Ford Foundation Fellowship Program For Achieving Excellence in College and University Teaching

Transcription

1 Ford Foundation Fellowship Program For Achieving Excellence in College and University Teaching 2015 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT Administered by the National Academies PREDOCTOR AL FELLOWSHIPS On-line Application Deadline: NOVEMBER 19, 2014 Announcement of Awards: MARCH 2015

2 STATEMENT OF PROGRAM GOALS Through its program of Fellowships, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. PREDOCTORAL AWARDS This year the program will award approximately 60 predoctoral fellowships. These fellowships provide three years of support for individuals engaged in graduate study leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree. Predoctoral fellowships will be awarded in a national competition administered by the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies on behalf of the Ford Foundation. The awards will be made to individuals who, in the judgment of the review panels, have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. ELIGIBILITY Eligibility to apply for a predoctoral fellowship is limited to: All citizens, nationals, and permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card) of the United States, and individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation, Individuals with evidence of superior academic achievement (such as grade point average, class rank, honors or other designations), Individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, Individuals enrolled in or planning to enroll in an eligible research-based (dissertation-required), program leading to a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree at a non-proprietary U.S. educational institution, Individuals who require a minimum of three years study to complete their Ph.D./Sc.D. degree as of the 2015 fall semester, including at least one year of full time coursework remaining as of the 2015 fall term, and Individuals who have not earned a doctoral degree at any time, in any field. Receipt of the fellowship award is conditioned upon each awardee providing satisfactory documentation that he or she meets the eligibility requirements. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION The following will be considered as positive factors in choosing successful candidates: Evidence of superior academic achievement Degree of promise of continuing achievement as scholars and teachers Capacity to respond in pedagogically productive ways to the learning needs of students from diverse backgrounds Sustained personal engagement with communities that are underrepresented in the academy and an ability to bring this asset to learning, teaching, and scholarship at the college and university level Likelihood of using the diversity of human experience as an educational resource in teaching and scholarship Membership in one or more of the following groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding: Alaska Natives (Aleut, Eskimo or other Indigenous People of Alaska) Black/African Americans Mexican Americans/Chicanas/Chicanos Native American Indians Native Pacific Islanders (Hawaiian/Polynesian/ Micronesian) Puerto Ricans Applications will be evaluated by panels of distinguished scholars selected by the National Academies. The panels will use academic records, essays, letters of recommendation, the application itself, and other appropriate materials as the basis for determining the extent to which candidates meet the eligibility requirements and the selection criteria. Review panels may also look at additional factors such as the suitability of the proposed institution for the applicant s plan of graduate study and the likelihood that they will require a minimum of three years to complete their Ph.D./Sc.D. study as of the 2015 fall semester. ELIGIBLE FIELDS OF STUDY Awards will be made for study in research-based Ph.D. or Sc.D. programs that include the following major disciplines and related interdisciplinary fields: American studies, anthropology, archaeology, art and theater history, astronomy, chemistry, communications, computer science, cultural studies, earth sciences, economics, engineering, ethnic studies, ethnomusicology, geography, history, international relations, language, life sciences, linguistics, literature, mathematics, performance studies, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religious studies, sociology, urban planning, and women s studies. Also eligible are interdisciplinary ethnic studies programs, such as African American studies and Native American studies, and other interdisciplinary programs, such as area studies, peace studies, and social justice. Research-based fields of education are eligible if the major field of study is listed above and is used to describe the Ph.D. or Sc.D. program of the applicant (e.g., sociology of education, anthropology and education). Individuals enrolled in the following practice-oriented programs will not be supported: administration, audiology, business, consumer studies, curriculum development, education policy, human resource management, exercise physiology, filmmaking, fine arts, guidance, kinesiology, leadership, library and information science, management, nursing, occupational health, performing arts, personnel, physical education, physical therapy, public health,

