Application Criteria
The Writing Program Grants Committee will evaluate applications based on the four criteria described below.
A) Student Impact - Potential of Activities for Meaningful Student Professional Development
B) Lecturer Impact - Potential of Activities for Meaningful Lecturer Professional Development (Including Program Status)
C) Project Impact - Potential of Significance of Activities to Writing Program, Campus and/or Writing Studies Audiences
D) Project Scope - Realizability and Clarity of Internship Activities within Proposed Time Frame
Grant Frequently Asked Questions
Students must be a currently enrolled undergraduate student (and can be any class standing. Applicants should consider the required activities of the internship as they list the minimum and preferred qualifications in the application that best fit the position (for example, a preferred qualification may be a writing minor in the science communication track or previously published in Starting Lines). Students can (but do not have to) be eligible for federal work study funding for the internship positions.
Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters.
The committee will consider a range of proposals. At the same time, applications requesting an internship lasting a year or requesting more than one intern across one or more quarters should make a strong case in the application. There is also an application question titled “Information About Application Flexibility” where you are encouraged to discuss adjustments (if possible) you could make if the committee can only offer partial funding for the proposed internship.
As the program is in its pilot year, the Grants Committee wants to learn from the proposals submitted. Generally speaking, we want to balance the value of accessibility of this opportunity to a number of student interns and faculty projects at the same time recognizing the value of consistent and continuing Writing Program internship opportunities.
Yes, since the Writing 150 credit is for the supporting class and not the internship itself.
At our Fall 2024 retreat, Michelle, Chris, and Nomi offered some great examples and advice about planning for and managing student internships. They offered advice about the various stages of the internship from recruiting to its active management. Some advice, considerations and questions they raised included:
Recruiting: Who and how do you want to recruit an intern?
Establish a generous timeline for hiring (e.g. Starting Lines starts recruiting for Spring interns from early Winter quarter). Consider announcing to and recruiting from your own classes (or Writing Minors, relevant classes/students across the Writing Program). The call doesn’t have to be long or lengthy (and you can distribute via email or work with Emily Sam to post a position on Handshake for students across campus to view).
Mentoring/Managing: How will you manage and mentor an intern?
Schedule consistent/regular meetings to check in on progress and quality of work. Have a system established at the start of the internship to keep track of activities and hours completed.