Graduate Hours Program for TCU Faculty Members The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation granted the American Indian College Fund funding to assist faculty members at Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) seeking to complete 18 graduate credit hours in the fields they teach to meet recent accreditation requirements for highly qualified faculty. Priority will be given to faculty at TCUs accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Fellowships will be awarded for a period of up to three consecutive semesters for each candidate; the amounts received will be based on candidates' submitted budgets and necessary graduate credits (minimum of 6 and maximum of 18), with an upper limit of $15,000.00. Fellowships may be used for tuition, fees, books, travel to classes, and other educational expenses. Instructions for applying for the Graduate Hours Program fellowship are provided within this online application where there will be places to upload required documents such as your personal statement. All applicable fields are required.Eligibility Applicants must meet all the following criteria: - Be a current tribal college faculty member in need of additional graduate credits to continue teaching current courses. The College Fund holds a strong preference for collaborating with the TCUs to "grow their own" faculty members from their communities. - Be admitted to or enrolled in an institution that offers the graduate credits needed to meet the accreditation requirements for highly qualified faculty. The Mellon Foundation prefers to fund graduate degrees in humanities and humanistic social sciences; please see Appendix A for preferred fields of study. - Be committed to completing the necessary graduate credits (minimum of 6 and maximum of 18) within three (3) consecutive semesters (fall, spring, and summer) of receiving the fellowship. - Be committed to serving at a TCU for at least two years after completion of the fellowship. - Possess a demonstrated commitment to American Indian education and scholarship Requirements for Accepted Award Individuals who qualify and are awarded funds will be required to do the following: - Attend a two-day fellowship orientation program - Submit a one-page summary report at the end of each semester to the College Fund's Program Officer - Maintain monthly contact with the College Fund's Program Officer - Maintain regular contact with College Fund's Program Officer during and after completion of the Graduate Hours Program - Complete all necessary graduate credits (minimum of 6 and maximum of 18) within three (3) consecutive semesters (fall, spring, and summer) of being awarded the fellowship.1. Do you meet the eligibility requirements and agree to commit to the requirements should the grant be awarded to you?YesNoMark only one oval.2. Email addressApplication Checklist & Required Documents Applicants must submit the following documents and information to receive full consideration during the committee evaluation process: - Application: Completed application, including applicant information and signed commitment to continuing to teach at a TCU - Personal Statement - CV/Resume - Letter from Chief Academic Officer / Academic Dean - Proof of admission or enrollment in graduate credits from an accredited institution - Official Transcripts (if applicable) - Academic Plan with Detailed Budget **Academic Plan Template - https://bit.ly/3imB6qt ** Detailed Budget Template - https://bit.ly/3jpqiJr There will be places to upload each document throughout the application process. Please upload the appropriate document(s) in each section.3. I have all of the required documents to complete this application.YesNoMark only one oval.Selection Process The College Fund and fellowship review committee will assess the quality of application with reference to the following criteria: - Nomination from Chief Academic Officer / Academic Dean - Demonstrated need for up to 18 additional graduate credits to continue teaching - Academically capable of completing 6-18 graduate credits within three consecutive semesters - Demonstrated commitment of applicant to American Indian / Alaska Native education and scholarship - Demonstrated persistent and respectful engagement with communities served by TCUs - Competence displayed in the application - clarity and completeness of the written materials - Commitment to remain as TCU faculty for two years after completing the graduate credits Do not hesitate to contact Crystal LoudHawk -Hedgepeth, Research Associate at 303-430- 5336 or chedgepeth@collegefund.org, for further information.4. I understand and agree with the selection process for this award.YesNoMark only one oval.Contact Information The information collected in this section will be used for contact purposes - please ensure the information you enter is up-to-date and accurate.5. SalutationMr.Mrs.MissDr.Mx.NoneMark only one oval.6. First Name7. Last Name8. Date of BirthExample: January 7, 20199. Tribal Affiliation(s)If not applicable, enter NA10. TCU of EmploymentAaniiih Nakoda CollegeBay Mills Community College (Michigan)Blackfeet Community College (Montana)Cankdeska Cikana Community College (North Dakota)Chief Dull Knife College (Montana)College of Menominee Nation (Wisconsin)College of the Muscogee Nation (Oklahoma)Dine College (Arizona)Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (Minnesota)Fort Peck Community College (Montana)Haskell Indian Nations University (Kansas)Ilisagvik College (Alaska)Institute of American Indian Arts (New Mexico)Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College (Michigan)Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College (Wisconsin)Leech Lake Tribal College (Minnesota)Little Big Horn College (Montana)Little Priest Tribal College (Nebraska)Navajo Technical College (New Mexico)Nebraska Indian Community College (Nebraska)Northwest Indian College (Washington)Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish CollegeOglala Lakota College (South Dakota)Red Lake Nation CollegeSaginaw Chippewa Tribal College (Michigan)Salish