FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are partnering on the Millennium Fellowship. The Millennium Fellowship convenes, challenges, and celebrates student leadership for UN goals on campuses worldwide. The program is free for accepted applicants. Round 1 Applications for the Class of 2025 are now live and will be reviewed on a rolling basis for a limited number of Fellowships, so early applications are encouraged. The next priority deadline is Thursday, October 31, 2024. The program will run on campuses worldwide from August to November 2025 where 280+ cohorts of 8-20+ Millennium Fellows have been selected. Feedback and stories of student impact will be submitted by December 2025. You can learn more about the Millennium Fellowship here. Read the official United Nations Class of 2024 announcement here.
This FAQs section below has been compiled to provide greater detail on this program and related logistics. In the event that your questions are not answered, please visit the "Getting in Touch" section below and reach out directly. Please note that given the global scale of this program a large number of inquiries is anticipated; these will be responded to as quickly as possible.
INQUIRIES FROM ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
If you are a University President/Vice-Chancellor/administrator/staff/faculty member and want to learn more about the Millennium Fellowship, please visit the University Page.
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Who is eligible to apply for this program?You must be at least 18 years old, an undergraduate enrolled in a college or university, and in good standing at that academic institution for the duration of the program. You make a commitment to convene in-person least eight times during the Millennium Fellowship (for 2024 the program will run August 2024 - December 2024) with your Campus Directors and other Fellows on your campus to share best practices and take collective action. Students have to meet on-campus, in-person for the Fellowship sessions. If you miss sessions, this is grounds for expulsion and the forfeiture of your designation as a Millennium Fellow. Campus Directors have additional responsibilities as noted in FAQs section on "Campus Director Applicants." Note: We aim to accept at least eight Millennium Fellows from each Campus Hub (with two Campus Directors). Most Campus Hubs will typically have 8-20 Millennium Fellows. The Fellowship is about forming community; therefore we encourage you to share the program with other prospective Fellows on your campus and encourage them to apply as well.
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What are we looking for in selecting Millennium Fellows?The Honorable Ban Ki-moon powerfully shares what makes an outstanding Millennium Fellow: "As Millennium Fellows, we need you to lead by example - with empathy, humility, and inclusion as guiding values. You can embrace global citizenship, building a strong global network to learn from and support each other. And your commitment to collaborative action can help make the SDGs and UNAI principles reality on your campuses and in your communities." In addition to these guiding values and traits of individuals, we are looking for cohorts and campuses that will champion this program. What does that mean in practice: Frequency: Campus Directors and Millennium Fellows are deeply invested in building capacity through community-building - meeting and engaging with each other as often as possible during the Millennium Fellowship - wanting to fully leverage the curriculum and community. Buy-in: Ideally, everyone all the way up to the University President/Vice-Chancellor gets behind Millennium Fellows, supporting their vision, projects, and collective action. If Fellows’ Projects or collective actions take place beyond the campus, community members are actively involved in leading and shaping them. Impact: Millennium Fellows successfully run their own projects (meeting intended outcomes) and where relevant find success in a collective action (for example, working with administration to update a campus sustainability plan, or hosting a campus-wide summit on gender inclusion). Campus Directors and Millennium Fellows share stories of impact advancing the SDGs and UNAI principles with MCN and UNAI. Continuity: Campus Directors and Millennium Fellows continue to meet regularly beyond the Millennium Fellowship in spring 2024 (and beyond) - committed to building out a robust campus hub. Fellows re-apply for the following year and/or nominate at least one other student to apply.
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I am a graduate student, can I still apply to the Millennium Fellowship?"The Millennium Fellowship program is open for undergraduate students only. Graduate students (i.e. student pursuing a Masters, PhD degree) are not eligible.
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I am an undergraduate student, but I will be graduating in 2025, can I still apply?"To be eligible for the Millennium Fellowship program, you must be an undergraduate student for the entire duration of the program (Aug 1, 2025 - November 30, 2025). Students who graduated (received their certificate) or expect to graduate before November 30, 2025, are not eligible for the program.
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When are references due?Your reference must submit the recommendation form by May 1st 2025.
