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Overview

Overview

FIRE is excited to offer a semester-long, paid, remote program as part of our efforts to educate and empower students on American college and university campuses. This opportunity gives current undergraduates the opportunity to collaborate with ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP¹ÙÍø in defending civil liberties on campuses across the country, while also working with our staff to create and build a personal project to promote FIRE’s mission on their own campuses.

This experience is remote. The 2024 fall semester program will begin on September 16 and run remotely until December 16, 2024. Campus Scholars will receive a stipend of $1,500 upon completion of the program and their project in December. Campus Scholars will be required to attend the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP¹ÙÍø Student Development Summit October 17-19, 2024.

Applications are due Friday, September 6, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Qualifications and Responsibilities

FIRE is looking for intelligent and energetic undergraduates attending colleges and universities in the United States who are looking to engage in free speech activism on their campuses. Ideal candidates are responsible, focused, and organized; have a passion for civil liberties; and have a history of taking action in support of causes they believe in. All Campus Scholars are expected to demonstrate excellent research, writing, and communication skills. 

FIRE Campus Scholars will:

• Create, draft, and complete a personal project congruent with FIRE’s mission, and funded through a ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP¹ÙÍø grant, over the course of one semester. Examples of a personal project could include:
  • Host a free speech conference on campus
  • Build a free speech website
  • Research proposal aligned with FIRE’s mission
  • Or, something that we haven’t thought of! (See past project examples here.)
• Attend the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP¹ÙÍø Student Development Summit in Florida from October 17-19, 2024.
  • This event is fully-funded by ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP¹ÙÍø. All travel expenses are paid by ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP¹ÙÍø. 
• Assist with various projects such as research, development, and outreach tasks, throughout the course of the semester
• Recommend fellow peers to ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP¹ÙÍø events, our Summer Internship program, and the Campus Scholars Program 

Application Procedures

The fall semester application process closes on Friday, September 6 at 11:59 p.m. (ET). Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Applicants should submit a résumé, a project proposal, and budget estimations, detailing how they would use a ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP¹ÙÍø grant to promote free expression or the First Amendment on their college campus. Projects must be congruent with ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP¹ÙÍø’s mission. While applicants may not have all details fleshed out, they should have a clear goal, details on how they plan to achieve it, and an estimated budget. Selected applicants will go through a formal interview process to be considered for the program.

Questions and inquiries about ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP¹ÙÍø’s Campus Scholar’s Program can be submitted to internship@thefire.org.

FAQs

Is the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP¹ÙÍø Campus Scholars Program open to high school students, graduate students, law students, or international students? 

No. At this time, the program is only open to undergraduate students studying at institutions in the United States. For more information about other opportunities at ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP¹ÙÍø, please visit our jobs page. For information on ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵAPP¹ÙÍø’s Legal Clerkship for rising second- and third-year law students, please visit our Legal Clerkship Program page.

What is the time commitment?

While the time commitment will vary due to the differences in personal projects, Campus Scholars are expected to average 8-10 hours of work per week, fully remote. In addition, Campus Scholars will have bimonthly check-ins with the Campus Scholar coordinator. 

Can I complete this program if I am on the quarter system?

Yes. This program is designed to match up with the length of one semester and could be modified for the length of one quarter.