The Community Leader Fellowship program is grounded in several core curriculum areas: 
1.) Professional Development
2.) Anti-Racism 
3.) Principles of Advocacy and Organizing
4.) Financial Literacy
5.) Student-Driven Leadership.

 

This program is special because it was shaped with and for students from the start. Students will be immersed in a year-long development program, focused on growing the next generation of student leaders at the 7 Minnesota State Universities. 

Each year, we select 1-2 students from each of the 7 Minnesota State Universities. The Community Leader Fellowship program is on-campus, with some travel to the Twin Cities. Students engage in virtual cohort sessions weekly, and support Students United's work at the 7 Minnesota State Universities through organizing, communicating with students and campus administration, and supporting system and legislative advocacy. 

Our Ideal Candidate:
Highly engaged and eager changemakers seeking rigorous communal, personal, and professional growth. Students who value the effort of balancing academic and direct practice experiential learning. Strong advocates for themselves and others. Folks interested in learning, collaborating, and leading within a student-led organization. Strong communicators who are interested in being part of uniting our seven MinnState universities. 

 

In order to be considered for this fellowship, students must meet the following requirements:  

Ability to meet the following core activities: 
 

• 1-1.5 hours Cohort Developments Session per week 

• 1 hour check-in with Students United Staff (as assigned)

• 2-3 hours assigned campus organizing work

• 1-2 hours assigned admin work  

• 1-2 hours of communication/message response time with the cohort and staff outside of scheduled meetings 

• 5-10 hours of assigned project hours 

 

Meet some or all of the following requirements:
(Please apply even if you only meet a handful of these requirements!) ​
 

• Enrolled student at a Minnesota State university for the full 2026-2027 academic year (Bemidji State University, Metropolitan State University, Minnesota State University (Mankato), Minnesota State University (Moorhead), St. Cloud State University, Southwest Minnesota State University, Winona State University)  

• Interest in nonprofits and organizational management   

• Career interests related to at least one of the following:  ​

  • Public Relations, Communications, or Social Media Management   

  • Legislative Research, Public Policy, Political Science 

  • Advocacy and Organizing

  • Higher Education​​

• Strong communication skills and ability to communicate with varied audiences through varied mediums  

• Some experience with Office 365  

• Interest in bettering your community and the world around you   

• Desire to grow and learn   

• Strong organizational skills and ability to self-manage multiple tasks   

• Curiosity and growth mindset  

• Ability to meet deadlines   

• Alignment with Students United's mission, vision, and values    

• Commitment to growth in equity, inclusion, and accessibility values   
  
  In addition, applicants must be able to meet the following required activities: 
   

• Required Fall and Spring Semester Activities 

• Onboarding - In Person* - Early August: 8/8-8/10

• Kick-Off Group Call - Virtual - Pre-Welcome-Week

• Your Campus' Students United Campus Visit - In Person* - September / October

• Two-Day Advocacy in Action Conference - In Person* - Early November 

• End of Semester One Gathering - TBD - TBD With Cohort - Mid December / Early January 

• Your Campus' Students United Campus Visit - In Person* - January / February 

• One Additional Campus' Students United Visit - In Person* - January / February

• Two-Day Lobby Day Training and Day on The Hill - In Person* - February/March 

• Students United's 60th Anniversary Event - Spring 

• Two-Day End-of-Year Closure Event - In Person* - May
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• In Person* - These events require in-person attendance, barring emergency extenuating circumstances. For any required in-person events, Students United will cover mileage reimbursement, a meal stipend, and/or food on-site, and any lodging when necessary.

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