Student Funding

You may only apply for one experience type in the initial application and the application must be tailored to a specific opportunity.

Internships (including Colby’s Education Practicum): Internships, including “volunteer” opportunities, provide insight into an industry and career path of interest at an off-campus job site and monitored by an onsite work supervisor affiliated with the organization (80-100 hours). You do NOT need to have fully secured an opportunity to apply but the application must be based on one specific, well-researched opportunity. If the committee offers an award based on the merits of the application, you have up to one opportunity to revise and submit for a different experience, excluding independent studies. Living expenses for internships within your hometown (or locally if living on campus or in Waterville) will not be awarded. We recommend meeting with a DavisConnects advisor before you apply to develop persuasive outreach skills, refine your resume, and explore opportunities within an industry that interests you and aligns with your goals.

Research and Other Independent Study Projects: Independent studies are individual projects in an area where you have demonstrated the interest and competence necessary for independent work (in most cases, only upperclassmen and/or those who have taken the appropriate coursework within their discipline will be approved to undertake them). Only pre-approved independent studies are eligible for funding. You will need to find a faculty member well before the funding deadline to help you develop and approve your project as well as agree to be your faculty supervisor for a registered independent study. Internships that include a research component are not considered independent studies, and should therefore be registered as an internship. Independent study funding through DavisConnects is intended for living and travel expenses for abroad experiences only but other departments may fund domestic experiences, materials, and equipment as their budgets and criteria allow.

Programs: A program is an experience in which a non-Colby third party charges tuition or a fee to facilitate experiential learning or training. Funding through DavisConnects is reserved for short-term study abroad and language immersion programs (like those offered by CIEE, CET, or SIT) for seniors on financial aid who have not yet had a global experience (either semester abroad or short-term). Even then, committees will consider funding these programs on a case-by-case basis as funds are extremely limited. Courses offered by other colleges and universities in the U.S. are prohibited. You do not need to have been accepted into the program to apply. If the committee offers an award based on the merits of the application, you have up to one opportunity to revise and submit for a different experience, excluding independent studies.

Bunche and Presidential Scholar Grants have broader criteria and so Scholars are eligible for these programs (up to the $3,000 grant limit) at any time, as approved by the funding committee, as well as other types such as conferences or online skills and certification courses (only one course per application). DavisConnects does not have funding available for conferences or online programs.

Grants do not cover academic semester (or yearlong) abroad or domestic experiences as financial aid is portable. Off-Campus Study (OCS) within DavisConnects will be reaching out to you in September of your sophomore year with an information session to get you started on planning for your time away junior year. You will need to apply through OCS in your sophomore year to be away as a junior. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Civic Engagement Projects: These are initiatives in direct partnership or collaboration with a non-profit organization working to address a pressing social issue or community need in the State of Maine. The Office of Civic Engagement and Community Partnership awards these through their O’Hanian-Szostak Fellowship for Civic Leadership, which can be accessed through the general applications during the fall, Jan Plan, and summer funding cycles. 

Off-Campus or Fee-Based On-Campus Colby Courses (Jan Plan): Academic departments will be your first point of contact but courses will be listed on this page in early September and will include info session dates and contact information for faculty leaders. You must apply and be accepted into the course or waitlisted to submit an application for funding. Faculty leaders will be hosting information sessions for Jan Plan off-campus courses in mid-September and applications for admission will be open soon after. Students who do not come off the course waitlist and subsequently the funding waitlist may apply for funding or other experience types below (in November) and will need to first email [email protected].

You may apply for funding only during the application period under “Start Your Funding Application” below.

First, fill out and submit the General Application Part I. You will then proceed to the General Application Part II. After you submit these, you will automatically be considered for all DavisConnects funding sources (we match you with a funding source if awarded). Presidential Scholars and Bunche Scholars will also need to complete these steps to be considered for their grants (there is no direct application).

You may also be eligible for funding through other academic departments and programs. As you complete the General Application Part II, a list of  “Recommended Opportunities” will appear. Only after you click “Finish and Submit” at the bottom of the General Application Part II will you have access to fill out these short supplementary ones.

