The Oregon Summer Fellowship
(Review application details here)
Oregon Summer Fellows (OSFs) are contracted with Portland State University (PSU) to serve 10-week assignments at their sponsoring agency, following a pre-established statement of work. Fellows receive a total stipend of $6,375, paid in three installments over the course of the fellowship. PSU is committed to promoting the rights of all individuals to equal opportunity in employment and access by fostering a diverse and equitable educational workplace. Our work is guided by compliance with our non-discrimination policies, and all federal and state regulations related to equal opportunity and affirmative action.
Oregon Summer Fellow Eligibility Guidelines
- Eligibility. Oregon Summer Fellows must be enrolled in a graduate program, at the Master’s or Ph.D. level, and classified as students by their home institution.
- Certain Fields Preferred – Not Required. Historically, most fellows have been drawn from such programs as public administration, public policy, public affairs, or other related fields of study that are relevant to our sponsor agencies (i.e. natural resource management, information technology, engineering, or urban planning). However, eligible potential fellows can come from any academic field, provided they meet other eligibility criteria.
- Application Process. Candidates who wish to be considered for a fellowship must complete all phases of the application process within the time periods specified.
- Fellowship Length. Oregon Summer Fellows work for 10 weeks, full-time (40 hours a week), for a total of 400 hours.
Start and End Dates will vary according to students’ academic calendars, but Oregon Summer Fellowships typically run from May/June through August/September. - Start and End Dates will vary according to students’ academic calendars, but Oregon Summer Fellowships typically run from May/June through August/September.
- Compensation. Fellows will receive $6,500, paid in installments, throughout their fellowship.
About the Application Process — Review details here
There is a common online application for all Center for Public Service Fellowships. The application is one cohesive process composed of two parts. The first section is aimed at collecting baseline information, ensuring that each applicant is qualified for consideration for the fellowship of their choice. The second section is a short series of essay questions designed to showcase candidates’ professional motivations, aspirations, experience, and suitability for the experience. Applicants will also be asked to include a current resume and one letter of reference.
Members of the CPS Fellowships Team will screen all applicants, and those who are approved will have their profiles uploaded to what is referred to as the “Talent Bank” ー a marketplace where potential sponsors can connect with candidates to explore possible projects and placements. The last phase includes screening interviews with CPS and, if applicable, final interviews with sponsors. Please note, candidates who are added to the Talent Bank are not guaranteed a placement, but rather marked as “available” for consideration. All fellows who are successfully placed with sponsors receive administrative support for payroll, tax reporting, training, and briefings from CPS prior to the commencement of their assignments
| Online Applications Open for all Fellowships | October 14, 2024 |
| “Early Matching” for May Placements Begins* | February 28, 2025 |
| Standard Matching for Placements Starting June-July Begins** | March 28, 2025 |
| Target Range for Sponsor-Led Interview with Finalists^ | April 2025 – June 2025 |
| 2025 Placement Cycle Ends | October 1, 2025 |
*In some instances, due to project and/or budget timelines, certain sponsors target the month of May for their fellowship start date. We encourage fellow candidates who are available to work as early as May 2025 to complete the application by February 28, 2025.
**Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after March 27, based on sponsor placement opportunities, and will continue until September 2025.
^ Fellowship start dates can range between June-September, and thus interviews are conducted throughout the spring and summer, depending on the sponsor project and targeted start date. Fellows are asked to keep CPS informed of their availability throughout the process.
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