The Newman Civic Fellowship is a one-year fellowship experience for community-committed students from Campus Compact member institutions that supports students’ personal, professional, and civic development.

No. Newman Civic Fellows do not receive any monetary awards or scholarships through the fellowship. Becoming a Newman Civic Fellow might make a student eligible for certain scholarship or fellowship opportunities through partner organizations, but students do not receive any direct financial gain through participation in the Newman Civic Fellowship.

Campus Compact strives to create virtual and in-person fellowship learning opportunities that are as accessible as possible for all fellows. Fellows are not guaranteed financial support to attend gatherings, but we do our best to provide opportunities to fellows at the lowest possible costs.

Fellows are selected in the spring each year; the fellowship term lasts for the duration of the following academic year. After their fellowship term, fellows will remain part of a national network of current and former Newman Civic Fellows.

Currently enrolled students with at least one year left in their degree programs may be nominated by the president or chancellor of a Campus Compact member institution. Only one student may be nominated per institution. Nominations are accepted through our online nomination form from late fall to early spring each year.

Have more questions? email us at fellows@compact.org

Yes, the nomination must be from the president or chancellor. Other individuals may help the president or chancellor compile and submit the nomination materials, but the nomination materials must reflect the president or chancellor’s desire to have the student represent the institution. This means that the letter of nomination must be signed by the president or chancellor and that the president or chancellor must approve the Newman Civic Fellowship Leadership Profile.

No. Institutions may only nominate one student per academic year for the Newman Civic Fellowship.

The Newman Civic Fellowship is intended to honor the leadership legacy of Campus Compact founder Frank Newman by recognizing community-committed students who:

• Engage in collaborative action with others from campus or from surrounding communities in order to create long-term social change
• Take action in addressing issues of inequality and political polarization
• Demonstrate the motivation and potential for effective long-term civic engagement

In addition to these core characteristics, Newman Civic Fellow nominees for the 2019-2020 academic year must also meet the following eligibility criteria:

• The nominee must be enrolled at a Campus Compact member institution during spring semester 2019.
• The student must be nominated by the president or chancellor of their institution
• Each institution may nominate only one student
• For institutions with both undergraduate and graduate programs, presidents and chancellors are encouraged to recommend the most deserving student, with preference given to undergraduate students
• In keeping with Frank Newman’s passion for educational access, we encourage presidents and chancellors to give preference to students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in higher education
• The nominee must have at least one year of their education remaining (either at their current institution or at a different one) such that they will be enrolled in higher education for the duration of the 2019-2020 academic year
• Nominees must commit to providing a short reflection piece (video, article, or letter format) to Campus Compact during their fellowship year
• The nominee’s institution must commit to helping the nominee identify a local mentor for the duration of the fellowship
• If the nominee is selected, the nominee’s institution is encouraged but not required to cover the cost of transportation to the annual convening of Newman Civic Fellows.

Yes, graduate students are eligible for the Newman Civic Fellowship. At institutions with undergraduate and graduate programs, presidents and chancellors are encouraged to nominate the most deserving student, with preference given to undergraduate students.

Yes, as long as a student will still be enrolled at an educational institution for the following academic year, they are eligible for the fellowship. Students must be planning to be enrolled in higher education for the entire academic year following their nomination.

Students are better positioned to take advantage of all fellowship opportunities if at a Campus Compact member institution, but students are still eligible if transferring to a non-member institution.

If you are nominating a student who will be transferring to a different institution next year, please make sure to provide a permanent email address for the student in their nomination.

Campus Compact members use a variety of processes to determine which student to select for nomination. Several institutions were willing to share their process. Click on the institution names for example nomination processes:

• Barry University
• Emerson College
• Florida Gulf Coast
• Unidentified institution  (0ne institution who shared their process did not wish to be identified.)
• Universidad de Monterrey

No. The Newman Civic Fellowship is a program only open to Campus Compact member institutions, and students must be enrolled at a Campus Compact member institution at the time of their nomination.

Campus Compact will host two virtual Q&A sessions before the nomination due date to assist institutions who would like to nominate students for the fellowship. Register online at events.compact.org/newman-support-2022.

In agreeing to serve as a Newman Civic Fellow mentor, mentors commit to the following responsibilities:

• Meet quarterly with their fellow during the academic year of the student’s fellowship
• Help fellow reflect on their experience in the fellowship and on their broader personal, professional, and civic development
• Connect fellow to relevant resources as opportunities arise to do so
• Participate in a virtual mentor orientation with Campus Compact during the summer prior to the fellowship year
• Communicate with Campus Compact as needed

The 2021-2022 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows will be announced in early March 2021.

The 2021 Newman Civic Fellows National Conference is tentatively scheduled for mid-November in Boston depending on national health guidance.