Scholarships and Financial Aid

The Summer Writing Program offers at least two scholarships each year. Zora Neale Hurston scholarships are available to non-Naropa students.

All scholarship applications are due by 5 p.m. on April 1. All applicants will be notified of scholarship decisions no later than May 1.

Summer Writing Program Scholarships

The Zora Neale Hurston Awards are given annually to students who demonstrate experience in, or working with, populations of color, and who will be attending the Summer Writing Program for BA credit, MFA credit or noncredit. Awards cover partial to full tuition for the four weeks of the SWP and may include housing for non-local award recipients.

The Leslie Scalapino Award will be offered each year to one JKS MFA  student attending the Summer Writing Program who has a body of work in the field of experimental postmodern women's poetry and poetics. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, be a United States citizen or permanent resident of the United States, and have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

The Institute of American Indian Arts Award is given annually to one current undergraduate student enrolled at the Institute of American Indian Arts, who will be attending the Summer Writing Program. The award covers full undergraduate tuition for the four weeks of the SWP and includes housing.

The Summer Writing Program Scholarship in memory of kari edwards is offered annually to one credit or non-credit student accepted into Naropa University's Summer Writing Program. Eligible applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and be involved in gender activism and writing experimental works.

 For inquiries about any of the above SWP scholarships, please contact the administrative coordinator at 303-245-4600. Scholarship information for 2013 will be available on this website after January 1, 2013. The application process for 2013 scholarships will be conducted through the Financial Aid office.

SWP Student Financial Aid and Student Employment Opportunities

Naropa Students

Degree-seeking students taking the program for graduate or undergraduate credit may be eligible for federal financial aid if enrolled for at least 6 credits (four weeks undergraduate credit, three to four weeks for graduate credit). Naropa BA and MFA student should complete the FAFSA by March 1. The FAFSA is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Students who request aid to attend the Summer Writing Program (SWP) are generally awarded enough aid to cover the cost of tuition and fees, with some funds available for books and/or living expenses. Federal regulations prohibit the release of student aid until a student is officially attending at least half-time (enrolled for at least 6 credits). Since undergraduate students do not become half-time until the beginning of week four of the Summer Writing Program, their aid and refunds will become available at the beginning of that week. Graduate students become half-time at the beginning of the third week of classes and their aid and refunds will be available at the beginning of week three.

Students who need their refunds before this time, may fill out an advance request form from the Financial Aid Office. The earliest that a student may receive an advance is during week one of the SWP.

SWP Student Employment Opportunities

Naropa University MFA Writing & Poetics and Creative Writing students may be eligible for the following opportunities.

Student Instructional Positions

MFA Lecturer 

An MFA lecture is one of the few opportunities that graduate students have to present scholarly and creative research during their degree program. Presenters should lecture on topics about which they are knowledgeable and passionate; subjects that complement the SWP programming. While we require the lecture to be in a standard format (not performance based)—all lectures must be 40 minutes with a 20-minute Q&A—we encourage you to utilize the multi-media capacities in the Performing Arts Center. Slides, primary source material from the Naropa University Audio Archive Project, etc. are a great way to make your presentation more engaging. Only MFA students are eligible for these positions. There is 1 position available. Specific times and locations of student lectures will be listed in the SWP Master Schedule. There is no financial compensation for MFA lectures.

Graduate Instructor 
The graduate instructor position offers graduate students an opportunity to design and teach a writing workshop. Due to the fluctuating weekly populations of undergraduate students during the Summer
Writing Program, graduate instructors have the unique challenge of creating a weekly workshop that can accommodate both students taking the program for one week or for all four weeks. Graduate instructors are responsible for attending weekly staff meetings (9–9:30 a.m. on Wednesdays) with the BA coordinator. The
BA coordinator then leads a group session with all BA students and instructors. This session is scheduled from 9:30–10 or 10:30 a.m. After this session, students will split into smaller groups with each graduate instructor heading a discussion group of BA credit students from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. Graduate
instructors are responsible for commenting on final BA manuscripts. Only second- or third-summer MFA students are eligible for these positions. There are 2 positions available, depending on the number of BA students who enroll.

Student Staff Positions

Faculty Liaison
This position involves assisting visiting SWP faculty members or SWP staff with course packets, copying, in-town transportation to and from events, dealing with mail and messages, collecting interview materials and other areas in which the guest faculty member may need support. This position will not interfere with your workshops or classes as an SWP student. You do not need a car to be a FL, but one can sometimes be helpful. You do need to be attentive, respectful and prompt. Students will be paid a stipend for approximately 25 hours per week.

Student Activity Coordinator
The Student Activity Coordinator positions are a unique opportunity to help contribute to the Summer Writing Program curriculum. It’s a chance to represent the students during the Program and help develop events that are of interest to the entire community. Both MFA and BA students are eligible for these positions. There are two positions available. These positions involve planning and running all student readings and salons (1–2 per week), lectures (up to two per summer), panels (one per week) and special events throughout the Summer Writing Program. SACs listen to the voices of the student body and set up events that meet student interest. Students will be paid a stipend for approximately 25 hours.

SWP Magazine Editor
The SWP Magazine Editor positions are a unique opportunity to contribute to the Summer Writing Program. Magazine editors set guidelines for submission, editing, layout and all aspects of production and distribution of the annual Summer Magazine. This is the only lasting document of the SWP—your chance to go down in history. Both MFA and BA students are eligible for these positions. There are two positions available. Students will be paid a stipend for approximately 25 hours.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Students who are enrolled as degree-seeking students at another institution and are taking the SWP for credit, should contact the financial aid office at their home institution for information regarding eligibility.

Learn more about financial aid.

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