International and Global Studies (IGS) Summer Fellowship

Overview

The International & Global Studies (IGS) Summer Fellowships support research opportunities for IGS majors at Gettysburg College.

These fellowships are available during the summer before a student's sophomore, junior, or senior year.

Independent Student Research with a Faculty Mentor

Students will propose an independent project that advances their scholarly interests and recruit a faculty mentor to advise on their work. IGS Summer Fellows will each receive a $3,500 stipend, free on-campus housing, and up to $500 for supplemental travel and research expenses.

Expectations, Duties, and Responsibilities for the fellowship:

  • The research project should be connected to a student's ongoing program of study. Students can complete a research project begun in an earlier course or the beginning of a senior capstone project.
  • The project must take place during the summer before a student's sophomore, junior, or senior year.
  • The project may take place on campus or remotely.
  • Students must identify a faculty mentor who agrees to meet regularly with them (in person or virtually) during the summer.
  • Project mentorship by visiting faculty may require approval of the department chair or the Associate Provost of Academic Affairs.
  • Students must provide a progress report to their faculty mentors during the last week of the summer program.
  • The research project must be complete, in a form approved by the faculty mentor, by the start of fall semester.
  • All supported projects must comply with the College's Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) policies if applicable. Required documentation must be submitted well in advance of the fellowship's start date.

To Apply

Before submitting a research fellowship application, students must discuss their research proposal with a faculty member who agrees to serve as a mentor.

Students must submit their application via email to igs_major@gettysburg.edu by March 22, 2024, at 5pm. Faculty mentors must submit their letters of support by the same date. Questions? Email chopkins@gettysburg.edu.

Application Materials for Research Fellowship:

  1. Resume (no more than one page)
  2. Research proposal. A two to three-page proposal (500-750 words) outlining the nature of the project. Proposals should include:
    1. a clear research question and research design/method
    2. a plan for how to investigate the research question accompanied by a weekly timetable
    3. what the applicant has done to prepare themselves to undertake the project (study of a language, related coursework, internship experience, etc.)
    4. how this project will contribute to the applicant's scholarly interests
    5. a budget stating how the $500 in any additional research-related expenses for the applicant will be spent (if applicable)
  1. One-page annotated bibliography so the committee can see what sources each applicant has read/consulted in developing their proposal. A minimum of 5 sources is expected.
  2. Letter of support from faculty mentor. Applicants must request a letter of support from their faculty mentor. Faculty should submit the letter directly to igs_major@gettysburg.eduby the application deadline. More details for faculty mentors are below.

Student Eligibility

  • To be considered for an IGS Summer Fellowship, applicants must have earned at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the time of application.
  • The applicant must be able to conduct the majority of the activities associated with the project during the program period.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated on:

  • The clarity and strength of the submitted research/internship proposal
  • The likelihood of success based on the applicant's academic preparation
  • How the project contributes to the applicant's academic field
  • Research Fellowship only: The faculty mentor's endorsement of the project, the appropriateness of their background/expertise for supervision of the project, and the extent to which the project provides an opportunity for regular interaction between faculty mentor and the student

Selection Timeline

Selection for the IGS Summer Fellowship is made by a committee of IGS faculty members.

Selected fellows will be notified by early April. Notification will be by email, copying the faculty mentor if applicable. A follow-up meeting with the summer students and mentors will be scheduled later in April.

Fellowship Start and End Dates

Research projects and/or internships must take place between June 1-August 20, 2024.

Fellowship Stipend and Expenses

  • A stipend of $3,500 will be paid in four bi-weekly installments during the course of the summer. Regarding taxation of the stipend, please refer to the Scholarships and Fellowships Taxation Guide.
  • In addition to the stipend, up to $500 will be available to reimburse students for eligible expenses connected to the project (if applicable).
  • On-campus housing is provided at no cost to Fellows. Housing may include kitchen facilities.
  • Please note: if the project includes overseas air travel, the student must have enough personal funds or a personal credit card when making flight reservations to reserve the ticket. The College cannot arrange for travel advances for students, not even against the stipend.

Information for Faculty Mentors

  • Letters of support for student proposals should address:
    • How the faculty member's academic background or expertise is appropriate for mentoring the student's work.
    • The strength and feasibility of the proposed project.
  • For faculty-coordinated research, the letter must address the following:
    • The student's contribution to the research project. Students should be collaborators, and the project should be mutually beneficial. The fellowship must end with a substantial, final product (i.e., students should make a meaningful intellectual contribution beyond clerical or routine tasks).
    • The student's preparedness to undertake the project.
    • The agreed-upon strategy for regularly scheduled meetings.
    • The agreed-upon final product.
  • Letters are due on the same date as the student proposals; please email them to igs_major@gettysburg.edu.
  • Faculty mentors receive a stipend of $1,000 per mentee (maximum of one mentee).
  • Faculty are expected to meet regularly with their fellow throughout the summer, either in person or via Zoom, etc.
  • Project mentorship by visiting faculty may require approval of the department chair or the Associate Provost of Academic Affairs.

Questions?

If you have questions about this program, please email igs_major@gettysburg.edu.