University of Richmond to guarantee funding for one summer research or internship experience for all undergraduate students

Beginning summer 2015, University of Richmond will introduce The Richmond Guarantee, a university promise to fund one summer research or internship experience for all new and continuing traditional undergraduate students.

“This ambitious undertaking will extend Richmond’s rigorous classroom environment with opportunities to test that knowledge in the world. It will allow students to pursue research or internships that best complement their academic pursuits,” said University of Richmond President Edward L. Ayers. “We know that these experiences are transformative for students who have access to them – The Richmond Guarantee makes them available to all.”

The Richmond Guarantee will fund more than 600 internship or research experiences each summer when students are taking full advantage of the program. The awards could total up to $4,000 per student.

The Guarantee, which is expected to cost about $2.5 million annually, builds upon existing University programs and is made possible through about $19 million in donations raised as part of the university’s most recent campaign, The Campaign for Richmond. More than $164 million has been raised through The Campaign for Richmond, surpassing the $150 million goal.

“We are fortunate that generous support from alumni, parents and friends will make it possible to expand this program to all our students,” said Ayers.

Full-time undergraduate students may receive up to $4,000 in funding to take on the responsibilities of a challenging unpaid internship or spend a summer conducting research side-by-side with a faculty member.

The University provided more than 300 UR Summer Fellowship awards, totaling more than $1 million, in summer 2014. About half of the awards were for research and half for internships. The average award was $3,600. In addition, more than 80 students worked alongside faculty members pursuing grant-funded research projects.

Imagined as part of the development of the university’s strategic plan, The Richmond Promise, The Richmond Guarantee has its roots in existing programs at Richmond, including the School of Arts & Sciences Summer Research Grants, fellowships that support Jepson School of Leadership Studies students pursuing summer internships, and the University’s Civic Fellows program.

Students will be eligible to participate in The Richmond Guarantee regardless of their family’s financial circumstance or whether they are receiving financial aid.

The summer opportunities not only enrich a student’s educational experience at Richmond, but also make them more competitive whether they plan to continue their education or enter the job market after graduation.

Theresa Dinh, class of 2015, worked in Thailand this past summer for a nonprofit that provides services to single mothers and victims of domestic abuse. “I had an invaluable experience that exposed me to other ways of thinking and to what other people in the world value,” said Dinh.

Greg Hamilton, class of 2017, completed a summer fellowship with physics professor Matt Trawick, whose work focuses on condensed matter physics. “The benefits were numerous – research opportunities, a chance to be published and a means to sharpen my critical thinking skills,” he said.

In summer 2014, 19 percent of UR Summer Fellowship students were U.S. students of color; 15 percent were first-generation college students; 15 percent were international citizens and 6 percent were student-athletes. Students from all three undergraduate schools, a wide variety of majors and every class year took advantage of the program last year.

This past summer, students worked in cities around the world, including Richmond, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Budapest, Beijing and London. Seventy-six percent of UR Summer Fellowship recipients used their summer fellowship to pursue a research or internship experience that was more than one hour from their home. Twenty-seven percent of those away from home were abroad during their experiences.

While The Richmond Guarantee will expand the number of students who receive University support for their internship or research experience, students must identify their own internship opportunities and apply for the fellowship. As part of the application, students must demonstrate how the fellowship will help them build upon their academic work and prepare for their first professional job or graduate and professional school.

“Our Office of Alumni and Career Services is configured to help students take full advantage of the alumni network to identify excellent internship and post-graduate job opportunities,” said Kristin Woods, assistant vice president, Alumni and Career Services.

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