Student Resources
These persistent and complicated challenges require a deep understanding of the issues, specialized and interdisciplinary knowledge, wide-ranging skill sets, and sophisticated leadership capacities. The Levitt Center’s programs recognize this complexity and encourage students to deepen their knowledge and hone their skills to better understand and tackle these difficult challenges. The programs listed below are open to students from every department and class year.
Please note, that the Center has significantly changed many programs due to COVID-19. More information can be found on each program page below.
Public Scholarship Programs
The Levitt Research Fellows Program is open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who wish to spend the summer researching a public affairs question of their own choosing. Summer Research Fellows collaborate closely with a faculty advisor, work on a full-time basis for 10 weeks, submit a 25-page paper or equivalent faculty-approved project, and publicly present their work in the fall. Learn More ...
The Levitt Center Speaker Series and Lunch Discussions features many speakers with substantial academic and policy experience, and is an invaluable asset in helping students makes the connection between the classroom and policies enacted in the real world.
Formally started in 2020-21, The Justice Lab Program seeks to pair the theoretical study of the legal system with the practical application of these concepts to dynamic, real world issues. Learn More
Transformational Leadership Programs
The LLI is a one to two-week intensive leadership training program promoting transformational leadership practices and social action. LLI’s mission is to help students recognize, develop and practice the kinds of leadership skills that are essential for creating personal and societal change. Applications for LLI are open in the fall. Week One of the Institute takes place on campus during winter break. Week Two, which is optional, takes place in Washington, D.C., during the first week of spring break. Students who wish to go to D.C. will take College 340. Combined with Weeks 1 and 2 of LLI, this course is worth a full credit. Learn More ...
The Highlander Leadership Program brings together students, faculty, and staff from Hamilton College and comparable institutions to develop organizing strategies to create diverse, safe, and just campuses. This course includes a required field study at the Highlander Center in Tennessee, during the second week of spring break. Note: During 2021, this course will not require the Highlander Field Study.
Engaged Citizenship Programs
Hamilton College is a member of the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty affording Hamilton students the opportunity to apply for high quality summer internships around the country in anti-poverty organizations. Housing, travel and food expenses are covered. Eligible participants may also apply for an $1000 educational award. Applications are available during the fall term.
The Levitt Center also supports Electoral Politics Interns who work on local or national election campaigns while registered for specific Government Department courses.
Project SHINE provides students with an eye-opening opportunity to volunteer for two hours a week over the course of a term to tutor Utica’s large and diverse refugee population in ESOL and Citizenship courses. Students may participate through a course that offers Project SHINE. The Levitt Center provides transportation, orientation, and other support for student and faculty participants. Learn More ...
The VITA program prepares Hamilton students to provide free tax help to low to moderate income families who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Students are certified as volunteer tax preparers through the IRS and each spends 15 hours filing taxes at VITA sites. Students may participate either through a course that offers VITA or as a volunteer. The Levitt Center provides transportation, orientation, and other support for student and faculty participants. To participate, sign up for Econ 235 in the spring term. Learn More ...
The Levitt Center Community Impact Summer Fellowship Program is an 8 week, 35 hour per week paid commitment taking place in the summer of 2022 (June 6 - July 29). Fellows will be asked to take the lead on project-based assignments in collaboration with community-based organizations, Hamilton faculty members, faculty from other institutions, and/or Levitt Center staff to address complex social and public policy questions taking place locally (Utica and surrounding area). Fellows will also participate in a reading, reflection, and discussion group connecting the theory and practice of change. Fellows will be housed on campus at Hamilton and work a mix of virtually and in person, depending on the project. As with all programming during the COVID pandemic, Fellows will be asked to remain flexible and may be asked to work partly or entirely virtually depending on the situation. Fellows are paid positions open to all rising Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
Social Innovation Programs
The Social Innovation Fellows Program prepares and supports students who aim to use innovative approaches to address persistent social problems. The program begins with a week long workshop during winter break facilitated by Anke Wessels and modeled after an award-winning course she teaches at Cornell University. Select projects receive funding and mentoring support.
The Center also organizes social innovation workshops and conferences; and brings in social innovators and entrepreneurs as Innovators-in-Residence to help students develop ideas and projects that seek to address a long-standing social problem in innovative and creative ways.
Fellowships, Internships & Funding
Internship and Research Funding
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The Kirkland Endowment sponsors up to four students in its program of Summer Associates to do ten weeks of full-time work on a research or creative project of their own design
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Levitt Summer Research Fellows
The Levitt Research Fellows Program is open to Hamilton students who wish to spend the summer researching a public affairs question of their own choosing
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Emerson Foundation Grant program is designed to provide students with significant opportunities to work collaboratively with faculty members, researching an area of interest
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Diversity and Social Justice Project Program
Three grants are available to support Hamilton students with demonstrated financial need who wish to engage in unpaid, socially useful work
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Levitt Summer Research Group Grants
Levitt Research Group Grants support groups of students completing summer research projects under the supervision of at least one faculty adviser. The grants are intended to encourage faculty and student publications.
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Career Center Summer Internship Funding
Funding is available to cover cost-of-living expenses for students who obtain unpaid or minimally paid summer internships
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Levitt Public Service Internship Funding
Levitt Public Service Internship Awards provide funding for students who have secured an unpaid or minimally paid summer internship that focuses on some aspect of public service.
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The Class of 1979 Student Travel Award
Email tlsteven@hamilton.edu for more information.
Policy-Related Internships
Contact
Office / Department Name
Levitt Center
Contact Name
Levitt Center
