2025 CS + Social Good Summer Self-Designed Fellowship
The Haas Center and CS+Social Good (a student-led organization) have partnered to launch the CS+Social Good Summer Fellowship program, which includes self-designed and pre-arranged fellowship placements.
Through the CS+Social Good Summer Fellowship, students will receive funding and support to work with an organization using technology to address social issues. Selected fellows will gain unique industry experience at a public interest technology company under the mentorship of an industry expert or faculty member.
Each CS+Social Good Fellow receives a base stipend of $7,000 to cover most of the essential costs associated with an unpaid service experience. Financial aid and supplemental funding is available to students who qualify.
Funding for this initiative has been generously provided by the John and Andrea Hennessy Cardinal Quarter Fund and Haas Center donors as part of the Cardinal Quarter program.
Design your own CS+Social Good fellowship!
In the application, student can apply for a self-designed fellowship (in which they reach out to partner with an organization on their own, and apply for funding).
Eligibility:
For complete eligibility requirements, please review our program policies in its entirety.
Applicants must be:
- enrolled at Stanford for the winter and spring quarters of this academic year (2024-25);
- be in good academic standing and not on suspension; and
- enrolled as a first-year, sophomore, or junior (from all academic disciplines), or a senior who will be returning for a co-term program during the following academic year
Students who have begun their coterm programs are not eligible to apply. Students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply, and applicants may vary in academic interests, public service involvement, and experience.
Students must have completed CS 106B by the end of Spring Quarter to be eligible. Priority will be given to students who have completed fewer than two previous Cardinal Quarter opportunities.
References are NOT required and we will only contact references if we deem necessary.
Requirements:
Selected CS+Social Good Fellows are expected to begin service no later than July 7, 2025. All fellows are required to work full time with their community partners at least 35-40 hours/week for nine consecutive weeks at their placements. Fellows are expected to work on-site at their host organizations when possible (University policies and health conditions permitting). Fellows must have a designated full-time professional staff member on-site as their supervisor/mentor. Other requirements are listed below:
For self-designed fellowships
The Community Partner Supervisor must agree to host an undergraduate fellow during the summer of 2025 and fulfill the following responsibilities:
- Provide the fellow with mutually beneficial, substantive work projects, appropriate on-site work space, and ongoing supervision and guidance in the completion of tasks, with weekly or biweekly check-in meetings.
- Adhere to Stanford University’s non-discrimination and sexual harassment policies.
- Review and discuss the learning plan with the fellow at the start of the fellowship.
- Conduct a professional exit interview with the fellow.
- Submit online midpoint and end-of-summer evaluations.
For self-designed fellowships
Spring Quarter
- Complete the program orientation.
- Attend the Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service workshop.
- Identify and meet with an on-campus mentor at least once.
- Attend workshop and events organized for the CS+Social Good Spring Fellows.
- Students participating in an international service project must complete international service preparation requirements.
Summer
- Communicate regularly with mentors.
- Submit a brief preliminary report.
- Submit a final report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by fellowships program staff.
Autumn Quarter
- Meet with on-campus mentor at least once
- Attend a de-briefing meeting for the purpose of reflecting upon and evaluating summer experiences.
- Participate in outreach activities to share your experiences and help publicize the program.
Selection Process:
For those who seek assistance, advising is offered to help students develop their applications.
Students are strongly encouraged to discuss ideas for placements with program staff well before the application deadline to identify appropriate/relevant opportunities and prepare effective application materials. Developing a suitable summer placement takes time, so it is important to start the application process early and consult with professors, advisors, and community partners regularly.
This fellowship is intended for individuals whose application, references, and interview demonstrate
- an integration of the fellowship experience with applicant’s academic, personal and/or career goals
- prior demonstrated interest or involvement in the subject area, including related coursework
- a compelling match between applicant’s skills and interests and an organization’s work and needs
- strong potential for the fellowship experience to enlarge a candidate’s understanding of an identified community issue or challenge
First, complete applications are screened, and then finalists are interviewed. Finally, fellows are selected by a committee with the intention to award fellowships prior to spring break. Applicants should respond promptly (within 48 hours) via email to a fellowship offer, or the offer will be rescinded. Once an applicant accepts a fellowship offer, the student should promptly notify all other Stanford and non-Stanford programs to which they have applied that they have accepted another offer and to withdraw their candidacy.