Your candidacy will then be considered by both the DavisConnects funding committee and the committee within that respective department. As DavisConnects funds are limited, applying to these other opportunities will increase your chances of being funded.

During each funding cycle, the application will only be live on our online platform for a limited number of days and can be accessed below under “Start Your Application.” We recommend developing your application in advance in Word docs and then pasting it into the online platform when it opens.

Summer Break ’26 Funding Cycle:

Application Opens: Monday March 16 @ 12:00 AM
Application Closes: Thursday, April 2 @ 11:59 PM 
Award Notifications: Wednesday, April 22
Fund Disbursement Requirements: May 22

ESSAYS

The questions listed below appear in the General Application Part II and can be prepared in advance. 

Self-Assessment:
The first set of questions asks you to rate yourself on a scale from 0-10. These ratings are in no way factored in to the funding decision process. This information is being requested so that we may better understand the impact of participation and for you to assess your own level of growth. Please be as honest and accurate as possible.

1. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified eight core competencies for what they call “career readiness.” These are a set of foundational skills that prepare you to enter any industry. They are, understandably, in high demand across all industries. At Colby, you’ll have many opportunities to develop these essential skills!

a. Use this link to review the list of eight core competencies and then choose one that you feel is the most important competency to develop over the course of the experience for which you are applying for funding:

– Career & Self Development
– Communication
– Critical thinking
– Equity & Inclusion
– Leadership
– Professionalism
– Teamwork
– Technology

b. Think about your current relationship to the competency you’ve chosen: How confident are you currently in your practice of it? Use a scale of 0-10 to indicate how confident you are in your practice of that competency. A rating of 0 indicates that you are not at all confident and a rating of 10 indicates that you’re very confident.

2. Over your career, you’ll likely hold multiple professional roles and face opportunities for change, from small shifts to major pivots. At Colby, you can explore your interests, learn about yourself, discover new professional opportunities, and refine your postgraduate plans. This process is called orienting to your “true north,” finding the path that aligns with your goals and values. How confident are you that you’re on the right path? A rating of 0 indicates that you are not at all confident that you are on the right path and a rating of 10 indicates that you are very confident that you are on the right path.

3. The ability to draw and explain meaningful connections between your academic program of study and experiential, co-curricular, and/or community-based learning opportunities to a prospective employer can be a powerful tool that helps you successfully transition from college into the field of your choice. Please rate your ability to explain the value of your Colby education so far. A rating of 0 indicates that you are unable to articulate its value and a rating of 10 indicates that you are able to articulate its value in a compelling way.

4. Global engagement is integral to a Colby education. By “global” we mean both the diverse peoples, cultures, and languages beyond the United States and the range of peoples, cultures, and languages that live and thrive right here—in the United States, Maine, Waterville, and on Mayflower Hill. Colby aims to support the development of core competencies related to global learning and literacy.

a. Choose one of the following that you feel is the most important competency to develop over the course of this experience:

– Understand how one’s actions affect and are affected by local and global systems
– Think critically about how social identities are constructed
– Develop Intercultural competence, which is the ability to communicate with, understand, and work with people of various backgrounds, values, world views, and behaviors
– Work collaboratively to address the world’s most pressing and enduring challenges

b. How confident are you currently in the competency you selected above? A rating of 0 indicates that you are not at all confident and a rating of 10 indicates that you’re very confident.

Main Essays:
Thoughtful answers are critical to success. It is our hope that you use these prompts beyond the funding application, developing them throughout your remaining time at Colby in order to practice writing persuasive narratives that help to tell your story. They will be useful to leverage for cover letters, job interviews, or perhaps a personal statement for graduate school or fellowship.

