Community Engagement Scholars Program - Center for Community Engaged Learning

Program Overview

The MSU Community Engagement Scholars Program is an initiative offered by the Center for Community Engaged Learning and the Office of the President in partnership with community organizations in Michigan. Students selected as Scholars will be paired with a primary community organization(s) to continue our partnership or to complete projects or other opportunities of interest to the community organization.

The scope of the student project can range from project management and infrastructure to communications and data collection, with additional opportunities to serve with neighborhood/community/economic development organizations and other local nonprofits!

Students will develop and engage in the CESP cohort. Together, scholars will design and implement a cohort project, participate in professional development workshops, take part in reflective learning, and learn from one another.

Learn more about the Community Engagement Scholars Program with our brief informational video.

Scholar Position Specifics

10 undergraduate positions available
Program runs from August 2026-April 2027
Education stipend/project pay (approximately $2500/semester)
15 hours average/week. This includes cohort meetings as well as no less than a 12 hour/week commitment at a partner site with a community partner organization. The majority of this time will be scheduled between 8am-6pm, Monday-Friday with some/limited evening and weekend availability.
Required cohort meetings twice monthly for professional development and reflective learning
Scholar will be required to contribute to an ongoing reflection portfolio throughout the program
Transportation resources provided
Pre-Engagement Training and Orientation required

Applications are now closed. Please check back next year!

2026-27 CESP Graduate Coordinator

Madge Bolek

Madge (she/her) is a second year Masters of Social Work student from Traverse City, Michigan. She graduated from MSU in the summer of 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and two minors in Human Behavior and Social Services and Youth and Society. In a gap year between her undergraduate and master's program, she served as a college adviser for Michigan State College Advising Corps in two small rural schools. In her masters program, she is pursuing a concentration in child welfare as a Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellow. As a second year graduate coordinator for CESP, Madge hopes to continue to help the scholars learn about community engagement and community learning.