Date: February 6, 2027
To: Faculty
From: Nicole Stanton, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Subject: FY27 Student-Faculty Internships
To coincide with the Research in Summer (RIS) application process, we are opening the Student-Faculty internship application early this year. The deadline for application is Friday, March 6.
The Student-Faculty Research Internship program provides funding to support faculty-led research projects that engage Wesleyan students directly in research activities. These internships are intended to serve as apprenticeships into the research methods and practices of the faculty member’s discipline.
Program Purpose and Eligibility
Student-Faculty Research Internships support projects in which students actively participate in conducting research, such as collecting data, developing analyses, and contributing to scholarly or creative work. The work must be substantive and research-based; clerical duties such as filing, photocopying, or other administrative tasks alone do not qualify.
These internships are intended for Wesleyan undergraduate students. BA/MA students are also eligible for the summer period between completion of their BA and the start of their MA year. Preference will be given to undergraduates for whom this would be their first Wesleyan-sponsored internship.
Student Work Schedule Limits
Students may work a maximum of:
When applying, applicants must select the appropriate award period(s) on the application form, as some award periods cross fiscal years:
The earliest students may begin work is Monday, June 1, 2026.
Compensation and Award Limits
Projects led and directed by a student are now eligible for fellowship funding. Eligible students will receive:
Students completing the full 300-hour commitment will earn $5,250.
Students in non-research summer internships who have not completed their allotted hours may continue working until August 21, 2026, provided they do not exceed their total award amount.
Use of Funds and Deadlines
Awards cover student wages only. Faculty must use project grants or other funding sources for research-related expenses beyond student compensation.
All award funds must be fully spent by the following deadlines:
Summer internships are given the highest priority. Requests to extend summer internships into the academic year must include strong justification and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis due to limited funding.
Administrative Oversight of Hours
Department and program administrative assistants are required to monitor student hours to ensure students do not exceed the hours or budget originally awarded. No additional funding will be provided. Any overage must be covered by other available funds.
Application Requirements
Applications must include:
The narrative attachment must include:
In addition, applicants must provide an internship description outlining:
To: Faculty
From: Nicole Stanton, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Subject: FY27 Student-Faculty Internships
To coincide with the Research in Summer (RIS) application process, we are opening the Student-Faculty internship application early this year. The deadline for application is Friday, March 6.
The Student-Faculty Research Internship program provides funding to support faculty-led research projects that engage Wesleyan students directly in research activities. These internships are intended to serve as apprenticeships into the research methods and practices of the faculty member’s discipline.
Program Purpose and Eligibility
Student-Faculty Research Internships support projects in which students actively participate in conducting research, such as collecting data, developing analyses, and contributing to scholarly or creative work. The work must be substantive and research-based; clerical duties such as filing, photocopying, or other administrative tasks alone do not qualify.
These internships are intended for Wesleyan undergraduate students. BA/MA students are also eligible for the summer period between completion of their BA and the start of their MA year. Preference will be given to undergraduates for whom this would be their first Wesleyan-sponsored internship.
Student Work Schedule Limits
Students may work a maximum of:
- 10 hours per week during the academic term, or
- 37.5 hours per week during the summer.
When applying, applicants must select the appropriate award period(s) on the application form, as some award periods cross fiscal years:
- Early Summer: June 1–June 30, 2026
- Summer: July 1–July 24, 2026
- Fall Semester: September 1–December 31, 2026
- Spring Semester: January 1–May 14, 2027
The earliest students may begin work is Monday, June 1, 2026.
Compensation and Award Limits
Projects led and directed by a student are now eligible for fellowship funding. Eligible students will receive:
- $2,500 for the Early Summer program (June 1–June 30, 2026)
- $2,500 for the Summer program (July 1–July 26, 2026)
- 150 hours for June 1–June 30 (FY26)
- 150 hours for work after July 1 (FY27)
Students completing the full 300-hour commitment will earn $5,250.
Students in non-research summer internships who have not completed their allotted hours may continue working until August 21, 2026, provided they do not exceed their total award amount.
Use of Funds and Deadlines
Awards cover student wages only. Faculty must use project grants or other funding sources for research-related expenses beyond student compensation.
All award funds must be fully spent by the following deadlines:
- Summer awards: August 21, 2026
- Fall awards: December 31, 2026
- Spring awards: May 14, 2027
- Unspent summer funds swept on September 8 (for fall reallocation)
- Unspent fall funds swept on January 5 (for spring reallocation)
Summer internships are given the highest priority. Requests to extend summer internships into the academic year must include strong justification and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis due to limited funding.
Administrative Oversight of Hours
Department and program administrative assistants are required to monitor student hours to ensure students do not exceed the hours or budget originally awarded. No additional funding will be provided. Any overage must be covered by other available funds.
Application Requirements
Applications must include:
- Duties and responsibilities of the internship
- Student name (if known)
- Supervisor name and contact information
- Total hours requested, clearly indicating the term(s) (early summer, summer, fall, spring)
The narrative attachment must include:
- Description of work involved, progress to date, and remaining tasks
- Scholarly or artistic originality and expected outcomes
- Whether the project has been previously funded by GISOS (including amounts)
- Wesleyan and non-Wesleyan funding received or requested
- For summer internships, faculty recommendation regarding hourly pay versus stipend
- Whether the internship is part of an existing program
- Whether the student has previously held a Wesleyan-sponsored internship or research award
In addition, applicants must provide an internship description outlining:
- The nature of the project and specific student tasks
- Student learning potential
- Feedback schedule
- Evaluation method for student work
Hiring Reminder (Handshake Requirement)
All hourly paid positions employing undergraduate students must be posted on Handshake before a candidate is hired. If an internship grant is awarded, administrative assistants will help post the internship position on Handshake using the information submitted in the GISOS application. For additional support, contact campusemployment@wesleyan.edu.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through:
WesPortal → Faculty Funding Opportunities → Student-Faculty Internship
Please direct questions regarding hiring logistics to campusemployment@wesleyan.edu.