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Ethics & Social Responsibility scholar

A University of Alabama Ethics & Social Responsibility Scholar is committed to intellectual integrity, accepts responsibility for the health and welfare of society, and participates fully in the civic life of our democracy.  While academic rigor must provide the cornerstone for the CESR Scholar, an authentic concentration in Ethics also requires a recognition of obligation and lifelong commitment to society and humanity.  This scholarship program will equip the Scholar with the tools and experience necessary to approach moral concerns thoughtfully and enable the Scholar to apply ethical lessons learned in the classroom to initiate real social change through active community involvement.

Scholarship Components

1. Three ethics/civic engagement-related courses, at least one of which entails a service learning component.

2. Preference given to enroll in Documenting Justice, a specialized interdisciplinary course in documentary filmmaking and critical journalism focused on producing a film involving a story of justice or injustice in Alabama.

3. Preference given to enroll in Nonprofit Enrichment Team, a multidisciplinary team of students that provides support to developing community organizations committed to improving the quality of life in Alabama’s disadvantaged areas.

4. Support for an internship, research travel fellowship, or study abroad program during the summer before the junior or senior year.

A summer internship would provide the Scholar with practical experience in an intensive environment working with innovative projects that address significant social needs or issues.  We will identify a number of statewide nonprofit agencies with which the Scholar may choose to work, or the Scholar may select another state, national, or international location on his or her own.

The scholarship money may alternatively be used to support scholarly research that involves substantial travel. The Scholar should develop a travel itinerary, including locations to visit and interviews to conduct.  At the end of the summer and before classes begin in the fall, the Scholar should develop a written report detailing the results of the travel experience and lessons learned.  Scholars may wish to use this opportunity to complete preparatory research for the Capstone Project.

This opportunity may also cover the costs of a summer study abroad program that focuses on ethical or civic issues.

5. Support for a substantive research project completed during the senior year, tailored to the Scholar’s individual academic and civic interests.  Students will work closely with a faculty advisor and projects will engage a particular research question, analyze a societal problem, and propose policy options to alleviate a social need.

6. Scholars will receive a nomination to enroll in the Blackburn Leadership Institute. The Blackburn Institute develops a network of leaders who have a clear understanding of the challenges that face the state of Alabama. The Institute provides the fellows opportunities to explore issues and identify strategic actions that will improve the quality of life for our state and nation.

7. For those accepted into Freshman Forum, preference will be given for participation in the Ethics & Social Responsibility Forum team.  The purposes of the Forum are to develop leadership skills in its members and to promote the interests of all freshmen on campus.  The Ethics & Social Responsibility team will be exposed to, participate in, and collaborate with various CESR initiatives available to UA students and to the community as a whole.  The overarching purpose is to assist students in developing a distinctive definition of moral and civic maturity.

Eligibility

As an Ethics & Social Responsibility Scholar, you must enroll in and remain in good standing with the University Honors Program during your four years and complete 30 hours of community service each semester.  Five Scholars will be selected each year and awarded $10,000 over their four years at UA.  Applicants will write an essay as part of their application and must be invited for an interview to be selected.