Campus Scholar Program
FIRE is excited to offer a semester-long, paid, remote program as part of our efforts to educate and empower students on American college and university campuses. This opportunity gives current undergraduates the opportunity to collaborate with FIRE in defending civil liberties on campuses across the country, while also working with our staff to create and build a personal project to promote FIRE’s mission on their own campuses.
Overview
FIRE is excited to offer a semester-long, paid, remote program as part of our efforts to educate and empower students on American college and university campuses. This opportunity gives current undergraduates the opportunity to collaborate with FIRE in defending civil liberties on campuses across the country, while also working with our staff to create and build a personal project to promote FIRE’s mission on their own campuses.
This experience is remote. The 2024 fall semester program will begin with an in-person training weekend from January 19-20, 2024 and then run remotely until May 3, 2024. Campus Scholars will receive a stipend of $1,500 upon completion of the program and their project in May.
The program application process closes on December 29, at 11:59 p.m. (ET).
Qualifications and Responsibilities
FIRE is looking for intelligent and energetic undergraduates attending colleges and universities in the United States who are looking to engage in free speech activism on their campuses. Ideal candidates are responsible, focused, and organized; have a passion for civil liberties; and have a history of taking action in support of causes they believe in. All Campus Scholars are expected to demonstrate excellent research, writing, and communication skills.
FIRE Campus Scholars will:
- Create, draft, and complete a personal project congruent with FIRE’s mission, and funded through a FIRE grant, over the course of one semester
- Examples of a personal project could include:
- Host a free speech conference on campus
- Build a free speech website
- Research proposal aligned with FIRE’s mission
- Or, something that we haven’t thought of! (See past project examples here.)
- Examples of a personal project could include:
- Submit one blog post to the FIRE Newsdesk detailing the results of their personal project
- Attend a weekend-long training session in Philadelphia from January 19-20
- This weekend-long training session is fully-funded by FIRE. All travel expenses are paid by FIRE.
- Assist with various projects such as research, development, and outreach tasks, throughout the course of the semester
- Recommend fellow peers to FIRE events, our Summer Internship program, and the Campus Scholars Program