Dozens of opportunities are funded each year through the Sandy Maisel Student Internship and Research Grants. This is possible because of generous gifts from a group of alumni seeking to honor Professor Sandy Maisel, the Goldfarb Family Distinguished Professor of American Government and founding director of the Goldfarb Center.
This support allows Colby students to build on their classroom experience with hands-on opportunities throughout the United States and abroad. Awards are intended to encourage students to explore internship opportunities related to public affairs and public policy; funds may also be used to support research in public affairs, such as a senior thesis.
Please submit all materials according to instructions for each category as outlined below and here.
Each year, the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs awards the Franko-Maisel Prize for Public Policy, which recognizes an outstanding Colby senior who has demonstrated a commitment to public affairs and plans to pursue a career related to public policy.
The prize, a $5,000 cash award, is based on an application that showcases a student’s public affairs engagement while at Colby, plans for the future, and how this award will impact the student’s ability to fulfill those plans. It is meant to be a bridge to help a student who needs assistance post-graduation to jumpstart their career.
The Franko-Maisel Prize is possible because of a generous gift from Patrice Franko, the Grossman Professor of Economics and Professor of Global Studies, and the late Sandy Maisel, Goldfarb Family Distinguished Professor of American Government.
Read more about the Franko-Maisel Prize here.
Administered in partnership with DavisConnects, funding for student internships is available to continuing, full-time Colby students and will provide (on average) $3,000 toward student expenses. Student Internship Grants are intended to fund otherwise unfunded internships. When preparing a request for funding, applicants may make the case for an additional $2,000 of lost work compensation. The Goldfarb Center advises applicants to carefully describe your circumstances in your materials. Before funds may be disbursed your internship must be approved to receive transcript notation.
Students apply to receive Sandy Maisel Internship Grants through DavisConnects. Applications that align with the purpose of the Sandy Maisel Student Grants are in turn forwarded to the Goldfarb Center for review and an award decision. Students receiving internship grants will be named Sandy Maisel Student Fellows for the academic year in which their work is completed and should include that designation on all work that results from this grant. Recipients are required to submit a brief report following completion of the internship summarizing the experience, as well as a detailed report of all expenses paid for by the grant money (including copies of receipts organized by date) must be submitted. Additionally, Sandy Maisel Student Fellows are expected to attend Goldfarb Center events throughout the year regularly.
Read more about the application process here.
Summer Application Deadlines and Dates:
Application Opens: Wednesday, March 12 @ 12:00 AM EST
Application Closes: Friday, March 21 @ 11:59 PM EST
Award Notifications: Wednesday, April 16
Fund Disbursement Requirements: Friday, May 16 by 5:00 PM EST
Students can apply to receive Sandy Maisel Student Research Grants to fund original research projects (including collaborative research) on topics related to public affairs or public policy. The Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs invites proposals from Colby students, regardless of major. A wide range of student research projects may qualify for funding under this program, however, preference will be given to students working on honors projects or independent studies or on extended class-related papers for which no other adequate funding sources are available. Students applying for research grant funding should provide a fully developed proposal to include a thesis statement, literature review, and plan for fieldwork; it must indicate your faculty advisor.
Grants are available to continuing, full-time Colby students. Grants will average $3,000, with maximum funding allocated to those grants that are either collaborative or for those that require international travel. Funds may be allocated to cover any legitimate research expenses including, but not limited to: the purchase of research materials, travel, food, and lodging expenses associated with data gathering. Students may not qualify for stipends under this program, except for unusual circumstances, which should be specifically documented at the time of the application. The center hopes to fund two or three projects from each round of applications.
Students receiving research grants will be named Sandy Maisel Student Fellows for the academic year in which their work is completed and should include that designation on all work that results from this grant. Sandy Maisel Student Fellows are expected to attend Goldfarb Center events throughout the year on a regular basis.
Read more about the application process here.
Summer Application Deadlines and Dates:
Application Opens: Wednesday, March 12 @ 12:00 AM EST
Application Closes: Friday, March 21 @ 11:59 PM EST
Award Notifications: Wednesday, April 16
Fund Disbursement Requirements: Friday, May 16 by 5:00 PM EST
For questions about the grant process, contact Scott Lamer at [email protected].
For all other questions, contact Goldfarb Center Associate Director Erica Buswell at [email protected]u
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