1. Using the four self-assessment areas above, craft an authentic and compelling narrative that clearly articulates how you will develop your two selected competencies and how this experience will advance your academic and professional goals as you move toward your ‘true north.’ Your response should include specific examples that reflect your individual goals and unique experiences. (250 words max)

2. Describe the significance of the experience’s geographic and/or cultural location and its potential impact on your personal, academic, and professional growth. If the experience takes place abroad, explain why it could not occur in the U.S. or be done remotely. International students proposing experiences in their home country should also explain why it is essential for the experience to take place there. (100 words max)

3. Describe how your academic and extracurricular experiences at Colby have prepared you for this opportunity. If pursuing an independent study, highlight relevant coursework—especially methods courses—that have equipped you with the skills or knowledge to succeed. (100 words max)

4. Explain the unique contributions you will bring to this experience and how you hope to further develop, apply, or share what you gain within the Colby community. (100 words max)

STAFF/FACULTY REFERENCE

All applicants will need to send a reference form on the funding application to a Colby staff or faculty reference by inputting their name and email address. All references should be informed of your plans and asked well in advance if they would be willing to provide a reference. Once you submit their information, they will receive a short questionnaire in their email inbox to fill out and submit.

For independent studies, the reference must be provided by the faculty member that has reviewed your project proposal and has agreed to supervise your registered independent study. This reference must be submitted by the funding deadline in order to be considered. No exceptions.

For internships or programs, the reference should be provided by a staff or faculty member that knows you well and can provide a character and/or academic reference. It is important to notify them of your plans and ask if they would be willing to provide one in advance. References for these experience types do not need to be in by the funding deadline but they will help committee members make a decision. If you are offered funding, fund disbursement is conditional on a positive reference submitted by the “Post-Acceptance” (fund disbursement) deadline.

BUDGET SHEET

Applicants are required to use a standard budget sheet, available to download on the funding application and to download below in advance. The budget sheet below is an example of what a good budget looks like. You may delete the example information and use this sheet to develop your application. They will also be available for download in the actual application.

Download example budget

Looking to learn about budgeting and saving? Colby Student Financial Services (SFS) has launched a new personal finance platform to help empower students with their own personal finance goals. iGrad is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help students make informed decisions about budgeting, saving, and so much more. Go to colby.igrad.com and sign-up today with your @colby.edu email address at colby.igrad.com to get started right away!

• How much funding can I ask for? Typical grant awards range on average from $2,500 – $3,500 but depend on level of need and the overall budget proposal. Award maximum is $7,000, except for the Jan Plan Colby Tuck Business Bridge course.
• Can I receive partial funding? Committee members carefully review all budgets and may conduct additional research if needed. After review, awards may be less than the amount requested. When funding is competitive, partial awards may also be made if the committee requires a greater contribution from the applicant.
• If I am not on financial aid, may I apply for funding? While all awards are competitive, many grant and fellowship funds are designated for need-based students; in many cases, applicants must have a current academic year financial aid application at Colby to be eligible. Students who do not receive financial aid will need to fill out a financial need explanation statement to make the case as to why they are requesting funds. Students on financial aid will receive priority in most cases.
• Can I get funding for supplies? Awards are largely for living and travel experiences. DavisConnects does not fund equipment, materials, or other types of physical supplies. Other departments may fund these supplies as appropriate.
• Can I request reimbursement for lost wages? Only students on financial aid may include “lost wages” in their budget sheets in the expense section (up to $500 for Jan Plan and $2,000 during semesters and summer). This means that they are giving up a paid opportunity, and largely prevented from working, in order to have a more valuable, but unpaid or underpaid experience.
• Can I get funding for a paid opportunity? Paid internships are eligible for funding only if expenses exceed income. A lost wages calculation may be applied to paid internships in order for the applicant to net up to $500 for Jan Plan or $2,000 for semesters and summer. For example, if expenses equal $4,000 but income equals $3,000, applicants may request $1,000 to cover expenses plus another $2,000 (or $500 for Jan Plan) to pocket at the end of the experience. The $7,000 funding cap applies to this determination.
• Do I need to contribute my own funds to this experience? And if I am getting paid for an internship can I keep my pay and also get funding? The purpose of our student grants is to help make an experience possible. Personal contributions are expected if possible and all income received from paid internships must be contributed to expenses. Applicants must report their hourly wage or stipend if it is a paid internship. Purposefully withholding or misrepresenting information about personal finances or internship compensation is a violation of the student code of conduct and will result in a denial of funding.
  
