The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Program For Secondary Teachers 2019, United States

Publish Date: Nov 06, 2018

Deadline: Mar 06, 2019

James Madison Fellowship:

The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation offers $24,000 James Madison Graduate Fellowships to individuals desiring to become outstanding teachers of the American Constitution at the secondary school level. Fellowship applicants compete only against other applicants from the states of their legal residence. As funding permits, the Foundation plans to offer one fellowship per state per year.

The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliations, or age in its program and activities.  View the Federal Register for complete James Madison Fellowship program guidelines.

Fellowship Eligibility

Eligibility Requirements

Fellowship applicants compete only against other applicants from the states of their legal residence. To be eligible to apply for a fellowship, you must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen.
  • Be a teacher, or plan to become a teacher, of American history, American government, or civics classes where you will teach topics on the Constitution at the secondary school level (grades 7–12).
  • Possess a bachelor's degree or plan to receive a bachelor's degree no later than August 31 of the year in which you are applying.

Professional Teaching Obligation

After receiving the master's degree, each Fellow must teach American history, American government, or civics classes where you will teach topics on the Constitution in grades 7–12 for one full year for each academic year of funding received under a fellowship, preferably in the state from which the recipient won the fellowship.

Financial Aspects of the Award

The maximum amount of each award is $24,000, prorated over the period of study, and in no case shall the award exceed $12,000 for one academic year of study. Normally, Fellows receive less than these maximum amounts. Payments are made only for the actual costs of tuition, required fees, and books (as well as room and board if required to live away from your principal residence), and are made only for the minimum number of credits required for the award of the degree for which a Fellow is registered.

Failure to complete the study for which the fellowship is awarded, to attend the Summer Institute on the Constitution, or to teach a qualifying subject in grades 7–12 for the requisite amount of time entailed by the award will result in forfeiture of the fellowship and require the return of all funds paid under the fellowship, plus applicable interest under federal law.

Types of Fellowships

The Foundation offers two types of fellowships:

  • Junior Fellowships are awarded to outstanding college seniors and college graduates without teaching experience who intend to become secondary school teachers of American history, American government, or civics classes where you will teach topics on the Constitution in grades 7–12. Junior Fellows are expected to complete graduate study within 2 academic years of full-time study.
  • Senior Fellowships are awarded to outstanding current teachers who are required to complete graduate study within 5 calendar years of part-time study.

Choice of Graduate School and Degree

The fellowships are intended exclusively for graduate study leading to a master's degree. James Madison Fellows may attend any accredited institution of higher education in the United States. Each Fellow will be expected to pursue and complete a master's degree in one of the following (listed in order of the Foundation's preference):

  • Master of Arts (MA) in American history, political science, or government
  • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) concentrating on either American Constitutional history (in a history department) or American government, political institutions, and political theory (in a political science department). MAT degrees without required constitutional coursework cannot be approved.
  • Master of Education (MEd) or the Master of Arts or Master of Science in Education with a concentration in American history or American government, political institutions, and political theory

Constitutional Coursework

The Fellow's proposed plan of graduate study should contain substantial constitutional coursework. Fellows are encouraged to choose institutions that offer courses that closely examine the origins and development of the U.S. Constitution, the evolution of political theory and constitutional law, the effects of the Constitution on society and culture in the United States, or other such topics directly related to the Constitution.

Whatever institution and whichever degree a Fellow selects, at least 12 semester credits (or 18 quarter credits) of constitutional study must be part of the Fellow's program. Six of these semester credits are earned by the Fellow at the Foundation's Summer Institute on the Constitution in Washington, D.C.

Foundation's Summer Institute on the Constitution

A major component of the James Madison Fellowship Program is successful completion of the four-week Summer Institute on the Constitution, "The Foundations of American Constitutionalism," held in Washington, D.C. Fellows attend the Institute after they have matriculated in a graduate program and commenced coursework.

The academic focus of the Institute is a graduate course entitled "The Foundations of American Constitutionalism." Taught by constitutional scholars, this course is a study of the principles, framing, ratification, and implementation of constitutional government in the United States.

A feature of the Institute is the occasional trips to sites associated with the Constitution, in and around Washington.

One of the informal benefits of attending the Institute is the opportunity for interaction with a wide range of individuals whose varied interests can lead to enduring friendships and professional associations.

Expenses for the Summer Institute are included in the fellowship.

How to Apply:

Step 1: Register Online

Please enter your registration information accurately and completely (see link below).  Be sure to use the correct combination of uppercase and lowercase letters.  If you need assistance creating an account, email Madison@scholarshipamerica.org or call 800-525-6928.  Retain your User ID and password, once created.

Step 2: Complete the Application

As you begin to complete the online application, you will note that not all of the fields are required.  However, be advised that all fields will be reviewed by the Fellow Selection Committee, which is comprised of professors and James Madison Fellowship Alumni.  Please answer all items completely and professionally, using standard business rules of writing, to make the best impression.

You will be able to return to the application to update and edit as frequently as desired.  After you have submitted the application, or after the deadline, the application will no longer be available.  Once you submit the email address for a recommender, he or she will be sent an email with instructions for completing the online recommendation in support of your application. You may then log in to view the status of each recommendation.

Step 3: Upload Transcripts

Transcripts can be uploaded in the application as a PDF file.  If you choose to mail them instead, they must be received by March 1, 2019, at the following address:

James Madison Fellowship Program
One Scholarship Way
Saint Peter, MN 56082

Step 4: Recommendations

Recommendations must be submitted online.  The recommender deadline is 5:00 P.M., Central Time, March 6, 2019.

During the application period, program announcements related to the application and corresponding deadlines will be sent via email.  Please add Madison@scholarshipamerica.org to your email program's safe list to be certain those messages get delivered.

You should contact each person you intend to use as a recommender.  They must also add Madison@scholarshipamerica.org to their email program's safe list.  Use that conversation to confirm their precise email address.  If you enter it wrong, they will not receive the proper link necessary to enter your recommendations via the online application system.

For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.


This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:

https://www.jamesmadison.gov/eligibility.php

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