
Community Engaged Scholars Program
The Community Engaged Scholars Program (CESP) exists to support and elevate the work of Stanford students undertaking senior honors theses, MA theses, or undergraduate capstone projects that are community engaged and designed to have public impact. Students can participate in CESP concurrently with their honors or capstone program in their major academic department, interdisciplinary program of study, or MA program. Students may also propose independent capstone projects.
Over the course of the academic year, CESP offers students the support, structure, resources, and accountability necessary to successfully complete their theses or capstone projects AND to ensure their project has public value and impact, rather than being something that simply “sits on the shelf.”
The CESP is designed to complement rather than duplicate the requirements of students’ honors, capstone, or MA programs and the efforts of faculty advisors during the thesis-writing process.
Eligibility
- Individuals from all majors and programs are welcome to apply for admission to CESP.
Requirements
- Intention to complete an honors thesis, capstone project, or MA thesis in a major academic department or interdisciplinary program. Students may also propose independent capstone projects, subject to approval by the CESP director
- Prior knowledge of and experience with community-based research, scholar-activism, and/or public scholarship
- Regular contact with faculty advisor to ensure project meets all requirements of major academic department or interdisciplinary program
- Commitment to the CESP community through full participation and support of colleagues
- Development of a plan for community action/social impact
Students who choose to participate in CESP for all three quarters qualify to earn a Cardinal Commitment designation.