Northwest Institute for Social Change

Summer Documentary Program: Portland

National Deadline:  April 5, 2013
Rolling admission. Applications from qualified candidates are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are reviewed beginning in January. Submit a completed application as early as possible.

Eligibility:
•    All college undergraduates
•    Recent graduates
•    Students are handpicked for their intelligence, passion and optimism. "We are not necessarily looking for the A+ student who sits front-and-center, but for students who have potential and  a seriousness and earnestness of purpose and desire to positively affect their communities, whether that means starting a blog that watchdogs city council in their hometown or means producing the next documentary that informs millions about global warming."
•    A background in political science and/or media studies is helpful, but the program is open to all disciplines.
•    The ideal candidate has experience with media or art projects–such as the school newspaper, college radio, a band, dance, ‘zines, blogs–and has worked with community projects.  

Award summary and conditions:  Each summer, the Northwest Institute for Social Change hosts an academic program that educates and inspires undergraduate students how the media and arts can bring about progressive social change. Through course work and hands-on projects, the Northwest Institute helps mature students’ passions for arts and media into critical thought skills and careers in the public sector.  Although the focus for the summer program is media and students spend time hands-on with projects, it should not be confused that the Northwest Institute is a trade school; it is hardcore academics, taught by top-notch professors and journalists. It is a liberal arts-styled program that demands and teaches critical thought. These are the cerebral skills necessary for students to pursue a political career in the media and arts. The program runs eight weeks.  They work hard to maintain a low tuition; the entire program is available for $2150, a cost charged to offset production and some instructional fees. In addition, there are a limited number of scholarships available to help offset travel and living expenses. The Media Institute wants to make certain that there are no financial barriers to attendance. The program is limited to 12 students.

Application requirements:
•    Transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
•    Professors/Advisor Recommendations (2)
•    Peer Evaluation
•    Essay Answers and/or Video Presentation of Answers.  If you prefer, you may submit a video presentation of your essay and short answers.  Those answers should be submitted as a DVD, or posted on YouTube or MySpace.com.

Faculty representative:  Keith Raether

Contact information: http://www.nwisc.com/


Radio Summer:  Twin Cities, MN

National deadline:  April 5, 2013
Rolling admission. Applications from qualified candidates are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are reviewed beginning in January. Submit a completed application as early as possible.

Award summary and conditions:  In June 2010 a new five-week summer program dedicated to teaching college students to produce radio and audio documentaries made its debut. Like the Summer Documentary Program, the program is part academic boot camp, part hands-on production. Students produced documentaries detailing “local solutions to global issues”—whether that meant an innovative community program to re-integrate prisoners into the workforce or a city ordinance that allows backyard chicken coops as a means to increase local food production. Attendees work with exciting and engaged media practitioners and politicos. The program will be hosted in Minneapolis and runs from early June through early July. The Institute works to maintain a low tuition; the entire program is available for $750, a cost charged to offset production and some instructional fees. In addition, there are a limited number of scholarships available to help travel and living expenses. The Northwest Institute wants to make certain that there are no financial barriers to attendance.

Eligibility:
•    All college undergraduates are eligible (including graduating seniors)
•    Students are handpicked for their smarts, passion and optimism.
•    A background in Political Science and/or Media Studies is helpful, but the program is open to all disciplines. The ideal candidate is someone who has worked with community projects and is interested in “making a difference.”
•    We are not necessarily looking for the A+ student who sits front-and-center, but are looking for students who have potential.

Application requirements:
•    Transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
•    Professors/Advisor Recommendations (2)
•    Peer Evaluation
•    Essay Answers and/or Video Presentation of Answers.  You may submit a video presentation of your essay and short answers.  Those answers should be submitted as a DVD, or posted on YouTube or MySpace.com.

Faculty representative:  Keith Raether

Contact information: http://www.nwisc.com/

Please see this website for information on The 2012 Student Sustainability Film

http://nwisc.com/programs/student_sustainability_film/