FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DOES CELI HAVE A TEMPLATE LETTER TO ASK An EMPLOYER TO SPONSOR TUITION?
We recommend asking your employer about professional development funds as soon as possible, once selected applicants are notified of their acceptance into the 2024 Fall Fellowship. Click here for a sample REQUEST FOR EMPLOYER TUITION SUPPORT that you can download and edit to personalize your specific request to your employer. Please email applications@cleanenergyleaders.org with any questions.
WHAT IS THE TUITION FOR CELI’S 2024 Fall FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM?
CELI’s 2024 Fall Fellowship tuition is offered in different tiers, and no applicant will be turned away for lack of funds as long as they qualify for need-based financial assistance. Full and partial financial awards are available as determined by income, cost of living, dependents, level of employer support and special circumstances. CELI does everything possible to support all selected applicants to attend. Persons of color (esp. Native, LatinX, Black), members of the LGBTQX+ community, persons with disability, and individuals from other traditionally excluded backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply.
The full cost of the 2024 Fall Fellowship is $5,500 if an employer is supporting a Fellow (Tier 1), or $3,500 if a Fellow is paying-out-of-pocket (Tier 2). Both tier levels may be eligible for financial assistance depending on their application. Fellows receiving partial employer support will be put into Tier 1 tuition level ($5,500), and Fellows receiving no employer support will fall into Tier 2 tuition level ($3,500). Fellows who receive partial employer support will never be expected to owe more than $3,500 out-of-pocket for tuition, even if their employer’s support totals less than $2,000. All levels of tuition commitments (including those receiving financial assistance) may be paid up-front or over a 6 month payment plan.
Barring exceptional circumstances, all selected applicants are required to pay $500, due June 5, 2024, in-full, as a non-refundable deposit to hold their spot in the fellowship.
We will review financial assistance applications after applicants are selected, and we will notify selected applicants of their financial award determination on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Since we are evaluating the 2024 Fall Fellowship application and Financial Assistance application separately, some of the questions are duplicative! Thank you in advance for answering the duplicative questions in both the 2024 Fall Fellowship and the 2024 Financial Assistance applications.
Please submit your fellowship application before completing the financial assistance application below. All financial assistance applications are due by April 3, 2024 (11:59 PM PT).
Tier 1: Employer-Supported Tuition
Applicants should check with their employer to determine the level of employer support that is possible. Tuition for full employer-supported applicants is $5,500. If employers are only able to cover partial tuition (i.e. small start-ups, non-profits, government or academic institutions, depending on size), CELI will work with the selected Fellow to award the employer a waiver based on organization size and budget. Be sure to check with your employer regarding professional development funding, as employers frequently cover the cost for incoming fellows. Fellows who receive partial employer support will never be expected to owe more than $3,500 out-of-pocket for tuition, even if their employer’s support totals less than $2,000.
Tier 2: Tuition Without Employer Support
For those without employer support who will be paying out of pocket, CELI offers a reduced tuition of $3,500. At the point that payment is requested (June), selected Fellows who are not able to access any employer support will be asked to provide an email or a letter from a supervisor or other means that confirms lack of employer funds. Full-time students, self-employed applicants, and those outside of the workforce may also qualify for the reduced tuition (in this case, proof of student enrollment or other documents can serve as proof). All tuition may be paid on a 6-month payment plan from July through December, 2024. Applicants who are eligible for this tier who need financial assistance based on income, cost of living, dependents, and special circumstances, should be sure to fill out the separate financial assistance application by April 3, 2024.
Full and partial financial assistance is available for individuals falling into both Tiers.
Financial assistance applications are due no later than April 3, 2024. No applicant will be turned away for lack of funds if the applicant qualifies for need-based financial assistance. Full and partial financial awards are available as determined by income, cost of living, dependents, level of employer support, and special circumstances. CELI does everything possible to support all selected applicants to attend. The application process for financial assistance is separate from the application process for participation in the 2024 Fall Fellowship. CELI encourages all applicants who do not think that they will have full employer support to submit an application for financial assistance by April 3, 2024.
