How to Get Started
Generous funding allows the Academy to support humanities students by providing awards for unpaid internships, particularly in non-profit, government, and public service fields
Step 1
Come and explore internship opportunities with our help!
Step 2
Enroll in an Internship class at ODU (zero or credit-based)
Step 3
Apply for a Mellon Foundation Award
Step 4
Get started on your ePortfolio

ePortfolio Grant Requirements
The ePortfolio assignment is designed to help you document and reflect on your learning experiences during your work-based learning (WBL) experiences. This process will enable you to demonstrate your professional skills, articulate your growth, and showcase how your experience has prepared you for future academic and career endeavors. By creating an ePortfolio, you will develop valuable skills in self-assessment, professional identity building, and digital literacies, which are essential for success in the humanities and beyond.
To receive a monetary award, interns must document and reflect on their learning experiences through an ePortfolio. You can create a new ePortfolio or add the required materials to an existing one. Your ePortfolio should demonstrate your professional competencies and identity while showcasing the role of your internship in preparing you for your next steps. This comprehensive approach not only highlights your achievements but also prepares you for future opportunities by emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and development.
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Do I need to include high-impact practices?Inclusion of High Impact Practices Applicants are encouraged to consider the inclusion of High Impact Practices (HIPs) as part of their Micro Grant efforts. Championed by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), HIPs are approaches to teaching and learning that have been demonstrated to enhance student engagement and academic achievement. Old Dominion University proudly supports the following HIPs which strongly align with the Academy’s Micro Grant process: Capstone Courses and Projects Collaborative Assignments and Projects ePortfolios Internships Learning Communities Service- or Community-Based Learning Experiences and Projects Undergraduate Research Projects Writing Intensive Courses To learn more about HIPs, visit: aacu.org/trending-topics/high-impact
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What is the review criteria for the grant?Your proposal will be reviewed by Academy personnel and relevant Subject Matter Experts according to the following criteria: Approach – 40% Clearly identifies gap in curriculum Proposed activities are clearly aligned Strategies are practical/feasible Achievement of Outcomes – 40% Project aligns to Explore, Prepare, Apply outcomes Strategies support student achievement of outcomes Demonstrations of achievement are appropriate and provide evidence of outcome attainment Project Impact – 10% Project is reproducible Approach is sustainable without future grant support Significant number of students (based on average annual enrollment) are impacted Budget Plan – 10% Budget plan is well-defined Budget plan is feasible As a reminder, accomplishments and lessons learned by the WBL Micro Grant recipients will be shared as an important step in fostering a college-wide dialog on WBL in the humanities.To that end, if your proposal is funded, you will be expected to submit a final report that provides sufficient documentation of all activities, student work samples, and insights from the experience. These reports will be published as resources for the Arts & Letters community.
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Which faculty are eligible to apply for this grant?Faculty members who teach undergraduate courses in the following humanities degree programs are eligible to apply: African American & African Studies (B.A. or B.S.) Asian Studies (B.A.) Art History (B.A.) Visual Studies (B.A.) Applied Language Studies, English (B.A.) Creative Writing, English (B.A.) Journalism, English (B.A.) Literature, English (B.A.) Professional Writing, English (B.S.) Technical Writing (B.A.) Cinema & TV Production, Communications (B.A. ) Communication Studies, Communications (B.A.) Media Studies, Communications (B.A.) Organizational & Interpersonal Communication (B.A.) Cinema Production, Theatre (B.A.) Philosophy (B.A.) Political and Legal Studies, Philosophy (B.A.) Religious Studies, Philosophy (B.A.) History (B.A.) Spanish, World Cultural Studies (B.A.) German, World Cultural Studies B.A.) French, World Cultural Studies (B.A.) Japanese, World Cultural Studies (B.A.) Women's & Gender Studies (B.A. or B.S.) Instructors from both TT and NTT career tracks may apply, but are required to have participated in the Humanities at Work Faculty Workshop prior to submitting a proposal. While not required, applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with the university’s Director of High Impact Learning Initiatives to discuss the proposal before an application is submitted.
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Who can I contact for more information or help with my WBL Micro Grant application?For general inquiries, application assistance, or to participate in a curricular mapping consultation, please reach out to Dr. Lanah Stafford (lstaffor@odu.edu), Director, High Impact Learning Initiatives, Office of Academic Success.
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What are the expectations for students who receive the award?If your proposal is funded, you will be expected to submit a final report that provides sufficient documentation of all activities, student work samples, and insights from the experience. These reports will be published as resources for the Arts & Letters community. Specific details on grant report expectations will be provided to awardees.
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What is the institutional context for this grant?Monarch Humanities Internship Academy (the Academy) provides pathways, resources, and stipends to expand work-based learning (WBL) opportunities for humanities students. Through the Curriculum Development Work-Based Learning Micro Grant program, the Academy provides pedagogical resources and financial incentives to empower faculty to more intentionally incorporate WBL in the Humanities curricula. The flexibility of the WBL Micro Grants centers faculty insights and expertise to identify and design a strategy that best meets the needs of their program and students. With their discipline-specific expertise, professional networks, and daily interactions with students as instructors and mentors, humanities faculty are vital partners in this collaborative effort.
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What are the grant requirements?All WBL Micro Grant proposals must incorporate WBL in alignment with one area of the “Explore, Prepare, Apply” framework and produce evidence demonstrating achievement of the outcomes associated with the selected area. Accomplishments and lessons learned by WBL Micro Grant recipients will be shared as an important step in fostering a college-wide dialog on WBL in the humanities. To that end, Grant awardees must submit a final report that provides sufficient documentation of all activities, student work samples, and insights from the experience. These reports will be published as resources for the Arts & Letters community. Student samples may only be shared with proper consent in compliance with FERPA regulations.