• be in good academic standing;
• provide a letter of support from the Chair of the Dissertation Committee that
  1. describes the state of the dissertation and the probable impact of receipt of the Fellowship on the progress toward     completion; and,
  2. verifies that no UMBC-administered financial support is available for the student;
• provide, if employed outside the university, written evidence from the student’s employer indicating the employer’s willingness to reduce job time and duties in order for the student to participate in the Fellowship;
• submit a dissertation abstract of no more than two pages in length; and
• submit a 1-2 page management plan signed by the Chair of the Dissertation Committee describing the status of the dissertation work, the steps required to complete the work, and the feasible timeline for completion; and
• Identify, if a prior recipient of a Dissertation Fellowship, the prior term (e.g., Spring 2017) in which the Fellowship was received.

The 2019 DI will take place June 7^th– 12^th on the University of Michigan campus. The Institute is funded by the NSF and hosted by University of Texas, Dallas and Virginia Tech. The primary goal is to address issues that prolong completion times for those at the dissertation proposal preparation and dissertation completion stages of the targeted population.

The FREE week-long event will focus on skills and strategies needed to successfully complete the dissertation process as well as provide networking opportunities to build connections for future collaborative career advancement. Institute participants will build new writing habits, work on their dissertation or dissertation proposal, and learn skills that will help them continue making progress when they return to their institutions. Travel up to $500 is reimbursed and housing is provided.

https://www.dissertationinstitute.com/

The Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising has openings available for summer Orientation Advisors! As an advisor, you would attend Orientation sessions where you would meet with undergraduate students one-on-one to plan out and register for classes. No previous experience is required, all training necessary will be provided!

Besides compensation, this is an excellent opportunity to gain professional and interpersonal experience. Depending on your field, your time as a student may not open you up to many client-facing interactions, and this is a pathway to gaining that experience. If you are considering a career in academia, meanwhile, advising experience is highly sought-after in faculty openings.

• Graduate students are eligible to be compensated at the rate of $100 per all-day session and $50 per evening session.

More details are provided in the application attached, which is due HERE by May 1, 2020. The Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising will also be hosting a number of informational sessions for those who may be interested:

• Wednesday, March 11, 12-1 PM at Sherman Hall 220 (B-Wing, 2nd Floor)
• Thursday, March 26, 12-1 PM at Sherman Hall 220 (B-Wing, 2nd Floor)
• Monday, April 6, 12-1 PM at Sherman Hall 220 (B-Wing, 2nd Floor)
• Thursday, April 16, 4:30-5:30 PM at Sherman Hall 220 (B-Wing, 2nd Floor)

Finally, if you are a graduate student with an existing assistantship, you will be required to submit a “Request for Additional Employment” along with your application by the same date. Please note the form must be signed by your Graduate Program Coordinator/Director and Dr. Jeffrey Halverson before submission. The forms can be found HERE.

For any further questions, please contact: 

Monique Ransom

Associate Director for Academic Advisor Development &

Student Transition Programs

Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising

mransom@umbc.edu / 410-455-2451

We have been contacted by Dr. David L. Di Maria, Associate Vice Provost for International Education about a unique opportunity. The Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research seeks to conduct and promote high quality research to help inform policymakers in Ras Al Khaimah, the United Arab Emirates, and broader Gulf region. To this end, the Foundation welcomes proposals from scholars in a wide range of disciplines and professional fields that address issues related to its research priority areas of education, health and well-being, and urban development and planning. Grant opportunities fall under the following categories:

• Doctoral Research Grants: Support PhD students in carrying out field research as part of their dissertation data collection. Comparative proposals are welcome as long as Ras Al Khaimah and the UAE are a significant research site. The award covers return economy airfares, furnished in-country accommodation (up to 12 months), and a modest cost of living stipend. Office space and research support are also provided.
• Faculty Research Grants: Support current faculty in conducting field research in Ras Al Khaimah and the UAE. The grant includes return economy airfares, in-country accommodation (up to 2 months), per diem, and research support. Depending on the project, additional funding may be allocated to cover actual research expenses.
• Seed Grants: Provide modest funding to conduct applied research or pilot projects in Ras Al Khaimah. Demonstrated collaboration with a local partner is an important eligibility requirement, and anticipated outcomes should provide tangible benefits to the emirate.
  Inquiries can be directed to grants@alqasimifoundation.rak.ae