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U.Va. Faculty Senate Dissertation-Year Fellowships 2007-2008

Most dissertation-year fellowships at Research Universities, including our own, reward excellence in research alone. In the Dissertation-Year Fellowship program described below, the University of Virginia Faculty Senate includes not only excellence in scholarly achievement as a criterion, but also outstanding performance in teaching. With a long tradition of excellence in teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level, the University is committed to the idea that the best researchers can be, and often are, also the best teachers. Ideally, the two activities go hand in hand. It is in this spirit that the Faculty Senate invites applications for the 2007-2008 fellowships. Five (possibly six) fellowships will be awarded to graduate students from across the University. These fellowships will reward graduate students who have taught extraordinarily well at U.Va. while also maintaining a record of research excellence in their discipline. Applicants must be deemed by their departments to be doing important research pointing toward a productive scholarly career. They must also have established a strong record in the classroom, indicating their high promise as teachers.

Each Faculty Senate Dissertation-Year Fellowship of approximately $25,000 will provide funding for the final year of doctoral work; this amount includes tuition, fees, health insurance, and stipend. These fellowships for 2007-2008 are funded by the Provost's Office, the Curry School of Education, the Engineering School, and the College of Arts and Sciences. Please read the requirements for the award carefully.

Selection criteria

Applicants should be scholars who have demonstrated excellence in both teaching and research. Teaching criteria will include evidence of overall effectiveness as an instructor in lectures, discussions, studios, problem-solving sessions, laboratories, and/or mentoring. The applicant should also demonstrate the capacity to motivate and inspire students. Research criteria will include intellectual rigor of dissertation project, clarity of purpose as demonstrated in the abstract, and clear proof that the project is well advanced.

Eligibility

Applicants must have completed all course requirements and entered candidacy for the doctorate at the time of application. Recipients are expected to complete their Ph.D. dissertation within the fellowship period (September 1, 2007 to August 31, 2008). It is expected that recipients will hold no other paid position during the tenure of the fellowship unless research-related reasons are noted and the committee approves.

To be considered, applicants must first be chosen by their departments. Previous recipients of any dissertation-year fellowship are ineligible for this award.

A complete application must include the following materials (using 12 point font and adhering to stated page guidelines and correct number of copies):

  • Curriculum vitae (limited to three pages).

Note that any coauthored papers should include an explanation of the applicant's contribution to the work.

  • Draft of the dissertation abstract (limited to two pages).
  • Dissertation chapter or a published, submitted, or in-press paper based on dissertation research.

If something other than a chapter is provided, please explain the relationship between the work provided and the dissertation.

  • Proposed schedule (one page) by which the dissertation is to be completed in 2007-2008.
  • Reflective statement on teaching (one page) making clear the applicant's goals in teaching.
  • Quantitative and comparative material on teaching (up to two pages). This should include courses taught, when, and enrollments. Where available, provide quantitative evaluations from students including percent of enrolled students responding and comparisons to department averages. Select qualitative comments from students should also be included. Note, if no such course evaluation information is available, please explain for the committee.
  • Letters of recommendation (one page each) from three faculty members. Each letter should be submitted as an original with four copies in a sealed envelope with the faculty member's signature across the seal.
    1. Letter from the Departmental Chair or Director of Graduate Studies certifying the student's status.
    2. Letter from a faculty member familiar with the applicant's teaching.
    3. Letter from the applicant's dissertation director. This letter from the dissertation director should include a realistic assessment of the applicant's schedule for completion of the degree and an evaluation on the quantity and quality of any work completed or published by the applicant.
  • No department in A&S, and no schools, e.g., Medicine, Nursing, Darden, Engineering, may forward more than three candidates.

Deadline for receipt of fellowship applications for 2007-2008: Friday, February 2, 2007

  • Send five (5) copies of the application, including letters of recommendation, in paper format to Frances Peyton, Secretary, Faculty Senate, Garrett Hall BO34, PO Box 400221, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904.
  • Questions about the application process should be directed to one of the co-chairs: Deborah Roach, Department of Biology (droach@virginia.edu), or Deandra Little, Teaching Resource Center (dlittle@virginia.edu).
  • Decisions will be made by March 2, 2007.