Share

ImpACT Winterim Leadership Intensive

The ImpACT Winterim Leadership Intensive is a 3-week program during the November/December Dartmouth break that allows students to make an impact on a social challenge within their home or the Upper Valley community while learning with peers about systems of social change.

Program Overview

  • The ImpACT Winterim Leadership Intensive is open to Dartmouth undergraduate students from all classes. Priority will be given to students who have not completed the program in a previous year; returning participants are required to complete a project with a different community organization from their prior experience.
  • Student applicants identify a 3-week (12/1/25-12/19/25) project with a community organization or agency in their home community. For students remaining on campus for this period, Upper Valley projects are accepted. DCSI can help with this!
  • Applications (including project proposals) are due October 13, 2025 by 3pm ET. 
  • DCSI provides stipends of $1500 to selected applicants.
  • Participants attend an orientation at the end of the fall term, 3 synchronous virtual workshops during the Winterim project, and a post program event on campus in January (for those on winter term).

Project Guidelines

  • DCSI can help you find an agency and design a project. Email social.impact.leadership.programs@dartmouth.edu for office hours or to schedule an appointment. 
  • Projects must be with a social sector organization in your home community or, for students remaining on campus, in the Upper Valley. Projects can be domestic or international -- wherever home is for you. See the FAQ doc for more info.
  • Your selected agency must have at least 1 full-time paid staff member and a physical office space from which you can work. 
  • Students must commit to projects from Monday, December 1 through Friday, December 19 for approximately 30 hours per week. 
  • Projects must be in-person, where the student conducts most of their work at the agency's office or site. 
  • Projects should address a real need as defined by the agency partner. 
  • Students should consider transportation when designing projects and identify reliable means of travel to and from the agency for the duration of the project. 
  • Projects should have clearly defined tasks and objectives designed in partnership with the agency partner. Examples of possible projects: 
    • Assisting with planning and executing an event or initiative.
    • Providing a direct service that meets a community need -- tutoring, serving meals, etc.
    • Collecting and curating stories of impact for agency communications. 
    • Collecting and/or analyzing data for an agency evaluation project -- designing surveys, creating research briefs, analyzing or visualizing past data, etc.

Program Timeline

  • September and October - Get advising from DCSI Staff and Student Directors (highly encouraged!). Contact potential host organizations to explore partnership. Complete the application and Community Organization Agreement Form (linked below). Submit a travel exception request through Global Dartmouth if needed.
  • October 13, 2025 by 3pm ET - Final application deadline
  • October 21, 2025 - Participants selected
  • November 15 2025 - Required orientation
  • December 1, 2025 - First day at social sector organization!
  • December 19, 2025 - Last day at organization
  • January 16, 2026 - Required Final Poster Presentation

Office Hours

Our office hours take place in the South Fairbanks building in room 301. 

  • Drop-In office hours September - October (subject to change - emailing ahead is always good! Office hours start 9/15).
    • Mondays, 2-3pm
    • Wednesdays 3-4pm (*no office hours Wed 10/8)
  • By appointment - email social.impact.leadership.programs@dartmouth.edu

Reference Materials and Forms

  • ImpACT Winterim Application - Are open now!
    • Note: Since ImpACT is a Dartmouth-sponsored program, international students who travel home to complete an ImpACT project are required to register travel with Global Dartmouth. You will also need to get a travel exception if your home country appears on this list. Travel exceptions must be submitted to Global Dartmouth at least 30 days before your travel date. Having this travel exception request submitted is a requirement for submitting an ImpACT application on 10/13.
  •  Community Organization Agreement Form
    • To be completed by your supervisor. Requires supervisor's and your signature.  
  • How to Design an ImpACT Project
  • ImpACT FAQs