• How are applications prioritized? Due to high demand, those students who have never received funding, have higher levels of financial need, and who are upperclassmen will be prioritized during each application cycle. It is possible to receive several offers throughout your four years (in most cases, no more than three) but this will depend on budget availability, the funding source, and nature of the opportunity during each funding cycle. Students who have already been funded before may apply but should expect to receive lower prioritization from DavisConnects. Applicants in this case should make an appointment with Scott Lamer ([email protected]) to discuss their eligibility before the funding deadline.
  
• I really need the funding, what do I do if I am not funded? Applicants should not tie their plans to winning these very competitive awards; it’s important for applicants to make alternative plans in the event they do not qualify or are not selected. Non-refundable deposits for airfare and housing should not be made before award notification unless applicants are willing to take that loss.
  
• I haven’t secured my experience yet, can I still apply for funding? Students do not need to have secured a position to apply for internship or program funds, but they will be required to provide confirmation from the organization before funds are released. Students should complete their application based on a specific opportunity that is most likely to take place. Colby faculty-led courses and independent studies must have prior approval before applying for funds and will not be able to revise their applications for an alternate opportunity.
  
• What if my plans change after I am offered an award? If applicants who have applied for internship or program funding are offered an award but plans change, they will be eligible (and are required) to update and resubmit their application one time by emailing [email protected]. The funding committee reserves the right to change the award amount previously offered.
  
• Can I apply for funding with a friend for a group project or if we’re doing the same internship? The funding application is an independent and personal endeavor. All essay responses and budget sheets should be in the student’s own voice and be presented as their own work. Using content that is word-for-word the same as your peers or generative AI is a violation of the student code of conduct and will result in a denial of funding. In cases where multiple students are proposing to do the same experience together, it is still expected that each participant will draft unique responses.
  
• How can I thank my donor if I am funded? Donor Relations will reach out to all grant recipients immediately following the experience with a questionnaire to be completed. Answers will be shared with donors. This is a requirement for those who received funding for their experiences.
  
• Can I get funding through another source at Colby that doesn’t host their funds on this platform? If applicants are granted funding from another source at Colby not hosted on this platform, they are required to notify Scott Lamer ([email protected]). Each funding committee reserves the right to adjust awards for students who receive funding from other sources.
• Can I get funding if I am on a leave of absence? Applicants must be current Colby students and not on a leave of absence during the term in which the award will be used.
  
• Can I get funding if I am a senior, for an experience that takes place after graduation? We are not able to fund seniors during the summer funding cycle. The last opportunity for funding is spring semester during senior year.
  
• Do you fund tuition or fees for non-Colby programs or courses at other U.S. colleges and universities? Many funds are not to be used to pay for tuition or fees from third party programs and courses offered by other college and universities in the U.S. are prohibited. Funding committees will consider programs on a case-by-case basis and seniors who have not yet had a global experience (whether a semester abroad or short-term) will be prioritized. It is preferred that awards reimburse costs for registered internships, independent studies, or Jan Plan courses led by Colby faculty.
  
• What about funding conferences? Only Bunche Scholars and Presidential Scholars may apply for funding for conferences if they haven’t used their $3,000 grant.
  
• Can I get funded while I am on a semester or yearlong abroad program? Grants do not cover academic semester (or yearlong) abroad or off-campus experiences as financial aid is portable. Please email Off-Campus Study at [email protected] for more information.
  
• What if I am doing an internship or project outside of my semester abroad program? No, Colby is not able to award students who are not enrolled at Colby.
  
• I had an internship last summer and did not make a lot of money. Can I apply for funding retroactively? No, the funding cycles are term-specific and must be applied for in advance.
• My hockey coach offered me an internship in the athletic department, can I apply for funding for that? Internships at Colby (with a faculty or staff member supervising) are not allowed as all non-credit Colby positions would be considered paid employment.
  
• I am working as a research assistant at Colby this summer. Can I apply for funding for that? Grants are not able to support expenses for students participating in summer paid research assistance at Colby or other positions where students receive a paycheck from Colby College.
  
