Social Media Experiential Learning Grant

The Marketing Department’s Social Media Experiential Learning Grant is designed to provide undergraduate students with hands-on experience in digital communications, content creation, and audience engagement. The student awarded the grant will be responsible for creating content for Sellinger’s social media pages (e.g., Instagram, Facebook). This grant supports a student while they apply their coursework and creativity to real-world social media strategy and execution. Students will gain valuable experience managing social media platforms, creating engaging content, and supporting Sellinger’s communication goals.

To apply, students must contact the Chair of the Marketing Department. Applicants should first review the current state of the Sellinger social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) and put together a brief proposal for how they can invigorate Sellinger’s social media presence. Specifically, propose three to five content areas that posts will focus on (e.g., student profiles, events in Sellinger); consider whether these areas should be different for different platforms/audiences (e.g., Facebook vs. Instagram). The proposal can include sample posts, ideas for increasing engagement, how you will track your success (e.g., social media metrics), etc. The proposal is a chance to demonstrate the creativity you will bring to the role. In addition, applicants should include a brief statement of interest, demonstrating experience/knowledge in the areas of social media, marketing, and/or communications and describing any relevant skills; please refer to “Selection Criteria” section.

Funding:

The student awarded the grant will receive a stipend of $5,000 for the 12-month period of the grant, which will typically run from the start of the fall semester through the following summer. The $5,000 grant will be broken into two payments: $2,500 to be awarded at the start of the grant period (ordinarily in early September) and $2,500 to be awarded upon successful completion of the grant period (ordinarily in late August).

Expectations

During the 12-month grant period, students will:

Onboard with MarComm in early Fall
Create/have a personal Facebook account to allow for Sellinger account management
Develop and implement a social media content strategy
Create and schedule posts across Sellinger social media platforms
Be present on campus/in Sellinger; take high quality photographs to include in posts
Track engagement metrics and adjust as needed
Collaborate regularly with the Social Media Experiential Learning Grant supervisor, which will ordinarily be a faculty member in the Marketing Department
Upon completion of the grant, students will provide a written report reflecting on their experience and key learnings, as well as the impact their work had on Sellinger’s social media presence

Selection Criteria

A selection committee in the Marketing Department will review applications and select a recipient based on:

Academic performance and overall standing at Loyola
Demonstrated interest or experience in social media, marketing, communications, or related fields
Quality, creativity, and feasibility of the proposal
Relevant skills (e.g., content creation, graphic design, video editing, photography, social media analytics). These are valued but not required

How to Apply

Students may reach out to the Chair of the Marketing Department at any time to express interest and receive guidance.

To apply, students must submit their Social Media Experiential Learning Grant proposal via email to the Marketing Department Chair by May 31, 2026, for the grant recipient’s work period to begin at the start of the following Fall semester.