Kent Justice Foundation

Summer Fellowship Program*

Requirements & Eligibility

1.      Applicants must secure a public interest position.

a.       Public interest organizations may include government agencies, legal services, advocacy groups and policy reform organizations.

b.      Resources are available to give you information about summer employment such as: the Public Interest Resource Center (PIRC); Career Services Office; and Past Fellowship recipients.

c.       If you have yet to secure an offer, but have been in the application and interview process, you may still apply.  However, confirmation of a job offer must be provided before a fellowship is awarded.

2.      The public interest internship must be unpaid. 

a.       The KJF Fellowship is designed to aid students who are working without pay. 

b.      Students who have other funding for their internship may still qualify for fellowships as long as the total amount of their summer funding (KJF combined with other funding) does not exceed $5,000.

3.      Applicants should commit to working 40 hours per week for 10 weeks at their public interest internship.

a.       Fellowship recipients must sign an Agreement Letter, stating the number of hours to which they have committed.  The Fellowship Committee reserves the right to contact the employer to confirm this commitment. 

b.      Applicants who cannot commit to full-time employment in this manner may still be considered for a partial Fellowship.

4.      Externship Limitation

Students who are receiving credit for an externship may still apply for a partial fellowship. The applicant is only eligible for a fellowship if they plan to work at their position beyond the 240 hours required by the externship program.  The fellowship will be granted only for the period of time beyond the externship.  The applicant must indicate exactly how many hours beyond the 240 they plan to work. 

5.      Applicants must be committed to public interest work and to the KJF mission.

Commitment is shown by both involvement in KJF volunteer and fundraising events as well as public service volunteering outside of Chicago-Kent.  

Factors to be considered by the Fellowship Committee are:

·         Participation in KJF fundraising events and volunteer activities, including board and committee work

·         Volunteering in public service activities outside Chicago-Kent

EVAluation Process

            The Fellowship Committee shall be comprised of at least five people consisting of: Faculty Advisor and KJF Officers and Representatives who are not applying for a Fellowship.  If more Review Board members are needed, they may consist of KJF alumni/ae or Chicago-Kent faculty or administrators as needed.  The Review Board will review each application based on the stated requirements.  Announcements will be made approximately one week after the application deadline.

 aWArding of Fellowships

            Fellowship Recipients will receive one check for the full amount of their Fellowship, which should be issued by June.  Recipients MUST complete a W-9 tax form before the end of the spring semester.  Upon notification of having received a grant, the KJF Treasurer will provide each Fellowship recipient with all the necessary tax forms.  All such forms must be completed before KJF can issue the award check.

            Fellowship recipients must sign an Agreement Letter, stating where he or she will work, the number of hours he or she will work, and the amount of the Fellowship.  A copy of the Agreement Letter will be forwarded to the supervisor.  KJF may also follow up with the supervisor asking how the Fellow’s work made a difference in the communities served by the organization.

            At the end of the summer, Fellowship recipients must write a brief description of their summer, including information about the type of work performed and the organization.  The description must be submitted to the current KJF President at the beginning of the fall semester.  This description will be used for future KJF promotion, including promotion of the KJF Spring Auction.

KJF Summer Fellowship Program Past Recipients

The Application packet is available HERE.

Last Updated - 03/31/2008