Call for Nominations, Spring 2009
The Self Graduate Fellowship (SGF) offers a special opportunity for students seeking a Ph.D. at the University of Kansas. Admitted Ph.D. students may be nominated by their department for this award. The SGF supports outstanding doctoral students in business, economics, engineering, mathematics, and biological, biomedical, pharmaceutical and physical sciences at the University of Kansas. We seek nominations from departments in these areas for applicants who will begin work on a Ph.D. in the fall semester of 2009 and students in the first year of a Ph. D. program who do not have a research-based master’s degree in the Ph.D. discipline.
Nominations are due in the Self Graduate Fellowship office by noon on February 5, 2009.
NEW: Please note that for 2009, student personal statements will be sent directly to departments and should be included in the nomination packet.
Award and Program
Self Fellows receive a support package that exceeds $160,000. The SGF endowment provides each fellow a four-year award, which includes a monthly payment and education allowance ($24,500 in 2008-2009), tuition and fees for up to 84 credit hours, plus a development program. The Fellow Development Program is a distinctive feature of the fellowship. It provides general education and training in communication, management, and leadership to assist Self Fellows in preparation for future leadership roles, complementing the specialized education and training provided in Ph.D. programs. Fellow development program topics include oral and written communication, media communication, negotiation, teamwork, advocacy, consensus building, ethics, leadership, business planning and development, financial management, human resources management, and project management and support. Program activities include two week-long skill sessions; biweekly luncheons; communication coaching sessions; lectures on public policy issues; and a public policy seminar held in Washington, D.C. Fellows are expected to participate in the Fellow Development Program for four consecutive years. The time commitment is approximately 80 hours each year, plus preparation and travel time.
Nomination Guidelines
Who to nominate
We seek individuals whose academic preparation, vision, and commitment to career goals match the Self Fellow Profile. SGF guidelines direct the Board of Trustees to select an entering class with a variety of career goals in the private sector, government, or higher education. No more than 20 percent of offers will go to students who indicate a preference for higher education. Nominees must be U.S. citizens. Nominees must have received their bachelor’s degrees within the last eight years. Students who are invited to interview must submit proof of U.S. citizenship prior to the interview.
Self Fellow profile
Please read this paragraph thoroughly because the success of nominations – both the written portion and the oral interview – depends on the nominee’s response to how they fit these traits.
The ideal candidate possesses unusual motivation, passion, and potential to make significant contributions to his/her profession and to society. In addition to a strong academic record, he or she has leadership, communication, and decision-making skills. He or she displays personal attributes that include self-awareness, emotional maturity, initiative, tenacity, energy, vision, risk-taking, and interpersonal effectiveness. The ideal candidate is interested in personal development and lifelong learning and is committed to participation in the Fellow Development Program.
How to nominate
Please send the “Information for 2009 Self Graduate Fellowship (SGF) Nominees” document to your nominees as soon as they have been identified. It contains directions for their personal statements, which is one of the most important documents in the nomination process. The nomination file submitted by the department should include the SGF cover sheet provided in this document, the student’s SGF personal statement, a letter of nomination from the department, copies of the candidate’s KU graduate school application, transcripts, GRE scores, application statement (to the department), resume, and three other letters of recommendation, plus any other supporting materials from the department.
Selection process overview
Nominations are due by noon on February 5, 2009, in the Self Graduate Fellowship office, 222 Strong Hall. Nomination files are reviewed by a team of faculty members and SGF staff. A thorough nomination file is very important. The SGF Board of Trustees reviews recommendations from the evaluation team and will decide who to interview.
Interviews – NEW: The Self Graduate Fellowship Honorable Mention Award
A select group of students will be invited to interview by February 20, 2009. While we
anticipate interviewing fewer students, please note that each student who is interviewed will already be a winner. Students who are not offered the full fellowship will receive a $3,000 Honorable Mention Award. The award will supplement graduate study at KU in the 2009-2010 academic year. Interviewees will be invited to campus to visit departments and interview for Self Fellowships March 5-7, 2009. The SGF will again reimburse departments for travel costs and some recruitment expenses. The deadline for acceptance of offers is April 15, 2009.
For more information, please visit the SGF website: www.ku.edu/~selfpro or contact
Sharon Graham, 785-864-7249, sgraham@ku.edu.
