Frequently Asked Questions

The A'Lelia Bundles Community Scholars program was developed to assist scholars in their completion of an independent project or to help them attain skills in a specific area of interest. Participation in the Bundles Scholars program is not intended to enable a scholar to enter into a degree program; no course credit, certificate or diploma will be awarded upon completion.

There are no costs associated with participation in the A'Lelia Bundles Community Scholars program. However should a scholar opt to audit a class, course fees, lab fees, or book costs may apply. To help offset this, scholars receive a $500 stipend annually for each of the three years they are in the program (a total of $1500 per scholar).

Letters of recommendation should be addressed to the A'Lelia Bundles Community Scholars program. They can be submitted with your application or emailed to [email protected]. Please reference the A'Lelia Bundles Community Scholars program and the name of the applicant in your email subject line.

We are not currently accepting letters of recommendation by mail.

Unofficial transcripts can be submitted with the program application; however, applicants who are selected will be required to submit official transcripts to participate in the program.

If your high school is still open, they are most likely to have it. If not, reach out to the state Department of Education, or an equivalent agency that oversees education in the region where you attended high school. If you have a degree from an accredited university, a transcript from that can usually fulfill this requirement.

If you did not graduate from high school, and did not receive a high school equivalency certificate (GED/TASC/etc), you can submit an explanation of your equivalent experience. For more information, email [email protected].

Only current affiliation with the University renders an applicant ineligible. Columbia alumni who do not have a present affiliation with the University are able to apply.

The program was originated as part of Columbia University’s community benefits and services related to the Manhattanville Campus Expansion and resulted from discussions with the West Harlem community. The first cohort of five independent scholars was selected from a competitive field of applicants during the spring of 2013. Those scholars began the program in the fall of 2013.

Up to five new scholars are selected for every year's class.

The most recent application period closed on May 9, 2025. Please explore the Bundles Scholars website for more information. To keep up with news about the program, follow Columbia Neighbors on social media or subscribe to its newsletter.

Applicants will be informed of program decisions by the end of July.

New scholars will begin the program at the start of the fall semester, which is typically immediately after Labor Day.

A'Lelia Bundles Community Scholars are enrolled for a period of up to three years.

Yes! You may apply another time. You will need to submit a new application in order to be considered.

No. Adults meeting the program eligibility requirements may apply to the program regardless of age.

No. As long as you are a legal resident of the United States, you may apply.

Individuals selected as A'Lelia Bundles Community Scholars:

• Access to Libraries, including special collections and online access.
• Ability to audit a wide selection of courses
• University ID card
• University email address
• Access to University events and programs
• Annual stipend of $500
• Platforms to share their work, including the School of Professional Studies' Bundles Scholars Speaker Series
• Opportunities to build relationships within the program and across the University
• Exploration of financial and administrative support to grow projects
• Possible funding opportunities for developing collaborative projects with other Bundles Scholars (past and present) as well as with other members of the Columbia community.
• Ability to contribute to skill-building short courses and seminars.
• Engagement with the Incite community, which is composed of academics, artists, activists, and other area specialists.
• Ongoing mentorship in the development of a project.