UCW Fellowship

What is the UCW fellowship?

For the third year in a row, UCW-CWA is offering a fellowship training program for advanced member leaders interested in developing their organizing leadership skills and expanding campus organizing
In a time of right-wing and corporate attack on higher education, it is critical to deepen our bench of trained member leaders to support campus recruitment, campaigns, and our vision of higher education
It is a chance to promote member-to-member organizing, positive organizing culture, and a sense of community across the 8 UCWSE states. Your cohort will practice skills of organizing coworkers one-on-one, help other members build and grow an organizing committee, and learn campaign and workplace mapping skills

Who should apply?

You can apply if you are a dues paying member of UCWSE and have been an active participant in your organizing committee or chapter within the past year. We are looking for candidates who have attended our organizing basics training, taken on tasks in their organizing committee or chapter, and brought other workers into UCW.
You should consider applying if you want to develop the following skills alongside members of your organizing committee:
- Grow union membership and density on campus
- Identify and develop member leaders on campus
- Help run campaigns on issues that matter

What is the program commitment?

2 Semesters, beginning September, 2025 and concluding at the end of April, 2026
1 Saturday (12:00pm-2pm EST) group training call each month, plus additional training opportunities, totaling up to 5 hours
10-15 hours/month of scheduled recruitment, leadership development, and committee-building activities (canvassing on campus with other members, phone calls, lead generation, etc.)
Up to 5 hours/month of additional scheduled "task time" (ie, meeting with mentor, prep work, etc)

What else should I know?

Fellows receive $25/hr for up to 20 hours of work monthly, in following the above commitments
You may have the opportunity to travel to other campuses to learn from other organizing drives happening throughout UCWSE

What are the next steps?

Applications are open for the 2025-2026 class for members in UCWSE (Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina). You need a statement of interest, and 3 references from member-leaders or staff organizers in your state

Previous UCW Fellowship Participant Feedback:

"This sounds cliché, but the solidarity and sense of camaraderie with both the other fellows and with UCW as a whole has really empowered me. The people beside have given me the confidence to step forward with so much more courage than I ever had in the past to stand up for workers, recruit, and share our work on campus."
"The fellowship has been an amazing experience. I've learned useful organizing skills, but I also learned a lot personally. Such as self motivation, time management, and communication skills. I hope it continues for many years!"
"This fellowship program has been the guided experience that I need to go from an active member interested in being more involved to an organizer committed to workers on campus."

I still have questions. Who should I talk to?

Please reach out to UCWSE Organizing Coordinator Allison Becha at [email protected]!