IF MY EMPLOYER PROVIDES Tuition SUPPORT, BUT IT Does not COVER THE WHOLE TUITION, WHAT TIER DO I FALL INTO?
Fellows who receive full or partial employer support will fall into Tier 1. The total cost of tuition for Tier 1 is $5,500; however, Fellows will never be expected to pay more than $3,500 out-of-pocket for tuition, even if their employer’s support totals less than $2,000.
WHEN SHOULD I ASK MY EMPloyer about tuition support?
We recommend asking your employer about professional development funds as soon as possible, and ideally before April 3, 2024, so that you can submit a financial assistance application with the most accurate information. Fellows will find out if they are offered a spot in the 2024 Fall Fellowship on May 22, 2024, along with notifications about preliminary financial assistance awards. In order to receive a preliminary financial assistance notification, the applicant must have filled out the financial assistance form by April 3, 2024. Please note that your answers are non-binding, as we understand that you are filling out this form before you have been offered a spot in the program.
IS THERE AN APPLICATION FEE?
Early Bird applications are free, and the Early Bird application period runs through February 29, 2024. Regular applications cost $25 per application, and the Regular application period runs from March 1 - March 31, 2024. Late applications are discouraged and will cost $100 per application. Late application period runs from April 1 - April 3, 2024.
Financial assistance applications are due no later than April 3, 2024, and do not require an application fee.
DOES CELI OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR PAYMENT PLANS?
Yes! CANDIDATES SHOULD NOT LET THE COST OF THE PROGRAM PREVENT THEM FROM APPLYING. We are deeply committed to ensuring that every accepted applicant is able to be a part of CELI, regardless of financial need. Thanks to the generous support of our donors and sponsors, CELI provides financial assistance awards ranging from partial to full cost reductions for fellows who are unable to meet the program costs. Applicants must complete a financial assistance application in order to be eligible for a financial award. Financial assistance applications are submitted separately from the Fellowship application and are due by April 3, 2024. Selected applicants will be invited to join a cohort on May 22, 2024, and those who requested financial assistance will be notified of their financial awards at this time.
Upon acceptance, CELI works with each applicant individually to determine the right payment plan and offers a flexible, 6-month payment plan. All fellows are required to secure their spot with an initial payment of $500 (due June 5, 2024) in order to stretch the financial assistance pool to support as many eligible Fellows as possible.
HOW MANY FELLOWS ARE ACCEPTED TO EACH COHORT?
The 2024 Fall Fellowship will welcome approximately 50 fellows per cohort! Fellowship invitations to join a cohort will be extended on May 22, 2024, along with preliminary financial assistance award notifications.
WHAT ARE THE WEEKLY FELLOWSHIP SESSIONS LIKE?
Cohort participants meet once a week, virtually (except our in-person clusters which will meet in-person, but with virtual speakers), for two hours in the evenings to receive topical lectures from experts in the field and engage in discussions with their peers. Modules cover energy markets, new technologies, policy, and deep decarbonization. Weekly sessions are held online every Wednesday from 6:00 - 8:00 pm local time for each of our cohorts. These 2-hour-long sessions will consist of a mixture of lectures with expert practitioners, panel discussions with leaders in the field, hands-on activities, and small group discussions to build community and connection among fellows. Optional Tuesday sessions (on varied Tuesdays, not weekly) will host guest speakers covering the topics introduced in the Wednesday required session activity portion.
WHAT IS THE IN-PERSON CLUSTER OPTION ABOUT?
This year, CELI is piloting an in-person cluster experience depending on the volume of interest in this option from applicants in CELI’s four traditional cities / metro-areas: Bay Area, Chicago, New York City, and Washington, DC. Since CELI’s inception, fellows traditionally have met in-person each week. Covid-19 introduced a hybrid element, however, many past fellows have indicated that they wished there was an in-person option. CELI clusters will run the fellowship exactly the same (and with all the same requirements) as the virtual cohorts, except that the participants who elect to be a part of the cluster must commit to attending the weekly CELI sessions in-person. Applicants who reside in one of these four cities and are interested in participating in an in-person cluster (with virtual speakers/trainers) can indicate interest in their fellowship application. Their interest is non-binding and if selected as a fellow, CELI will reach out to confirm their availability to participate in in-person small group gatherings adjacent to the virtual fellowship experience. Guest speakers will be entirely virtual, however clusters would have the opportunity to meet weekly in-person to view the sessions and carry out the activities and discussions together.
