Best Practices in Recruiting Millennium Fellows

With a few weeks left to recruit students for the 2026 Millennium Fellowship, we want to offer some high-impact, equity-centered, and scalable ways institutions around the globe can promote the program to undergraduates now and for future cohorts. These ideas are organized strategy areas, and include practical implementation tips so campuses can move from intent to action quickly. The strongest Millennium Fellowship pipelines aren’t driven by prestige or exclusivity- they’re built on belonging, relevance, and trust.

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1) Reframe the Fellowship So Every Major Sees Themselves in It

a.  Key challenge

Many students assume fellowships like this one are just for student activists

b. Solution

Explicitly connect the Fellowship to discipline-relevant skills for their chosen career not as simply an extracurricular activity. To that end, it’s helpful to create major-specific messaging. For instance:

i.  STEM: leadership, ethical innovation, real-world problem-solving

ii. Business/Econ: social entrepreneurship, impact metrics, stakeholder engagement

iii.  Arts & Humanities: storytelling for social change, cultural impact, advocacy

iv.  Health & Sciences: community-based health equity and implementation science 

2) Embed the Fellowship into Existing Academic and Student Structures

a.  Key challenge

Optional emails compete with everything else. 

b.  Solution

Normalize the Fellowship within existing campus systems.

i.  Important channels

1.  Academic advisors

2. First-year seminars (Include a 3-minute slide + QR code during “engagement” or “high-impact practices” weeks)

3.  Internship & career offices (Position the Fellowship as applied leadership experience equivalent to internships)

4.  Honors programs, living-learning communities, and theme-based cohorts

3) Activate Faculty as Trusted Messengers

a.  Key challenge

Students trust faculty more than mass emails but faculty may not know how inclusive the Millennium Fellowship is. 

b.  Solution

Make faculty amplifiers, not “selectors.”

i.  Practical steps:

1.  Provide faculty with: A 30-second script they can read in class; a slide or flyer with QR code; and clear language that no prior leadership experience is required AND that students from any background or major should apply.

2. Target: Intro-level courses for mass reach as well as writing-intensive and discussion/experience-based courses

4) Engage Students for Peer-to-Peer Messaging

(esp. to those who don’t think the fellowship is “for students like them”)

a.  Key challenge

Students tend to ignore top-down promotion. 

b. Solution

Use peer credibility.

i.  High-impact tactics

1.  Recruit past Fellows or peer ambassadors to: Visit student org meetings; host informal “Ask Me Anything” sessions; share authentic posts on Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Discord, etc.

2. Frame Fellows as: “Students just like you;” from first-gen, low-income, STEM, arts, and commuter backgrounds; etc.

3.  Encourage short, unpolished videos such as “Why I almost didn’t apply—and why I’m glad I did”

5) Partner with Offices That Serve Underrepresented Students (Early and Equitably)

a.  Key challenge

Equity outreach often happens late. 

b.  Solution

Co-own promotion with identity- and access-focused offices.

c.  Key partners

First-generation & opportunity programs; Multicultural affairs; International student services; Disability/Accessibility support services; Community engagement/volunteer offices

d.  Best practices:

i.  Offer info sessions co-hosted by these offices

ii.  Remove jargon when presenting (avoid “policy,” “systems,” “SDGs” without explanation)

ii.  Emphasize: Non-elitist framing and ALL students encouraged to apply

6) Address the Application Barrier (Perceived and Real)

a.  Key challenge

Students self-select out due to fear. 

b.  Solution

Demystify.

i.  Effective practices:

1.  Host 15-minute “You Are Eligible” sessions

2. Provide a one-page “What We’re Actually Looking For” guide where you explicitly address common myths (You don’t need to be a super-high achieving student; you don’t need to be an activist; you don’t need prior experience; etc.) 

7) Treat Promotion as a Campaign, Not an Announcement

a.  Key challenge

One email ≠ awareness. Sustained visibility will prevent last-minute scramble.

b. Solution

Run a multi-month, multi-touch campaign.

i.  Sample campaign:

1.  Awareness: “Leadership + Impact Opportunity for All Majors”

2.  Belonging: “If you care about X, this is for you”

3.  Proof: Student stories & testimonials

4.  Support: Info sessions, writing help, reminders

5.  Urgency: 72-hour and final-week nudges

ii. Use: Digital signage; Learning management systems; Department newsletters; Faculty listservs; Parent newsletters; TV screens on campus;  etc.

8)  Assess Outreach and Adjust

(so that there is continuous improvement rather than static outreach)

a.  Key challenge

Campuses promote widely but evaluate narrowly. 

b.  Solution

Track reach and representation.

i.  Metrics to monitor:

Applicants by major/school; First-gen vs continuing-gen; Class year and transfer status; and New vs returning engagement groups

ii. Use this data to: 

Adjust messaging language; Retarget underrepresented majors or cohorts; and identify unexpected champions

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Article written by: Dr Sue Maxam, Assistant Provost for Wellness - Pace University