Kootenai College (Montana)Sinte Gleska University (South Dakota)Sisseton Wahpeton College (South Dakota)Sitting Bull College (North Dakota)Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (New Mexico)Stone Child College (Montana)Tohono O’Odham Community College (Arizona)Turtle Mountain Community College (North Dakota)United Tribes Technical College (North Dakota)White Earth Tribal and Community College (MinnesotaMark only one oval.11. Applicant Position/Title12. Courses Currently Teaching This Semester(eg. NAS201)13. Applicant Address14. Applicant City15. Applicant State/ProvinceAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelwareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingMark only one oval.16. Applicant Zip/Postal17. Applicant Email Address18. Applicant Mobile Number19. Applicant Work Phone NumberDegrees and Fellowships In this section you will include any information on Degrees and Grants/Fellowships that you are seeking.20. Certificate or Degree Program SoughtSelect OneAssociatesBachelorsMastersDoctoralCertificate21. Certificate or Degree Granting Institution22. List other grants or fellowships previously received, total amounts and the years during which you received the funding.23. List other grants or fellowships for which you are currently applying.24. List academic honors and awards previously receivedPersonal Statement Please attach a personal statement that describes: - Your journey to becoming a tribal college faculty or staff member. - Your goals for completing the necessary graduate courses to continue teaching your current classes and how these relate to your career objectives. - How completing the necessary graduate courses will contribute to your TCU. - Any significant experience or information about you that would provide more understanding of the importance of a graduate education to you. FILE NAMING CONVENTIONS In order to best serve our applicants, we are requesting that you use the following naming convention for all of your files: FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME_FILENAME Example - John_Doe_CurrentUnofficialTranscripts If you have any issues with uploading documents to this form, please contact Crystal LoudHawk-Hedgepeth, Research Associate, at 303-430-5336 or chedgepeth@collegefund.org, for further information.25. Personal Statement File UploadDrag and Drop (or) Choose Files26. Resume/CV File UploadDrag and Drop (or) Choose FilesEvidence of Acceptance into Graduate College Please attach documentation that you are admitted to or enrolled in a graduate program the humanities or humanistic social sciences. This can be a letter of admission or transcripts. If you are in the process of applying for admission, explain this and provide a date by which you will likely be admitted. If your program is in another field, explain the importance of completing necessary courses in that field to continue teaching at your TCU. FILE NAMING CONVENTIONS In order to best serve our applicants, we are requesting that you use the following naming convention for all of your files: FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME_FILENAME Example - John_Doe_CurrentUnofficialTranscripts If you have any issues with uploading documents to this form, please contact Crystal LoudHawk-Hedgepeth, Research Associate, at 303-430-5336 or chedgepeth@collegefund.org, for further information.27. Evidence of AdmissionDrag and Drop (or) Choose FilesTranscripts / Academic Plan & Budget Please attach your most current transcripts. Please attach an Academic Plan outlining the sequence of courses to be taken over three (3) consecutive semesters, including a detailed budget of expenses to be covered during the fellowship year. The budget should not exceed $15,000.00. If you have not already created an academic plan or budget document, please use the templates provided below. **Academic Plan Template - https://bit.ly/3imB6qt ** Detailed Budget Template - https://bit.ly/3jpqiJr File Naming Conventions In order to best serve our applicants, we are requesting that you use the following naming convention for all of your files: FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME_FILENAME Example - John_Doe_CurrentUnofficialTranscripts28. Current Unofficial TranscriptsDrag and Drop (or) Choose Files29. Academic PlanDrag and Drop (or) Choose Files30. Detailed BudgetDrag and Drop (or) Choose Files31. Supporting Documents for Tuition, Fees, Books, etcDrag and Drop (or) Choose FilesCommitment to Teaching at a Tribal College/University The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supports the American Indian College Fund's goal to increase and enrich intellectual capacity at tribal colleges and universities. Therefore we request your signature of commitment to teaching at a TCU for a minimum of two years following completion of the Graduate Hours Fellowship. In addition to writing your name below, if you are selected as a Graduate Hours Fellow, we will send you an official contract to sign assuming your commitment to complete the Mellon Master's Fellowship in the allotted time frame as well as reaffirming your commitment to teach for two years at a TCU.32. If I am chosen as a Graduate Hours Fellowship recipient, by writing/submitting my name to this application I hereby commit myself to continue serving as a tribal college faculty member for at least two years after completion of the fellowship.Start signing your signature hereYour browser does not support e-Signature field.Applicant's Permission for AICF to access National Student Clearinghouse Date The types of information accessed in NSC pertains to the semesters/years you were enrolled, the types of degrees earned, the institutions awarding degrees and years degrees were attained.33. By entering my name below, I give the American Indian College Fund permission to access my student enrollment and degree attainment information through the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) Database.Start signing your signature hereYour browser does not support e-Signature field.Send MessagePlease do not fill in this field.
