King•Chávez•Parks
Future Faculty Fellowship Program
Overview
The King • Chávez • Parks Future Faculty Fellowship Program was created by the Michigan State
Legislature in 1986 as part of the larger King • Chávez • Parks Initiative, designed to stem the downward
spiral of college graduation rates for students underrepresented in postsecondary education. The Program
is intended to promote inclusivity and diversity at faculty and administrative level positions in colleges and
universities in Michigan and throughout the United States. Preference may not be given to applicants on
the basis of race, color, ethnicity, gender, or national origin.
The fellowship honors the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr., César Chávez, and Rosa Parks, tireless
advocates of diversity and inclusivity in American life. The KCP program seeks to emphasize that all
citizens may contribute significantly to the advancement of learning.
The King • Chávez • Parks Fellowship program at WMU is highly competitive. Only a limited number of
fellowships are available.
Obligation
Future Faculty Fellowship graduates are obligated, by signed agreement, to remain in teaching or
administrative employment in a postsecondary institution in the United States for a minimum of three
years, equivalent of full-time. Fellows who do not fulfill the obligations of their fellowship agreement may
be placed in default, which results in their fellowship converting to a King • Chávez • Parks Initiative loan
that the fellow must repay to the State of Michigan.
Eligibility Criteria for Making Application:
1. The applicant must possess United States citizenship.
2. The applicant must be in good academic standing (GPA of 3.0 or above).
3. The applicant must have also applied to a doctoral program at Western Michigan University or be
regularly admitted to a doctoral program at WMU.
4. The applicant must be able to demonstrate convincingly how the award of the fellowship will contribute
to the promotion of diversity in university research and teaching.
5. The applicant must be currently in good standing on guaranteed loans.
6. The applicant may not receive two King-Chávez-Parks Initiative awards simultaneously.
7. Possession of a doctoral degree disqualifies one from applying for a KCP Fellowship.
8. The applicant must submit two letters of reference from former instructors or professors and provide an
autobiographical statement (see page 5).
Application Deadline: February 15, 2016
APPLICATION FOR
KING•CHÁVEZ•PARKS
FUTURE FACULTY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
(Please type or print legibly)
King Chavez Parks Future Faculty Fellowships are offered to students with United States citizenship who have
obtained regular admission to a doctoral program at Western Michigan University and who intend to pursue a
faculty teaching or administrative role in a public or private, two- or four-year, postsecondary institution, in-state
or out-of-state, while in pursuit of his/her degree or after graduation. Fellows may receive up to $35,000 over a
four to six year period. The fellowship does not require departmental service, but students must meet other
requirements stated in the guidelines for KCP Fellowships. Application deadline: February 15, 2016.
PURPOSE: The KCP Future Faculty Fellowship Program is intended to promote inclusivity and diversity
at colleges and universities in Michigan and throughout the United States. Preference may not be given
to applicants on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, gender, or national origin.
Awards must be made to students planning and able to teach or perform an administrative role in postsecondary
education in the United States. The awards should be made to persons who may receive an academic
appointment. Students in medical, law, or other degree programs that are considered professional and usually
do not lead to a teaching career are not eligible for awards. Attention should be given to make awards only in
those fields where teaching positions are most likely to be available in postsecondary education.
Applications will be considered from those students who:
 Have appropriate credentials evidenced by academic records and recommendations.
 Are United States citizens.
 Are not in default status on guaranteed loans.
 Will be available to participate in an annual research conference.
If you are selected to receive a KCP Future Faculty Fellowship, your receipt of this award is contingent upon
your compliance with all award requirements and execution of the Doctoral Fellowship Agreement. Each KCP
Fellow agrees to obtain a doctoral degree within eight years of receiving this fellowship. A candidate will repay
his/her KCP Fellowship liability to the State of Michigan in the form of a teaching or administrative position at a
postsecondary institution in the United States for the equivalent of three full-time years. A candidate must be
willing to begin a part- or full-time faculty teaching or administrative career in a public or private, two-or fouryear, postsecondary institution within one (1) year after obtaining the doctoral degree. Failure to comply with
these requirements transforms the award into a loan obligation subject to repayment to the State of Michigan.
Name (print legibly)
Date
Signature
My signature affirms that the information in the present application is true to the best of my knowledge, and
that all parts of the application are the product of my initiative alone. The Graduate College of WMU reserves
the right to interview finalists for a KCP Fellowship.
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King•Chávez•Parks Future Faculty Fellowship Program
Name:
Last
First
Middle
Driver's license number:
Maiden
State:
E-mail address:
Address:
Street
Apt. no.
City
State
Home phone: (
U.S. Citizen:
Zip
)
Daytime phone: (
Yes
)
No
Alternate Contact Information (your alternate address; address of spouse, parent, etc.)
Name
Relationship
Street
City
Phone number
State
Zip
E-mail address
Next of Kin Contact Information:
Name
Street
Relationship
City
Phone number
State
Zip
E-mail address
 Program to which you have applied or been admitted:
No. of hrs. required:
No. of hrs. completed:
Expected graduation date:
 Academic department:
 Semester/year you will begin your program:
Semester
3
Year
Special honors:
Publications:
Have you been awarded a KCP Fellowship in the past?
Yes When?
No
Specify other financial assistance you are currently receiving or expect to receive (put amount of aid per year in
appropriate blank(s).
Teaching Assistantship
Associateship
Research Assistantship
Fellowship
Non-teaching Assistantship
Other
Guaranteed loans:
I do not have any outstanding guaranteed loans.
I am in good standing with all my guaranteed loans.
I am currently in default on a guaranteed loan.
List all educational institutions attended since high school including Western Michigan University.
IMPORTANT: attach copies of transcripts from each institution including WMU. Student copies of
transcripts are acceptable, pending receipt of an official document.
Name
Location
Dates Attended
To
To
To
To
Professional experience: list employers, type of position and dates of employment.
a.
Current Employer
b.
c.
d.
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Degree Received
 Two Letters of Reference. Have two former instructors or professors acquainted with your academic abilities
submit letters commenting on your potential for graduate study in a doctoral program. If such references are not
available, students should provide letters of recommendation from two people who can attest to their academic
capability in a doctoral level program. The two letters of recommendation must be sent along with this
application. A reference who wishes to submit a confidential recommendation may include the letter in a sealed
envelope, signed across the closed envelope flap. Departmental recommendation forms will not be accepted.
 Autobiographical Statement. Describe briefly (not more than 500 words, 1-page single spaced) your plans
for graduate study: (a) Define your professional goals; (b) explain why you are pursuing them; (c) indicate how
your planned program of study will help to achieve your professional goals (the Selection Committee shall pay
careful attention to the relationship between your goals and the life, values, and accomplishments of one or
more of the leaders whose name is honored by the fellowship: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, César Chávez, and
Rosa Parks); (d) describe the most challenging obstacle you have overcome, and tell what you learned from
the experience. (Your statement may be submitted on a separate sheet, but it must include your signature.)
Signature of Applicant
Return to: Graduate College, Western Michigan University, 260W Walwood Hall, 1903 West Michigan Avenue,
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5242. For questions, please call (269) 387-8212.
{Revised 12/15)
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