Funding and Work Exemption Program Application Instructions

Please carefully review the eligibility Work Exemption Program by visiting the Work Exemption Program page. Please read the guidelines below and connect with us via columbia-wep@columbia.edu if you have further questions.  Remember we are here to support you and continue to wish you well.

• The academic year Work Exemption Program is intended to fund students participating in unpaid opportunities within a commutable distance of the Columbia campus.
• Opportunities involving domestic travel (outside of a commutable distance) or international travel are not eligible for the academic year Work Exemption Program.
• In pursuing a Columbia-funded Work Exemption Program opportunity, you are responsible for coordinating with the organization that is sponsoring your opportunity to make sure they are ensuring compliance with any requisite visa and/or other work authorization requirements, depending on the nature of the opportunity. For further guidance regarding visa and work authorization requirements, please consult Columbia’s International Students & Scholars Office.

Complete the Work Exemption Program Application. If you receive a WEP grant, you will be expected to fully abide by all governmental orders or advisories at the local, state/regional, and national levels and other public health measures. You will be expected to acknowledge this requirement prior to receiving final funding approval for your Columbia opportunity.

Please follow all application instructions carefully and review all eligibility requirements before you apply. All application materials, including your letter of recommendation and employer verification forms, are due by the application deadline. You are responsible for reaching out to your letter writer and supervisor to ensure their materials are submitted by the application deadline. You are responsible for reaching out to your letter writer and supervisor to ensure their materials are submitted by the application deadline. We encourage applicants to inform their recommender and supervisor of the timeline regarding the application as they have a limited window of time to submit their materials.

Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered. Please carefully review these instructions. The link to start your application is at the end of the instructions.
 

1. COMPLETE PART 1 OF THE FUNDING PROGRAM APPLICATION FORM

This will collect your biographical information and your recommender’s information. We strongly urge you to complete this component early to ensure your recommender has sufficient time to submit their letter. 

2. COMPLETE PART 2 OF THE FUNDING PROGRAM APPLICATION FORM

This section will collect your position information. Upon submission, your supervisor will be sent instructions to verify your position and time commitment. We strongly urge you to complete this component as soon as you finalize your position to ensure that your supervisor has sufficient time to verify your opportunity.

3. AT THE END OF PART 2, YOU WILL NEED TO UPLOAD YOUR RESUME AND PERSONAL STATEMENT

• Resume  - For resume help, please feel free to utilize CCE’s Quick Question hours or schedule an appointment with a career counselor.

• Personal Statement - Your statement should be limited to three pages, double-spaced. Include the prompts outlined below in your essay to ensure you answer all questions thoroughly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE OPPORTUNITY

• describe the organization, your role, and responsibilities;

• describe your duties, projects to be completed and deadlines; and

• explain why you want to intern at this organization.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• what do you intend to learn from this experience?

• what are your goals and how do they align with your academic interests and/or career plans?

SUPERVISION

• describe the supervision you will receive; detailing the frequency of meetings and planned communication. If you are applying for a remote opportunity, please detail how you and your supervisor will ensure routine communication and the completion of tasks and projects. 

• what kind of instruction, assistance, and training will you receive and from whom? 

• explain how and when you will be evaluated.

CONCLUSION

• explain why you should be considered for this program; 

• explain how your plans will be affected if you do not receive funding; and

• address your commitment to submitting a donor thank you letter and a reflection project (both will be required at the end of the summer). 

If you are reapplying for an opportunity that is continuing into the next semester, explain if your duties or projects will be changing or if you will be assuming any additional levels of responsibility. Include information about why you are interested in continuing your work at this particular organization. With regards to learning objectives, please respond to these questions: 

1. What did you originally intend to learn through this experience and how have these learning objectives been met? 

2. How have these learning objectives changed or developed? 

3. What new goals have you set for yourself? 

4. How has this experience impacted your academic interests and/or career goals? Additionally, note when and how you have been evaluated and if this supervisory experience will change or remain the same in the upcoming semester. 

NOTE: This is NOT relevent for the Spring 2025 Work Exemption Program.



Students planning overseas travel should refer to the Undergraduate International Travel Policy website for general information and specific details on Summer 2025 Travel.  Applicants with a global opportunity should submit a School Sponsorship application.

As a reminder, please make sure that you have submitted your Program Application at least six weeks prior to departure and your associated School Sponsorship application at least 4 weeks prior to departure. Program Applications can take up to four weeks to approve, depending on the ISOS risk rating for the program country. Students planning an international program are advised to submit a Program Application as soon as possible. You can read more about travel requirements during summer ’24 on the Undergraduate International Travel Policy website. 

Global Travel maintains a list of country risk ratings, which is updated weekly. All Columbia affiliates are required to check risk ratings and Columbia University Travel Restrictions when planning their travel.

Once your program has been approved, please be sure to fill out an associated School Sponsorship application if you did not do so when submitting your Program Application. Once you have received confirmation of your School Sponsorship, log back into the Undergraduate Travel Web App to complete the following requirements:

1. Online Pre-Departure Orientation

2. Sign the Assumption of Risk, Waiver, and Release form

3. Register your travel (including side trips) through International SOS

4. Confirm that you will abide by Columbia policies while abroad and certify health insurance coverage

5. Complete and/or adhere to any additional safety protocol measures recommended by the Undergraduate Travel Review Committee.

If you have any questions, please contact us at cce-funding@columbia.edu or the Undergraduate Travel Review Committee at utrc@columbia.edu.

*THE WORK EXEMPTION PROGRAM APPLICATION PERIOD FOR SPRING 2025 IS NOW OPEN. USE THIS LINK TO APPLY*