The Community-Academic Scholars Initiative matches undergraduates with an academic mentor and a community partner to collaborate over the summer on a project designed to directly benefit community members served by the partner organization.
This year’s program includes fourteen powerful projects submitted by academic mentors across the University of Illinois and their community collaborators. Projects address a range of topics, including rural healthcare, poverty and social inequality, nutrition, educational equity, disability awareness, social-emotional learning, technology and aging, racial disparities, Veterans’ issues, postpartum pain, and socio-cultural connectedness among Black youth.
In addition to developing applied research experience, scholars meet weekly to connect with each other, seek guidance from program leaders, and to hear from invited speakers. Scholars also receive a $4000 stipend to offset the cost of housing and/or living expenses during the program.
If you are interested in applying to be a Community-Academic Scholar, be sure to review eligibility and program requirements on the website. We also encourage you to view the info session recording for application insights and tips. You can read through the project descriptions and the scholar’s role within each project to find projects that most appeal to you and best match your strengths and background.
Please direct any questions you may have to Kelsey Hassevoort (hassevo2@illinois.edu), and be sure to submit your application no later than 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10.
Opportunity timing: Summer 2022
This is a paid research experience.
