Center for Career Development Opportunity Fund

A successfully completed application requires:

a. A description of the experience for which funding is being requested;

b. An explanation that describes what funding will be used for; this amount may not exceed $500. (NOTE, review the FAQ 2 & 3, for eligible and ineligible opportunities and expenses. Submissions for ineligible opportunities and/or expenses will not be considered.)

c. Answer application questions related to the student’s intended learning as a result of participating in the experience.

d. A resume used for the opportunity in consideration

e. Documentation confirming the experience or opportunity, including supervision information as applicable

a. Qualifying experiences include but are not limited to working at unpaid and underpaid internship and co-ops, going on job shadows, attending conferences, starting-up costs connected to your new business, participating in interviews, engaging in training sessions and other professional development opportunities.

b. Funds may be used for housing and housing-related utility expenses, travel expenses (such as parking or public transportation cost), meals during the experience, necessary clothing and/or uniforms, and other miscellaneous items related to the experience. Please be specific.

c. Experiences must be in a field of the student’s interest and must feature quality supervision and/or a career-development component but need not be directly related to one’s major or academic program.

d. Experiences will be vetted for quality by Center for Career Development staff.

a. Awarded funds may not be used for any of the following; please be mindful of these criteria when submitting your application. Applications containing any of these anticipated expenses will be denied.

• Purchasing or leasing a vehicle,
• Tuition at the University of Connecticut or another institution,
• Experiential Learning connected to a course,
• Rent or Mortgage,
• Personal expenses deemed unnecessary to completing the experience,
• Travel unconnected to a formal, organized, official, experiential learning program,
• International Travel even if connected to a formal, organized, official, experiential learning program, and
• Other discretionary expenses deemed unrelated to the opportunity.

b. Experiences funded through the UConn IDEA grant, or other University funding mechanisms, are not eligible and will be referred to other departments, as appropriate. Please be mindful of these criteria when submitting your application. Applicants receiving other university funding for these experiences will be denied.

No, you will not need to submit a budget or spending plan. There are pre-determined factors for funding, based on the type of experience.

a. Current undergraduate and graduate students returning to UConn to resume their studies in Fall 2023 are eligible.

b. Current undergraduate and graduate students graduating in May or August 2023 are not eligible.

c. Postdocs are not eligible to receive funding.

No, undergraduates or graduate students – are eligible to apply, regardless of major (except medical and law students).

No, students from all UConn campuses are eligible to apply except law and medical students.

The Center for Career Development has developed a committee to review student applications closely and carefully.  

a. The application portal will open in early to mid-April.

b. Applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis, beginning April 17^th. Students are encouraged to apply early as funds are limited.

c. The Career Center will make every effort to notify students of their award status no later than the week of April 25^th.

d. Should funds be available after the initial review, applications will be reviewed weekly, on a first come, first served basis.

No, the funds will be added to your account via scholarship disbursement which does not affect your financial aid.