FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP

Question

Answer
1) I was wondering what the fellowship would entail. What exactly would I be doing if I were awarded the fellowship?
To begin with, the Graduate Fellowship is an opportunity for students of color to do research relating to human rights within the Twin Cities local nonprofit sector. The Fellowship is a combination of academic research working with nonprofits and communities involved human rights with monthly seminars throughout the year. Part of your work will be at the Otto Bremer Foundation in St. Paul where you will have an office to work on your project as well as working with one of the Program Officers at the Foundation.
Although Scholars will be housed at Otto Bremer to do more of the administrative aspects of their research, their research involves going in the “field” to do interviews, meetings, and going to organizations and conferences.
There will also be monthly seminars to inform your research as well as integrate the Scholars within philanthropy. These include learning more of research methodologies, Institutional Research Board application, Foundations in Mn as well as progressive philanthropy, and Human Rights discussions. The second semester seminars will focus mostly on bridging both the scholars’ work and the Foundation’s priorities to share information with the community around human rights issues.
2) Who is eligible?
The fellowship is only for students of color. Preference is given to U.S. students.
3) What is the application timeline?
 Applications are due February 12th, 2005 at 5pm. Decisions will be made by the end of March and letters of notifications will be transmitted by April 1.
4) Would I be putting in 10 hours a week regularly (and if so, how would that work with my class schedule)?
The hours you devote to your research are up to 40 hours a month. What is spent in the office will vary but won't be more than 10 hours a week. How you design your schedule is mostly up to you, so long as you can meet the goals of your project, as well as your academic needs.
5) Where can I focus my Fellowship research?
 The focus of the research will be local. Although most research will be within the Twin Cities area, it can branch out as far as Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.
6) I am seriously considering applying but my advisor has advised me to only apply if the position will advance my studies or help me in my future endeavors for research.
 We select candidates based on their ability to show how their interests at school can be tied to this Fellowship. Namely, how is the candidate’s research interest related to human rights work? How does the Fellowship candidate plan on investigating human rights work taking place in local communities, nonprofits, and public policy? It’s especially important for the selection committee to see that the Fellowship grounds your interests in your academic career.
The Fellowship is different from other programs in that it is not just giving students money to do their research. It’s also a professional opportunity that will open up your interests that would have otherwise been limited to your experience within the academy. Here is what Ayana Weekly, a graduate student in the Feminist Studies Doctoral Program at the University of Minnesota, said about her experience last year. Ayana Graduate Fellowship research looked at how HIV/AIDS has affected women of color, particularly in the African American community.
“As for my overall experience with the Graduate Fellowship, I gained new understandings about research. How much time it really takes to get a project off the ground, how difficult community research is, etc. Although these aspects do not seem positive, I think they were valuable lessons. I also gained many insights into what is happening in the ‘field’ around HIV/AIDS. How we see things from the academy and how it is seen from the non-profit sector or from any other vantage point differs. I found new ways to look at and understand issues concerning HIV/AIDS. My findings have already influenced my academic work. This project is directly linked to my research interests and my field, so it will be a part of my future work and more than likely have an impact on my dissertation topic.”
This is a great experience for those who are self-directing. What you do with the Otto Bremer Foundation’s resources and how you link your research to the local community and among nonprofits is up to you.
7) What is the Selection Committee looking for in candidates?
 Your application will give the Selection committee a sense of how well you can convey your interest in the Fellowship, human rights, as well as how you make the connection back to your academic institution. The Selection Committee is interested in learning about your interests at school as well as how you tie it into a broader system of human rights, nonprofits, and relevant communities within Minnesota.
The first consideration that you must make as an applicant is your own interest in human rights-related issues. If you have experience or are pursuing human rights, you are in a viable position to start the application process. Don’t assume that you don’t qualify because you are studying Library Science, Business School, or in Technical Communications. Even if your academic program is outside of the Social Sciences and seemingly unrelated to human rights, you can still qualify.
A sign of a strong candidate will convey that he or she has considered how this opportunity fits into their life. That is, what are the students’ current priorities in life that will facilitate or impede their commitment to the Fellowship? How is the Fellowship a good fit in their life right now? During the interviews the Selection committee will determine not only the students’ commitment level to human rights, but also to the Fellowship.
8) What will the research look like during the Fellowship?
 Your research project is based on your own interests and academic focus. However it will be shaped over the course of a year by input from a Program officer at Otto Bremer Foundation, your academic advisor, community mentor, the Graduate Fellowship’s Advisory Committee, seminars and human rights forums, and organizations and individuals in the community. A key partnership during the Fellowship is that with an Otto Bremer staff. Together you will decide on the best use of your time and how your expertise and research abilities can inform the Foundation’s investment areas.
9) Is there a specific time frame that the Otto Bremer Foundation would like the three Scholars to complete the program? Along that line, are the hours negotiable? I would like to understand specific program's parameters before committing to the application process.
The duration of the fellowship is a regular school year - September to May. As for the hours you spend in the Otto Bremer office, yes, it is negotiable. As to the research you are doing, some will be in the community, some in the office, some from your home. All this will be negotiable. However, time in Bremer's office is required during the year.
10) With respect to the academic reference: Would I say something like 'academic credit will be granted for coursework and I continue in my program of study...Courses covered for tuition will be XXXX?’ Or, do I need to speak with my advisor and find out if credit can be granted for participating in the fellowship?
I recommend that you speak with your advisor and let him/her know what you would like to do, whether it is earning credit for the time you spend doing the Fellowship research; or reducing your course load; tuition waivers; or simply having him/her know what your interests are and having their commitment to supporting your work with the Fellowship. It may not be clear to you and your advisor how to tie in the Fellowship with your academic commitments. However, we are open to early negotiations in "academic support". We want students to have a comprehensive experience while doing research with the Foundation. It's important that the Fellowship does more to compliment your academic interests than merely doing research for the Foundation.
What I can suggest is finding a course that could integrate your research project at the Foundation. Last year, one scholar took a “thesis related class”. The other scholar combined it with a class in her University of Minnesota MacArthur program. She has already written papers using some of her research and sees how it is impacting her dissertation topic.
Although you may not know how you and your advisor intend on connecting institutional support with the fellowship, this is something that you can negotiate between now and when the fellowship begins. Please submit some evidence that you have an advisor and that they will support you during the Fellowship.. If you are interviewed, you may elaborate further on this component of your application.
11) Are you interested in Undergraduate as well as Graduate transcripts?
Both Undergraduate and Graduate transcripts will do.
12) Would an applicant have to be currently enrolled in a graduate program or could they start in the fall?
If they are enrolled in the Fall 2005 they are eligible.
13) Are winners typically already a year or more into their graduate programs?
 The selected scholars are at all levels in their graduate studies. It may be the case that those students further into their program may have a clearer sense of their research interest, as well as the faculty that can advise them on their research. Although this may strengthen their application and their ability to convey their interest, we are looking for students who have an important sense of and deep commitment to human rights issues and social change.
14) I believe the flyer states that students can be studying in North Dakota, Wisconsin as well as MN. Is that correct?
Although we previously stated this, we've simplified it to students studying just in Minnesota. This is because the students will be working within the Otto Bremer office in St. Paul a few hours a week. Research will be with (but not exclusively) nonprofits within Bremer's funding areas (which include the states mentioned including Montana) around Minneapolis.
15) If I apply this year and don’t get accepted could I reapply next year?
It is encouraged to reapply!
16) What’s the difference between a scholarship and a stipend?
 The scholarship money will go directly to you whereas the stipend money will go to your tuition.
17) Who is on the selection committee, are they HECUA staff, Bremer staff, community members, etc…?
The Selection Committee is composed of scholars from different schools in the metro area who have been instrumental in planning this years’ fellowship. There will be up to five members, all of who are in our advisory committee. The final decision is with Otto Bremer staff who will also be administering the interviews.
18) How many applicants usually apply for the fellowship?
Last year we had approximately 10 applicants and we are not sure how many will apply this year. It is open to all graduate students in Minnesota, particularly in the metro area.
19) How old is this fellowship program?
This is the second round of applications and we are coming up on our second year of the fellowship.

