Arts, Culture & Entertainment Grant - Fall

Below is a detailed application guide for the UCIJAM Jeff Metcalf Grant. Your application must include all of the materials listed; applications missing any of the components will not be considered. Competitive applicants will begin preparation and research early and meet with a Career Advancement staff member for guidance.

Students will secure an internship or JAM opportunity and then apply for the grant. Students will submit a proposal that explains how this opportunity will enhance career goals in Journalism, Arts or Media, a resume, appropriate work samples if applicable: (journalism clips, portfolio work, artwork, conceptual outline, photographs, MP3s, etc.); contact information and a letter outlining proof of consent and a work agreement from the internship supervisor or arts mentor.​ I should also include the dollar amount being requested. Students may not receive more than $1,500 during the academic year.

Applications must be submitted through Handshake; applications submitted via email will not be accepted.

Your proposal should begin with a cover-page that clearly lists your name, contact information, major, year, the organization with which you’ll be working, your position there, and your supervisor or mentor’s name and title. It must also clearly state the amount of support you are requesting. The cover page need not give any other information than this list and should NOT be in paragraph form.

Your proposal will begin on the second page. This proposal will be your only opportunity to present your project to the selection committee; please include all relevant information in this document. Your proposal should be clear, well written, and thorough, but also as concise as possible. There is a two page maximum; make sure to use a standard font, at least 11pt. size and at least .5” margins. You may double or single space, but remember to be concise.

 

The nature of your internship / opportunity: Make sure to carefully describe the professional experience you wish to fund. Relevant items to discuss include the duties you will undertake, your goals for the position, etc. You are required to secure an organization and supervisor before applying. Please also be sure to include the intended start and end dates for your internship. If you have questions about how to secure an organization and a mentor, or how to proceed with this type of conversation, please contact your Career Advancement adviser.

Why is it integral to your career development? How will this experience help you fulfill your professional goals? When you answer this question, please make sure to describe how the organization’s work aids in your professional development. Do not focus only on the organization’s mission.

What sort of mentorship AND supervision will you have? How is your mentor able and qualified to help you? Who will supervise or evaluate your work and how/how often?

How funding will help you to do this work: you are requesting that the College give you financial support. Please clearly address how the funding will help you do this work, and why it is necessary that you receive these funds.

How you plan to share your experience with the University of Chicago: Describe how you plan to use your College-funded experience to benefit the University and/or members of its community.

Work samples if applicable: (journalism clips, or links to portfolio work, artwork, photographs, MP3s, etc.)

There is an absolute limit of one page; additional pages will be discarded. Make sure to use a standard font in 11 pt size at the least. If you are having trouble fitting your resume into the space allotted, see a Career Advancement adviser for advice. Please also see the Career Advancement resume handouts in the resume and interview toolkit.

To apply for a JAMgrant, you must have already acquired an internship. Please submit a letter from your supervisor or mentor outlining your opportunity and the time-commitment it entails. If this documentation is in a language other than English, you should provide a translation. Organizations will be contacted to verify details if you are selected.

You MUST submit all the above materials using the Handshake database. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Due to the volume of applications, you are strongly advised to submit your materials prior to the day of the deadline, and especially prior to the hour before the deadline. Career Advancement will not accept late applications.

Within two weeks of completing your internship, you will be expected to write a 2-3 page report about the value of the experience and its contribution to your future career goals. You may also be asked to present on your experience at a UCIJAM event, or to contribute material documentation of your experience so that they may be shared with the UCIJAM community. This report will be kept on file for future students who may be interested in the same organization and may be shared with the selection committee. ​

Up to $1,500 to support students in unpaid journalism, arts, or media internships or substantive and pertinent educational opportunities in the student’s field during the academic year. Multi-quarter awards will be subject to frequent review with the host institution or mentor. Grant proposals should follow a $10/hour guideline. Extra expenses should be explained in the grant proposal. No awards will be given retroactively for work completed.