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The Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship is interdisciplinary and open to faculty from all three campuses. The Fellowship program has created new pathways for teaching and learning at Montgomery College since 1998. More than 170 Montgomery College faculty have participated in the Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship program. You might consider reaching out to them to ask about their experiences.

We encourage you to apply.

Application Process

Communicate

Communicate with your department chair as soon as possible informing him or her that you are interested in applying for a fellowship. With your chair you will determine whether there are any obstacles or objections to your receiving 3 alternate-ESH in the spring and then again in the fall semester.  Remember: Your work schedule must be structured so that you can arrive on time for all meetings.

Do plan ahead! Obtaining signatures may take some time.

Cover Page

Prepare a cover page for your application.

This page will include:

  • your name and job title, including your department and campus and a separate line for your signature and date;
  • the title of your Fellowship proposal and word count;
  • the name of your Department Chair and a separate line for his or her signature and date;
  • the name of your Dean and a separate line for his or her signature and date.

Research and Prepare a Proposal

The proposal describes your interest in applying for the Fellowship and lays out your vision to implement the theme in one of your courses. (Keep in mind we expect that your ideas will develop and may change as a result of the seminar experience.)

The proposal should run 500-600 words. Do not exceed the 600 word limit. You are to use Times New Roman, 12 point. Be sure to read over the section (below), “Evaluation Criteria for Faculty Fellowship Applications.”

List Activities

Following the proposal, on separate paper, please make a list of your activities at Montgomery College. This list will include, for example: typical courses taught; recent professional development activities, including CTL/ CPOD courses; volunteer work with students; positions you hold in your department, discipline or college; leadership positions in professional organizations and any other additional items you would like to share. (This list will not be part of the word count for your proposal.)

Submit Application

Submit this application package (printed documents to include: cover sheet with your signature, proposal, and activities listing) to your Chair.

Part-time faculty applications require an additional item (see Special Note for Part-time Faculty) below.

All applications must allow ample time for his/her Chair to consider your request, sign it, and forward it along to your Area Dean.

The completed package (application and all three signatures) must arrive at the Paul Peck Humanities Institute offices, #212 Macklin Tower, Rockville Campus, before the deadline.

As soon as you have sent your proposal on to your Chair, please take a moment to e-mail to PPHI Director, Sara Ducey to alert her to watch for the arrival of your application. sara.ducey@montgomerycollege.edu

Application Checklist

  1. Discuss with Department Chair
  2. Prepare cover letter to application
  3. Research and prepare your proposal
  4. List activities at Montgomery College
  5. Submit application package

Special Note for Part-time Faculty:

We welcome applications from part-time faculty, with these stipulations:  Part-time faculty who apply must have taught for Montgomery College for four academic semesters before applying AND they must have taught the course into which the Fellowship will be integrated for at least two semesters.

IMPORTANT: Part-time faculty applications must also include a Letter of Recommendation from their Department Chair. (Such a letter is not required by full time faculty.)

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Need help?

Some interested faculty expressed concern about the application process, as they have not previously written such a proposal. We encourage you to ask us for help.

Professor Mimi Mann (English, RV) is the Coordinator for the Montgomery College Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship. She is glad to offer guidance on writing your proposal and assembling your application package; it can really help!

If you submit a draft proposal two weeks or more before the deadline, she can give you pointers on refining and polishing your draft.  mimi.mann@montgomerycollege.edu

Evaluation Criteria

The application process for this rewarding professional development opportunity/workload assignment is competitive. More individuals apply than can be served.

Successful proposals are persuasive, articulate and coherent. They effectively address the Fellowship theme, express your vision for how the Fellowship theme relates to your course, and specify Smithsonian museum(s) and exhibits(s) you think you may use to support your project.

Strong proposals also suggest that your participation in the Fellowship will lead to pedagogical innovation in your classroom as well as at the museum(s).

Additional factors that the committee will consider include representation across campuses and disciplines.

Though consideration is given to first-time applicants, a number of Fellows have applied more than once before being offered a Fellowship position.

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