3 rehabilitation science, speech pathology, social welfare, social work, and teacher education. In addition, awards will not be made for work leading to terminal master s degrees, the Ed.D. degree, the degrees of Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.) or Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), or professional degrees in such areas as medicine, law, and public health, or for study in joint degree programs such as the M.D./Ph.D., J.D./Ph.D., and M.F.A./Ph.D. This program does not support the Ph.D. portion of a dual-degree program. Interdisciplinary areas of study that have major content in ineligible fields listed above will not be included in the competition. FELLOWSHIP INSTITUTION Fellowships are tenable at any fully accredited, nonprofit, nonproprietary U.S. institution of higher education offering a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree in the eligible fields of study. All arrangements for acceptance into a doctoral program at the chosen institution are the responsibility of the applicant. An applicant need not be accepted by the chosen institution at the time of application. PREVIOUS GRADUATE STUDY Predoctoral fellowships are intended for students who have enrolled or plan to enroll in a Ph.D. or Sc.D. program no later than fall 2015, including: Undergraduates in their senior year, Individuals who have completed undergraduate study, Individuals who have completed some graduate study, and Individuals already enrolled in a Ph.D. or Sc.D. program who provide evidence that they can fully utilize a three-year fellowship award. A verification form affirming this is required for those in a graduate program for which Ford Foundation support is sought. STIPEND AND BENEFITS ANNUAL STIPEND: $24,000 Expenses paid to attend at least one Conference of Ford Fellows (see below) Access to Ford Fellow Liaisons, a network of former Ford Fellows who have volunteered to provide mentoring and support to current fellows TENURE Fellowship recipients must begin the first year s tenure on September 1, 2015, and must remain on tenure full-time for the academic year. After the first year of fellowship tenure, fellows may choose to defer funding for up to two years. All three years of support must be used within a five-year period. CONDITIONS OF FELLOWSHIPS Predoctoral fellows are required to enroll full-time in a program leading to a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree in an eligible, research-based (dissertation-required) program of study. Students enrolled in a terminal master s program will not be supported. Those who accept a predoctoral fellowship must agree to the stipulations in the Terms of Appointment for Ford Foundation Fellows that accompanies the award notification. In addition, Ford Fellows must agree to participate in regular updates of the Directory of Ford Fellows, as well as periodic surveys designed to demonstrate the impact of this program. CONFERENCE OF FORD FELLOWS A unique national conference of a select group of highachieving scholars committed to diversifying the professoriate and using diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students Networking with peers and elders Face to face conversations with university and academic presses Publication workshops Strategies to complete the dissertation Planning an academic career Career advancement workshops Proposal, grant-writing, and research funding advice Paper and poster presentations with supportive comments and critiques from colleagues Opportunities to identify mentors and peers from across the country Opportunities to interact with established and emerging scholars in diverse fields HOW TO APPLY The on-line fellowship application is available at: Applicants must register and establish a personal user ID and password. All application materials become the property of the National Academies and are not returned to applicants. Please note that all application materials must be written in English. In order to be reviewed, the on-line application must be submitted by 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time on November 19, Supplementary Materials must be received in the Fellowships Office by January 9, Items listed below in boldface are required. ON-LINE APPLICATION DEADLINE NOVEMBER 19, 2014 Personal information, contact information, educational background (names of all post-secondary institutions attended, years attended, degrees received), List of any honors, awards, fellowships, employment, and publications, Statement of previous research (maximum 2 pages, doublespaced), Essay describing proposed plan of graduate study and research and the applicant s long-range career goals (maximum 2 pages, double-spaced, avoid technical jargon), Personal statement (maximum 2 pages, double-spaced) that describes the applicant s background and experience and commitment to the goals of the Ford Foundation Fellowships program by addressing all of the following that apply: the applicant s capacity to respond in pedagogically productive ways to the learning needs of students from diverse backgrounds the applicant s sustained personal engagement with communities that are underrepresented in the academy

