University of North Carolina Center for Global Initiatives

Purpose

These awards are intended to support UNC Undergraduate and Masters-level students (J.D. and M.D. students may apply) who have secured internationally-focused internships that will advance their academic and professional careers. Upon completing the internship and returning to UNC, students should build the internship experience into their academic program. Ideally, upon graduation, students will land jobs with the same or a similar organization.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, the proposed internships must:

1. Be in place by the time the students apply for funding.
2. Give students an actual work experience at a fully-fledged business, non-profit, or educational institution that follows a regular daily work schedule.
3. Advance the students’ academic and professional career.
4. Allow students to make valuable contributions to the organization by being a productive staff member.
5. Initiate or strengthen institutional relations to UNC.
6. Take place during the summer.
7. Last a minimum of 6 weeks.

Preference is given to internships that:

• Were secured on a competitive basis.
• Take place abroad.
• Are undertaken on the student’s own initiative as opposed to being undertaken because of a UNC degree requirement.

Restrictions

The following students are not eligible to apply:

• Students pursuing a Ph.D.
• Part-time students.
• Students who are graduating and won’t return to UNC upon completing the internship.
• Students who are not currently enrolled at UNC.
• Students who are required to do an internship as part of their degree program are limited to $1,500 awards and must demonstrate a match by their department or school.  Such a match may also come from a faculty member's grant; or the internship organization itself.  Please include a letter detailing any commitments with your application in the supplemental materials upload area.

Study Abroad experiences, language training, field research, service projects and self-enrichment ARE NOT eligible.

Students who apply for this International Internship Award MAY NOT also apply to the following Center for Global Initiatives awards:

• Carolina Undergraduate Health Fellowship
• CV Starr Scholarship

Because there is some overlap between these funding opportunities, students must choose only one for which to apply during any given academic year.

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Available Funding

Estimated Available Funds: $25,000
Typical Range of Awards: $500 - $3,000
Typical Number of Awards: 14
Typical Number of Applicants: 67

The Center for Global Initiatives is not bound by these estimates and is often unable to award the full amount of funds requested. Each award is made as a stipend, issued as a check.

Evaluation of Applicants

Reviewers assign points to each application based on the following rubric:

Feasibility and Planning (5 points)

• Is the internship adequate and appropriate to achieve the student’s expected goals?
• Is the student prepared to be a productive intern with this organization, both in terms of skill sets and understanding of the organization?
• Are the questions who, what, when, where, and why articulated in the narrative?

Need (5 points)

• Is there a clear financial, academic, and professional need for the applicant to receive this award in order to undertake this internship?
• Does the organization have a clear need for the applicant as demonstrated by a compelling letter of support that explains in detail the work to be performed by the applicant and how that work fits in with the overall work and mission of the organization?

Impact (5 points)

• Will the internship advance the student’s academic and professional career?
• How does UNC benefit from this internship?

Budget (5 points)

• Is the budget clear, adequate, reasonable, and justified?

Notification of Award

Applicants will receive award or rejection notices within 4 weeks of the deadline via email or USPS mail. Do not contact the Center for Global Initiatives to inquire about the status of your application during this time frame. However, If you have not received a notice 8 weeks after the application deadline, please inform us.

Award Requirements

Awardees are responsible for securing proper IRB approval for your project, if required. Potential IRB issues should be discussed in your project proposal.  Resources are available on our IRB page.

CGI embraces a culture of "giving-back." If selected for funding, you must choose both a service and a research requirement from among a menu of options including presenting through the Carolina Navigators program, creating a Culture Kit, or assisting with a CGI sponsored event.  Please note that these are subject to change and will be communicated to you at a special award acceptance session for recipients.

Further, if you will be traveling to Asia, Africa, or Latin America, you MUST attend the day-long GO! Global Orientation on Culture and Ethics Pre-Departure Orientation on April 14, 2012, unless you have previously attended it. Please reserve this date in your calendar at the time of application.

Finally, you must submit a brief online report at the completion of your project.

Application Instructions

Applications are completed online and include:

• Basic bio information
• Project title and short summary
• Details on your internships
• Short answer questions
• Letter of Affiliation from the organization where you will have an internship
  (It is in your best interest that this letter is both specific to you and detailed as to the type of work you will do for the organization and why the organization will benefit from your presence)
• List of three references
  (You do not have to solicit a letter from these individuals, but they may be contacted by CGI staff in regards to this application)
• Detailed budget
• List of additional funding sources
• Letter of matching funds committment
  (if your internship is a degree requirement, please include a brief letter in the supplemental materials upload section certifying the amount of funds provided by your department, faculty member, or the internship organization)
• Unofficial transcript (see instructions here)

Contact Information

Tripp Tuttle
Program Officer, Center for Global Initiatives