Lynne Cooper Harvey Undergraduate Scholars

The Harvey Scholars program draws together AMCS majors defined by their commitment to rigorous academic research, community engagement, and mentorship. As a senior year experience that runs parallel to capstone project development, the program cohort participate in weekly seminars that explore interdisciplinary study, that carefully considers how university and academic scholarship participates in and shapes national culture, and maintains a focus on the academic careers and research priorities of the Scholars.

Scholars commit to a semester serving the AMCS community as peer leaders in a variety of roles that anticipate development of self-directed spring projects. 

Scholars have access to the Scholar Research Fund supporting their capstone project to defray expenses related to, for example, travel, archival fees, books, and other such necessities. The funds are available the summer before senior year to encourage an early start on capstone preparations. Scholars are also eligible for tuition remission for the summer travel course, On Location.

Applications are due late April of the junior year. The deadline to apply for the 2025-26 academic year is May 1st , 2025. To apply, students must first

• have submitted and received approval of their senior year activity proposal;

and then write a short statement of interest that includes

• a brief summary of senior year activity;
• a brief outline how research money will be spent;
• examples of student leadership (i.e., organizing or leadership role of a student group, TAship, and the like);
• a brief rationale for a spring project (see below)

Spring Public Engagement Project (for all Scholars)

One of the principal questions debated during the fall Scholar seminar relates to public translations of academic ideas and the techniques needed to cultivate public trust. The Public Engagement project carries those debates to the spring term and challenges Scholars to develop strategies—and a product—that reformats their capstone research and experience for a general audience. Options include

• writing, recording, and producing a full episode of the program radio show, The Comfy Blue Chair, focused on their thesis project, to air on the Harvey Scholar Projects page late April;

• writing, recording, and producing a video translation of their thesis project, to air on the Harvey Scholar Project Page late April;
• producing interviews for the AMCS radio program, The Comfy Blue Chair;

• preparing a presentation and Q&A for a public round table event;
• participating in a semester-long internship with an STL in AMCS community partner that features at least one public presentation of your work (for example, serving as a collection docent);
• proposing a project medium that builds on skills a Scholar already possesses (for example, public art installation or museum exhibit).