4 and ability to bring this asset to learning, teaching and scholarship at the college or university level the applicant s likelihood of using the diversity of human experience as an educational resource in teaching and scholarship the applicant s membership in one or more of the following groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding: Alaska Natives (Aleut, Eskimo or other Indigenous People of Alaska) Black/African Americans Mexican Americans/Chicanas/Chicanos Native American Indians Native Pacific Islanders (Hawaiian/Polynesian/ Micronesian) Puerto Ricans Names and contact information of a minimum of 3 professors who will upload a letter of reference on your behalf (4 letters are highly recommended). Applications with less than 3 letters submitted by January 9, 2015 will not be reviewed. SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS STRICTLY ENFORCED DEADLINE JANUARY 9, 2015 The following transcripts must be uploaded by the fellowship applicant to the fellowship application module 1 : Baccalaureate degree transcript showing all undergraduate work completed prior to fall 2014, including grades, and baccalaureate degree award date. Note: baccalaureate degree award date is not required for those applicants who have not completed the baccalaureate degree at the time of fellowship application. Graduate school transcript(s) showing all graduate work completed prior to fall Applicants who entered graduate school in fall 2014 should upload a graduate transcript that indicates grades received in fall If this is not possible, a letter from the graduate institution attesting to progress made should be uploaded by the fellowship applicant in its place. 1 Unofficial transcripts or grade reports are acceptable for the review; however, if offered an award, applicants will be required to submit official transcripts to verify the accuracy of the uploaded transcripts or grade reports. All transcript documents must be in.pdf file format and each individual file size must be less than 4MB prior to upload. Letters of reference (all letters must be submitted electronically); a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 letters of reference should be submitted on behalf of each applicant; applications with less than 3 letters submitted by January 9, 2015 will not be reviewed (if in graduate school, at least one letter should be submitted by a faculty adviser or other faculty member in the applicant s current department), Verification of Predoctoral Status (VS) Form 2 to affirm that an applicant already enrolled in a Ph.D. or Sc.D. program still requires a minimum of three-years to complete the Ph.D. including at least one year of full time coursework as of the 2015 fall semester, and GRE General Test Scores. 3 Applicants should regularly monitor file completeness using the tools provided in the fellowship application to ensure that all required supporting documents have been uploaded (including documents uploaded by third parties such as letters of recommendation and Verification of Doctoral Degree Status (VS) forms) before the January 9, 2015 deadline. Incomplete applications will not be included in the competition. ADVANCE PREPARATION Prepare essays in advance and save each in a separate file so that you are prepared to upload these texts. Get feedback from advisers, mentors, and colleagues. Contact potential referees. Provide a draft of your research proposal to your recommenders. Be certain that they agree to upload a letter of reference for you and that they can do so by the deadline of January 9, The on-line system will require you to provide an address for each referee. The Ford Foundation Fellowships program also provides dissertation fellowships for students who have completed all the requirements for the Ph.D. or Sc.D. except for writing a dissertation, and postdoctoral fellowships for Ph.D. or Sc.D. recipients. Visit our Web site for more information. 2 In a one-page (maximum) statement, applicants must verify that they still require a minimum of three years to complete the Ph.D./Sc.D. as of the 2015 fall semester. Applicants should not provide information regarding their financial situation. Advisers must sign and submit a standard National Academies Verification of Predoctoral Status (VS) form confirming that the applicant requires a minimum of three years of work to complete the Ph.D./Sc.D. degree as of the 2015 fall semester, and that at least one of the three years will be dedicated to full time course work. Applicants who are preparing to write their dissertation should apply for a dissertation fellowship. Predoctoral applicants who are determined to be at the dissertation stage will be withdrawn from the review. 3 While the National Academies Fellowships Office encourages submission of GRE General Test scores for applicants who are not yet admitted into the Ph.D./Sc.D. programs for which Ford Foundation support is sought, submitting GRE scores is optional for these applicants. GRE scores should not be submitted, and will not be accepted, from applicants already enrolled in Ph.D./Sc.D. programs. See on-line application instructions for details. Contact information: Fellowships Office, K576 National Research Council of the National Academies 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC Web site: infofell@nas.edu

5 Ford Foundation Fellowship Program For Achieving Excellence in College and University Teaching 2015 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT Administered by the National Academies DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIPS On-line Application Deadline: NOVEMBER 14, 2014 Announcement of Awards: MARCH 2015

