Application and Expectations

The Melsheimer Fellowship Program of the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights is a leadership program for sophomores and juniors (entering cohort) and juniors and seniors (returning cohort). This program places students at experiential learning sites related to civil and human rights. In the second year, the program places students to do research related to civil and human rights. Thematic areas of experiential learning and research include: migration, racial justice, global human rights, housing, law and criminal justice.

The application is currently closed. Please check back in spring 2026.

Melsheimer Fellows Expectations — Entering Cohort, 2025-26

• There will be monthly meetings with reflection sessions and faculty guest speakers.
• There will be semesterly meetings one on one with a Klau Institute staff member.
• There will be optional field trips and lectures to enhance the experience.
• Those who do experiential learning must complete a minimum of 20 hours a semester to receive the stipend. Some sites require more hours. Those who complete experiential learning will receive a $1,000 stipend paid in two installments.
• Most first-year students will be placed at One More Citizen doing citizenship education.
• Students who are studying away must do experiential learning and receive a stipend. Students who are studying away must set up their own experiential learning and provide an end-of-semester reflection and photo.
• Exceptions are at the discretion of the Klau Institute.

Melsheimer Fellows Expectations — Returning Cohort, 2025-26

• There will be monthly meetings with reflection sessions and faculty guest speakers.
• There will be semesterly meetings one on one with a Klau Institute staff member.
• There will be optional field trips and lectures to enhance the experience.
• Those who do experiential learning must complete a minimum of 20 hours a semester to receive the stipend. Some sites require more hours. Those who complete experiential learning will receive a $1,000 stipend paid in two installments.
• Students who do research assistance for a faculty member will be paid $15/hour for a minimum of 4 hours per week and a maximum of 8 hours per week.
• Students who are studying away must do experiential learning and receive a stipend. Students who are studying away must set up their own experiential learning and provide an end-of-semester reflection and photo.
• Exceptions are at the discretion of the Klau Institute.