner community in North Mississippi).

 Application Process

Applications are due by Monday, August 31. Applicants must submit the following to mclean@olemiss.edu:

  • A 1-2 page statement of purpose/cover letter highlighting community work and the student’s interest in the Student Engagement Fellows Program,
  • A 1-2 page resume highlighting community service and involvement,
  • A letter of support from an elected officer in the student organization that the applicant intends to represent, and
  • A copy of the student’s unofficial transcript(s).

For more information about the Student Engagement Fellows Program, please contact Laura Martin at lemartin@olemiss.edu or (662) 915-2078.