6 STATEMENT OF PROGRAM GOALS Through its program of Fellowships, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. DISSERTATION AWARDS This year the program will award approximately 30 dissertation fellowships. The dissertation fellowships provide one year of support for individuals working to complete a dissertation leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree. The Ford Foundation Dissertation fellowship is intended to support the final year of writing and defense of the dissertation. Dissertation fellowships will be awarded in a national competition administered by the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies on behalf of the Ford Foundation. The awards will be made to individuals who, in the judgment of the review panels, have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. ELIGIBILITY Eligibility to apply for a dissertation fellowship is limited to: All citizens, nationals, and permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card) of the United States, and individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation, Individuals with evidence of superior academic achievement (such as grade point average, class rank, honors or other designations), Individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree candidates studying in an eligible research-based discipline in a dissertation-required program at a U.S. non-proprietary educational institution, and Individuals who have not earned a doctoral degree at any time, in any field. Receipt of the fellowship award is conditioned upon each awardee providing satisfactory documentation that he or she meets the eligibility requirements. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION The following will be considered as positive factors in choosing successful candidates: Evidence of superior academic achievement Degree of promise of continuing achievement as scholars and teachers Capacity to respond in pedagogically productive ways to the learning needs of students from diverse backgrounds Sustained personal engagement with communities that are underrepresented in the academy and an ability to bring this asset to learning, teaching, and scholarship at the college and university level Likelihood of using the diversity of human experience as an educational resource in teaching and scholarship Membership in one or more of the following groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding: Alaska Natives (Aleut, Eskimo or other Indigenous People of Alaska) Black/African Americans Mexican Americans/Chicanas/Chicanos Native American Indians Native Pacific Islanders (Hawaiian, Polynesian, or Micronesian) Puerto Ricans Applications will be evaluated by panels of distinguished scholars selected by the National Academies. The panels will use academic records, essays, letters of recommendation, the application itself, and other appropriate materials as the basis for determining the extent to which candidates meet the eligibility requirements and the selection criteria. Review panels may also look at additional factors such as whether the applicant has advanced to dissertation candidacy and will fully utilize 9 to 12 months of fellowship support prior to receiving the Ph.D. or Sc.D. ELIGIBLE FIELDS OF STUDY Awards will be made for study in research-based Ph.D. or Sc.D. programs that include the following major disciplines and related interdisciplinary fields: American studies, anthropology, archaeology, art and theater history, astronomy, chemistry, communications, computer science, cultural studies, earth sciences, economics, education, engineering, ethnic studies, ethnomusicology, geography, history, international relations, language, life sciences, linguistics, literature, mathematics, performance studies, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religious studies, sociology, urban planning, and women s studies. Also eligible are interdisciplinary ethnic studies programs, such as African American studies and Native American studies, and other interdisciplinary programs, such as area studies, peace studies, and social justice. Research-based fields of education are eligible if the major field of study is listed above and is used to describe the Ph.D. or Sc.D. program of the applicant (e.g., sociology of education, anthropology and education). Individuals enrolled in the following practice-oriented programs will not be supported: administration, audiology, business, consumer studies, curriculum development, education policy, human resource management, exercise physiology, filmmaking, fine arts, guidance, kinesiology, leadership, library and information science, management, nursing, occupational health, performing arts, personnel, physical education, physical therapy, public health, rehabilitation science, speech pathology, social welfare, social work, and teacher education. In addition,

