Guidelines

The Cornell Civic Leaders Fellowship Program

Applications are due Wednesday, June 27, 2012! Apply today!

The Cornell Civic Leaders Fellowship Program invites 2 community leaders involved in economic and community development efforts to join the Cornell community as both learners and teachers for an academic year. The program will award $5,000 to each selected fellow. Selection of fellows will be based on applicants’ experiences and their project proposals, rather than on their educational backgrounds.

Program Goals

  • Support leaders to provide stewardship to critical institutional and community problem-solving efforts.
  • Foster university and community practices that encourage greater commitment to community building, grassroots organizing and social responsibility.
  • Strengthen and build regional university-community collaborative relationships (project impact can be local, national or international).
  • Support community leaders as they reflect upon past practices, plan for the future and enhance capacities of their communities, as well as contribute to instructional and research activities, as available.  Community-based activities are the standard, however, this could be established via classroom or research settings, if opportunities were available.


Eligibility Requirements

  • Prior record of economic or community development and/or prior history of community involvement.
  • A history of involvement or interest in developing relationships with university students.
  • Residence in Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Seneca, Schuyler, Tioga or Tompkins County.


Application Guidelines

A selection committee consisting of faculty, university administrators, previous fellows and community leaders will review all complete applications.  Proposals should be brief and include the following in the order stated:

  • 1. A cover page with a brief abstract/summary of your proposal.
  • 2. A project proposal, that includes:
    • a complete description of the project and its objectives.
    • an explanation of how the proposal addresses a community need or problem.
    • an explanation of how the project is linked to both on-campus work and community capacity-building needs.  Identification of university resources, staff or departments with which you want to interact.
    • evidence of community support for the project (e.g. a letter of support).
    • method or criteria by which project will be evaluated and a plan for disseminating results of the project to the community.
  • 3. A personal statement demonstrating; history of community involvement; how this experience will affect the applicant; or how this experience will affect the organization.
  • 4. A current résumé and 3 references.
  • 5. Please submit all application materials electronically to ayk3@cornell.edu. No hard copy required.


Upon selection, all fellows must be available to:

  • Attend an awards dinner with program advisory and selection committee members and university faculty on time and location TBD.
  • Attend an orientation that includes meeting with library and Cornell Information Technologies (CIT) staff, university faculty and others as relevant to proposal.  
  • Complete a Cornell application for employment, W-2's and an I-9 form for Cornell University.
  • As appropriate, serve as an occasional guest lecturer in courses and colloquia.
  • Commit to being on campus a minimum of one day a month from September 2012-May 2013 to meet with the PSC's Assistant Director, Community Programs.
  • Sign a Letter of Agreement in regard to the above expectations and requirements.


Fellowship Benefits/Privileges

  • $5,000 that can support travel, housing, sabbatical leave expenses and community project expenses or sponsoring agency support (award is not tax-exempt.)
  • Affiliation with the Cornell Public Service Center
  • Orientation to Cornell University and its resources; access to university libraries
  • Assignment of Cornell net ID (for email and access to Cornell electronic resources)
  • Limited support from and interaction with faculty, undergraduates and/or university staff
  • Access to University Human Resources workshops
  • Packet of Visitor Parking permits
  • Assignment of one Federal Work-Study student to assist with the project at no cost to the fellow or the organization.


Submit completed applications by Wednesday, June 27, 2012 to:

Amy Somchanhmavong
Assistant Director, Community Programs
Cornell Public Service Center
200 Barnes Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853-1601

For further information please contact: ayk3@cornell.edu or 607-255-1148.