Laidlaw Scholars Policies and Processes

The core components of this two-year opportunity teach students to conduct research with impact and develop their leadership potential through supportive training with a cohort of their peers, provided by the Athena Center, Beyond Barnard, and the Laidlaw Foundation. Specifically, the program entails:

• A two-year opportunity to pursue faculty mentored research, internships, and leadership training, designed for First-Year and Sophomore Students at Barnard College.
• Students have access to (a) two summers of funding and subsidized housing for faculty-mentored research (in the first summer) and an internship (or second year of research if it has a direct impact on a community); and (b) year-round training in a supportive cohort of peers, provided by the Athena Center and Beyond Barnard.
• Barnard students selected participate in the Program will have access to a global network of Laidlaw Scholars at 14 top universities and colleges.
• In a student's first summer, they will complete 5-6 weeks of faculty-mentored research on a topic of their choosing
• In a student's second summer, they will complete a Leadership in Action Project
• Throughout the program, students will participate in leadership training provided by the Athena Leadership Center and additional supportive workshops hosted by Beyond Barnard

• All first-year students and sophomores, regardless of majors, are eligible to apply.
• Interdisciplinary projects are welcome, as are topics with an international focus.
• Proposed projects should develop analytical, investigative, problem-solving and data management skills.

Students should apply in the Spring Semester of their first year or sophomore year at Barnard. Students must be enrolled full-time to be eligible.

Each year in September, Beyond Barnard launches an interest form about the Laidlaw Leadership & Research Program. Students can sign up to ensure that they are receiving updates on the process. 

Draft 2024 Timeline (finalization of timeline will be in Fall 2023):

• November and December 2023: Information Sessions

• Early January: Application Opens

• Mid January: "Navigating the Laidlaw Application" Session, hosted by Beyond Barnard

• Mid January through Mid February: Students secure mentors and assemble application materials (note that mentors do not need to be confirmed by the due date of the application)

• Mid February: Application Due at 5PM

• Mid- through Late-February: Interviews.

• Friday before Spring Break: Decisions released to applicants.

• April 1: Selections announced to the Laidlaw Foundation.

• May 15: Program Begins

Barnard College offers its deep gratitude to the Laidlaw Foundation for its generous support of this important Program. The Laidlaw Foundation invests in the education of the underprivileged and underrepresented in order to break the cycle of poverty, reduce inequality and develop a new generation of leaders. The Foundation's funding supports three core programs: 

• Sponsoring the Laidlaw Schools Trust – a growing, Multi Academy Trust in the North East of England, providing inspirational education to transform lives,
• Developing a new generation of diverse leaders who embrace research-based decision making and ethical leadership through the Laidlaw Research & Leadership Program at the world’s leading universities, and
• Ensuring more women reach the C-Suite by providing MBA scholarships at London Business School and Oxford University’s Saïd Business School. 

To learn more, follow the Laidlaw Foundation on LinkedIn and Twitter. 

• Funding for 6 weeks of research in Summer 1 from mid-May to the end of June.
• On-campus housing in Summer 1 for the duration of the program, including the initial retreat.
• Mentorship by a faculty member at Barnard or Columbia.
• Funding for a Leadership in Action Project in Summer 2.
• Limited additional funding for research, travel, supplies, and other needs (Scholars need to apply to obtain these additional funds).
• Leadership training programs and other cohort events throughout the 2 years of the program.
• Access to the Laidlaw Global Scholars Network — a community of Scholars at >14 institutions.
• Regular individual and group touch-points with Beyond Barnard and the Athena Center for Leadership.
• The ability to attend conferences and workshops hosted by the Laidlaw Foundation.

• In-person attendance at Program Orientation
• In-person attendance at 2-day Leadership retreat led by the Athena Center.
• In-person attendance at 6 leadership training workshops throughout Summer 1.
• Completion of a one-page project proposal that provides an update on research objectives and plans for poster and research paper.
• 10-page research paper and a poster as the output of Summer 1 research.
• Presentation of research at Laidlaw Symposium on campus at Barnard.
• Contribution of content to the Laidlaw Scholars Global Network.
• Provision of updates on projects, bios, and other info as required by the Foundation and Barnard.
• Workshop attendance in advance of a Leadership in Action Project.
• Completion of a Leadership in Action Project (6 weeks of active time during Summer 2).
• While the above are a list of major requirements of Scholars, this list is subject to change.

• Active, engaged, and respectful participation in the Barnard and Global Laidlaw Scholar communities (including Participation in the online Laidlaw Scholars Network).
• Completion of required program elements and ability to meet deadlines.
• Timely responses to emails from the Laidlaw Planning Committee.
• Follow-through on RSVP's to attend events and conferences planned by the Laidlaw Foundation.
• Maintenance of academic and disciplinary good standing at Barnard College.
• Research mentors must be full-time faculty members with one of the following titles: assistant professor, associate professor, or professor. They must be employed at Barnard during the Summer 2024. Adjunct faculty, unfortunately, are ineligible. Your recommender, however, may be anyone (faculty, managers, etc.) who can speak to your strengths as a Laidlaw candidate.