Hiatt Career Center

Undergraduate Transportation Fund (Previously Commuter Rail)

Redesigned in collaboration with the Brandeis Student Union and Campus Operations, the Hiatt Career Center administers this fund to provide students with up-front support for eligible travel during the school year. Funding is available beginning on the first day of classes through the last day of finals.

What's New

Travel is no longer restricted to the commuter rail alone. Students may use whichever transportation method is best for their circumstances. Payments will be made up front as opposed to being reimbursed.

Eligible travel includes:

• Greater Boston area travel for interviews, internships, jobs or academic purposes (enrolling in classes or attending special lectures at another institution)
• Visiting libraries for specific research needs, visiting exhibitions or sites (historic or cultural) associated with a student's classes or field of study

This fund does not cover social trips, costs to get to Brandeis to attend classes, or daily trips to and from Waltham. Funding is intended to support as many students as possible in an equitable manner and may not completely cover the cost of travel. These payments are considered income for tax purposes; withholdings may apply.

Payment details:

• Students can request transportation funding on a rolling basis throughout the academic year.
  
• All students must set up their Student Refund payment elections in Workday as a direct deposit to receive  payment. Students who have a direct deposit set up for a campus job will still need to complete this step.
• Students will be eligible to receive an up front payment of $25-$100 based on planned travel, number of trips and any other pertinent factors.
• Hiatt will review requests twice a month, around the 15th and 30th of each month.
• If your request is approved, you'll receive an email including the amount of the payment and an estimate of when you'll receive it.

Funding is capped at $100 per student per semester. Requests totaling over $100 will be evaluated based on financial need, available funds and purpose of the trip.

Students needing additional funding should seek out the Internship Transportation Expenses (for-credit only), the World of Work (WOW) Program and the Brandeis Emergency Fund, included below.

Apply for funding to support travel expenses while pursuing an internship for credit at Brandeis. Funding is made possible by a generous gift to the Division of Arts & Sciences. As a condition of receiving support, students agree to share information about their internship experience with the Institutional Advancement. This program is intended to help reduce student costs, not to completely cover all expenses.

Eligible expenses include:

• Uber/Lyft, train/commuter rail, bus, mileage, tolls and parking to and from your internship site

Step 1 — Apply for reimbursement

• Currently enrolled, degree-seeking undergraduates pursuing an unpaid internship for credit may apply.
• Preference is given to students with identified financial need (as determined by Student Financial Services).
• Apply by Sept. 1, 2023, for the best chance of receiving funds for the fall semester. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis after that date, based on available funding
• Funding is awarded each semester. If the internship is longer than one semester, a new request must be submitted for funding in the next term
• Complete the Request for Funding form to get started or email Hiatt Career Center with any questions.

Step 2 — Submit receipts

• If approved, a link will be provided for you to submit receipts within 30 days of activity to receive reimbursement.
• Hiatt processes refund requests twice monthly on or around the 15th and 30th of each month.
• You will receive payment via direct deposit.

Marginalized students often lack access to resources such as studio space, mentorship, subsidized private music lessons, exhibition opportunities, printing technology, and so forth. In June 2020, the Division of Creative Arts publicly stated its support of BIPOC students' opportunities to engage with and learn from the arts.

Arts Engagement BIPOC microgrants support Brandeis undergraduates whose creative work amplifies the voices of BIPOC people. The grants of up to $250 may be used for resources, such as equipment, materials, studio time, lessons, workshops and so forth, for creative arts disciplines, such as (but not limited to) music, photography, crating, filmmaking, design, poetry, spoken word, etc.

Guidelines and the application form are on the Arts Engagement website. Questions? Please contact Ingrid Schorr, director of arts engagement.

The Hiatt Career Closet provides undergraduate students free access to professional attire for interviews, career fairs, networking events and other career-oriented activities and occasions. Our goal is to help students feel prepared, professional and comfortable when making a first impression without having to leave campus or spend a lot of money.

• Students — Learn more about accessing the space
• Alumni, parents and supporters — Learn more about making a donation

F.R.E.S.H. is a free resource providing access to healthy food and hygiene product options for students. It raises awareness about resources that are available at Brandeis and within the greater Waltham community. For more information and details, visit the F.R.E.S.H. website.

Email foodpantry@brandeis.edu to learn more.

Brandeis offers a variety of ways to financially support internship experiences.

Please refer to the list below to find Brandeis funding sources that best match your needs and criteria. Some funding is based on type of experience, including undergraduate research and study abroad; others are based on particular fields, including women’s and gender studies; and others are focused on geographic location, including the India Initiative.

• History majors — Eugene C. Black Prize Internship (2), $1,000
• India Initiative Fellows
• Journalism program — Esther Kartiganer Prize for Excellence in Journalism and Women's and Gender Studies
• Latin American and Latino Studies Program — Jane's Travel Grants
• Middle East Studies — The Crown Center Travel and Study Grants
• Peace, Conflict and Coexistence Studies Program Awards
• Public Service — Eli Segal Citizen Leadership Fellowship
• Undergraduate Research — The Office of Scholarships and Fellowships; Division of Science Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
• Study Abroad scholarships
• Tauber Institute Undergraduate Research Grants — For senior thesis research in any academic discipline related to Jewish studies
• Women's and gender studies grants and prizes — Rapaporte grant for internships related to women, children or gender
• Frances Taylor Eizenstat '65 Undergraduate Israel Travel Grant Program — Competitive $2,500 grants for students pursuing academic or career interests in Israel: study, work, research or internship. Students from all departments and majors are invited to apply. Deadline: March 30. Questions? Email scis@brandeis.edu.
• Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program in the biological and physical sciences
• Funding for undergraduate research in the sciences

Foundation Grants to Individuals

• The Brandeis Library has a subscription to Foundation Grants to Individuals that provides details on foundations that offer scholarships, fellowships, grants and a wide range of financial support to individuals.

External Fellowships

• The Office of Scholarships and Fellowships in Academic Services can help guide you through the necessary steps in applying for academic fellowships, such as Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall, Goldwater and others. Additional fellowships are listed in Handshake.
• Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) division awards are for mentors and students to support research projects, fund for conference presentations and honor exemplary mentoring. Multiple awards in varying fields are available, each with its own deadline to apply.
• Jordan Liebhaber Scholarship for young adults wanting to do community service work projects, particularly those benefiting seniors.

The Hiatt Career Center can help you in tailoring your resume, reviewing your personal statement and coaching you through the interview process. If you are applying for an academic fellowship that requires Brandeis University nomination, you must work with the Office of Scholarships and Fellowships.

The Hiatt Career Center's World of Work (WOW) fellowship supports undergraduates who pursue unpaid summer internships. About $200,000 is available this year for you to take on unpaid internships and still get paid. The competitive program helps reduce financial obstacles so you can follow your interests, explore career fields and gain new skills!

Learn more about all the types of awards!

The YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund encourages gifted and enterprising liberal arts students to pursue careers in design, merchandising, retail and business. The program offers internships, career mentoring from prominent senior executives and $5,000 scholarships for students interested in the business of fashion as a career.

Requirements:

• Eligible students must be a current sophomore, junior or senior.
• Overall GPA of 3.0 or above
• Completion of a case study as part of the application. Students must work with a faculty member on the development of their case.
• Applicants will be expected to participate in an interview with a YMA FSF School Ambassador.
• Students must have a desire and passion to enter the fashion industry.

Brandeis is one of the 41 educational institutions nationwide selected to participate. For additional information about YMA and the scholarship fund, visit the YMA website.

To apply to the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund, contact Alice Kelikian.