Scholarships and Financial Aid

The Summer Writing Program offers at least three scholarships each year. Zora Neale Hurston and Aimee Grunberger scholarships are available to non-Naropa students.

All scholarship applications are due by 5 p.m. on April 1. All applicants will be notified of scholarship decisions no later than May 1.

Naropa students may also be eligible for financial aid and work-study. Details appear below.

Summer Writing Program Scholarships

The Zora Neale Hurston Awards are given annually to who demonstrate experience in, or working with, populations of color, and who will be attending the Summer Writing Program for BA credit, MFA credit or noncredit. Awards cover partial to full tuition for the four weeks of the SWP and may include housing for non-local award recipients.

The Aimee Grunberger Memorial Award will be given to one nontraditional student who demonstrates excellence in the field of poetry. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their personal, artistic, and professional commitment to furthering respect for the lives and voices of women. It covers $500 towards your SWP tuition.

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 four weeks of the SWP and includes housing.

The scholarship application(s) will be available for download in January.

Naropa University is currently fundraising for two SWP Scholarships.

The SWP Scholarship in memory of kari edwards was available in 2007 and 2008 to any credit or noncredit student at Naropa University's Summer Writing Program. This prize has been established in memoriam of W&P alumni and friend, kari edwards. In honor of kari's life and work, eligible students should be involved in gender activism and writing experimental works. We are currently fundraising to make this award a permanently endowed scholarship.

Naropa University is also pleased to honor Allen Ginsberg with a scholarship initiative dedicated to his poetics and activism, and to his memory. Your donation will support Allen's legacy by helping to educate the next generation of radical poets and writers. Click here for more information.

To make a donation, visit our Advancement Office Website or call 303-245-4847.

For inquiries about any of the above SWP scholarships, please contact Julie Kazimer at 303-245-4600. Scholarship information for 2010 will be available on this website after January 1, 2011. The application process for 2011 scholarships will be conducted through the Financial Aid office.

SWP Student Financial Aid and Work-study

Naropa Students
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 (four 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 undergraduate students do not become half-time until the beginning of week four of the Summer Writing Program, their aid and refunds will become available at the beginning of that week. Graduate students become half-time at the beginning of the third week of classes and their aid and refunds will be available at the beginning of week three.

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.

Work-study
Eligibility for work-study is based on financial need. Students must be registered for at least 6 credits during the SWP to be awarded summer work-study. Students must file the FAFSA or the International Student Financial Aid application by March 1 to be awarded work-study for the coming year.

Student Employment Information
Naropa University MFA Writing & Poetics and Creative Writing students may be eligible for the following opportunities.

Non-Degree Seeking Students
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.

MFA Lecturer
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 long 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. This is not a work-study job.

BA Discussion Group Instructor
The BA discussion group instructor position is one of the few opportunities that Naropa University students have to design and teach a writing workshop. Due to the fluctuating weekly populations of undergraduate students during the Summer Writing Program, , BA discussion group instructors have the unique challenge of creating a weekly workshop that can accommodate both students taking the program for one week or for all four weeks. BA discussion group 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 for 9:30 - 10 or 10:30 am. After this session, we will split into smaller groups with each instructor heading a discussion group of BA credit students that meets from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. BA discussion group instructors are responsible for reviewing final BA manuscripts and will be paid for a total of 30 hours. Only second- or third-summer MFA students are eligible for these positions. There are 3–4 positions available, depending on the number of BA students who enroll.

Faculty Liaison
This position involves assisting core or visiting SWP faculty members 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 faculty member may need support. Students may assist more than one faculty member over the course of the program (but not more than one per week). This position requires about 15 hours per week and will not interfere with your workshops or classes as a 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. The four individuals assisting the weekly MFA lecture class instructors are also considered to be faculty liaisons.

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 three 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 for a total of 25 hours. Preference is given to candidates who are eligible for Federal Workstudy. In some rare cases we are able to award positions to students who are not eligible for workstudy. If you have questions, please contact Julie at 303-245-4600.

SWP Magazine Editor
The SWP Magazine Editor positions are a unique opportunity to contribute to the Summer Writing Program. Magazine editors set guidelines for submission, editing, layout and all aspects of production and distribution of the annual Summer Magazine. This is the only lasting document of the SWP—your chance to go down in history. Both MFA and BA students are eligible for these positions. There are two positions available. Students will be paid for a total of 20 hours. Preference is given to candidates who are eligible for Federal Workstudy. In some rare cases we are able to award positions to students who are not eligible for workstudy. If you have questions, please contact Julie at 303-245-4600.

Non-Degree Seeking Students
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.

Click here for additional information regarding
financial aid.