To support policy study at Teachers College, the Office of Policy and Research sponsors annual fellowships for students whose studies and dissertations are likely to advance the construction of sound social policy.
The OPR annually awards twelve fellowships in support of policy-related doctoral work. The fellowships are awarded in two categories--eight to current doctoral students, and four to incoming doctoral candidates. All decisions are made by the Policy Advisory Committee, which seeks to achieve diversity of background, department, interest, and experience in the pool of selected candidates.
Current students apply for OPR fellowships after they have defended their dissertation proposals. Applications are evaluated on seven factors: (1) the social and intellectual significance of the policy problem being studied, (2) the clarity of conceptualization and the theoretical formulation reflected in the problem statement , (3) the alignment of the problem being investigated and the methods proposed to do so, (4) the integration of the entire analytic framework, (5) the feasibility of completing the work in a timely fashion, (6) the evidence of research and policy skills necessary to conduct the work proposed, and (7) a plan to disseminate the research findings so that they can inform policy. All applications should be of a caliber that demonstrates a strong likelihood of being reviewed and accepted in the most well-regarded research publications of the field of inquiry.
Fellowship applications are accepted in December and reviewed by a committee of policy-focused faculty. At the beginning of March, students receive notification of the faculty's decision. Funds are awarded to eight successful applicants and may be used to support academically related living, tuition, research, or travel expenses. The $6,000 award is dispensed in two equal amounts of $3,000 in September and January of the subsequent academic year. Students must provide an accounting of their expenditures. At the conclusion of their policy fellowships, students present the work carried out over the fellowship year at a colloquium.
Incoming doctoral students are recommended for fellowships on the basis of their applications to Teachers College. Faculty who find incoming students particularly promising based on their interests and past experience submit student names and materials for fellowship consideration. Students do not apply directly.
Students are evaluated on four factors: (1) their likelihood of pursuing policy studies and conducting research with clear relevance to policy debates, (2) policy experience, (3) academic qualities (e.g., GPA, GRE scores, etc.), and (4) evidence of their ability to conceptualize problems and policy solutions. Four students are awarded incoming fellowships in the spring.
Funds may be used to support academically related living, tuition, research, or travel expenses. Each of the $6,000 awards are dispensed in two equal amounts of $3,000 in September and January of the subsequent academic year. Students must provide an accounting of their expenditures.
All policy fellows must participate in the activities sponsored by the Office of Policy and Research, including fellowship meetings, colloquia, and brown bags. Students are encouraged to join the Policy Student Network.For more information on the OPR policy fellowships, contact Ali Hill at (212) 678-8255.