7 awards will not be made for work leading to terminal master s degrees, the Ed.D. degree, the degrees of Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.) or Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), or professional degrees in such areas as medicine, law, and public health, or for study in joint degree programs such as the M.D./Ph.D., J.D./ Ph.D., and M.F.A./Ph.D. This program does not support the Ph.D. portion of a dual-degree program. Interdisciplinary areas of study that have major content in ineligible fields listed above will not be included in the competition. FELLOWSHIP INSTITUTION Fellowships are tenable at any fully accredited, nonprofit, nonproprietary U.S. institution of higher education offering a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree in the eligible fields of study. VERIFICATION OF DOCTORAL DEGREE CANDIDACY A valid National Academies Verification of Doctoral Degree Candidacy Form, signed by the adviser or other authorized official, must be received by the Fellowships Office of the National Academies by January 9, 2015 to confirm that an applicant has advanced to doctoral candidacy. Applicants should expect to complete the dissertation during the academic year, but no later than fall STIPEND AND BENEFITS ONE-YEAR STIPEND: $25,000 Expenses will be paid to attend at least one Conference of Ford Fellows (see below) Access to Ford Fellow Liaisons, a network of former Ford Fellows who have volunteered to provide mentoring and support to current fellows. TENURE The tenure of a dissertation fellowship will be no less than 9 months and no more than 12 months, with tenure beginning no earlier than June 1, 2015 and no later than September 1, CONDITIONS OF FELLOWSHIPS Dissertation fellows are expected to be engaged in a full-time program leading to a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree in an eligible field of study. Those who accept a dissertation fellowship must agree to the stipulations in the Terms of Appointment for Ford Foundation Fellows that accompanies the award notification. In addition, Ford Fellows must agree to participate in regular updates of the Directory of Ford Fellows, as well as periodic surveys designed to demonstrate the impact of this program. CONFERENCE OF FORD FELLOWS A unique national conference of a select group of highachieving scholars committed to diversifying the professoriate and using diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students Networking with peers and elders Face to face conversations with university and academic presses Publication workshops Strategies to complete the dissertation Planning an academic career Career advancement workshops Proposal, grant-writing, and research funding advice Paper and poster presentations with supportive comments and critiques from colleagues Opportunities to identify mentors and peers from across the country Opportunities to interact with established and emerging scholars in diverse fields HOW TO APPLY The on-line fellowship application is available at this website: Applicants must register and establish a personal user ID and password. All application materials become the property of the National Academies and are not returned to applicants. Please note that all application materials must be written in English. In order to be reviewed, the on-line application must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 14, Supplementary Materials must be received in the Fellowships Office by January 9, Items listed below in boldface are required. ON-LINE APPLICATION DEADLINE NOVEMBER 14, Personal information, contact information, educational background (names of all institutions attended, years attended, degrees received) List of any honors, awards, fellowships, employment, and publications, Statement of previous research (maximum 2 pages, doublespaced), Annotated bibliography (two to three sentences each for no more than ten key sources), Abstract of dissertation (maximum 1 page, double-spaced), Essay explaining the plan and timeline for completing the dissertation and describing the applicant s long-range career goals (maximum 3 pages, double-spaced, avoid technical jargon), Personal statement (maximum 2 pages, double-spaced) that describes the applicant s background and experience and commitment to the goals of the Ford Foundation Fellowships program by addressing all of the following that apply: the applicant s capacity to respond in pedagogically productive ways to the learning needs of students from diverse backgrounds the applicant s sustained personal engagement with communities that are underrepresented in the academy and ability to bring this asset to learning, teaching and scholarship at the college or university level the applicant s likelihood of using the diversity of human experience as an educational resource in teaching and scholarship

8 the applicant s membership in one or more of the following groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding: Alaska Natives (Aleut, Eskimo or other Indigenous People of Alaska) Black/African Americans Mexican Americans/Chicanas/Chicanos Native American Indians Native Pacific Islanders (Hawaiian/Polynesian/ Micronesian) Puerto Ricans Names and contact information of a minimum of 3 professors who will upload a letter of reference on your behalf (4 letters are highly recommended). Applications with less than 3 letters submitted by January 9, 2015 will not be reviewed. SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS STRICTLY ENFORCED DEADLINE JANUARY 9, 2015 The following transcripts must be uploaded by the fellowship applicant to the fellowship application module: 1 Transcript from institution that awarded baccalaureate degree; must includes grades and degree completion date (if applicable), Transcript(s) showing completion of any Master s degree (if applicable) and official Ph.D./Sc.D. transcript