Application Procedure
UC Davis Campus
2015 Human Rights Fellowship
Deadline: March 1, 2015, 4 PM
1. I know that requests for campus-specific applications and questions should be directed to the
fellowship coordinator on my campus. Who is my fellowship coordinator?
The fellowship coordinator for UC Davis student applicants this year is:
Uyen P. Le
Free Speech & Technology Fellow
California International Law Center
uple@ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-4028
2. What kinds of projects will be funded? Are there examples of past applications on file?
The fellowship will be awarded to students who have a clear plan to do human rights fieldwork,
domestically or internationally, in conjunction with a human rights organization related to the
student’s area of study. For examples of prior fellowship projects, please visit the California
International
Law
Center,
Human
Rights
Fellowship
http://www.law.ucdavis.edu/centers/cilc/fellowships.html , or the Human Rights Center at UC
Berkeley http://hrc.berkeley.edu/current_fellows.html.
3. Can I seek additional funding for my project? Yes.
4. Can I submit a proposal for a partnership project with another student?
Yes, you can with the understanding that you and your partner will share one fellowship stipend
of $4,500.
5. What should the sponsoring organization letter include?
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
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What is the mission of the organization and what does the organization do in order to
achieve the mission?
What are the goals of your project and how do these goals relate to the overall objectives
of the organization?
How will your project contribute to the organization’s mission and to the community it
serves?
Your previous relationship with the organization, if applicable.
6. How do I submit the partner organization letters?
Letters should be addressed to your campus fellowship coordinator. We prefer that they be
submitted electronically as part of the complete application. Alternatively, letters can be sent to
the fellowship coordinator (must be received before the application deadline).
7. Can I apply if I am an undergraduate student?
Yes. However, applications from graduate students are given a priority.
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Application Procedure
UC Davis Campus
2015 Human Rights Fellowship
Deadline: March 1, 2015, 4 PM
8. I am graduating in May; this is my last semester as a UC student. Can I still apply?
Yes. You can still apply, however, applications from returning, non-graduating students are given
a priority. In order to be eligible, you must be able to participate in all of the post-fieldwork
activities, including the informal get-together in September and the formal conference in early
November. In addition, you must submit a formal paper on your fellowship by the end of
December.
9. I am not sure what to include in my statement of purpose, can you give me any suggestions?
Yes, sample statements of purpose are available. Please see your campus fellowship coordinator.
10. I am almost finished with my statement of purpose but can’t turn it in by the deadline. Can I
turn it in late?
No. You must turn in your statement of purpose, resume and cover sheet by the date of the
application deadline electronically, or in five (5) complete copies. If you need a special
accommodation, please contact your campus fellowship coordinator.
11. I can’t seem to contact the organization with which I would like to work; its fax and email are
down. Do I need to submit a sponsoring organization letter?
Yes. You must submit a letter of support from the organization with which you would like to
work. If you anticipate difficulties, please speak to your campus fellowship coordinator.
12. I am not 100% sure I know which project I want to do this summer. Would it be possible for
me to develop one project proposal in my application and if I get funded, can I change my mind and
use the stipend for a different project? No.
13. What if I simply cannot complete the application?
Incomplete applications will not be considered and will not be forwarded to the evaluators. To
avoid this unfortunate situation, students are encouraged to plan ahead and allow for substantial
time to research and contact sponsoring organizations and to provide two faculty references.
14. Do I need to seek approval from the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects (CPHS)?
This depends. If you intend to use your fellowship grant to conduct research that you will include
in your thesis or dissertation, then you must seek approval from CPHS before you begin to recruit
participants (human subjects) and collect data. There are occasions when a student’s planned
activity will not be considered human subjects research because it will not lead to generalizable
knowledge. However, if your findings will contribute to an understanding and further knowledge
about your field, you may be conducting human subjects research. We encourage you to contact
the UC Davis Office of Research (http://research.ucdavis.edu) as early as possible and consult
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Application Procedure
UC Davis Campus
2015 Human Rights Fellowship
Deadline: March 1, 2015, 4 PM
with the staff about your proposed project. Protocol review and approval or receipt of an
exemption may take as long as two to three months.
15. When will the fellowship awards be announced?
We will announce the fellowship awards in mid-March.
16. What is the deadline for the fellowship?
All applications must be received by March 1, 2015, at 4:00 PM.
17. I want to travel abroad in during the Fall semester. Can I still apply?
No. Since the fellowship requires participation in the post-fieldwork gathering in September and
presentation at the formal conference in early November on Berkeley campus, we recommend
that students with plans to travel abroad during the Fall semester not apply.
18. How many paper copies do you need? How can I limit my environmental impact?
We require applications to be electronically submitted. If you absolutely cannot send the
application via e-mail, we require five (5) sets of collated application materials be submitted by
each applicant (one original and four copies). You may limit your environmental impact by
submitting double-sided copies. Unsuccessful applications are shredded and recycled after the
selection process.
19. What is the page limit for the statement of purpose?
Your statement of purpose should be no more than five pages long. The selection committee will
stop reading text after the fifth page. If you need to put your references on a sixth page, that is
acceptable.
20. What if I cannot complete the application or do not have the required number of copies?
Incomplete applications will not be considered and will not be forwarded to the selection
committee. To avoid this unfortunate situation, plan ahead. Allow sufficient time to research and
contact partner organizations and to obtain the letter of support.
21. What is a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and what should it contain?
A CV is like a cumulative resumé summarizing your academic and professional experience. We
request your CV to gauge your skills, assess your background, and understand how this fellowship
will build on your past experience. Your CV should highlight any relevant experience in human
rights, fieldwork, volunteering, or research.
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Application Procedure
UC Davis Campus
2015 Human Rights Fellowship
Deadline: March 1, 2015, 4 PM
22. My proposed partner organization is not responding to my requests. Their phone, fax and email are down. Do I need to submit a partner organization letter?
Yes. You must submit a letter of support from your proposed partner organization by the
deadline. Ask the organization for this letter early, especially if their communications systems are
not optimal. We cannot accept late letters and we will not review applications missing letters.
23. Can I submit my application by email if I am traveling?
Yes. If you must mail your application, please send it to:
Uyen P. Le
California International Law Center
400 Mrak Hall Drive
Davis, CA 95616
Please include signature confirmation and guarantee delivery by the deadline. Be sure to include
all application requirements and the correct number of copies or your application will be
disqualified.
24. In understand that the law school also administers a John Paul Stevens Public Interest
Fellowship Program, can I apply for that fellowship and this one as well?
Yes, if you are a King Hall law student and meet all other eligibility requirements. To apply for
both, simply complete the application form for one of the programs and check the box on the
application that indicates you also would like to be considered for the other program.
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