FESTA. Graduate Leadership Fellowship. Qualifications. Commitment. Evaluation and Accountability. Identifying a Mentor.

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1 FESTA Graduate Leadership Fellowship Qualifications Commitment The Festa Graduate Leadership Fellowship seeks accomplished and motivated individuals who are eager to prepare for greater leadership responsibilities within their communities and professions. Applicants will propose self-designed learning experiences to help attain leadership goals that have been set. The program will expand the student s experiences to new learning environments that would be inaccessible without the fellowship. Unlike a traditional internship, an agreement must be made between the student, graduate advisor and the fellowship site mentor regarding the student's placement responsibilities or projects. While the fellowship assumes that the student will work on a full-time basis, the number of hours and the location of the assigned work can be flexible and negotiated in the agreement. All parties should agree that the placement assignment has appropriate expectations. Identifying a Mentor Evaluation and Accountability Students interested in applying for the Festa Graduate Leadership Fellowship are encouraged to work with a graduate advisor, program director, or department chair to identify potential fellowship site placements and mentors. The fellowship site placement and mentor must be identified as part of the Festa Graduate Leadership Fellowship application. Recipients are required to keep a record of experiences during the fellowship along with a reflection on the assignments. The student must also prepare a final ten-page report outlining the fellowship experience, which will remain on permanent record. The fellowship site mentor must also prepare an evaluation of the student s performance to be sent directly to the SUNY Oswego Office of Graduate Studies. Interview Process All applicants must be interviewed by the potential fellowship site mentor to receive a recommendation into the site placement. The student must obtain a written endorsement letter from the potential fellowship site mentor for candidacy and submit to the Office of Graduate Studies with the application. Performance Monitoring The student s graduate program director or department chair will monitor his or her fellowship performance through conversation with the site mentor or through site visits where feasible. 606 Culkin Hall, Oswego, NY (315) oswego.edu/gradstudies gradstudies@oswego.edu

2 The Festa Graduate Leadership Fellowship is designed to be a non-traditional internship which gives the recipient a distinct leadership experience. Receiving Credit The fellowship may be completed for credit or non-credit depending on the preference of the particular graduate program and the student. If assigned, a maximum of six credits will appear on the student's transcript and is normally assigned a grade of satisfactory or unsatisfactory unless the department prefers a letter grade. The student should not be taking more than one other course of study during the entire period of the fellowship. Funding The expenditure budget proposal presented by each applicant must be practical and will be evaluated during the application review process. The line item budget must justify the amount of the stipend for the time period of the fellowship, including housing, transportation, and other living expenses. Recipients may not be awarded the full dollar amount requested on the proposal. Application Review The Festa Graduate Leadership Fellowship is a competitive program. The application process is intended to assure that the applicant has a viable placement proposal endorsed by a graduate advisor, program director or department chair, as well as the potential site mentor. The student will be notified about the decision following the application evaluation. Deadline Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the time frame for a placement is very flexible depending upon the needs of the sponsoring organization and the graduate student. International Students International student applicants need to address some additional issues related to his or her visa status and credits needed to demonstrate full-time enrollment. The fellowship placement also needs to be supported as a critical part of the student s program of study. The student will have to consult with a graduate program director or department chair and the Office of International Education to discuss what is necessary to preserve visa status. Mentor Responsibility The Festa Graduate Leadership Fellowship would not be possible without the generous support of the organizational leaders who are willing to serve as mentors for fellowship recipients. All applicants are required to schedule an interview with potential fellowship site mentors and present a current resume. Site mentors may choose to offer or withdraw fellowship placements at their discretion and convenience. The site mentor who agrees to supervise a student has wide latitude in designing projects or responsibilities that will enhance the recipient's leadership skills and experiences. A brief job description should be included with the application. The main purpose of the fellowship is to provide the recipient with significant experiences in the organization related to leadership issues and responsibilities broadly defined. As described in the guidelines for evaluation and accountability, site mentors are also asked to provide the SUNY Oswego Office of Graduate Studies with a brief written evaluation of the student's performance at the end of the fellowship placement. Any questions or problems associated with the student or the fellowship program should be directed to the Office of Graduate Studies. * For more information or to speak to a representative contact the SUNY Oswego Office of Graduate Studies. 606 Culkin Hall, Oswego, NY (315) oswego.edu/gradstudies gradstudies@oswego.edu

3 FESTA GRADUATE LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION Student ID: Address: City: Graduate Program: Date of Birth: State: Graduate Advisor: Zip: Potential Site Placement: Company or Organization: Mentor: Address: City: Title: State: Zip: Requested Time Period: Total Proposed Budget (Complete line item budget must be submitted on page 9): Please include the following supplemental materials: Two Letters of Recommendation (Specifically addressing candidacy for fellowship) Written Endorsement from Potential Site Mentor 500-Word Essay Plan of Study Line Item Budget Proposal Professional Resume (Must also be sent to potential site mentor) By signing this application I certify that the provided information furnished by me is true and correct.

4 FESTA GRADUATE LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP RECOMMENDATION (1) Address: City: Name of Candidate: State: Zip: Please provide your letter of recommendation for the candidate into the Festa Graduate Leadership Fellowship. This letter should specifically address the student s leadership potential.

5 FESTA GRADUATE LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP RECOMMENDATION (2) Address: City: Name of Candidate: State: Zip: Please provide your letter of recommendation for the candidate into the Festa Graduate Leadership Fellowship. This letter should specifically address the student s leadership potential.

6 FESTA GRADUATE LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP ENDORSEMENT Name of Candidate: Company or Organization: Mentor: Title: Provide your written endorsement letter for the candidate into the Festa Graduate Leadership Fellowship. This should follow an interview with the candidate. Please explain your commitment to supervising the student during the fellowship as well as an understanding and support of the student s career goals. Mentor must submit the endorsement letter directly to the Office of Graduate Studies. Mentor

7 FESTA GRADUATE LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP ESSAY Please provide a brief 500-word essay explaining what leadership experiences are desired from the proposed fellowship and how the experience will help to advance future career goals. * Be sure to attach your professional resume with this essay.

8 FESTA GRADUATE LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP PLAN OF STUDY Mentor: Include a written plan of study that has been approved by the potential site mentor detailing fellowship projects, goals, activities, duties and other related information. I approve the plan of study outlined in this application. (Must also be checked and signed by mentor) Mentor

9 FESTA GRADUATE LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP BUDGET Include proposed line item budget justifying the amount of the stipend for the time period of the fellowship, including housing, transportation, and other living expenses.