About the Summer Sustainability Fellowship
The UNE Summer Sustainability Fellowship program pairs UNE students and recent UNE graduates with local municipal, business, and non-profit community partners (host organizations) to collaborate on specifically designed sustainability projects. We define sustainability broadly, using the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a framework.
Each UNE fellow undertakes a full time (approximately 400 hours) challenging site-specific sustainability project over 10 weeks during the summer that includes defined deliverables. The fellow is provided a $6,800 stipend and up to three internship course credits.
Learn More About the Fellowship Experience
UNE fellows are mentored by dedicated individuals from the host organization and advised by a program team at UNE. Host organizations and fellows co-create a work plan that guides the fellows’ work over the course of the summer, with designated tasks, duties, and deliverables that also allows flexibility to adapt as needed over the course of the project. Fellows meet weekly in small groups (four to five students in each group) organized around project themes.
These groups are led by the UNE program team and external advisors. Fellows also participate in program events (orientation, weekly professional development events for fellows, a mid-summer workshop, and a culminating showcase presentation) that are designed to encourage relationship building with other fellows, mentors, and the UNE project team.
Host a Summer Sustainability Fellow
We are currently seeking organizations in Southern Maine who are interested in hosting a UNE Summer Sustainability Fellow. If your local municipal, business, or non-profit organization is interested in hosting a fellow in the summer of 2026, please email unenorth@une.edu to receive additional information about the program and a host application. Host organization applications are due by October 31, 2025.
Summer Sustainability Fellowship Details and Application Information
Applications for UNE students and recent graduates interested in the 2026 fellowships will open on January 10, 2026.
Program Goals
Educating and cultivating the next generation of sustainability professionals and leaders
Fellows gain valuable experience and hone their skills as they work to apply their academic training to real-world sustainability challenges. This theory-to-practice experience provides unique professional development for the fellows that will support development of career-readiness skills and prepare them to be effective sustainability professionals and leaders.
Building more sustainable institutions and communities
UNE collaborates with host organizations to hire exceptional UNE students to serve as Summer Sustainability fellows to work on specific, well-designed, and mentored sustainability projects. Fellows are expected to make substantial progress on the specific sustainability challenge and complete a set of deliverables described in the work plan.
Building a larger and stronger network that supports and connects sustainability professionals
The UNE Summer Fellowship program is designed on principles of collaboration and shared investment of time, mentoring, and resources to develop the next generation of sustainability leaders. We expect relationships among participants, alumni, the UNE community, and host organizations will grow and evolve over time to establish a community and shared understanding of pressing sustainability challenges and how to address them at local to regional scales. Our vision is to grow into a broader network of sustainability professionals across the region that provides mutually beneficial support and enhances regional collaboration and problem solving.
Compensation, Housing, and Expectations
Compensation for Fellows
Fellows are employees of the University of New England and receive an hourly wage of $17 per hour for 400 hours of work (total of $6,800) over a 10-week period from May 29 to August 8.
For those students who are interested, the program will also cover the expense of three internship course credits.
Housing
Fellows use their stipends to pay for their own living expenses, including housing and food. Affordable residence halls on the UNE Biddeford Campus will be available for fellows over the summer if they have not made previous arrangements. The cost of the residence halls is the responsibility of the fellows.
Expectations
- Participate in program orientation at the start of the Summer Sustainability Fellowship (May 29–30).
- Commit to 400 hours of program participation over a 10 week period (from May 29–August 8), which allows time off during the fellowship term.
- Work full time with the host organization and adhering to the professional standards and practices.
- Complete project deliverables according to the work plan (with adjustments as necessary and mutually agreed upon with host organization, the fellow, and UNE program team).
- Participate in weekly advisory group meetings and in summer professional development opportunities organized by the UNE project team.
- Present results at a mid-summer workshop and final presentation event.
Application Instructions
Applications for the 2025 fellowships are now closed. Applications for the 2026 fellowships will open on January 10, 2026.
Review program information
Review the program information in the sections above, including program goals, compensation, housing, and expectations, and important dates.
Explore the Sustainability Fellowship Position Descriptions
Choose one or two fellowships that are of interest and that align with your skills and background.
Prepare all of your application materials
- Cover Letter: Write a cover letter for each Fellowship you apply for (up to 2). Your cover letter should indicate exactly which project/organization you are applying for. Good cover letters express enthusiasm for the project and topic and make a clear connection between your skills and interests as well as the needs for that project.
- Resume: Prepare a resume that highlights your background relative to the fellowship(s) you are applying for.
- Reference List: List three references (academic, professional, or volunteer) who know you and are willing to discuss your specific skills, experiences, ability to work independently, collaborate, and adapt to new situations. For each reference provide their title, organization, preferred contact information (phone and/or email).
Note that letters of recommendation are not required. - Writing Sample: Submit a writing sample (one to two pages) from your academic or professional work. It is not necessary to demonstrate knowledge of relevant content, but rather this will help us gauge your skill in written communication. Select a writing sample that demonstrates your ability to communicate in a style that is most relevant to the project(s) of interest to you. Feel free to submit excerpts from longer pieces, just include an explanatory note.
Assemble your application package
Combine your materials into a single PDF in the following order: cover letter(s), resume, references, writing sample. Name the PDF file using this format:FirstName_LastName_SF_2025.
Complete the online application form, upload your application package. Applications for the 2025 fellowships closed on February 10.
Next Steps
The UNE program team will review your application shortly after February 10, 2025. Most applicants who are invited to interview for a fellowship(s) position will be contacted in February. We plan to conduct interviews during the last two weeks of February and most offers are extended by early March.
Contact
For any questions about the process contact Kate Vose at kvose@une.edu.
Important Dates
Fellowship Timeline and Deadlines
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 31, 2025 | Deadline for host organization proposals to be submitted to UNE |
| January 10, 2026 | Student applications open for the 2026 fellowships |
| February 9, 2026 | Deadline for student applications for 2026 fellowships |
| March 2026 | Interviews with students |
| Late March/Early April 2026 | Fellowships offered to students |
| June 2–3, 2026 | Orientation |
| June 24, 2026 | Mid-summer workshop |
| August 7, 2026 | Showcase presentations |