2015 CANDIDACY INFORMATION AND APPLICATION
Completed applications, including all supporting documentation, are due
Monday, February 16, 2015, by 5:00 PM/PST.
Email completed application packets to katharine.henshaw@ucr.edu
INCOMPLETE AND/OR LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
THE MELLON MAYS PROGRAM AT UCR
The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program is designed to help increase diversity in doctoral
programs in the humanities and selected social and natural sciences. UCR is looking for future scholars with
academic promise who will benefit from a rigorous intellectual program, faculty mentorship, and research
opportunities leading to admission into a doctoral program and a career in academia.
ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA
All students are welcome to apply for MMUF, although applications are particularly encouraged from AfricanAmericans, Latinos and Latinas, Native Americans, and members of other under-represented groups.
Applicants must


Have sophomore standing and be on track to complete 90 units by the end of the Spring quarter, 2015
o Note: Students must be intending to spend at least two more years at UCR. Juniors who meet all
other criteria and who will be at UCR for two more years may be eligible to apply.
Have a minimum 3.3 GPA

Be a US citizen or possess a Permanent Resident Visa Status
In addition, the UCR Mellon-Mays program seeks students who:
• Possess intellectual and academic promise and are either members of underrepresented groups or have
demonstrated commitment to understanding the barriers faced by under-represented groups, to
breaking down stereotypes, and to increasing understanding across racial and ethnic groups;
• Demonstrate abilities and potentials for successful graduate studies leading to a Ph.D. in one of the Mellondesignated fields in the humanities or the selected group of disciplines in the sciences and social
sciences. For list of eligible fields, go to: http://www.mmuf.org/about/eligible-fields-study • Commit to obtaining a PhD and pursue careers in research and teaching at the college or university level. 1
PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
Prospective applicants are expected to fulfill the requirements stated below:
• Engage in research over the course of two years, and enroll in a PhD program in one of the Mellondesignated fields within three years of graduation from UCR. • Enroll in a Summer Research Program. • Participate in mandatory weekly seminar meetings and other MMUF programming designed to prepare
students for doctoral study. • Meet regularly with a faculty mentor for the duration of the two-year fellowship. • Design and complete an independent research project in consultation with a faculty mentor. (This project
may be related to a senior honors thesis.)
• Be prepared to discuss and present research findings during seminar. • Develop and submit progress reports each quarter signed by the mentor.
• Where possible, publish a full-length academic paper in the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Journal.
• Be in residence at UCR for the first quarter in the program before undertaking any EAP or UC/DC
program.
• Attend at least two regional MMUF conferences and consider presenting at one of the conferences. • Actively participate in the recruitment of next year’s cohort of Mellon Mays Fellows. • Maintain regular contact with the MMUF program office and adhere to program rules and regulations. • Inform the program director if you are no longer interested in an academic career. • Successfully complete undergraduate education at UCR
Initial below if you have read and understood the MMUF program requirements.
Initials: ___________________ Date: _________________ 2
MELLON MAYS UNDERGRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
2015 APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Instructions for submitting the application:
Complete sections 1-7 of the application form (using additional pages as needed.)
Scan your application and SAVE as a PDF.
Gather all supporting documentation. (See list at end of application.)
Completed application packets are due Monday, February 16, 2015, by 5:00 PM/PST. Email
completed application and all supporting documentation to katharine.henshaw@ucr.edu . (Word
and PDF formats accepted.)
INCOMPLETE AND/OR LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
**If you prefer to submit a paper application, it must be received by 5 PM, February 16 th.
Mail or hand-deliver to:
Katharine Henshaw
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship
c/o Center for Ideas and Society
900 University Ave; College Building South
Riverside, CA 92521
You will receive an e-mail notification that confirms receipt of this application and will be notified
formally via email if you have been selected for an interview with the selection committee.
Questions about the program may be directed to:
Program Director, Georgia Warnke georgia.warnke@ucr.edu
Program Administrator, Katharine Henshaw katharine.henshaw@ucr.edu.
