MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGE FELLOWSHIPS Purpose To help meet the Nation's need for individuals with advanced training in modern foreign languages and in social and cultural studies of foreign areas. Under the "Language Development" provisions of the National Defense Education Act of 1958 as amended, funds are authorized for study at undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels. Most of the awards are for graduate study. Federal funds may support the study of any foreign language except French, German, Italian, or European Spanish. Participants study at universities with language and area study programs which have been approved by the U.S. Commdissioner of Education for allocations of awards and fellowships under the program. Undergraduate awards are for summer study only. They include a maintenance allowance based on $400 for an 8-week program, plus tuition and fees and a round-trip from the student's home to the institution. Graduate fellows receive a stipend of $2,250 each for the academic year and $450 for summer study with an allowance of $600 for the academic year and $120 for the summer for each dependent up to the limit of four. Postdoctoral fellowships are for faculty members of accredited 4-year liberal arts colleges who are recommended by their college President or Academic Dean. Fellowships are for 12 months of language and area study at approved institutions and include a stipend based on the applicant's monthly salary plus tuition and fees and round-trip travel to the institution for the fellow and up to four dependents. 1/ From lump sum appropriation for Language and Area Centers, Modern Foreign Language Fellowships, and related Research and Studies. Method of Distribution The U.S. Commissioner of Education, with the advice of a panel of consultants, approves language and area study programs at institutions of higher education on the basis of proposals submitted by colleges and universities. He allocates a quota of awards and fellowships for each program. Institutions receiving quotas are responsible for selecting candidates and making recommendations to the Office of Education. Awards are made by the Commissioner after technical review of applications. - 99 Undergraduate candidates must have successfully completed a year of language study at the college level or its equivalent in a language of East Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Eastern Europe, or--if other than French or Spanish--Latin America. Graduate level candidates must plan to teach the language or area subjects at the college level or plan to perform other service of a public nature in which knowledge of the language is desirable. Postdoctoral candidates must be nominated by the colleges where they teach. They are expected to return to their colleges on completion of their fellowship tenure to aid in the development or expansion of language and area study programs. Source of Data: Regulations on the Program: 26 F.R. 9996, October 25, 1961--45 C.F.R. 146 (with program authorised through fiscal year 1968). Regulations on Procedures and Criteria for Resolving Questions Involving Moral Character or Loyalty of Applicants for and Holders of the Fellowships: 28 F.R. 8409, August 16, 1963, as amended by 30 F.R. 13575, October 26, 1965--45 C.F.R. 147. Regulations on Departmental Fellowship Review Panel: 28 F.R. 8408, August 16, 1963--45 C.F.R. 10. Matching Requirements None. Who May Receive Federal Aid Institutions of higher education with approved programs. Application Procedure Institutions submit to the Office of Education their proposals for language and area study programs, together with a requested quota of awards for each program, Individual applications for undergraduate awards or for fellowships are made to the colleges and universities which have received allocations. Applications of recommended candidates are forwarded to the Office by these institutions except in the case of postdoctoral applications which are sent through the institution at which the candidate wishes to study. Developments During the Past Year In previous years, graduate students were selected for fellowships on the basis of a national student competition. Awards could be held at an institution of the fellow's choice if it offered a suitable program. Under new administrative procedures in fiscal year 1965, quotas of fellowships are assigned to approved programs at selected institutions. Awards are not transferable to another institution. In addition, institutions now are responsible for computing the amount of the graduate awards and for disbursing fellowship funds. Nineteen advanced study awards were made to college teachers in fiscal year 1965 to assist them in developing college programs of nonWestern languages and area studies. Languages are those not commonly taught at present. Over 1,300 fellowships were awarded for graduate studies. Involved were 63 different languages at as many different colleges and universities. Awards were made to nearly 400 undergraduates for intensive summer study. (For the 7-year period through fiscal year 1965, more than 3,200 recipients had studied or were