Apply for the Liverman Undergraduate Environmental Fellows Program

Liverman Fellows Applicants Must Be:

• Main Campus undergraduate students from any major who will be graduating in or after May of their participation year.
• Enrolled in at least 10 University of Arizona units per semester outside of Liverman Scholars units.
• Available to participate in all program requirements during the Fall and Spring semesters (see Program Requirements drop-down below).
• Passionate about the environment, sustainability, and community service.
• Eager to work in an interdisciplinary team of students.
• Reliable and self-directed.

Students with historically underrepresented identities are especially encouraged to apply.

The Liverman Undergraduate Environmental Fellows Program does not have a minimum GPA requirement.

Application Survey

Complete an application survey through Qualtrics. This survey includes questions academic and demographic information, as well as the names and contact information for two academic or professional references.

You will submit your personal statement and resume as PDF files in the last section of the survey.

Personal Statement

Approximately 750 words addressing the following topics (in no particular order):

• Why you are interested in the Liverman Undergraduate Environmental Fellows program
• How you connect environment and sustainability with your major(s)
• What experience(s) prompted your interest in environmentalism and sustainability
• How you connect to place
• The ways you value learning outside of a classroom
• What communication skills you hope to gain or improve as a Liverman Undergraduate Environmental Fellow
• What role you tend to take on a team

Resume or CV

1-3 pages describing your academic, extra-curricular, and professional experiences.

Need help starting or editing your resume? Get support from LifeLab!

Academic or Professional References

You will be asked to submit the names and email addresses of two academic or professional references. This can include instructors, advisors, and/or supervisors who are familiar with your work in an academic or professional setting. 

Recommenders will be sent a short Qualtrics survey to fill out on behalf of the applicant. They do not need to write a formal letter of recommendation in addition to completing the survey. The survey will include a section for recommenders to write 1-2 personalized paragraphs.

Please be sure to communicate with your recommenders before submitting their names and contact information. 

Weekly Workshops

Fellows are expected to participate in weekly workshops on Fridays at 1:00pm during the Fall and Spring semesters. These workshops are focused on interdisciplinary teamwork and cultivating communication skills. 

Workshops will also provide students with time to work on their community partner projects with the guidance of peer and faculty mentors. 

Day Trips and Overnight Retreats

• Beginning of Year Overnight Retreat at Biosphere 2 (weekend in September)
• End of Year Overnight Retreat at Santa Rita Experimental Range (weekend in March or April
• Additional day trips or overnight retreats with community partners (subject to change annually)

Student Showcase

Liverman Fellows will gain professional presentation experience by participating in the AIR Education Initiatives Student Showcase every Spring in April. Each student will present either a lightning talk on stage or a poster during the gallery reception.

End of Year Deliverables

By the end of each academic year, all fellows will have submitted a deliverable project to the community partners they worked with throughout the year. This will be a useable communication piece that can be used to advance the mission of the community partners. Examples of deliverables include, but are not limited to:

• Interactive site maps
• Social media templates
• Educational signage or curriculum
• Fundraising videos or grant templates
• New or updated websites

Fellows are required to submit their project deliverables in order to receive full credit and funding for their participation.

Financial Benefits

Liverman Fellows receive $500 per semester ($1000 per year) deposited into their Bursar account toward the end of each Fall and Spring semester.

University Credit

Participating fellows receive 2 units per semester (4 units per year) of Independent Study credit titled GEOG 399. This credit counts toward upper-division elective requirements in all majors (with approval from your primary Academic Advisor).

Mentorship

Liverman Fellows receive mentorship from a variety of sources including

• Peer Mentorship from 1-2 former Liverman Fellows who serve as Undergraduate Preceptors.
• Near-Peer Mentorship from 2 former Carson Scholars who serve as CALMS (Carson Alumni Liverman Mentors)
• Faculty Mentorship from two esteemed UArizona faculty mentors across different departments. Faculty mentors have extensive experience in different aspects of environmental communication and storytelling.

Skill Building

Fellows will build a variety of transferrable skills during weekly workshops and field trips including:

• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Project management
• Public speaking
• Community interviewing
• Various forms of communication and storytelling
  • Writing, animation, photography, social media, and more
• Universal design practices
• Interdisciplinary collaboration

March 28th, 2025: Applications Open

April 4th, 2025: AIR Education Student Showcase
Come see the work that this year's Liverman Fellows have completed and learn more about the program. 

May 26th, 2025: Deadline to apply for the 2025-2026 Liverman Fellows cohort (11:59pm).