Applicants are also encouraged to seek advice from the Mellon Mays Faculty Advisory Committee members:
Professor Sang-Hee Le (Anthropology)
Professor Dylan Rodriguez (Ethnic Studies)
Professor Yolanda Moses (Anthropology)
Professor Benjamin Liu (Hispanic Studies)
Professor Jennifer Hughes (History)
Professor Peter Graham (Philosophy)
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MELLON MAYS UNDERGRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
APPLICATION FORM
1. PERSONAL INFORMATION :
Name: ______________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
UCR Student ID#: _______________________
Daytime Phone: ________________________
E-mail: __________________________________________________
Citizenship :
U.S. Citizen
Permanent Resident
Other: _______________________________________________________
Identify your race/ethnicity (please check all that apply):
African-American/Black Latino/Latina
White/Caucasian
Asian/Asian-American [please specify]:
Native American, Alaskan Native [please specify]:
Other ____________________________________________________
2. ACADEMIC INFORMATION :
By the end of spring quarter 2015, will you have completed your sophomore year (90 units):
YES
NO
List number of units you expect to have completed by the end of spring 2015: _______________
Do you plan on enrolling at UCR for two more academic years?
YES
NO
What is your cumulative GPA: ____________
What is/are your Major(s): ______________________________________________________________
Minor(s), if any: ______________________________________________________________________
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3. List any HONORS, AWARDS, or ACHIEVEMENTS. (Use a separate page, if needed.)
4. List EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, VOLUNTEER or COMMUNITY SERVICE
PROJECTS. (Use a separate page, if needed.)
5. PROPOSED RESEARCH PROJECT:
6. MENTOR INFORMATION
If you have selected a mentor, list his/her name and department:
Name: _________________________________________________________
Department: _________________________________________________________
E-Mail: ____________________________________________
Have you spoken with this mentor regarding your MMUF application?
YES
NO
Reason for selecting your mentor: __________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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7. PLANS FOR GRADUATE STUDIES AND PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATIONS
Which of these eligible fields of graduate studies are you interested in pursuing? Check one or more.
Anthropology/ Archaeology
Linguistics
Area/Cultural/Ethnic/Gender Studies
Literature
Art History
Mathematics
Classics
Musicology and Ethnomusicology
Computer Science
Oceanographic/Marine/Atmospheric/Planetary Science
Geography and Population Studies
Performance Studies (theoretical focus)
Earth/Environmental/Geological Science and Ecology
Philosophy and Political Theory
English
Physics and Astronomy
Film, Cinema and Media Studies (theoretical focus)
Religion and Theology
Foreign Languages and Literatures
Sociology
History
Theater (theoretical focus)
REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS :
Submit the following documents with your completed application form.
1) A current academic transcript;
2) A completed paper from a UCR or other college-level course;
3) Three letters of recommendation, at least of two of which must be from faculty.
**UPDATE: Faculty recommenders can email their letters directly to katharine.henshaw@ucr.edu.
Alternatively, printed and sealed letters can be delivered to Katharine at UCR College Building South;
4) Proof of application to at least TWO summer research programs. A suggested list of programs can be found
at http://www.mellonmays.ucr.edu/summer-programs/
4) A three-page statement of purpose describing
a) your academic research interests and career goals
b) the way your interests and goals reflect the values of the MMUF program and Dr. Benjamin E. Mays. Dr.
Mays’ biography can be found at: http://www.anb.org/articles/15/15-01112.html
c) the ways your intellectual achievements and aspirations qualify you to become a Mellon Mays Fellow
d) the ways you have demonstrated a commitment to understanding barriers faced by under-represented groups
Reflecting on the following questions may help you in writing your essay:
Why do I want to participate in the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship?
Why am I attracted to my chosen major field of study? In particular, what issues, questions, and themes attract and sustain my
intellectual curiosity and why? How will a PhD help me advance my career and achieve my goals? 6