Policy

Through a paid fellowship program, uAspire supports college students to build advocacy skills to change financial aid systems to be more equitable, simple, and transparent. uAspire’s fellowship program is designed for college students who have experienced navigating financial aid systems while pursuing their degree. Fellows must attend college in California, Massachusetts, and New York.

uAspire’s Fall Policy Fellowship Program is focused on policy research, coalition-building, and developing strategy to prepare for the legislative sessions that start in January. Fellows will also participate in some advocacy activities and meetings with elected officials. Over the course of a semester, fellows will develop research and policy design skills. The capstone project for the program will be to organize an event focused on financial aid policy. 

uAspire’s Spring Policy Fellowship Program is focused on legislative advocacy. Over the course of a semester, fellows will meet with policymakers, track legislation, and write media pieces to advance advocacy. Fellows will also have research projects. Students will participate in advocacy days in their state capitals and in DC. 

Commitment 

The time commitment is approximately 8 hours a week. Fellows are supported by uAspire policy directors to complete written advocacy projects. Fellows will participate in video-conference trainings, virtual team meetings, and independent work to do policy research and advocacy.

Fall 2025 Schedule 

Fellowship runs from September 8, 2025, through December 5, 2025. Fellows attend a weekly meeting with a policy director, and participate in virtual cohort meetings that occur approximately every other week on Monday, 11 - 12 pm PT / 2pm - 3 pm ET on the following dates:

• September 8 and September 22
• October 6 and October 20
• November 3 and 17
• December 1

Fellows participate in an in-person orientation:

• September 12,  9 am - 1:30 pm local time: In-person orientations in Boston, New York City, or Sacramento 

Eligibility

Applicants must be college undergraduates age 18+ years old and hold sophomore standing or higher for fall 2025. Students may be enrolled full or part-time. To be eligible, students must be Pell Grant recipients or have completed the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA), the NY Dream Act Application, or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. 

uAspire is committed to building a policy fellows cohort with diverse lived and college-attending experiences that equips our team to advance student-centered change in higher education policy. Candidates are curious about policymaking, outspoken about their ideas, passionate about making change, and committed to issues of equity in higher education!

Location
Virtual engagement with teammates from California, Massachusetts, and New York. Requires access to the internet and a laptop with a video camera for web conferencing. There will be one required in-person event in Boston, Sacramento, New York City and/or Albany. uAspire will cover the cost of travel.

Compensation 
$750/month stipend for completion of program projects (total $2,250)

Application
If you would like to be considered, please complete this application, estimated to take approximately one hour. The application deadline is APPLICATION DEADLINE is 11:59 pm (local time), Sunday, May 11, 2025. Applicants can expect to hear from uAspire on the status of their application by June 12.

Questions? Please reach out to Melissa Clarke, New York policy director, at melissac@uaspire.org.