Who is eligible to apply?
The CONNECT program is open to any graduate student currently enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin.
What is the difference between a CONNECT Fellow and an intern?
CONNECT Fellows are specialized consultants for community organizations. They have expertise in data evaluation and measurement, produce specific deliverables and work tied to an agreed upon scope of work, and provide services on a limited time basis (typically 12 - 16 weeks, unless a project spans multiple semesters). CONNECT Fellows are always awarded a fellowship to recognize their participation in the program and can also receive academic credit as well, on occasion.
Interns act as temporary staff members of an organization and are (usually) much more embedded within an organization than a CONNECT Fellow. They often perform a variety of tasks throughout their time with an organization. Typically, they receive on-the-job training that is often tied to their career goal(s) or area of study and as a result, benefit from regular guidance and/or coaching from the organization they are placed with. Interns often receive academic credit for fulfilling an internship requirement. Internships are commonly viewed as learn-first opportunities and are not always compensated.
For a more detailed explanation about the difference between a CONNECT Fellow and an intern, click here.
When can I apply to be matched with a project?
Three project cohorts occur each year - Fall, Spring, and Summer - each concurrent (for the most part) with the academic semesters. The application window opens up a few months prior to each matching opportunity. See below for upcoming opportunities to submit your application:
- Summer 2024: March 11 - April 5
- Fall 2024: July 29 - August 23
- Spring 2025: November 4 - 29
What is the timeline for a typical project engagement?
Use the following links to view timeline details for current and upcoming project cohorts: Spring 2024, Summer 2024 and Fall 2024.
Can I fulfill an internship requirement through CONNECT?
The CONNECT program does not take responsibility for specifically sourcing project opportunities that will fulfill academic requirements. If you would like to utilize a CONNECT project to fulfill an internship, capstone or practicum requirement, it is your responsibility to get the project approved by your graduate advisor.
How does the matching process work?
Step 1: Organizations submit their project requests via an online form.
Step 2: Students tell us about themselves via a short, online form. The form generally takes between 5 - 10 minutes to complete.
Step 3: Matches are then determined based on project requirements and students’ availability, skillset, experience, and interests.
Step 4: Contingency notifications are sent out via email to all students who have matched with a project. The purpose of the contingency notification is to verify that each matched student is still interested and able to work on the project them have been matched to. Students have a short window to respond to the contingency match notification - either accepting or denying the match.
Step 5: Organization notifications are sent out via email to all matched organizations. Organizations receive information on the student they have been matched to and have the choice to accept or deny their match.
Step 6: Official match notifications are then sent out to the students who both accepted their contingency match and were accepted by their match organization. CONNECT then begins coordinating the initial project kick-off meeting at this time.
What does a typical project look like?
To view summaries for past projects, visit the project library. To date, most project engagements are 3 - 4 months in length, require an average of ~10 flexible work hours per week and can be worked on remotely.
Is this a funded opportunity?
Yes! A $2,000 fellowship is issued to each student matched with a project. For additional information regarding CONNECT fellowships, please reach out to alyssa.studer@austin.utexas.edu.
Please note:
Funds disbursed to students are applied to bars and outstanding cash and tuition loans (whether they are currently due or not) because these are considered demand notes. For students with financial aid that includes cash and tuition loans, the funds from the CONNECT fellowship may be applied toward these loans, rather than received as cash.
Please be aware that there is a mandatory 14 percent tax withholding on any scholarship/fellowship payment to a nonresident, including students.
If you have questions about how receiving your CONNECT research fellowship could affect your financial aid, please contact Texas One Stop at 512-232-6988 or onestop@utexas.edu. Remember to include your UT EID in correspondence.
If you have not received CONNECT research fellowship funds as expected, you may wish to contact Scholarship and Fellowship Services at scholarshipservices@austin.utexas.edu. Remember to include your UT EID in correspondence.
Will I be working by myself on a project or with a partner/in a group?
Most CONNECT projects are scoped to be worked on by just one individual. Occasionally, under special circumstances, two students are matched with the same project to work as a team. You will be notified if this circumstance applies to your project.
Am I eligible to participate in the CONNECT program if I am also working as a Teaching Assistant/Graduate Research Assistant?
Yes - Participation in the CONNECT program is voluntary and the project-related fellowship does not have any impact on student employment opportunities. Please be aware that the fellowship is considered taxable income and may affect your personal tax reporting situation and financial aid. For additional resources on this matter, please see Tax Considerations for Graduate Students, including the Tax Seminar presentation materials.