The Lloyd C. Gardner Fellowship provides Rutgers undergraduates with the opportunity to deepen their awareness of global issues and to take a prominent role in addressing pressing social issues through policy, law, business, health, academia, politics and other careers. The Fellowship is a competitive application, year-long program for juniors in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) and students selected for the Fellowship participate in a fall seminar, a spring research project, and participate in numerous events and trips, including visits to the United Nations in the Fall and Washington D.C. in the Spring.
The Fellowship also features dinners with faculty and Fellows each semester, and other informal events. Students gain a greater understanding of contemporary issues, develop connections with research faculty, network with lawmakers, diplomats, journalists, lobbyists, media figures, and members of non-profit organizations, present their research in a public forum, and connect with Gardner Alumni. The annual Policy Conference showcases the Fellows Spring research, and the Alumni Council organizes connections and mentoring for a growing network of Gardner Fellows.
Fellows also receive a $1000 scholarship.
Applications are due during our annual application cycle each spring, usually around late February/ March. Application information is available here.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Fall: Multi-disciplinary Seminar
The Fall seminar consists of a three-credit interdisciplinary seminar focusing on a topic of contemporary significance. Students participate in reading and discussions with faculty from a wide range of Rutgers disciplines, such as Political Science, Anthropology, Economics, Geography, English, Criminal Justice, History, African Studies, Caribbean and Latino Studies, Public Policy, Epidemiology, Critical AI Studies, and others. The seminar allows students from a range of academic backgrounds to network with each other and with faculty from across the University and at other institutions as well.
Topics for the Fall Seminar have included Security and Sustainability, Violence and Non-Violence, and Democracy and Democratic Revolution. For the last three years, the seminar has been dedicated to “Responsibilities and Rights.”
The Fall seminar is also structured around modules that compose a Research Design Initiative, through which Fellows are engaged with formulating research questions and proposals, learning about ethics protocols and legal restraints, taking the formal “human subjects research” training, engaging with faculty who specifically lead research workshops, and developing fundamentals of library, archival, survey, and methodology skills.
Fall Trip: United Nations
In the Fall, Fellows visit the United Nations where they are given a guided tour of the General Assembly and Security Council facilities as well as overviews of the UN history and associated organizations. Uniquely, Fellows meet with representatives from Permanent Missions (pending availabilities). Previously fellows have had open dialogue with UN members including the German, Greek, Cuban, Japanese, Ukrainian, and Mexican Missions.
Spring: Research Project
In the spring, students participate in a three-credit independent study. Working closely with a faculty member, each student develops a research paper on an issue of particular interest to the student related to that year’s theme, with an eye towards understanding the policy implications of their research. Research topics frequently emerge in seminar discussion during the Fall semester, but the topics are wide ranging and are based on the student’s interests.
Students will meet periodically to share the results of their research with fellow students and faculty during the spring semester. This research culminates in a research paper and formal poster presentation at the Gardner Policy Conference. Many students have continued their Gardner research for Senior Theses and Capstones. The Gardner Fellowship has some limited funds available for research that is carried through to the senior year.
Spring trip: Washington, D.C.
During the Spring semester, Fellows visit Washington, D.C., where they meet with members of Congress, including New Jersey Senators and representatives, journalists, lobbyists, executives, and activists on Capitol Hill. Previously, Fellows have met with the offices of Senator Cory Booker, Representative/ Senator Andy Kim, visited or had visits from national media organizations such as NPR, Politico, CBS News, the Washington Post, Fox News Network, C-SPAN, NBC, and USA Today, dialogued with political strategy, polling, and lobbying firms like ROKK, and had meetings with representatives of the Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Spring: Policy Conference
The year culminates with the Spring Policy Conference with Fellows sharing their research projects to an audience of current and former Fellows, Faculty Mentors, and other Friends of the Gardner Fellowship. Parents and family members are also invited (within limits). Lunch is catered for a celebration all together.
Previous research projects can be found on our Research Topics page.
Annual Events
Over the course of the year, there are a number of events for the Fellows. In the Fall and Spring Semesters, Fellows attend welcome dinners, where they meet and network with previous years’ fellows, faculty mentors, and other friends of the Gardner Fellowship. A full dinner is served. In addition to networking and socializing, these welcome dinners allow us to celebrate the current fellows and the accomplishments of previous Fellows.
In the Spring, while Fellows are working on their independent research projects there are informal get togethers throughout the semester. These allow students to discuss research, enjoy pizza and gatherings together, and can feature guest speakers from around the University.
Scholarship
Fellows are generously funded with a $1,000 scholarship to help with their independent research. For those that continue with their Gardner Fellowship Research for their Senior Theses there is continued funding and support available.
