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Be a leader. Put your passion for social justice to work inside and outside the classroom.

Community Semester is a full-time, intensive academic and service-learning program that provides students with an opportunity to put their passion for social justice to work. Students learn first-hand how community-based organizations fight for environmental justice, housing rights, immigrant rights, tenants’ rights, economic justice, youth engagement, neighborhood resilience, civic justice, and community empowerment by contributing to the movement themselves. Students analyze their experience in the field by studying community organizing, community development, government, and non-profit leadership. As part of the Community Semester Program, up to $7,000 in direct support is paid to student interns for living and other personal expenses.

Upon completing the program, undergraduate students earn 16 credits and are awarded a Certificate in Community Leadership. Graduate students earn 12 credits and are awarded an Advanced Certificate in Community Leadership. These credits can be applied toward the BA in Urban and Community Studies and the MA in Urban Studies, if admitted to either program.

Students participate in Community Semester to:

  • Develop a deeper understanding of social movements
  • Gain experience working for a community-based organization
  • Receive financial support toward educational expenses.
  • Sharpen their analytic skills in order to be more effective in their studies or on the job
  • Obtain professional experience that can help build a career path in social justice
  • Develop leadership skills
  • Begin building a lifelong professional network
  • Earn credits that may apply towards a baccalaureate or graduate degree

At the beginning of the semester, students meet with mentors from several organizations to determine the best placement for them.

Service Learning Timeline

**Applications for Fall 2021

Applications for Fall 2021 are due by July 15, 2021

Community Semester NYC accepts applicants for Fall and Spring semester ONLY. Each semester consists of a one-week orientation, fifteen weeks of a service learning experience and classes, and a finals week.

Requirements

Community Semester is open to undergraduates, recent college graduates, and graduate students.

  • Community Semester NYC is a 15-week, full-time commitment. Program participants will not have time for additional classes and/or work a second job.
  • To qualify for admission, undergraduate applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. They must have completed 24 college credits before the start of the Community Semester NYC. Graduate applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and a GPA of 3.0 or higher in a post-baccalaureate program.
  • Applicants must complete the Supplemental Application for Community Semester. Once complete, please upload as an attachment to the Undergraduate/Graduate application.
  • Community Semester applicants enrolled at other CUNY campuses should request an e-permit from their home school prior to submitting this application. Please contact your academic department or advisor to be sure you understand the ePermit guidelines, procedures, and deadlines. Colleges need ample time to review and approve ePermit requests. The applicant’s ePermit for each of the four courses must be submitted to SLU at least 10-days prior to the semester’s first official day.
  • Qualified applicants will be contacted by the Program Coordinator for a phone interview.

If you have questions about whether the program is a good fit for you, contact the Program Coordinator at CommunitySemester@slu.cuny.edu.

Nominating a student for Community Semester

If you are a CUNY professor, academic advisor, or program coordinator, advocate, or community group partner you may nominate a student who would be an ideal Community Semester program candidate. Please download and complete the CS Recommendation Form.

How do I apply for Community Semester?

In order to qualify for admission to Community Semester, undergraduate applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.5; and meet the University’s College Readiness Requirements in reading, writing, and mathematics. Graduate applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and at least a 3.0 GPA or higher from an accredited undergraduate institution. Qualified applicants will be contacted by the Program Coordinator for a phone interview.

Applications for Fall 2021 are due by July 15, 2021 –  To get started you must Apply to SLU and complete the Supplemental Application for Community Semester

If you have questions about whether the program is a good fit for you, email the Community Semester Program Coordinator at CommunitySemester@slu.cuny.edu.

What if I’m already a CUNY Student?

Community Semester applicants enrolled at other CUNY campuses should request an e-permit from their home school prior to submitting the the Supplemental Application for Community Semester. Please contact your academic department or advisor to be sure you understand the ePermit guidelines, procedures, and deadlines. Colleges need ample time to review and approve ePermit requests. The applicant’s ePermit for each of the four courses must be submitted to SLU at least 10-days prior to the semester’s first official day.

What if I have been nominated?

As a nominated candidate, your nominee’s letter serves as your first of two required letters of recommendation. In addition to completing the supplemental application, if you are a new applicant, please refer to “How do I apply for Community Semester?” If you are a current CUNY student, refer to “What if I’m already a CUNY Student?”

When should I apply for Community Semester?

Applications for Fall 2021 are due by July 15, 2021 – Apply Now

Applications can only be submitted electronically and are accepted on a rolling basis. Early applications are given priority. There are a select number of placements and the program coordinator will match the student with the best-fit for their service learning placement.

Where are Community Semester NYC students placed?

Community Semester students work alongside a NYC community-based organization for 28 hours each week. Examples of community-based organization include: a multi-organizational, issue-based campaign or; city agencies or political offices focused on constituent services, legislative policy and community outreach.

Placements vary by semester and are contingent upon the needs of the organizations. Current host organizations work on a range of issues including:

  • Economic justice and job creation
  • Community empowerment
  • Racial justice
  • Immigrants’ rights and education
  • Housing rights
  • Homelessness
  • Neighborhood housing and preservation
  • Youth development
  • Cultural revitalization

Do Community Semester students get paid?

As part of the Community Semester Program, up to $7,000 in direct support is paid to student interns for living and other personal expenses. Financial awards are issued directly to eligible student interns in two consecutive payments of $3,500. The College does not expect financial awards will be used for tuition and fees, especially since the funds are not released until after the tuition due date. Tuition, fees, and associated charges must be paid by the published or assigned due date.

How much does the program cost?

With the exception of currently enrolled CUNY students, all students pay an application fee when submitting their applications ($70 for undergraduates, $75 for graduate students). Students are responsible for the tuition and fees, which are due the first day of class.

Tuition and Fee Schedule

All tuition charges and fees are subject to change by action of the Board of Trustees of The City University of New York without prior notice. In the event of any increase in tuition charges and fees, payments already made to the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies will be treated as partial payment, and notification will be given of the additional amount due and the time and method of payment. Students are responsible for their travel to and from New York City, their tuition and fees, housing, and other living expenses. Students who have concerns about managing their finances may speak with the Community Semester NYC Program Coordinator who can answer questions, give suggestions and help students develop a budget.

Will my college or university accept the credits that I earn as a Community Semester NYC student?

Students who successfully complete Community Semester earn a total of 16 undergraduate credits or 12 graduate credits. It is their responsibility to follow the procedures of their college or university for transferring these credits. Upon acceptance to the program, it is recommended that students consult with their faculty advisor and registrar concerning transfer credit policies. Students who participate in Community Semester while they are not attending a college or graduate program will need to discuss transferring credits should they be accepted into a program.

I have a BA, but not sure I want to go to graduate school. Can I do the undergrad program?

Yes, you have the option of doing either the undergraduate or graduate certificate program. However, the Advanced Certificate program will give you the option of transferring credits into a graduate program, should you decide to pursue graduate studies.

If I participate in the graduate program, does it count towards the Master’s degree in Urban Studies?

Absolutely! In the graduate program of Community Semester, students earn 12 credits. The MA in Urban Studies at the School of Labor and Urban Studies requires 30 credits and earned credits can be applied to this program. If you are interested in the MA, contact Cherise Mullings, Enrollment Specialist.