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What is the timeline for applying for the Millennium Fellowship?The Class of 2025 application is open here and the Class of 2024 is currently underway from August - November 2024. Below is the timeline for the Class of 2025: Millennium Fellows: September 2024: Millennium Fellowship Round 1 application opens November 2024: Millennium Fellowship Round 2 application opens October 31, 2024: Next Priority Deadline August 2025: All Millennium Fellows and Campus Directors for the Class of 2025 will be selected and informed by the first week of August
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If selected, what is the program timeline?"If selected: Fellowship Launch: August 2025 Program Entrance Survey and Fellowship Confirmation: To complete before August 30 or before your first Fellowship session. Global Town Hall: August 2025 Bi-weekly Meetings: Depending on your semester start date, your Campus Directors will arrange a 2-hour meeting. All campuses meet for a minimum 2 hours every other week for a minimum of 6 sessions. These meetings will take place on your campus between August-December on a date and time you decide together. Graduation: November, 2025 End-of-Program Evaluation: Submit your materials by November 30, 2025.
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What are the graduation requirements for the Fellowship?All Millennium Fellows must complete the following requirements in order to successfully complete the fellowship: Attendance of 7 Fellowship sessions and 3 virtual events Submission of a 2-3 minute video tour of your current Project in October Completion of Program Entrance and Program Exit Evaluation Completion of Project Report for your Millennium Fellowship project Campus Directors will additionally be required to participate in 4 hours of training, meet with their Co-Director and arrange one-to-one meetings (~15 minutes each) with the Fellows at their Campus Hub prior to the Fellowship launch. They also submit proof of their Campus Hub Sessions and commit to regular communication with Team MCN (minimum once every month).
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Where does the Millennium Fellowship take place?The Millennium Fellowship takes place on campuses around the world. If you and peers on your campus are selected for the Millennium Fellowship, you will convene this August to December at least monthly on your own campus - building your capacity as a leader, the capacity of your Millennium Fellowship Project, and building community with peers on campus (and virtually with other Millennium Fellows around the world).
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Who is eligible to apply to become a Millennium Fellow?You must be at least 18 years old, an undergraduate enrolled in a college or university, and in good standing at that academic institution for the duration of the program. You make a commitment to convene in-person least eight times during the Millennium Fellowship (for 2024, the program will run August-December) with your Campus Directors and other Fellows on your campus to share best practices and take collective action. Students have to meet on-campus, in-person for the Fellowship sessions. If you miss sessions, this is grounds for expulsion and the forfeiture of your designation as a Millennium Fellow. Campus Directors have additional responsibilities as noted in FAQs section on "Campus Director Applicants." Note: We aim to accept at least eight Millennium Fellows from each Campus Hub (with two Campus Directors). Most Campus Hubs will typically have 8-20 Millennium Fellows. The Fellowship is about forming community; therefore we encourage you to share the program with other prospective Fellows on your campus and encourage them to apply as well.
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What if I am already in a student leadership role on my campus?You should definitely apply to become a Millennium Fellow. We are looking for undergraduate leaders who have a track record of social impact and want to supporting your efforts to advance UN goals on campus and in community. On many campuses around the world, there are already ample independent initiatives and chapters of national and global student networks advancing UN goals. The Millennium Fellowship serves as a network and campus hub - providing the curriculum and framework to connect the dots between and bolster student initiatives to advance UN goals on your campus and in your community.
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What is the timeline for applying to the Millennium Fellowship as a Campus Director?The Class of 2025 application is open and the program will run between August - November 2025. Below is the timeline for the Class of 2025: September, 2024: Millennium Fellowship Round 1 application opens November, 2024: Millennium Fellowship Round 2 application opens October 31, 2024: Next Priority Deadline May - July 2025: Campus Director Finalists are invited to interview. August 2025: All Millennium Fellows and Campus Directors for the Class of 2025 will be selected and informed by the first week of August. Note: Given the volume of applications we receive, only finalists will be contacted for an interview between May - July 2025. Note: Being selected as a finalist for the Campus Director role does not confirm that your Campus has been selected as a 2025 Campus. Interviewing Campus Directors for a qualifying campus is part of the review and selection process.
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Who Is A Campus Director? Should I Apply?Campus Directors are top Millennium Fellows -undergraduate students who are leading social change on their campuses - who have been selected to facilitate their Campus Hub. There are 2 Campus Directors per Campus. You apply for this leadership role as part of your Millennium Fellowship Round 2 application, and commit to the following: Being the primary point of contact for Fellows at their Campus Hub as well as for the MCN Fellowship management team, including regular communication. 4 hours of training via webinar in the 2 weeks prior to the Fellowship launch. Working with your Co-Director to arrange and hold one-to-one sessions with each of the Fellows who will be in their Campus Hub. Working with your Co-Director, facilitate Fellowship sessions, including developing Goals and Objectives for your site, taking attendance, submitting documentation for your site, and ensuring that a final story and feedback forms are submitted. Benefits: One-to-one and small group mentorship from the MCN team, including both personal and Fellowship-based mentorship and networking opportunities to support your success in social impact work. Opportunities to connect with and learn from other top Campus Directors on campuses across the globe, building your global peer and professional network. As we expand across the globe, we will look to you as thought partners in continuing to develop this program. You can help shape a leadership development network that thousands of students around the world will benefit from.