showing all graduate work completed as of fall 2014, 1 Unofficial transcripts or grade reports are acceptable for the review; however, if offered a fellowship award, applicants will be required to submit official transcripts to verify the accuracy of the uploaded transcripts or grade reports. All transcript documents must be in.pdf file format and each individual file size must be less than 4MB prior to upload. Letters of reference (all letters of reference must be submitted electronically); a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 letters of reference should be submitted on behalf of each applicant; applications with less than 3 letters submitted by January 9, 2015 will not be reviewed (at least one letter should be submitted by a faculty adviser or other faculty member in the applicant s current department), and Verification of Doctoral Degree Candidacy Form. 2 Applicants should regularly monitor file completeness using the tools provided in the fellowship application to ensure that all required supporting materials have been uploaded (including documents uploaded by third parties such as letters of recommendation and Verification of Doctoral Degree (VS) forms) before the January 9, 2015 deadline. Incomplete applications will not be included in the competition. ADVANCE PREPARATION Prepare essays and annotated bibliography in advance and save each in a separate file so that you are prepared to upload these texts. Get feedback from advisers, mentors, and colleagues. Contact potential referees. Provide a draft of your research proposal to your recommenders. Be certain that they agree to upload a letter of reference for you and that they can do so by the deadline of January 9, The on-line system will require you to provide an address for each referee. The Ford Foundation Fellowships program also provides predoctoral fellowships for students working toward a Ph.D. or Sc.D., and postdoctoral fellowships for Ph.D. or Sc.D. recipients. Visit our Web site for more information. 2 The applicant s adviser or other appropriate departmental or university official must submit a standard National Academies Verification of Doctoral Degree Status Form verifying that the applicant has completed all requirements for a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree except for writing the dissertation by January 9, Contact information: Fellowship Office, K576 National Research Council of the National Academies 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC Web site: infofell@nas.edu

9 Ford Foundation Fellowship Program For Achieving Excellence in College and University Teaching 2015 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT Administered by the National Academies POSTDOCTOR AL FELLOWSHIPS On-line Application Deadline: NOVEMBER 14, 2014 Announcement of Awards: MARCH 2015

10 STATEMENT OF PROGRAM GOALS Through its program of Fellowships, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. POSTDOCTORAL AWARDS This year the program will award approximately 18 postdoctoral fellowships. The postdoctoral fellowships provide one year of support for individuals engaged in postdoctoral study after the attainment of the Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree. Postdoctoral fellowships will be awarded in a national competition administered by the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies on behalf of the Ford Foundation. The awards will be made to individuals who, in the judgment of the review panels, have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. ELIGIBILITY Eligibility to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship is limited to: All citizens, nationals, and permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card) of the United States, and individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation, Individuals with evidence of superior academic achievement (such as grade point average, class rank, honors or other designations), Individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, and Individuals awarded a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree no earlier than November 30, 2007 and no later than November 14, 2014 in an eligible research-based field from a U.S. educational institution. Receipt of the fellowship award is conditioned upon each awardee providing satisfactory documentation that he or she meets the eligibility requirements. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION The following will be considered as positive factors in choosing successful candidates: Evidence of superior academic achievement Degree of promise of continuing achievement as scholars and teachers Capacity to respond in pedagogically productive ways to the learning needs of students from diverse backgrounds Sustained personal engagement with communities that are underrepresented in the academy and an ability to bring this asset to learning, teaching, and scholarship at the college and university level Likelihood of using the diversity of human experience as an educational resource in teaching and scholarship Membership in one or more of the following groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding: Alaska Natives (Aleut, Eskimo or other Indigenous People of Alaska) Black/African Americans Mexican Americans/Chicanas/Chicanos Native American Indians Native Pacific Islanders (Hawaiian/Polynesian/ Micronesian) Puerto