• After I was awarded, my internship was canceled. Can I use the funds for something else? Funds granted must be used solely for the purpose outlined in the final application submission. Students have an obligation to disclose in writing any changes to the application information or outright cancellation of the experience by emailing [email protected]. Failure to do so may result in an obligation to repay or forfeit the funding, and may constitute misconduct under Colby’s student and academic misconduct procedures.
  
• Can I apply for funding for an experience in a U.S. Department of State Level-4 country like Haiti or Guatemala? Colby continues to disallow travel to countries designated Level 4 by the U.S. State Department. Countries designated Level 3 require a petition to the Travel Advisory Committee. All travelers are required to review U.S. State Department travel advisories with their families to safely determine their own comfort level with risks. Visit the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory page to view the designation of your proposed destination. If needed, download petition here.

Meet with a DavisConnects Career Design Advisor and Industry Specialist first, if you haven’t already (schedule an appointment in Handshake), before beginning the funding process.

INFO SESSIONS

The best way to learn about the overall funding process is to attend an info session on one of the following dates and times:

• Mondays 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (2/2 – 2/9 + 2/23 – 3/16)
• Wednesdays 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (2/4 + 2/18 – 3/18)

ONE-ON-ONE APPOINTMENTS

Once you have read through this funding page and/or attended an info session, you may schedule a 1:1 appointment with Scott Lamer, Director of Global Experience Funding during one of the following appointment blocks:

• Mondays (In Person) 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (2/2 + 2/23 – 3/16)
• Monday (In Person) 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (2/9)
• Fridays (Virtual) 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (2/6 + 2/20 – 3/20)
• Fridays (Virtual) 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (2/6 + 2/20 – 3/20)

DROP-IN HOURS

Can’t make on of the appointment times? Or do you need further assistance developing your essays and budget? Have further questions? You may drop by Grossman Hall Atrium during one of the following times for assistance:

Wednesdays 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (3/4 – 3/18)

You may email Scott Lamer, Director of Global Experience Funding & Resource Management, with funding questions (after reading through the funding page and meeting with a Career Design Advisor and Industry Specialist) at any time at [email protected].

To access the summer ’26 funding application, click “Apply Now” below and the sign in with your Colby username and password during the period of March 16 – April 2. 

APPLY NOW

If you are offered an award in the funding portal, you will need to click “Accept” to gain access to the Post-Acceptance Application. All sections applicable to your experience type must be completed by the deadline in order to receive your funds.

FOR INTERNSHIPS, INDEPENDENT STUDIES, PROGRAMS

Once the steps below are met in the Post-Acceptance Application, DavisConnects staff will notify Student Financial Services (SFS). Your money will be released via direct deposit if you have it set up with the College. Once notified, your award will take time to be processed through accounts payable and depending on your bank policy, be deposited into your account.

1) For internships (including education practicums): the post-acceptance application will host an electronic form that you will send to the supervisor of the organization where you are interning (not a Colby staff or faculty member). You will input their name and email address to send the form. This will include the following:

• Colby Student Name
• Hosting Institution Name
• Address of Hosting Institution Work Site
• Hosting Institution Supervisor Name
• Hosting Supervisor Phone/Email Address
• Student Experience/Position
• Anticipated Dates of Experience
• Level of Compensation (if any)
• The experience will be either a) remote or b) include some form of on-site attendance

2) Provide confirmation that you have registered the experience:

INTERNSHIPS: Once your internship is secured, you are required to register the internship through myColby for transcript notation (the organization and subject area is listed right on the transcript) or notation plus one academic credit hour. Please see instructions on this page. Recipients of funding for the education practicum (ED333 or ED351) will need to register for these courses separately in myColby.

Once you submit your registration application, both your faculty sponsor and DavisConnects will need to approve (the approval request is sent automatically via email). Once it is approved, the Registrar’s Office will be notified. Once this is complete, you will receive a confirmation email. You will then need to upload a PDF or screenshot of this email or a screenshot of your approved internship status from myColby to the Post-Acceptance. Recipients of funding for the education practicum (ED333 or ED351) will need to upload confirmation of registration in these courses.

