The Work Exemption Program (WEP) is part Columbia University's enhanced financial aid program announced in spring 2009 for undergraduate students in Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. The program is designed to enable financial aid recipients to take advantage of experiential learning opportunities.  Selection for WEP is competitive and accepted program participants receive additional financial support to pursue unpaid internships, research projects, and community outreach, locally, nationally, and internationally.

We are pleased to make opportunities available that enable students of all socioeconomic backgrounds to extend their co-curricular educational experience. We are also grateful to the many alumni and friends whose continued generosity makes this initiative possible and who contribute immeasurably to the enrichment of the undergraduate experience in the College and School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Through WEP, students have the option of applying for an exemption from the summer savings portion of their financial aid package as well as their academic year work expectations if they are engaged in unpaid activities such as those listed above. It is important to note that WEP funding is not made available to recipients in the form of a stipend.  Instead, WEP funding is added directly to the financial aid packages of student recipients and summer or academic year work expectations are replaced with a Columbia grant award. 

The application process for the Work Exemption Program is jointly managed by the Center for Career Education and the Division of Student Affairs.

Interested in learning more about WEP?  Attend the "CCE Summer Funding Programs Power Half Hour" on Thursday, February 9th at 12:30pm in the conference room at the Center for Career Education.

Summer 2012 WEP Application Timeline

Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Applications for the Summer 2012 WEP Program must be submitted through the online WEP application and supporting documents must be submitted in full through Lionshare

Thursday, April 19, 2012 - Thursday, April 26, 2012
Applications will be reviewed by the Work Exemption Program Committee

Friday, April 27, 2012
Applicants will be notified of their application status for the program (accepted or declined)

How to Apply

Resources

There are countless unpaid internship, research and volunteer opportunities in the New York City Area and many different resources for finding an experiential learning opportunity that is the best fit for your individual academic, personal, and professional goals.  Here are a few suggestions for beginning your search.

• To learn more about finding an internship please visit the Internships section of the Center for Career Education website. 
• Both the Office of Civic Action and Engagement and the Community Impact office at Columbia are excellent places to begin exploring opportunities to contribute to your community.
• Did you know that Columbia has 214 research centers and institutes?  Students also frequently find research opportunities through their academic department or through professors they have worked with.

If you have any further questions not addressed here, please email cce-wep@columbia.edu.

Please speak directly to your finanical aid advisor regarding any WEP questions relating to financial aid, including eligibility for the program and application of funding within a financial aid package.