Frequently Asked Questions About the Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows Program
Can any graduate student become a Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellow, and how competitive is it?
- Any graduate student from our region is eligible to apply to the Fellowship. Each year, the Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows Program (PSFP) selects 12-24 Fellows. PSFP receives approximately three times the number of applicants that we accept each year.
Can a Fellow get academic credit for his/her Schweitzer project from his/her school?
- No. A Fellow cannot get academic credit for his/her project nor can he/she get paid for it. If the Schweitzer project dovetails with the Fellow’s dissertation, thesis, or scholarly project, then the Fellow can include information obtained from their Schweitzer project in that paper.
Can a Schweitzer Fellow’s project be a research project?
- No. All Schweitzer projects are direct-service, that is, the Fellow must engage face-to-face with a particular population.
Can a Schweitzer project be based in any neighborhood in southwestern Pennsylvania?
- Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows serve residents in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Most projects are based in underserved communities. Some Schweitzer projects serve disadvantaged populations and may not be based in an underserved community. For example, a Fellow may work with blind children (disadvantaged population) and work at the Western PA School for Blind Children in Oakland (not an underserved community).
Who funds the Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows Program?
- Funding for the Schweitzer Program is raised locally through foundations, corporate grants, university partners, and individual donations.