Mellon Mays
Undergraduate Fellowship
For
Minority Students Seeking Careers in Advanced Research & College Teaching
The
Purpose
To address the shortage of minority scholars on college
and university campuses and to improve racial relations, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation established
the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program.
The program is designed to encourage the most talented
undergraduate students from groups traditionally underrepresented
in graduate education, as well as others with a demonstrated commitment
to eradicate racial disparities, to enter Ph.D. programs and pursue
careers in research and college teaching.
The program provides financial support and a developmental
structure from the summer preceding a student's junior year until
admission to graduate school. In addition, Mellon Mays Fellows receive
continuing support from the Mellon Foundation as they advance through
graduate school and gain faculty appointments.
City College is one of over thirty participating colleges
and universities nationwide.
Benefits
of the Award
Fellows choose a faculty mentor
from their major department who serves as an advisor, role model,
and research supervisor. Together, the Fellow and mentor devise
a program to help the Fellow develop his or her academic potential
and prepare for graduate school.
Activities might include: conducting independent
research; preparing research for presentation or publication; participating
in the design of a course; teaching a class in the mentor's course;
participating in professional activities such as the attendance
of an academic conference or the search for a new faculty member.
In addition to advising from mentors,
Mellon Mays Fellows participate in a series of forums and workshops designed
to provide information about graduate school and facilitate the
application process.
Forums feature faculty speakers who address broad issues in research and academic
life. Workshops help Fellows to devise a plan for application to
graduate programs, learn about funding sources, write a strong personal
statement, and prepare to take the Graduate Record Exam.
Stipends.
Fellows receive a summer research
stipend of $3,900 for each of the two summers of their Fellowship,
as well as $1,800 for each semester of their junior and senior years.
Supplemental
funds are available to cover research expenses, travel to conferences
and libraries, and academic training such as intensive language
study.
If within three years of graduating
from City College a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow enrolls as
a full-time student in an eligible Ph.D. program, that Fellow may
have up to $10,000 of his or her undergraduate or graduate loans repaid by the
Mellon Foundation.
At the end of every spring semester, the Fellowships Program holds a research conference at which Fellows may present their research.They also attend
annual conferences with Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows from other
colleges in New York City and New England.
The workshops, forums, social events,
and research conference bring together Mellon Mays Fellows with
City College Fellows to form a vibrant community
that fosters intellectual growth and mutual support.
Eligibility
A
minimum of 3.0 GPA and exceptional scholarly promise.
Major in: a
discipline in the humanities (Area Studies, Art History, English,
Foreign Languages and Literatures, History, Musicology, Philosophy,
Religion); selected physical sciences, (Computer Science, Earth
and Atmospheric Sciences, Math, Physics); and selected social sciences
(Anthropology, Political Theory, Sociology).
Desire to matriculate
in a Ph.D. program and to pursue a career in research and teaching
at the college or university level.
African-American,
Latino, or Native American, or others with a demonstrated commitment
to increasing opportunities for under represented minorities.
Current
sophomores or students with three to four more semesters before graduation.
Citizens or
permanent residents of the U.S.
Application
Students wishing to be considered for the program
should submit a completed
application including two short essays and two letters of recommendation
from faculty members by March 10 to:
City College Fellowships Program
The City College of New York
NAC 6/316
Convent Ave. at 138th St.
New York, NY 10031
Telephone: 212-650-8388
Email: ccfell@ccny.cuny.edu
Professor Susan Besse, Director
Renee Philippi, Administrative Program Director
Selection
Applicants will be interviewed by the Director along with members of the Steering
Committee and faculty mentors.
Selection will be based on the strength of the
student's academic record, academic focus and goals, faculty recommendations,
and capacity to diversify the academy and/or demonstrated commitment
to eradicating racial disparities.
Awards will be announced by April. The Fellowship
begins during the summer following selection.
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