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If selected, what is the program timeline for curating the Millennium Fellowship as a Campus Director?"If selected: Fellowship Launch: August 2024 July-August 2024: Campus Director Training: Participate in total of 4-hour Campus Director regional webinar training with Team MCN. Meet with your co-Director. Coordinate and hold one-on-one check-ins with Fellows at your Campus Hub by phone or in person to get to know those at your Campus Hub. August 2024: Program Entrance Survey and Fellowship Confirmation: Complete and ensure Fellows on your campus complete before the first Fellowship session. August-December 2024: Prepare, Schedule, and Facilitate your Fellowship Sessions between August - December on a date you decide together. Mid-August : Global Town Hall: Organize a Campus watch party to attend the Global Town Hall during International Youth Day. October 31st: Social Impact Tour: Submit a 2-3 minute video of your Millennium Fellowship project. This can be a group submission or an individual submission. For individual submissions, ensure all Fellows on your campus have submitted their video November 16th: Graduation: Organize a watch party for November 2024. November 30th: Program Exit Survey and Project Report: Submit your materials by November 30, 2024.
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Is there a fee to apply to and/or participate in this program?No. There is no registration fee to apply to or participate in this program. All admitted Millennium Fellows are supported in engaging on their respective campuses for the duration of the Fellowship. If someone attempts to charge you to apply to and/or participate in this program, please do not pay. Please report this immediately at fellowship@mcnpartners.org or by Facebook message.
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Can MCN And United Nations Academic Impact provide fellows with funding, internships, jobs, or similar resources?"No. MCN has invested a decade into engaging and supporting undergraduate leaders strengthening their respective communities. While most undergraduate leaders ask for funding for their ventures and social sector jobs, MCN dug deeper - analyzing the root causes that if addressed can enable more undergraduate leaders to secure funding and career pathways for themselves. The three gaps identified were: lack of requisite training, connections, and recognition. The Millennium Fellowship exists to help provide undergraduate leaders with the community and platform to take concrete actions for UN goals and helps address these three gaps in the process.
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Is English the only language I can apply in?Yes. Due to current technical capacity, you can only apply for the Millennium Fellowship in English.
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Is this a real program?Yes. This is a real leadership development program convening, challenging, and celebrating student leadership that advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and UNAI principles. There are many programs that falsely claim or exaggerate associations with United Nations entities. This is real: a partnership between Millennium Campus Network and United Nations Academic Impact that draws on a combined 17 years of experience to help elevate your leadership on campus and in community.
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Where does the name “Millennium Fellowship” come from?Millennium Campus Network(MCN) was founded in university dorm rooms in 2007. The network was built to help undergraduates advance the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals. From 2000-2015, the MDGs mobilized citizens and governments alike – and provided a framework for the Sustainable Development Goals to build upon for 2015-2030. The Millennium Fellowship was launched by MCN in 2013 – and bears the “Millennium” brand in recognition of when it began – and shares the brand with the youth-led NGO that began on a university campus a decade ago.
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What is UNAI?The United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) works with institutions of higher education and research around the world to further the realization of United Nations goals and objectives. It recognizes and cooperates with some 1,200 member institutions worldwide in promoting the values of the United Nations through research, relevant educational courses and campus activities. The United Nations General Assembly has invited “the academic, research and scientific communities to contribute to the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and, in this regard, recognizes the important role of the United Nations Academic Impact, among other initiatives, and encourages the UNAI to play an important and growing role in fostering global citizenship, filling knowledge gaps and facilitating better understanding of the core principles and activities of the United Nations." More on UNAI at https://un.org/en/academicimpact.
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What is MCN?Millennium Campus Network (MCN), Inc., is a global student network committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. MCN programs convene, challenge, and celebrate student leadership for social impact. The network has directly worked with over 9,000 young leaders from 500 universities through its programs. 75% of MCN alumni are now in social impact careers; over half share MCN programs definitively prepared them for success. MCN Advisors include Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Dr. Paul Farmer, and John Legend. More on MCN at mcnpartners.org. MCN is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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I have a question or idea to share regarding the fellowship.Please contact us at fellowship@mcnpartners.org or by Facebook message.
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I have a complaint to share regarding the program and/or campus directors.You can share this feedback directly with MCN's executive leadership at our Global Headquarters. Please contact us at complaints@mcnpartners.org.