Community Engaged Student Assistantships

community engaged student assistant

Community Engaged Student Assistantships (CESAs) are awarded UAA Administration Scholarships to support faculty in their teaching, research, or creative activity. All activities should emphasize integrating community engaged experiences, disciplinary learning outcomes, or research and creative activity goals.

 

Learn more about the CESA program

Eligibility

CESA activities should help students develop their leadership and commitment to civic engagement on campus and in the community and support students, faculty, and community partners in four key areas:

  • Developing community partnerships with faculty
  • Recruiting, placing, training and coordinating service-learners for courses
  • Developing creative projects, applying technical expertise, and collecting research data
  • Providing direct service/research to the community partner

CESAs receive UAA Administration Scholarship Awards and must meet those eligibility guidelines in order to become a CESA. To be eligible for UAA Administration Scholarship awards, students must be: 

  • Enrolled in 1+ credits for the semester in which an award is being made
  • Admitted into a UAA degree or certificate program
  • Making satisfactory academic progress
  • Meet UAA cumulative GPA minimums of 3.0 for graduate students, 2.0 for undergraduate students, or qualify for a waiver

Please note: combinations of UAA Administration Scholarship funds and other financial aid must not exceed the student’s total cost of attendance. CESAs may check with Financial Aid to confirm eligibility.

The scholarship amount depends on the number of hours per week on average that CESAs will contribute to their projects.The table below breaks down the scholarship amount CESAs receive based on the number of hours per week:

Award Amount Per Number of Hours Worked
To receive this amount of award: Complete these average hours per week: For total hours per 15-week semester
$500 undergrad/$1,000 grad 3 45
$700 undergrad/$1,200 grad 5 75
$1,000 undergrad/$1,500 grad 7 105

Expectations

In addition to helping faculty members with their community-engaged research or project, CESAs are expected to complete a few assignments on Blackboard, as well as prepare an informational poster and present it at our annual Community Engagement Forum in the spring. 

CESA applications

CESA applications open before Fall and Spring semester. Be the first to hear when these applications open by subscribing to our newsletter. 

If you are a student who is interested in participating in this program and would like to be paired with a faculty member, please contact our office at 907-786-4062 or at uaa.ccel@alaska.edu.

Once you've been paired with a faculty member, they will apply on your behalf.

Check out the 2021 CE Forum ePortfolio, 2022 CE Forum ePortfolio, and 2024 CE Forum ePortfolio to see past CESA projects!

Faculty Success
Library 213 • 907-786-4496 • uaa_facultysuccess@alaska.edu • Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.