Rising Bird Fellows FAQ

Rising Bird Fellows FAQ

What are the requirements if I receive a stipend?

If you receive a Rising Bird Fellows stipend, you will be required to complete the associated canvas course and all related assignments which may include the following:

• Pre-Internship Survey
• In-person or virtual cohort meetup
• Establishing Learning Goals
• Midpoint Update/Reflection on Learning Goals
• End of quarter Student Feedback Survey
• Share Your Story assignment, providing a short video clip or written content about your opportunity.
• If your opportunity is international, completing the International Academy Canvas course.

Students who do not complete all of the requirements after receiving a stipend will not be considered for future Career Education funding.

How competitive is the Rising Bird Fellows application process?

Internships, externships, and short-term projects are an important part of gaining experience and test-driving your academic and professional interests; and we want these opportunities to be open to all students, regardless of their financial circumstances. Therefore, our goal is to fund as many qualifying students as possible. However, if we do not have enough funding to support all students who apply, we prioritize applications based upon the following:

• Student financial need
• Previous participation in the Rising Bird Fellows program (formerly known as CareerEd and BEAM Fellows)
  • Students can receive a maximum total of $10,000 of funding from Stanford Career Education during their time as a Stanford student
  • Previous fellows who have not met their commitments to the program will not be considered for future stipends
• Summer only: Returning undergraduate student status (i.e. continuing undergraduate students will have higher priority)
• Application date

Can I have another job during the quarter I’m completing a Rising Bird Fellows opportunity?

Full-Time Opportunities:

You may work at an additional part-time internship, job, or volunteer position for up to 10 hours per week.

You are not permitted to engage in another full-time internship, job, or volunteer opportunity (whether funded by Stanford or otherwise), including but not limited to:

• Major Grant
• Chappell Lougee Scholarship
• Beagle II
• Haas Summer Fellowship/Cardinal Quarter
• Stanford Seed
• Departmental Grant-supported summer research position
• Faculty Grant-supported summer research position
• Other full-time summer fellowship or internship sponsored either by Stanford or an outside organization

These opportunities require significant time commitments and are each intended to require full-time efforts.

Part-Time Opportunities

You may work at an additional internship, job, or volunteer position, provided that it does not conflict with or prevent you from completing your Rising Bird Fellows opportunity or your Stanford courses.

When you review my application, what are you evaluating?

Our review of your opportunity will be limited to the merits of your Rising Bird Fellows Student Application and the Employer Agreement submitted by the supervisor where you will work. Stanford Career Education staff do not necessarily have direct experience with, nor do we professionally endorse, organizations/employers. Among other things, Stanford is not in the position to evaluate, and therefore has not evaluated, whether the opportunity will further your academic or professional goals, or whether the project will take place in a safe and secure environment. Stanford cannot warrant the safety or convenience of the circumstances under which you will be traveling, living or working. You are solely responsible for evaluating the safety of the environment in which you will be traveling and/or working and for taking appropriate precautions to safeguard your health and personal belongings.

What happens if I violate Rising Bird Fellows policies?

Violations of the Rising Bird Fellows stipend program policies are also violations of the Fundamental Standard and may be referred to the Office of Community Standards. If you fail to abide by the policies set forth by this program; Stanford Career Education; and/or Stanford University, you may not be eligible for future Stanford Career Education funding opportunities and programs. Stanford Career Education reserves the right to rescind funding at any given point and time should we be apprised of any policy violations as outlined above, including failure to complete the opportunity as outlined in the Employer Agreement Form.

Stipend Amounts

How much can I receive in funding?

• Stipends are calculated based upon the student total time commitment over the quarter.
• The maximum stipend you can receive for a part-time opportunity during the academic year (Winter and Spring quarters 2024) is $2,325 per quarter.
  • Stipends, prizes, or awards offered to students who are receiving other forms of financial aid for any purpose are a form of financial assistance and may require adjustment to your scholarship eligibility, and/or adjustment to your overall cost of attendance. Rising Bird Fellows stipends can only be offered to financial aid recipients during the Winter and Spring quarters if they have a Student Responsibility (Academic Year Job Earnings, Federal Work-Study, and/or Student Contribution) not already replaced by other aid. (Learn more about the Stanford Student Stipend Policy.) Please check your most recent Financial Aid Notification in Axess to confirm your eligibility prior to applying. 
  • Stipend amounts during Winter and Spring quarters range from $233 to $2,325 based upon the number of hours and weeks the student will work.
  • If you have questions, please reach out to an FAO representative about your specific circumstances. 
• The maximum stipend you can receive for a full-time opportunity during the summer is $6,500.  There is the potential for an additional cost-of-living stipend dependent on the location of the opportunity.

Are there any limits to Rising Bird Fellows funding?

We recommend that students work no more than 15 hours per week during the academic year and 40 hours per week during the Summer. Although you may work in excess of these recommendations, Rising Bird Fellows has the following limits on funding:

• Academic Year: Rising Bird Fellows will provide funding for between 5 and 15 hours of work per week during the ten-week academic quarter up to a maximum stipend of $2,325 (funding will not be provided for work that falls outside the quarter.) This 15-hour maximum complies with the recommendations in the Stanford Administrative Guide.
  • Stipend amounts during Winter and Spring quarters range from $233 to $2,325 based upon the number of hours and weeks the student will work.
• Summer: Rising Bird Fellows will provide funding for between 5 and 40 hours of work per week during the summer up to a maximum stipend of $6,500. 
  • Stipend amounts during the summer range from $233 to $6,500 based upon the number of hours and weeks the student will work, with a possible additional cost of living stipend of $500 or $1000 depending on the city in which the student will be working.
• Students can receive a maximum of $10,000 in funding from Stanford Career Education over the course of their time at Stanford.