Carolina Global Initiative Award

NOTE: Applications for the CGI Award will be opening this summer! Keep an eye on our website and social media to find out when the application is live.

Purpose

The Carolina Global Initiative Award provides funding for students to complete a global opportunity in the U.S. or abroad.

Supported by an endowment from the C.V. Starr Foundation, the Lori Lewis Schipper International Internship Fund, the Stephens International Internship Fund and private gifts to the Chancellor’s Global Education Fund, awards are typically made from $1,500 to $6,000 each, but higher amounts will be considered.

Applicant Profile

We seek applications from students with no or limited prior global travel and those with varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. We encourage applications regardless of a student’s academic discipline, age, disability status, educational or family background, gender expression or identity, racial or ethnic identity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status.

Applicants must:

1. Be a current UNC degree-seeking student, excluding domestic students in a Ph.D. program. (Domestic Ph.D. candidates may apply to our Pre-Dissertation Exploration Award.)
2. Be enrolled at UNC as a degree-seeking student, for at least one semester after the completed opportunity. (Students who are graduating seniors returning to UNC as graduate students are eligible.)
3. Demonstrate financial need through one of the following:
   • recipient of need-based financial aid as determined by your current or prior-year FAFSA;
   • an international student financial aid worksheet (undergraduate or graduate) that demonstrates need; or
   • a narrative statement, if the other two do not apply, that discusses your financial need.

Types of Opportunities

The opportunity may take a wide variety of forms including: internships, research, service projects, educational group travel or self-designed travel. We rarely provide funding for study abroad programs. The opportunity must be globally focused, but can take place anywhere in the world, including the U.S.

Some example opportunities:

• A dental student providing dental care to underserved families in India
• A first-year, pre-med English major shadowing physicians at a medical clinic in Uruguay
• An international Ph.D. candidate studying decolonial theories at the International Summer School in Spain
• A nursing major volunteering with a non-profit organization in Sri Lanka
• A junior global studies major exploring cultural arts advocacy in Puerto Rico

The opportunity can be used for global opportunities occurring during breaks within the semester, between semesters or summer.

Potential applicants are encouraged to meet with the program manager to determine if their opportunity is eligible for funding.

Application Components

The entire application process is completed online, and you can view the 2018 application before you begin. The application consists of the following:

• Application form, including major, name and contact information
• Project summary
• Four short answer questions
• A timeline and budget (For additional guidance on developing your project budget and timeline, please review our “Travel Application Tips” document.)
• Supporting financial documentation (if needed)
• List of past global travel experience
• Personal or academic reference

Evaluation of Applicants

All eligible applications are evaluated by UNC faculty and staff review committees who will consider the following:

Personal Need

• Does the applicant require external funding in order to complete the opportunity?
• Would participation in the global opportunity allow the applicant to gain new, relevant global experience they wouldn’t otherwise have?
• Will the experience encourage the applicant to explore other global opportunities and with greater depth?

Diversity of Background, Discipline & Perspective

• Does the candidate bring varied experiences, perspectives, and/or background to the opportunity and represent the UNC population as widely as possible?

Community Impact & Alignment with Academic & Career Goals

• How will the proposed opportunity contribute deeply to the applicant’s stated career and academic goals?
• How likely is the experience to impact a wide group of other UNC students once the applicant returns?

Feasibility & Planning

• Are the plan, budget and timeline reasonable?
• Does the applicant have (or explain plans to acquire) the required language, technical and cultural skills necessary to successfully complete of the project?

Timeline & Requirements

Application Timeline

To accommodate global opportunities that occur throughout the year, this award has rolling deadline, meaning applications can be submitted throughout the year.

Applicant notification will occur 4-6 weeks after initial submission.

Funding distribution will be explained at an advising meeting scheduled after notification. The timing and method of distribution will be determined on a case-by-case basis (based on the timeline and requirements of the global opportunity).

NOTE: Apply as early as possible to ensure sufficient time for funding award review. Submitting an application 2-3 months before departure should be sufficient.

Award Requirements

If selected for funding, all awardees must:

• Attend the GO! Global Orientation on Culture and Ethics Pre-Departure Orientation
• Complete pre- and post-surveys to help us identify learning outcomes and areas for improvement
• Submit a final report at the completion of the project
• Submit an entry into the Experience Explorer (coming soon!)
• Contribute to the Carolina Navigators program by bringing back items for a culture kit or taking part in a virtual presentation to K-12 students
• Present at one of the Center for Global Initiatives’ Global Project Showcases or another approved speaking engagement