UofM Receives Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Humanities Grant

The University of Memphis (UofM) has been awarded a significant $4,999,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to support a transformative paid internship program for undergraduate humanities and humanistic social sciences majors, directly addressing critical barriers faced by students, particularly those from underrepresented groups, in securing high-quality internships.

Applications will open for the Summer and fall of 2025 on April 9th. Please apply no later than June 6th for full consideration for summer applications. Applications for the Fall will close on September 10^th.

Is your organization interested in hosting a UofM intern? Complete this interest form. 

What does this mean for students and faculty?

• Paid Internships: · Paid Internships: More than 100 students a year will have the chance to gain real-world experience through paid internships, mostly at non-profit and community organizations. Internships during academic terms will involve 12 hours per week of work for 12 weeks and $3,000 in pay for that work. Internships during the summer will involve 24 hours per week of work for 10 weeks and $5,000 in pay for that work. Thus, these paid internships have a compensation rate of $20 per hour.
• Extra Support: Students will also receive help with transportation and professional attire and may request support for child or elder care to ensure they can focus on their internships.
• Faculty Development: The grant will also support faculty by providing resources for developing new courses and conducting career guidance sessions, ensuring they can provide the best support to students.

Why is this important?

Unpaid or low-paid internships can often be a barrier for students, especially those from underrepresented groups. By providing paid internships and essential support services, this grant will empower students to gain practical experience, develop professional skills, and enhance their career prospects. By investing in paid internships and student support, the UofM is proactively bridging the gap between academic achievement and career readiness.

How can students apply for paid internships?

The College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) welcomes applications for grant-supported humanities and humanistic social sciences internships through our Experiential Learning Fellowship position posting in Tiger Link.

Eligibility: Undergraduate students must have a declared major in one of the following to be eligible for an internship funded by the Mellon Foundation.

• Art - Major (with Concentration requirement)
  • Art Education - Concentration
  • Global Art Histories - Concentration
  • Studio Arts - Concentration
  • Visual Arts - Concentration
  • Graphic Design - Concentration
  • Photography - Concentration
• African and African American Studies 
• Anthropology
• Communication Studies - Major (with Concentration requirement)
  • Communication Studies - Concentration
• Earth Sciences concentration in Geoarchaeology 
• Earth Sciences concentration in Geography 
• English 
• History 
• International Studies
• Music - Major (with Concentration requirement)
  • Music History - Concentration
• Philosophy 
• Political Science 
• Sociology 
• World Languages and Literatures 

 Additional Selection Materials and Criteria:

• Applicants should be in good academic standing. 
• Preference will be given to eligible students who have reached junior or senior academic standing.
• Either: 
  • • A description of the relevance of an internship placement already identified to the applicant’s academic program and career goals
    • A description of skills and knowledge from the applicants' academic program that they would like to exercise and further develop in an internship 

Selection Process: Awardees will be pre-reviewed for eligibility by the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office. Internship supervisors will select interns from eligible applicants. All applicants will be informed of placement decisions.

Positions are posted on Tiger Link; you can find the direct link to the application here.  Applications are accepted each Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.