studying under the program.) Legal Basis Public Law 85-864 (National Defense Education Act of 1958), September 2, 1958, title VI, part A, section 601, and title I (72 Stat. 1593 and 1602) as amended by Public Laws 87-344, October 3, 1961, section 205 (a), (75 Stat. 760); 87-835, October 16, 1962, section 3 (76 Stat. 1070); 88-210, part B, December 18, 1963, section 26 (a), (77 Stat. 418); and 88-665 (National Defense Education Act Amendments, 1964), October 16, 1964, title VI (78 Stat. 1106)--20 U.S.c. 511. Additional information may be obtained from: Institutional Support Branch, Division of Foreign Studies, Bureau of Higher Education, Office of Education, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, D. C. 20202. NATIONAL DEFENSE FELLOWSHIPS Purpose 1. To increase the number of well-qualified college and university teachers by awarding fellowships (the majority for three years) to graduate students working toward their doctoral degrees in preparation for academic careers. 2. To support the development, strengthening, and full utilization of the capacities of graduate programs leading to the doctorate. 3. To encourage wider geographic distribution of the doctoral study programs in the Nation. The program was authorized on a gradually expanding basis for fiscal years 1959 through 1962 under title IV of the National Defense Education Act of 1958. The authorization was extended through fiscal year 1964 by Public Law 87-344. Successive authorizations provided both for expansion and for extension--first through fiscal year 1965 by Public Law 88-210 and then through fiscal year 1968 by Public Law 88-665. Fellowships are awarded to individuals accepted for study in graduate programs approved for support by the U.S. Commissioner of Education in accordance with terms of the law. Participating graduate schools nominate the fellows. A fellowship carries a stipend of $2,000 for the first year, $2,200 for the second year, and $2,400 for the third year, plus $400 for each dependent each year. Toward costs of educating fellows, the participating institution receives $2,500 per fellow for each academic year, less any amount charged him for tuition. 1/ Included for fiscal years 1960 through 1964 are 1,500 new fellowships each year; 3,000 new fellowships are included for fiscal year 1965; and 6,000 new fellowships are included for fiscal year 1966. Kethod of Distribution Fellowships are allotted to approved graduate level programs on the basis of proposals submitted by the institutions and on the basis of national need. Before recommendations are forwarded to the Commissioner for decision, proposals are reviewed by consultants representing appropriate academic disciplines. Payments are made on the basis of qualifying applications within the framework of institutional allotments. Criteria for Decision: Graduate programs: The Commissioner approves graduate programs from among those (a) for the completion of which a Ph.D. or similar degree is awarded; (b) which constitute a new or expanded program of graduate study; (c) which substantially further the objective of increasing the facilities available for graduate training of college or university level teachers; (d) which promote a wider geographic distribution of facilities for such training; and (●) in which preference in accepting persons for study is given to those interested in teaching in institutions of higher education. Within this framework, approval of programs is based on (a) prospective ability of the applying institution to offer the program; (b) current or prospective national or regional shortage of teachers in the proposed field; (c) current or prospective regional inadequacies in the offering of proposed subjects; (d) adequate ratio at the applying institution between number of graduate faculty and proposed number of graduate students; (e) amount and extent of applying institution's previous planning and development in the field proposed in the program; (f) likelihood that the applying institution will be able to support the proposed program soundly on a longterm basis; and (g) likelihood the proposed program will produce teachers for institutions of higher education. Fellowships: To qualify for an award, a student must (a) be a citisen or a national or be a permanent resident of the United States; (b) have completed the baccalaureate degree at the time he is to begin study under the fellowship; (c) be acceptable for admission to a graduate school with a program approved for support; and (d) intend to enroll in a full-time course of study leading to a doctoral degree. Source of Data: Regulations on the Fellowship Program: 25 F.R. 9289, September 29, 1960, as amended by 27 F.R. 47, January 4, 1962-45 C.F.R. 145 (with enabling legislation authorising the program through fiscal year 1968). Regulations on Procedures and Criteria for Resolving Questions Involving Moral Character or Loyalty of Applicants for and Holders of the Fellowships: 28 F.R. 8409, August 16, 1963, as amended by 30 F.R. 13575, October 26, 1965--45 C.F.R. 147. Regulations on Departmental Fellowship Review Panel: 28 F.R. 8408, August 16, 1963--45 C.F.R. 10. Matching Requirements None. |