PUBLIC SERVICE SCHOLARS FAQ’s
What is the Shriver Center?
The Shriver Center at UMBC has become a national leader in applied learning, civic engagement, and community-based service delivery. The Shriver Center, named for the legacy of Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, enables students to connect theory to practice and thought to action, bringing their experience back to the classroom, and is UMBC’s primary structured vehicle for producing socially engaged citizens who graduate with the commitment and experience to contribute responsibly in their communities, the state and the nation. The Shriver Center also collaborates with others in our community to create and implement initiatives designed to strengthen communities, building local capacity to deal with pressing problems of the day.
Maryland Public Service Scholars programs are based out of the Shriver Center at UMBC, but students do not have to attend UMBC in order to participate.
What expectations am I required to meet?
We do our best to recruit host sites from across the state though many are concentrated in the greater Annapolis/Baltimore areas (especially for GSIP and MDOT). It is the responsibility of the fellow to be able to get to and from your site placement. With most internships being hybrid, and orientation, seminars, and events held in-person fellows should expect to be needed in Central Maryland about 3 days a week (Baltimore or Annapolis region). If accepted you will be asked to keep this in mind when selecting your host site preferences, which will indicate accessibility by public transportation in the description.
Most seminars and orientations will be held at UMBC, just outside of Baltimore. The campus is accessible by public transportation. If you do not own a car, it is still your responsibility to attend these seminars.
Can international students participate in the program?
International students on an F-1 visa may be eligible to participate in the program through Curricular Practical Training (CPT), provided their role aligns directly with their degree program.
CPT Eligibility: F-1 students become eligible for CPT after completing two full-time semesters in the U.S. They must apply through their school’s international office, which grants authorization on a semester-by-semester basis.
Process: Because CPT requires that the position directly align with a student’s degree program, accepted students who plan to pursue CPT should notify MPSS staff immediately. Program staff will work with the student to identify a placement that meets this requirement; however, placement in an eligible position cannot be guaranteed. Once a specific position is identified, the student must submit a CPT application to their school’s international office, including details about the employer and position. If approved, they will receive authorization to work for that specific employer.
International students on any other visa should contact publicservicescholars@umbc.edu to inquire about their eligibility.