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Career Accelerator Fund

Career Accelerator Fund Logo

Fund your career-building opportunities with the Career Accelerator Fund. 

CAF applications will open on January 2nd, 2026

 Whether you're an undergraduate or graduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences, this fund is your gateway to pursuing unpaid or minimally paid internships and other pivotal career-building experiences without financial worry. With awards up to $5,000, the Career Accelerator Fund is designed to open doors to invaluable professional opportunities, empowering your growth and enhancing your career trajectory. Take the first step toward a transformative college journey. 

 

Apply For Undergraduate Career Accelerator Fund Here

I would not have been able to accept an unpaid summer internship without its funding. In this difficult time, I’m fortunate to not worry about fundamental expenses like rent and utilities.

 - Sarah Bach, English Major 

ASC graduate students, please click the following link to learn more about the Graduate Student CAF, eligibility requirements, and application process:

Apply For Graduate Student Career Accelerator Fund Here

The Graduate Student Career Accelerator Fund  was crucial in allowing me to build my networks…[My] internship allowed me to work closely with Jane D'Angelo (Executive Director) from OhioDance and learn more about the non-profit leadership side of dance.

 - Alosondra Christmas, Dance PhD 

Impact of the Fund

Lauren Bernath, Speech and Hearing Science, Spanish

Opportunity: Study Abroad in Barcelona, Spain

"I previously did not think study abroad would be possible for me because of the expenses, but this scholarship really opened this door for me. Since Spanish is my second major, it was really important for me to immerse myself into the language while living abroad, and this experience allowed me to do this! "

Benjamin Conrad, Chemistry
Opportunity: Research Assistant 

"It helped support me through my summer research, which ended up being unpaid due to federal funding issues. This funding made it possible for me to get many of the final results needed for the publication of my first-authored paper, which is a massive personal achievement for me and will help tremendously with grad school applications ."

Jessica Hagge, English
Opportunity: Documentary Film Project

"This summer, CAF allowed me to spend more time with the project and actually attend the shootings and meet our videographers and camera operators. This project has solidified my desire to go to graduate school and pursue my master's degree. Thanks to the CAF funding, I was able to attend events I normally would have had to work through, and met a great many researchers and professors. "