CHaSS Experiential Learning Scholarships

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHaSS) encourages high-impact experiential learning opportunities such as internships, service learning, conferences, and immersive study abroad programs that enrich student learning outside of the classroom. While transformative in nature, economic barriers can prevent or reduce participation for many students.  To provide greater access to such opportunities, CHaSS students can now apply for one of two experiential learning scholarships.

Students may choose to apply for one of the following (but not both for the same experiential learning opportunity):

  1. The CHaSS Experiential Learning Fund (ELF). The Experiential Learning Fund provides scholarships for a wide variety of domestic and international applied opportunities, including internships, conferences, and study abroad experiences not approved by HPI (see below). Students can receive financial assistance with costs (excluding tuition) to facilitate their participation in an experiential learning project or program. 

Eligibility: Must be a USU undergraduate student with a declared CHaSS major.  Applicants must be in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above.

OR

  1. Heravi Peace Scholarship (HPS).  The Heravi Peace Scholarship helps students participate in a variety of HPI-approved study abroad programs and related opportunities relating to intercultural dialogue, conflict reduction, peace, and peacebuilding. Students can receive financial assistance with costs (excluding tuition) to facilitate their participation. 

Eligibility: Must be a USU undergraduate student with a declared CHaSS major working on an HPI-approved Certificate Program(s).  Applicants must be in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above.

If a student applies for both applications for the same opportunity, they will be deemed ineligible for one of the two. The size of the awards will be a function of the amount of eligible student applications and student funding needs.  To help reach as many students as possible, we estimate that most awards will range between $500 and $1,250, but that range is not guaranteed. Students may request up to $2,000 and will need to prepare an itemized budget that appropriately lists their unmet expenses.

Start Your Application

Applications are open now and due February 9, 2024 for Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 opportunities.

Students will be notified of their funding status by March 15.

Applications for Fall 2024 applications will be announced at a later time, if funding is available.
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Covered Expenses
We cannot cover tuition, but we can cover a variety of other costs including (but not limited to):
  • Transportation costs (gas, airfare, public transport fees)
  • Professional attire costs
  • Housing/lodging costs
  • Childcare costs
  • Luggage
  • Medical visits for vaccinations required for international travel
  • Immigration visa and other immigration fees

Heravi Peacebuilding Scholarship

Attending any of the following Heravi Peace Institute trips in 2023-2024?

  • Cuba and the U.S.: People, Power, and Politics – Cuba
  • Cross-Cultural Explorations – Tanzania
  • Europe at War – England, France, and Belgium
  • Intercultural Communication, Language, and Literature – Argentina
  • Narratives in Contemporary Vietnam – Vietnam
  • Genocide, Reconciliation, and Peacebuilding – Rwanda

If so, you’re eligible for The Heravi Peace Scholarship that supports students enrolled in any undergraduate major within CHaSS for study abroad, internships, or other forms of experiential learning that reflect the Heravi Peace Institute’s mission of promoting peace at the personal, interpersonal, family, community, inter-group, national, and international levels through teaching, research, praxis, and public outreach. Students can apply for up to $1,000 for the Heravi Peace Scholarship as part of the same Experiential Learning Fund application.

Application Eligibility Requirements
  • Students must be a declared CHaSS undergraduate major and in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above.
  • Students must be involved in or plan to be involved in an experiential learning opportunity such as an internship, a service-learning assignment, a community-engaged learning experience, or a study abroad program at the time of application.
    • While these experiences are often credit-bearing programs sponsored by USU, the committee will also consider sponsoring costs associated with non-credit-bearing experiences not sponsored by USU, though preference will be given to USU and CHaSS credit-bearing experiences.
  • Students may only apply to one of the programs – either the ELF or HPS – for their experiential learning opportunity. In the application, students will have the ability to choose which fund to which they would like to apply.

Application Dates & Process

Spring Application Opening: Friday, January 12, 2024

Deadline: Friday, February 9, 2024

Eligible Semesters: Applications in this cycle will cover experiential learning opportunities for Spring 2024 and Summer 2024.

Students will be notified of their award status by Friday, March 15, 2024.

Application Process:

Students will complete the online application which will require students to login with their A# and password.

Students may only apply for the Experiential Learning Fund OR the Heravi Peace Scholarship - not both. Students will be deemed ineligible for one of the funds if they apply for both.
  • Students will indicate their requested funding amount, preparing an appropriate itemized budget. This itemized budget will list their unmet expenses, such as (but not limited to): gas, professional clothing, airfare, meals, etc.
    • Students should request no more than $2,000. The size of the awards will be a function of the amount of eligible student applications and student funding needs. To help reach as many students as possible, we estimate that most awards will range between $500 and $1,250, but that range is not guaranteed.
  • Students will need to describe the experiential learning opportunity that they are applying for.
  • Students will need to describe how the opportunity will provide them with a transformative experience and/or advance their academic/career goals (250-word limit).
  • Students can provide additional information that supports their application and demonstrates why this funding is necessary for participation (250-word limit).
    1. Applications will be reviewed for initial suitability and eligibility.
    2. A faculty committee will review eligible applicants for funding suitability.
    3. The Experiential Learning Fund Co-Chairs and Dean will make final determinations on funding amounts.
    4. Students will be notified of their award status and required to complete paperwork to receive funding.
    5. Following completed and signed paperwork, funds will be transferred to the student’s USU account as a non-qualified scholarship.