Research Center for Local History and Culture
Application for Undergraduate Fellows Program
Description of the Program
Undergraduate fellows of the RCLHC will have an opportunity to engage in sustained study of a local issue, problem, need, or subject in the context of one of their courses. With permission and support of his or her instructor, each undergraduate fellow will pursue a well-defined local studies project that helps to fulfill course requirements (usually a research component of the course). Undergraduate fellows will have access to the resources of the RCLHC, including facilities, equipment, expertise, and additional funds for research travel or materials. The results of the study will, as appropriate, become part of the collection of the RCLHC or of the community entity with whom they work. Undergraduate fellows will also receive a stipend of at least $500.
Program Requirements
Program Requirements
1. Undergraduate fellows must have at least sophomore standing during their fellowship period, meaning that at the start of the semester in which they are a fellow they must have earned more than 31 hours. Undergraduate fellows also must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
2. Applicants for the undergraduate fellows program must enroll in a course with a local studies component, and attain written support from the instructor for his or her application.
3. Applicants must propose a local studies project which can realistically be accomplished within the time and curricular constraints of the course in which they are enrolled. The RCLHC has a list of potential projects in which students can participate. Of course, students may also propose their own projects, but all necessary contacts and arrangements for the project must have been made before the application will be approved. If the project would be subject to approval by the Institutional Review Board, this permission must also be obtained in advance.
4. The minimum time commitment to the local studies project is 25 hours.
5. Undergraduate fellows agree to present their results at a public forum hosted by the RCLHC, to complete a post-fellowship assessment of their experience, and to serve as a local expert on their project for the remainder of their education at ISU.
Application Process
Students should
apply by sending a letter of application and supporting documents to Christopher
Olsen, Director, The Research Center for Local History and Culture, Stalker Hall
109, Indiana State University. The letter should contain the student’s reasons
for wanting to be a Fellow in the RCLHC, a brief description of the proposed
project, the course to which the project will be connected and in which the
student will be enrolled, and a summary of the student’s qualifications for this
project. Supporting documentation should include a statement of support from the
course instructor, the student’s resume, and an official transcript or DARS
report. The deadline for submissions for the fall semester 2009 is September 25, 2009. Decisions will be announced by October 2, 2009.