Ricans Applications will be evaluated by panels of distinguished scholars selected by the National Academies. The panels will use academic records, essays, letters of recommendation, the application itself, and other appropriate materials as the basis for determining the extent to which candidates meet the eligibility requirements and the selection criteria. The quality of the plan of study or research, the bibliography, the appropriateness of the proposed fellowship activities, the choice of host institution, and the potential for career enhancement will also be carefully reviewed. Review panels may also look at additional factors such as the likelihood that the applicant will fully utilize 9 to 12 months of postdoctoral support. ELIGIBLE FIELDS OF STUDY Awards will be made for study in the following major disciplines and related interdisciplinary fields: American studies, anthropology, archaeology, art and theater history, astronomy, chemistry, communications, computer science, cultural studies, earth sciences, economics, education, engineering, ethnic studies, ethnomusicology, geography, history, international relations, language, life sciences, linguistics, literature, mathematics, performance studies, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religious studies, sociology, urban planning, and women s studies. Also eligible are interdisciplinary ethnic studies programs, such as African American studies and Native American studies, and other interdisciplinary programs, such as area studies, peace studies, and social justice. Awards will not be made in the following practice-oriented programs: administration, audiology, business, consumer studies, curriculum development, education policy, human resource management, exercise physiology, filmmaking, fine arts, guidance, kinesiology, leadership, library and information science, management, nursing, occupational health, performing arts, personnel, physical education, physical therapy, public health, rehabilitation science, speech pathology, social welfare, social work, and teacher education. In addition, awards will not be made in such areas as medicine, law, and public health.

11 LOCATION OF WORK AND PROPOSED RESEARCH Fellowship applicants are encouraged to choose a host institution other than the institution with which they are affiliated at the time of application. Fellowships are awarded for full-time research at appropriate nonprofit institutions of higher education or research, normally in the United States, including universities, museums, libraries, government or national laboratories, privately sponsored nonprofit institutes, government chartered nonprofit research organizations, and centers for advanced study. Each applicant should designate a faculty member or other scholar who will serve as host at the proposed fellowship institution. If affiliating with another institution would create personal hardship, applicants may make special arrangements to travel several times to a research site for data collection or to confer with a chosen adviser. Each applicant must present a clearly articulated plan of study or research that will further his or her career in higher education and should explain fully the particular benefits that would accrue from affiliation with the proposed institution. A fellow affiliating with a foreign institution may be asked to designate a U.S. institution to act as a liaison between the National Academies and the foreign institution, particularly for handling the disbursement of fellowship funds. The applicant is responsible for making all arrangements for affiliation with the proposed host institution prior to submitting an application. STIPEND AND BENEFITS ONE-YEAR STIPEND: $45,000 The stipend may be supplemented by sabbatical leave pay or other sources of support that do not carry with them teaching or other responsibilities. Fellowship funds may be disbursed through the employing institution if necessary for the continuation of health insurance or other benefits. No dependency allowance is available. Expenses will be paid to attend at least one Conference of Ford Fellows (see below) Access to Ford Fellow Liaisons, a network of former Ford Fellows who have volunteered to provide mentoring and support to current fellows TENURE The tenure of a postdoctoral fellowship will be no less than 9 months and no more than 12 months, with tenure beginning no earlier than June 1, 2015 and no later than September 1, Postdoctoral fellowships may not be deferred or delayed. CONDITIONS OF FELLOWSHIPS Those who accept a postdoctoral fellowship must agree to the stipulations in the Terms of Appointment for Ford Foundation Fellows that accompanies the award letter. In addition, Ford Fellows must agree to participate in regular updates of the Directory of Ford Fellows, as well as periodic surveys designed to demonstrate the impact of this program. CONFERENCE OF FORD FELLOWS A unique national conference of a select group of highachieving scholars committed to diversifying the professoriate and using diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students Networking with peers and elders Face to face conversations with university and academic presses Publication workshops Planning an academic career Career advancement workshops Proposal, grant-writing, and research funding advice Paper and poster presentations with supportive comments