RESEARCH OR OTHER INDEPENDENT STUDIES: You will need to register this as a January ’26 independent study course via this link. Upload a PDF or screenshot of the email confirmation from the registrar or a screenshot of your registration status from myColby. This must be an “approved” and registered status NOT your pending request.

PROGRAMS: You are NOT required to register this experience but please upload confirmation that you have been accepted into or enrolled into the program. You may be eligible to transfer academic credits for selected third-party providers. If applicable, please see the Colby Registrar for details at this link.

3) All funding recipients (except those awarded for faculty-led courses) will be required to fill out a Release of Liability form. This form will be available in the post-acceptance application and can be downloaded here. If you are under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must also sign.

4) All funded students traveling to a destination outside of the U.S., except international students returning to their home country, will be automatically enrolled in mandatory, but complimentary comprehensive travel security/medical insurance under the iNext Ultimate Plan. You are welcome to arrange for any additional insurance that you consider adequate to meet any and all needs for payment of medical or other travel-related expenses. iNext insurance is intended to provide medical and travel security coverage for abroad travel but is not a substitute for basic health insurance. Students who are enrolled in the Colby-sponsored student health insurance plan through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield are covered within the U.S. and have coverage abroad with GeoBlue (as part of the Anthem plan), with the exception of international students. International students do not have coverage in their home country but do have coverage in the U.S. and other nations. See the Colby student Insurance webpage for more info at (https://www.colby.edu/people/offices-directory/student-financial-services/general-information/).

Please click on the links below for more information about iNext:

iNext Comprehensive Ultimate Group Plan Details

iNext Comprehensive Ultimate Group Plan FAQs

5) Colby staff or faculty reference: An award determination will be made with or without the required Colby staff or faculty reference for internships and programs. If the award is made in your favor, fund disbursement is conditional on receiving a positive reference before the post-acceptance deadline.

6) Disclosure of Changes:
An acknowledgement that by accepting funding from the College, including any DavisConnects funding, Colby College has relied on the information provided in your application in its decision to award funding and an understanding that the funds granted must be used solely for the purpose outlined in the final submission of your application. You have an obligation to disclose in writing any changes to the application information or outright cancellation of the experience by emailing [email protected]. Failure to do so may result in an obligation for you to repay or forfeit the funding, and may constitute misconduct under Colby’s student and academic misconduct procedures.

7) Donor Questionnaire:
An acknowledgement that you are aware that Donor Relations will reach out to you immediately following your experience with a questionnaire to be completed. Your answers will be shared with donors. This is a requirement for those who received funding for their experiences.

Non-compliance could compromise future funding.

The online application accessed from this page allows students to apply for funding opportunities from DavisConnects as well as other academic departments and programs across campus. The opportunities below are available during one or more of the four funding cycles per year. Click on “Application Process” above to see what funding opportunities are available in the current cycle.

Center for the Arts and Humanities Paid Summer Internships
Center for the Arts and Humanities Research Grants
Colby Economics Department Opportunities
Colby French Studies Department Scholarships and The Shareen Abbasy Fund for French and Francophone Studies
Colby Government Department Fellowships
DavisConnects Opportunities
Oak Human Rights Internships
Presidential Scholars Opportunity Grant
Public Policy Lab
Ralph J. Bunche Scholars Opportunity Grants
Sandy Maisel Student Internship Grant
Sandy Maisel Student Research Grant
The Jon Barry Grant for Library Research Outside of Colby for English Majors
The Linde Packman Lab for Biosciences Innovation
The O’Hanian-Szostak Fellows for Civic Leadership
The Sarah Janney Internship Grant
The Sarah Janney Research Grant

The following funding opportunities are not hosted on this online application. Please visit the links below for information on how to apply:

Buck Lab for Climate and Environment
Colby Environmental Studies Department
Walker Grants for Latin American Studies
Colby Geology Department
Provost Office $500 Special Projects Fund
Halloran Lab for Entrepreneurship
Lyons Arts Lab