20) What is required at the conclusion of the program?

 Each Scholar must complete a research project and present it to the Board of Trustees of Otto Bremer Foundation. Scholars and their Program officers must also complete evaluations of the internship and return all forms to HECUA. It is also expected that Scholars will aid HECUA in recruitment by attending information sessions and to share their experiences with prospective applicants. In addition, HECUA and Otto Bremer Foundation encourages Scholars to broaden their research by publishing their work, continuing their research at their institution, and/or share their findings with relevant communities and organizations.
21) How do I obtain an application for the Graduate Fellowship on Philanthropy and Human Rights? Can I print the application off on-line?
Click here to download the application.
22) Is there a requirement that applicant must be a full-time student?
 Part-time applicants qualify as well.
23) I am currently employed full-time and would like to find out if this would be problematic to my participation in the Fellowship. Could you please let me know if I would still be eligible to apply for the fellowship? The Graduate Fellowship is open to a broad range of people. This being the case, our application pool comes from extremely diverse backgrounds where priorities of family, work and school are in fine balance. Two of the three scholars this year are working full time as well. The Fellowship is flexible and appreciative of the Scholars' responsibilities and schedules. However, the Fellowship must be a priority for you if you are chosen. We ask the Scholars for up to 10 hours a week, part of which will be spent at Otto Bremer Foundation. You will also have to arrange with your workplace some flexibility so that you can attend seminars once a month (around 2-4pm), go to conferences (sometimes lasting the entire day), and sit in on meetings with the Board of Trustee or Advisory Committee. One scholar usually comes in later in the day, after his work. Sometimes he comes very early. If this is something you are open to negotiating with your Bremer Foundation mentor, you must ultimately show that you are committed and responsible for the time we require of you during the Fellowship.