The Moynihan Public Service Fellowship supports promising undergraduate students pursuing innovative careers in public service
Moynihan Center
Public Service Fellowship
The Moynihan Public Service Fellowship takes inspiration from the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, whose career straddled the academy and government, and who was a frequent contributor to popular media. Like Moynihan, Public Service Fellows will reimagine what it means to have a career in public service. Fellows may be interested in careers in government (local, national, or international) or in public service careers directly engaged with government, such as journalism, the nonprofit sector, or advocacy, among other fields. The Fellowship is therefore open to students from any school or department, and Fellows will work closely with mentors to chart out careers in public service that are as diverse and innovative as the students of City College.
Fellows will receive a $5,000 stipend during the school year and up to $5,000 to support an internship during the summer.
$10,000
In total funding
1
Year program
Paid internship opportunity
Elective courses
More details
The Moynihan Public Service Fellowship has two tracks: Public Service Innovators and New York City Leaders. Each track is eligible for a $5,000 award to support students during the school year and a $5,000 award to subsidize an internship during the summer. Applicants may indicate their preferred track, but assignments will be determined based on availability and fit.
- Fall: Power, Politics, and Policy in NYC
- Spring: Philosophy and the City
- Summer: Public Service Internship
- Fall: Fellows take Power, Politics, and Policy in New York City, a 4-credit course that combines an introduction to public administration in NYC with a curriculum dedicated to developing professional capacities, such as writing resumes, cover letters, and professional email, interviewing, and giving presentations. Fellows will have opportunities to interact with Moynihan Public Scholars, and to develop mentorship relationships with members of an extended Moynihan Network.
- Spring: Fellows take Philosophy and the City, a humanities-based introduction to public service in the 21st century. Fellows will work with staff and mentors to identify internship opportunities and to prepare application materials.
- Summer: Fellows participate in a full-time, paid summer internship at a public service institution identified with assistance from Moynihan Center staff. New York City Leaders will be placed in institutions of City government and Public Service Innovators will be placed in a variety of public service institutions—from government auxiliaries to the UN to public service media to the non-profit sector—based on individual career aspirations.
- Full-time CCNY undergraduate students from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025
- A freshman, sophomore, or junior at the time of application
- Interested in a career in public service
The Moynihan Center
The City College of New York
moynihancenter@ccny.cuny.edu
FAQs
Eligibility
City College Students from any department or major who are freshmen, sophomores, or juniors at the time of application.
The minimum GPA requirement to apply is 3.0.
No. Only City College students are eligible to apply.
No. Only freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are eligible to apply, and preference will be given to applicants in their sophomore or junior years.
No. Only full time students may apply for this opportunity.
Application
The next Moynihan Public Service Fellowship application will open on January 10, 2024.
Complete applications are due no later than February 19, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET. For further information, please direct inquiries to moynihancenter@ccny.cuny.edu.
No, applicants may save an open application and return to it to finish in advance of the deadline.
Yes. Only complete applications will be considered.
No. Applications submitted in person or by email will not be accepted. Applicants must use the Moynihan Public Service Fellowship Application Portal to supply the necessary information.
A complete application will include 1) your current resume; 2) your most current transcript (the unofficial version is OK); 3) a personal statement; and 4) the contact information of up to two faculty references (only one reference is required).
Your personal statement should be a short (500 words or less) narrative essay that addresses 1) your background or personal story, 2) what public service means to you, and 3) your career goals and how a Moynihan Public Service Fellowship will help you to achieve them.
No. However, you must submit the names and emails of at least one (up to two) faculty reference. Other professional references such as a former employer/supervisor, volunteer organization leader, or advisor will also be accepted.
No. You need not have taken a class with your faculty referees. However, the referees should know you personally and be able to attest to your ability and work ethic. The referees need not be faculty at City College.
No. You are not required to select a specific track. However, if you would like to be considered for a specific track, you may indicate so in your application. Note that we cannot guarantee your spot in either track, and if we are unable to place you in your preferred track, you will be considered for the second track.
Applicants will receive an email confirmation of their successful submission. If you do not receive an email confirmation, please contact us at moynihancenter@ccny.cuny.edu immediately.
No alterations will be accepted after the application has been submitted.
Fellowship
The Moynihan Public Service Fellowship takes inspiration from the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a City College alumnus whose career straddled the academy and government, and who was a frequent contributor to popular media. Like Moynihan, Public Service Fellows will reimagine what it means to have a career in public service. Fellows may be interested in careers in government (local, national, or international) or in public service careers directly engaged with government, such as journalism, the nonprofit sector, or advocacy, among other fields.
Moynihan Public Service Fellows also participate in a unique, humanities-based curriculum that introduces fellows to a philosophy of public service, as well as practical strategies for success in a variety of public service fields. Fellows will have ample opportunities to interact with Moynihan Public Scholars, a cohort of senior fellows whose own careers may serve as models for Public Service Fellows.
Moynihan Public Service Fellows receive two awards.
- The first award ($5,000) is meant to support students during the school year and is unrestricted (i.e., students may use the money how they please). This award is distributed at the end of the fall semester.
- The second award (up to $5,000) is meant to subsidize a summer internship. Fellows are responsible for completing 280 hours (8 x 35 hrs/week) at their internship site. Fellows receive the internship stipend award in two payments: the first payment of $2,500 after the successful completion of 93 hours, and the second payment of $2,500 after the successful completion of 187 hours of their summer internship and being on track to complete 280 hours.
In the event the internship is paid (by the host site), the second award may be applied to expenses not covered by an out-of-state internship sponsor. Students would need to submit a proposal to Moynihan Center staff proposing coverage of housing and transportation expenses, etc. The Moynihan Center will not offer funding support to a fellow with a sponsor-paid internship in New York.
Students must adhere to programmatic requirements in order to receive funding support. These include:
- Adherence to City College’s Code of Ethics and Professionalism Standards.
- Continued enrollment in the college. For example, a student who takes a leave of absence is not eligible to receive funding support.
- Registration in and completion of the compulsory courses.
- Completion of the 280-hour summer internship.
- Regular participation in Moynihan Center’s programming and activities.
- Maintaining regular contact with program staff.
Fellows will be able to participate in workshops that focus on professional skills and career exploration. Program staff will match fellows with a mentor who provides industry insight and public sector connections as well as help them set goals and stay on track academically and professionally. Fellows will be able to interact with diverse professionals and thought leaders through special events, plenary sessions, workshops, and internship opportunities to grow their professional, academic, and social networks and skill-sets. Program staff will also provide support to Fellows in acquiring business attire, professional headshots, Linkedin accounts and business cards.
The Moynihan Public Service Fellowship has two tracks: Public Service Innovators and New York City Leaders. Each track is eligible for the same award and similar humanities-based curricula, but New York City Leaders will take summer internships in City government and Public Service Innovators will take internships at organizations engaged with government, such as journalism, the nonprofit sector, or advocacy, among other fields.
Fellows are required to take one class per semester: a 4-credit class that meets twice per week (2 hours per class) during the fall, and a 3-credit class that meets once per week (2 hours per class) during the spring. Fellows are required to participate in a full-time, paid internship during the summer for a total of 280 hours. Fellows are expected to join other public events on a monthly or semi-monthly basis.
Each cohort will include up to 15 fellows in the Public Service Innovators track and up to 15 fellows in the New York City Leaders track.
The Fellowship term is 12 months. The Fellowship term will commence at the start of the fall semester (August 25, 2024) and end in August 2025.
