For release: Jan. 25, 2013
News and Media Relations contact: Jimmy Hart, 615-898-5131 or Jimmy.Hart@mtsu.edu
MTSU Honors College contact:
Laura Clippard, 615-898-5464 or Laura.Clippard@mtsu.edu
Feb. 15 deadline for new MTSU Honors Fellowship for transfer
students
MURFREESBORO — MTSU's
University Honors College has selected Fall 2013 as the inaugural semester for
the Honors Transfer Fellowship, a new program that represents MTSU's highest
award given by the Honors College to a transfer student.
But transfer students interested in seeking the scholarship
must act soon, as the Feb. 15 application deadline is quickly approaching.
Modeled after the Honors College’s successful Buchanan
Fellowship — awarded every year to 20 of the top incoming freshmen — the goal
of the new fellowship is to create a complementary scholarship that would
provide transfer students with the same opportunities to participate in the
Honors Program.
Potential candidates may have earned an associate's degree,
but the Fellowship Committee particularly encourages applicants with diverse
backgrounds, including those who might be considered nontraditional students —
someone older than 24 — or those transferring from a community college.
However, applicants must have completed at least 60 hours of transfer credit
and have a 3.5 GPA to be eligible for the program.
Setting the Honors College and its students apart from other
undergraduates is the “capstone experience” that provides the opportunity to
pursue a thesis, said Laura Clippard, academic adviser and undergraduate
fellowships coordinator for the University Honors College.
“This fellowship is geared toward students who would find
the thesis process very rewarding, whether it be a research or creative thesis.
It allows students to pursue their academic passions in their field,” Clippard
explained.
“This is special because it is a true fellowship. Fifteen
students will be selected from all different colleges and they'll have the
opportunity to come together during their first semester to take a research
class and to learn about the thesis and research process.”
The thesis opportunity functions as an independent study.
After proposing a topic, each student is typically assigned to three members of
the Honors faculty who will serve as mentors to guide the scholar until the
project is completed. One of the primary goals of this Capstone Experience is
to give students a competitive edge when preparing for future graduate or
professional work.
As for the first group of selected students, this fall each
person will participate in the same Research Methods cohort, then prepare an
individual project proposal in spring 2014 and, finally, complete the thesis
process by fall 2014.
The Fellowship will provide a significant award for each student
selected. Recipients who qualify for in-state tuition will receive $3,500 per
semester for up to four semesters. Up to three scholarships of $7,000 per
semester will be available each year to students applying from out of state or
foreign countries. Transfer Fellows also will be given special consideration
for study abroad scholarships, as well as access to the resources of the
Undergraduate Fellowships Office, a department that nominates individuals for
other national and international fellowships.
Dr. John Vile, dean of the University Honors College, said
the creation of the Transfer Fellowship appeals to prospective MTSU students,
while also addressing their former educators:
“This is MTSU's way of telling students we really do want
you and we have enough experience to know that if you have a 3.5 GPA at a
community college, there's a really good chance you'd do well at MTSU and we'd
like you to consider us,” Vile said.
“Also this fellowship is partly our way of telling community
colleges that we want you to participate in honors programs,” Vile added. “We
want your students and we think we can help them.”
To be considered for this fellowship, students must submit a
completed application form and admissions packet, which should include:
official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities,
two letters of recommendation from college professors or administrators and a
500-word personal essay.
The deadline is Feb. 15 and all materials should be directly
mailed to: Honors Transfer Fellowship Committee, University Honors College,
MTSU Box 267, Murfreesboro, TN 37132.
For more information on the University Honors College and
Transfer Fellowship visit:
About MTSU
Founded in 1911 as
one of three state normal schools for teacher training, MTSU is now the oldest
and largest public university in Middle Tennessee. With an enrollment of more
than 25,000 students, MTSU is the largest undergraduate university in
Tennessee.
MTSU remains
committed to providing individualized service in an exciting and nurturing
atmosphere where student success is the top priority. With a wide variety of
nationally recognized academic degree programs at the baccalaureate, master's
and doctoral levels, MTSU takes pride in educating the best and the brightest
students from Tennessee and around the world.
###
Note to media:
Headshots of Clippard, Vile attached
MTSU is committed to
developing a community devoted to learning, growth, and service. We hold these
values dear, and there’s a simple phrase that conveys them: “I am True
Blue.” Learn more at www.mtsu.edu/trueblue.
For MTSU news anytime, visit www.MTSUNews.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment