Established in 2017, the Social Justice Research and Education Fund (SJREF) is made possible by generous donations from the Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation, Kathy and Alex Martinez '73, Reed alumni trustee, and the Paul K. Richter Memorial Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee.
The Social Justice Research and Education Fund supports paid student internships, in close collaboration with college offices and academic departments, for projects or research that focuses on community engagement, civic engagement, equity, and/or social justice.
Award Details
The Social Justice Research & Education Fund (SJREF) is designed to:
Empower Student Leadership:
By providing funding for paid student internships, we enable students to engage deeply with issues of community engagement, civic participation, equity, and social justice.
Enhance Campus Climate:
We strive to create an environment where all students can thrive by supporting projects that improve campus climate, promote student success, and advance diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism efforts
Foster Collaboration:
Through collaborative projects with faculty and staff, students gain practical skills and make tangible contributions to social justice causes, both within the Reed Community and with the broader Portland-area.
Staff and faculty are invited to submit a proposal requesting funding for student wages up to $3,200.00 for the summer break (calculated at $16.00/hour for up to 20 hours/week for up to 10 weeks), and $1,536.00 during the fall semester (calculated at $16.00/hour for up to 8 hours/week for up to 12 weeks). Each proposal may also request up to $200.00 for project related expenses and/or supplies.
Recruitment
Staff & faculty may apply with a student intern in mind or plans to recruit one. Upon acceptance, recipients will be responsible for recruiting and hiring their student intern. The SJREF Donors have requested that priority is given to students from historically underrepresented and marginalized groups (students of color, LGBTQIA+ students, first generation to college students, students with disabilities, and/or lower income students).
Supervision
Recipients are expected to guide and closely supervise the intern through the project’s objectives and goals. Recipients are responsible for supervision of student interns throughout the duration of the project. This includes setting expectations, approving time sheets and all other supervisor responsibilities as outlined in the student supervisor handbook.
Programming
The Office for Institutional Diversity will host four checkpoints for SJREF recipients and interns.
- June: SJREF Intern & Recipients Meet & Greet*
- July: SJREF Peer Check-in
- August: SJREF Peer Share Out
- September SJREF Post-project reflection with OID*
Interns are expected to attend all four checkpoints. Recipients are expected to be in attendance for two of four checkpoints (indicated by the asterisks). Recipients are responsible for supporting and preparing interns for the August Peer Share Out and the September Post-Project Reflection with OID.
More information & details about the four checkpoints can be found on the cohort page
Inclusive Excellence Dinner
All SJREF recipients and interns are invited to participate in the annual Inclusive Excellence Dinner, an opportunity for campus leaders, campus stakeholders, Board of Trustees members, and alumni to learn more about your projects.
Click here to learn more about the Inclusive Excellence Dinner
To Apply
Proposals for the 2025 Cohort will open in Spring 2025. More information will be announced via Campus News.
Staff and Faculty are invited to submit proposals for student internship projects that align with your department/office’s mission and/or vision for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism goals. Proposals should be in alignment with the fund’s purpose as outlined above. Proposals should articulate clear project goals, anticipated outcome, budget details, and demonstrate how the project will contribute to Reed’s commitment to social justice and equity.
Your 1-2 page proposal should include:
- Describe the research or project to be undertaken by the student intern.
- Articulate your project’s goals, objectives, and assessment strategies, including its alignment with the award’s purpose to empower student leadership, enhance campus climate, and foster collaboration.
- Outline your project’s budget
- Any funds to be contributed by your office or department
- An estimate of the anticipated pay rate and number of hours to be worked by the student intern (should not exceed total award amount as outlined in the award details above)
- An estimate of any project-related expenses and/or supplies of up to $200, to be included in the total above. Please specify the nature of the expense(s)