Robert and Yvonne Koob Fund for Student Community Engagement

Guidelines for Application for Spring, Summer and Fall 2008

Summary:   The Robert and Yvonne Koob Fund for Student Community Engagement is an endowment supporting students who are completing internships in positions of service in Iowa. Awards range from $1,000 to $3,000 and about $10,000 total is awarded annually.

Latest guidelines:   Students should visit http://www.uni-foundation.org/foundation/KoobFund/Koobfundinfo.htm

to ensure that you have the latest guidelines and application.

Internship qualifications:

• Sites:  
• 501(c)3 non-profit organizations.   (Other organizations may contact the committee chair to discuss eligibility.)
• City, County, State, and Federal governmental agencies
• One of UNI’s outreach programs (e.g., Institute for Decision Making, Regional Business Center, Iowa Waste Reduction Center, Recycling, Reuse and Technology Transfer Center).   Note: the goal of the Fund is to support interns whose work has an impact in the community beyond UNI.
• Religious and faith based organizations are permitted to apply, as long as the student’s activity is not focused on proselytizing or religious education.
• Internships to assist candidates who are running for elected office are not appropriate for the Fund.
• Geography: All funds will be allocated to interns in Iowa.  
• Semesters: Internships in summer, fall and spring semesters are eligible.  
• Project Requirements: Among the internship responsibilities, interns are to be responsible for at least one substantial project that benefits the student, the organization, and the community through their project. The project should have ongoing value to the organization and community, beyond the time of the stuent's service to the organization. This project should be described in the application materials.
• Finding an internship:   Students should work with their academic advisor and/or the Cooperation Education and Internships Program (273-6041) to find a suitable location for an internship.

Student qualifications:

• Year: Available to any UNI undergraduate of at least sophomore classification and any graduate student.
• Major : Applicants may come from any academic discipline at UNI.  
• Undergraduate Minimum GPA: 2.75 cumulative -- students with lower GPAs may appeal prior to application, e-mail julianne.gassman@uni.edu.
• Graduate Minimum GPA:   3.00 in the student’s program of study.
• Need:   Selection is not based on financial need, however applications will be reviewed to determine if other sources of support (such as Community Service Learning) may be available.  
• Project Requirements:   Among the internship responsibilities, interns are to be responsible for at least one substantial project that benefits the student, the organization, and the community through their project. The project should have ongoing value to the organization and community, beyond the time of the stuent's service to the organization. This project should be described in the application materials.

Hour and Credit Requirements

• Minimum number of hours per week with the organization (averaged over semester): 10 hours
• Maximum number of hours per week with the organization (averaged over semester): 40 hours
• Minimum number of academic internship/field experience credit the student must be enrolled in each term (actual course title is dependent on department): 3 hours per semester

Application Process:

• Application forms should be submitted jointly by the student and the host organization.
• Internships must also be approved by the student’s academic adviser (signature required on application).
• Interns are selected twice per year (spring interns are selected in December, and summer and fall interns are selected in April).
• Students who are not selected are invited to apply again.
• Students may apply for one semester of support at a time.  
• Students who have received an award once may apply in future cycles.   If re-applying, students should describe what they accomplished during the previous period(s) in which they received Koob funds.
• Application materials will be destroyed after the selection, with the exception of one original.

Deadlines:   Application deadline to apply for awards for Spring 2008 is November 1, 2007. Application deadline for Summer and Fall 2008 is April 1, 2008. (This information will expire on April 5, 2008, at which time any revisions and updates will be made.)

Criteria:

• Interns chosen to receive awards through the Robert and Yvonne Koob Fund for Student Community Engagement will be selected for their potential to benefit the student, the sponsoring organization, AND the community. Applications are reviewed on three criteria.
• Student benefits
• Skills, knowledge and professional network that the student will gain, including the ability of the internship to broaden or deepen the student’s skills and knowledge.
• Alignment of student’s professional and civic goals with the internship activities, especially the intern’s project.
• Capacity of the organization to provide a positive learning environment.
• Organizational benefits
• Student’s ability to positively contribute to the work of the organization, especially through the intern’s project.
• Community benefits
• Ability of the organization to create positive community change among the public.
• Inernships should have ongoing value to the organization and community, beyond the time of the stuent's service to the organization.
• Outcomes (for community) that will result from student/organization’s efforts, especially through the intern’s project.

Awards:  

• Awards:   Awards are designed to support students completing internships.  
• Semesters: The Fund will support internships of one semester at a time.
• Undergraduate maximums:   Undergraduate students may apply for any amount up to $2000 per semester.   
• Graduate maximums:   Graduate students may apply for any amount up to $3000 per semester.
• Award Amounts:   Students may be awarded less financial support than requested.
• Graduate Assistantships:   Students may not receive a graduate assistantship during the same semester as a an award from the Koob Fund.
• Support from Organizations :
• Host organizations are encouraged to provide financial support directly to students.   In these cases, awards from Robert and Yvonne Koob Fund for Student Community Engagementwill supplement the organization’s contribution.   For example, if a nonprofit organization provides $500 per semester for an undergraduate student the Koob Endowment could provide up to $1,500 for a total of $2,000.  
• Host organizations are not required to financially support the student to apply.
• Source of award:   The award will be processed through UNI Financial Aid, and thus may have some effect on the student’s financial aid package.
• Reporting:   Both the student and the organization are expected to provide short reports describing the internship outcomes.
• Agreements:   Organizational and student expectations should be negotiated through the academic department through which the student is gaining academic granting credit.

Selection Committee:  

• Awardees are selected by a committee of community and university representatives.
• Committee members sign conflict of interest statements and decline from voting in instances of conflict.

Deadlines:   Application deadline to apply for awards for Spring 2008 is November 1, 2007. Application deadline for Summer and Fall 2008 is April 1, 2008. (This information expires on April 5, 2008, at which time any revisions and updates will be made.)