What if i only want to participate in an in-person cluster and do not want to participate in a virtual fellowship?
On the fellowship application, there will be a specific question that will capture whether you would only like to participate in an in-person cluster, and not the virtual fellowship. Note - CELI will determine whether or not clusters are an option only after all applications have been submitted, and whether or not there is sufficient interest demonstrated within a cohort. CELI cannot guarantee that a cluster will be an option for the 2024 fellowship.
WHAT IF I WANT TO BE IN A CLUSTER AND I DON’T LIVE IN A CELI CITY?
Unfortunately, CELI is piloting in-person clusters for the first time this year and is only able to (potentially) run clusters in the cities and metro areas (Bay Area, Chicago, DC and NYC) where we have the most volunteers and the most active and involved corporate sponsors. If clusters are successful, we hope to expand it to other cities and metro areas in the future.
HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD I EXPECT TO SPEND ON THE PROGRAM?
In addition to the weekly required Wednesday sessions, optional Tuesday sessions, and occasional Saturday sessions, fellows should expect to spend an additional 2-3 hours a week to stay current on the readings. To prepare their capstone project, fellows spend at least 20 hours (including project development, editing, and practice sessions) to produce a final deliverable. While the fellowship is designed to fit within your current work and personal schedule, you get out of the program what you put into it. The value you receive from the program is directly related to the amount of time you invest in your experience, and, most importantly, in getting to know your peers.
WHAT IS THE INTERVIEW PROCESS LIKE?
If your application is moved forward to the interview process, selected applicants will be invited for a 25-minute online interview during mid-April, 2024, with CELI alumni. The interview process will give selected applicants a chance to talk to CELI alumni about their interest in the 2024 Fall Fellowship, and will open up an opportunity for applicants to ask CELI alumni more about how the Fellowship has supported their leadership journey in the clean energy ecosystem.
Application Due Dates by Fee Schedule
Early Bird application deadline ($0): Now - Feb 29, 2024 at 9:00 PM PT
Regular application ($25) deadline: Mar 1 - Mar 31, 2024 at 9:00 PM PT
Late application ($100) deadline: Apr 1 - Apr 3, 2024 at 11:59 PM PT
Financial Assistance - Rolling Application
An applicant must submit a separate financial assistance application immediately AFTER completing their fellowship application, if the applicant would like to be considered for financial assistance.
All final financial assistance applications are due: April 3, 2024 at 11:59 PM PT
Interviews will be offered to select candidates in mid-April, 2024, and conducted from April to early May, 2024.
Acceptance notifications will be emailed on May 22, 2024 to all applicants that are selected into the program. Financial assistance notifications will be coordinated with acceptance notifications, and all selected applicants will be notified of financial assistance awards on May 22, 2024. Please note that a non-refundable deposit of $500 will be required to be paid by June 5, 2024 in order to hold one’s spot in the program.
The CELI 2024 Fall Fellowship starts on Saturday, August 3, 2024, a required date of participation.
If I don’t work in the clean energy sector, should I still apply?
Yes, we consider candidates with 5+ years of professional experience who are looking to transition into the clean energy industry and who believe that they would benefit and contribute to our program and network. Transition candidates should also clearly articulate their intention to begin and maintain a career in clean energy. We welcome diverse sector expertise from transition candidates, including but not limited to education, communications, non-profit work, STEM, and technical skills.
Are there ways I can get involved if I am not a Fellow?
Yes! Throughout the year, CELI hosts educational and social events. Please sign up for our newsletter below and check out our events page for any upcoming webinars or events open to the public! ! We are also on social media: follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
We highly encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter for future events, and hope we can find ways to connect soon!
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Email applications@cleanenergyleaders.org with any questions.