and critiques from colleagues Opportunities to identify mentors and peers from across the country Opportunities to interact with established and emerging scholars in diverse fields HOW TO APPLY The on-line fellowship application is available at this web site: Applicants must register and establish a personal user ID and password. All application materials become the property of the National Academies and are not returned to applicants. Please note that all application materials must be written in English. In order to be reviewed, the on-line application must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 14, Supplementary Materials must be received in the Fellowships Office by January 9, Items listed below in boldface are required. ON-LINE APPLICATION DEADLINE NOVEMBER 14, 2014 Personal information, contact information, educational background (names of all institutions attended, years attended, degrees received), List of any honors, awards, fellowships, employment, publications and grants, Statement of previous research (maximum 2 pages, doublespaced), Annotated bibliography (two to three sentences each for no more than ten key sources), Abstract of dissertation (maximum 1 page, double-spaced), Abstract of Proposed Plan of Study or Research (maximum 1 page, double-spaced), Proposed Plan of Study or Research and long-range career goals (maximum 3 pages, double-spaced, avoid technical jargon), Personal statement (maximum 2 pages, double-spaced) that describes the applicant s background and experience and

12 demonstrates commitment to the goals of the Ford Foundation Fellowships program by addressing all of the following that apply: the applicant s capacity to respond in pedagogically productive ways to the learning needs of students from diverse backgrounds the applicant s sustained personal engagement with communities that are underrepresented in the academy and ability to bring this asset to learning, teaching and scholarship at the college or university level the applicant s likelihood of using the diversity of human experience as an educational resource in teaching and scholarship the applicant s membership in one or more of the following groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding: Alaska Natives (Aleut, Eskimo or other Indigenous People of Alaska) Black/African Americans Mexican Americans/Chicanas/Chicanos Native American Indians Native Pacific Islanders (Hawaiian/Polynesian/ Micronesian) Puerto Ricans Names and contact information of a minimum of 3 professors or colleagues who will upload a letter of reference on your behalf (4 letters are highly recommended), Applications with less than 3 letters submitted by January 9, 2015 will not be reviewed. Name and contact information for host mentor/colleague. SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS (required) STRICTLY ENFORCED DEADLINE JANUARY 9, 2015 Ph.D. or Sc.D. transcript showing all Ph.D. or Sc.D. courses taken, final grades for each course and date of award of the Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree must be uploaded by the applicant 1, Name and contact information for host mentor/colleague. Host letter (stating willingness of proposed mentor and the research site to serve as the applicant s host), and Letters of reference (all letters must be submitted electronically); a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 letters of reference should be submitted on behalf of each applicant; applications with less than 3 letters submitted by January 9, 2015 will not be reviewed). Applicants should regularly monitor file completeness using the tools provided in the fellowship application to ensure that all required supporting materials have been received (including documents uploaded by third parties such as the host letter and letters of recommendation) before the January 9, 2015 deadline. Incomplete applications will not be included in the competition. ADVANCE PREPARATION Prepare essays and annotated bibliography in advance and save each in a separate file so that you are prepared to upload these texts. Get feedback from advisers, mentors, and colleagues. Contact potential referees. Provide a draft of your research proposal to your recommenders. Be certain that they agree to upload a letter of reference for you and that they can do so by the deadline of January 9, The on-line system will require you to provide an address for each referee. Make contact with your proposed host institution and host mentor. Required host letter must meet the January 9, 2015 deadline. The Ford Foundation Fellowships program also provides predoctoral fellowships for students seeking a Ph.D. or Sc.D., and dissertation fellowships for students who have completed all the requirements for the Ph.D. or Sc.D. except for writing a dissertation. Visit our Web site for more information. 1 Unofficial transcripts or grade reports for the Ph.D. or Sc.D. study are acceptable for the review; however, if offered a fellowship award, applicants will be required to submit official transcripts to verify the accuracy of the uploaded transcripts or grade reports. Transcript documents must be in.pdf file format and the transcript file size must be less than 4MB prior to upload. Contact information: Fellowship Office, K576 National Research Council of the National Academies 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC Web site: infofell@nas.edu