How to Apply to ELF

All current SMU undergraduate students in good standing are eligible to apply. There is no minimum GPA requirement.

Applications must be submitted a minimum of 1 term before graduation.

• May graduates = Apply by September 15
• August graduates = Apply by February 15
• December graduates = Apply by April 15

Engaged Learning Fellows are accountable to the same policies from Research Compliance as the faculty. It is expected that these will be discussed with ELFs as part of the mentoring process. Please be aware of these guidelines and discuss any concerns or questions that you have with your faculty mentor.

1. Proposal

A successful ELF proposal is a well-articulated project description which outlines the purpose, methodology, and timeline of the project, with supporting documentation and mentor support.

Please use our template for your proposal:

ELF proposal template (.docx)

Funds may NOT be used for:

• Tuition, textbooks or other academic course materials
• Personal stipend or per diem
• Personal housing unrelated to project
• Personal expenses unrelated to project
• Alcohol

2. Mentor Letter of Recommendation

Each ELF is required to have an SMU faculty mentor. The mentor provides support in a variety of ways, from developing the proposal and facilitating research, to editing the final product. This letter is not simply a recommendation, but a statement of support and commitment to the student and their project.

Mentors, please address the following in your letter:

• Name of SMU student
• Title of Engaged Learning Fellowship project
• Your insight about the project
• Your intended role
• Impact you think the project will have on the discipline, target population, etc.
• Impact you think it will have on the student
• Your approval and support  

Email to engagedlearning@smu.edu by the same date as your student's deadline.

IRB Approval

All ELF proposals are subject to approval from SMU Research Compliance. If your project involves human participants, you will need to submit a protocol with the Institutional Review Board (IRB). This must be approved before any funds can be distributed. You may also need to complete Human Subjects Research Training before starting your project.

You do not need to apply to IRB before you apply to ELF. If you already have, please include this information.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Process

Host Agency Letter of Support

If the project is hosted by a community partner, your application requires a Letter of Support from them. You may send them the letter at this link; the letter describes the information we need. 

Host Agency Letter of Support

When will I know?

Notifications are sent approximately 4 weeks after the application deadline. Please consider this in your timeline.

Applications are reviewed during the following time periods. Applications received after these deadlines will be considered for the following cycle. Please plan accordingly.

• Fall Deadline: September 15
• Winter Deadline: December 15
• Spring Deadline: February 15
• Summer Deadline: April 15

How do you select Fellows?

A committee of SMU faculty and staff reviews each ELF proposal. Proposals are scored with this template: Scoring Template for Reviewers

Once selected by the committee, proposals will be reviewed by Research Compliance (who may contact you for clarification).

Approved proposals will be notified by email.

What do I do after I'm accepted?

Selected ELFs are required to:

• Attend 1 orientation session
• Attend 1 midpoint meeting each term until graduating
• Attend at least 3 Office of Engaged Learning events or workshops
• Present their work in a public setting
• Submit a final product (e.g., a research paper or a film with accompanying essay)