Each summer, one Swarthmore student is awarded a fellowship to complete an independent reporting project with preferred focus on issues that reflect international concerns and have been unreported or under-reported in the mainstream media. Students are mentored by Pulitzer Center grantee journalists as well as Pulitzer Center staff. (This opportunity is open to all class years.) 

In the President’s Sustainability Research Fellowship (PSRF) at Swarthmore College, students learn by leading: by taking stewardship over vital sustainability challenges. The program matches motivated students with small teams of staff and faculty mentors to research, develop, and implement projects in a year-long course and associated internship.

Pilot project grants are designed to support individuals and groups of students who wish to link their academics with action in a small scale or short term project with its own mission, goals, and objectives. Such projects could include feasibility studies; assessment of community assets, interests, and needs; prototyping or testing a new product, service, or program etc. in the US or elsewhere in the world.

The ChesterSemester Program is an interdisciplinary program on social change with an engaged scholarship (ESCH) internship component. The purpose of the program is to facilitate committed student engagement with visionary leaders in the city of Chester and focuses on critically understanding and helping to ameliorate some of society’s most pressing real-world problems by requiring students to participate in civic volunteer programs throughout the academic year.

While at Swarthmore College, students initiate their own social impact projects with the support of programs like the Lang Opportunity Scholarship Program. The intention of this post baccalaureate program -- the Lang Social Impact Fellowship (LSIF) -- is to empower recent alumni to continue their projects by engaging stakeholders in systems change activities. Key features of LSIF include: mentoring, training, and funding.

Faculty can apply for up to $5,000 a year for courses that require substantial community engagement on the part of students, faculty, or visiting partners, though most awards are less than that so we can award a greater number of courses. Applicants typically request funds for honoraria for community partners or speakers; teaching assistants (TAs); travel; and equipment. We welcome compelling requests that fall outside these parameters, and we will consider requests for additional funding if the Engaged Scholarship components promise exceptional pedagogical and/or community impact.

In close collaboration with community partners, Engaged Humanities Studio Fellows embark on a 12- to 18-month project that addresses a contemporary issue through the arts and humanities. Awards are $18,000, $4000, or $1500. This opportunity is open to all Swarthmore faculty, staff, and students.

Students can apply for limited funding to support participation in an engaged scholarship conference, training, or workshop. Students can only apply for this opportunity only once per year, and must submit a 1-2 page report along with their receipts for reimbursement for related expenses. Awards will not exceed $400 for an indidivual student or $600 for a group of students.

The CoLab at the Lang Center funds students to complete 10- or 20-hour remote projects designed by community-based organizations, activists, and/or projects for social change. This program seeks to center community voices and put college resources to use in ways that are mutually beneficial to students and community partners. Community partners benefit from completed projects that might otherwise not be possible and students benefit from the opportunity to apply their academic learning to real-world projects aimed at social good.