The Gural Scholars program is more than a scholarship — it is a commitment to developing work and identity as social justice scholars and activists. Students participate from admittance (1st - 3rd year) to graduation. In addition to receiving a supplemental
scholarship, scholars are enrolled in a year-long cohort-based seminar (up to one one credit for each academic semester) focused on social justice theory and practice.
In all Gural Scholars spaces, we uplift the experiences and expertise of our student scholars and cultivate connections. All of our seminars explore strategies for change-making with diverse approaches. Our praxis (study in action) is rooted in community
contributions.
In Gural Scholars we:
- consider the self and identity within community, history, and the contemporary moment
- draw on key case studies to examine long-term organizing principles and strategies
- prepare students for evolving social-justice lives
- challenge the political economy of social justice, specifically its institutional forms: charities, nonprofits, foundations, NGOs, etc. and examine the alternatives such as mutual aid and collective practice
- navigate lessons in accountability on a community and cultural level
The Scholars community acknowledges a world/climate of white supremacist anti-black racism, patriarchy, transphobia, queerphobia, anti-poverty, and anti-immigrant narratives. Students are given tools to not only face oppressions with care and community
advocacy but also to dismantle them. We also acknowledge that this work is ongoing and will never be resolved with single solutions.
Scholars meet weekly with a cohort and participate in community gatherings and other activities, which may include field trips, one-on-one advising, film series and guest speaker lectures. Our staff and faculty are activists, artists, community organizers
and stakeholders in the field as well as individuals who have expertise in navigating The New School.
In their first year cohort, scholars are welcomed into the program and oriented into social justice values; the second year cohort typically homes in on the architecture of specific movements and practices; the third-year cohort may complete a travel-based
or independent summer project; and the fourth-year cohort involves self-study and preparation for the future.
Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.