The Zora Neale Hurston scholarship is awarded to selected students who identify as, or who have experience working with, people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrouinds. The award amount covers full tuition and housing costs for a shared room at Snow Lion Apartments (for out-of-state recipients) for one week of the Summer Writing Program (credit or noncredit). A total of three recipients, with one week scholarships will be awarded. Awards are based on exceptional literary merit and promise, as well as financial need. Students from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Leslie Scalapino Award will be offered each year to one MFA Creative Writing and Poetics or MFA Creative Writing student attending the Summer Writing Program who has a body of work in the field of experimental postmodern women's poetry and poetics. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, be a United States citizen or permanent resident of the United States, and have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
The Summer Writing Program Scholarship in memory of kari edwards is offered annually to one credit or noncredit student accepted into Naropa University’s Summer Writing Program. Eligible applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and be involved in gender activism and writing experimental works.
The Institute of American Indian Arts Award is given annually to one current undergraduate student enrolled at the Institute of American Indian Arts, who will be attending the Summer Writing Program. The award covers full undergraduate tuition for the three weeks of the SWP and includes housing in Snow Lion at the shared room rate.
The Amiri Baraka Scholarship is offered to noncredit participants in Naropa's 2017 Summer Writing Program. Each scholarship will cover one week of noncredit Summer Writing Program tuition and, if needed, a room in a shared apartment at Snow Lion Apartments during the program. Three or more recipients, with one week scholarships, will be awarded. Students do not need to complete a Financial Aid Application (FAFSA or International Aid Application) to be considered. Your personal essay should include your writing's connection to the work and legacy of Amiri Baraka specifically, and the Black Arts movement in general.
Students from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
All scholarship applications are due by April 15, 2017. All applicants will be notified of scholarship decisions no later than May 1st.
Degree-seeking students taking the program for graduate or undergraduate credit may be eligible for federal financial aid if enrolled for at least 6 credits (three weeks undergraduate credit, three to four weeks for graduate credit). Naropa BA and MFA student should complete the FAFSA by March 1. The FAFSA is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Students who request aid to attend the Summer Writing Program (SWP) are generally awarded enough aid to cover the cost of tuition and fees, with some funds available for books and/or living expenses. Federal regulations prohibit the release of student aid until a student is officially attending at least half-time (enrolled for at least 6 credits). Since students do not become half-time until the beginning of week three of the Summer Writing Program, their aid and refunds will become available at the beginning of that week.
Students who need their refunds before this time, may fill out an advance request form from the Financial Aid Office. The earliest that a student may receive an advance is during week one of the SWP.
Naropa University MFA Writing & Poetics and Creative Writing students may be eligible for the following opportunities.
MFA Lecturer
An MFA lecture is one of the few opportunities that graduate students have to present
scholarly and creative research during their degree program. Presenters should lecture
on topics about which they are knowledgeable and passionate; subjects that complement
the SWP programming. While we require the lecture to be in a standard format (not
performance based)—all lectures must be 40 minutes with a 20-minute Q&A—we encourage
you to utilize the multi-media capacities in the Performing Arts Center. Slides, primary
source material from the Naropa University Audio Archive Project, etc. are a great
way to make your presentation more engaging. Only MFA students are eligible for these
positions. There is 1 position available. Specific times and locations of student
lectures will be listed in the SWP Master Schedule. There is no financial compensation
for MFA lectures.
Graduate Instructor
The graduate instructor position offers graduate students an opportunity to design
and teach a writing workshop. Due to the fluctuating weekly populations of undergraduate
students during the Summer Writing Program, graduate instructors have the unique challenge
of creating a weekly workshop that can accommodate both students taking the program
for one week or for all three weeks. Graduate instructors are responsible for attending
weekly staff meetings (9–9:30 a.m. on Wednesdays) with the BA coordinator. The BA
coordinator then leads a group session with all BA students and instructors. This
session is scheduled from 9:30–10 or 10:30 a.m. After this session, students will
split into smaller groups with each graduate instructor heading a discussion group
of BA credit students from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. Graduate instructors are responsible
for commenting on final BA manuscripts. Only second- or third-summer MFA students
are eligible for these positions. There are 2 positions available, depending on the
number of BA students who enroll.
Faculty Liaison
This position involves assisting visiting SWP faculty members or SWP staff with course
packets, copying, in-town transportation to and from events, dealing with mail and
messages, collecting interview materials and other areas in which the guest faculty
member may need support. This position will not interfere with your workshops or classes
as an SWP student. You do not need a car to be a FL, but one can sometimes be helpful.
You do need to be attentive, respectful and prompt. Students will be paid a stipend
for approximately 25 hours per week.
Student Activity Coordinator
The Student Activity Coordinator positions are a unique opportunity to help contribute
to the Summer Writing Program curriculum. It’s a chance to represent the students
during the Program and help develop events that are of interest to the entire community.
Both MFA and BA students are eligible for these positions. There are two positions
available. These positions involve planning and running all student readings and salons
(1–2 per week), lectures (up to two per summer), panels (one per week) and special
events throughout the Summer Writing Program. SACs listen to the voices of the student
body and set up events that meet student interest. Students will be paid a stipend
for approximately 25 hours.
Students who are enrolled as degree-seeking students at another institution and are taking the SWP for credit, should contact the financial aid office at their home institution for information regarding eligibility.