Weed Research Fellowships

The Weed Summer Research Scholar Program is designed for students who want to develop their skills in research and who are willing to work closely with a faculty mentor on a specific project. Students apply through the Universal Application Form. The primary selection criteria for the award will be the student's desire to participate in active research and her talents and preparation skills adequate to ensure a level of success. One of the goals of the program is to attract talented students who show considerable promise to the challenges and rewards of an academic career and who want to pursue a doctorate in higher education.

Program Objectives

• Provide opportunities for students to work independently with the support of a faculty mentor on a research project of depth and breadth.
• Provide experience in giving and receiving constructive criticism of scholarly work.
• Display abstract, project, artwork, etc. in the MHC library.
• Present research at the fall Colloquium.

Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for this grant is open to first-year students, sophomores, juniors, and Frances Perkins students who are US citizens of African American, Asian American, Latina, or Native American descent. Students may need specific coursework in order to be eligible for particular research projects; the faculty research sponsor will indicate such required coursework. Mentors provide support in fulfilling scholars' responsibility for presenting summer research work and experiences to other scholars and faculty mentors at a colloquium to be held at Mount Holyoke College the following fall.

Stipends
The awards committee will decide on the appropriate funding level for each student; the decisions will be based on financial need and duration of the project. It is anticipated that awards will be roughly $2,500. In addition, students may be reimbursed for up to $1,000 for books, travel and other research-related expenses (receipts required), as determined by the committee. The Weed Award is considered a scholarship and therefore is not taxed by the College. It can, however, be taxable to the individual and should be reported as "other income" when the student files her tax returns. She should be sure to keep receipts or other documentation to show how the money granted to her was spent.

Selection Criteris
Weed Scholars will meet the following criteria:

• Ethnic criterion (ALANA students)
• 2.8 or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA)
• Evidence of required coursework
• Faculty Mentor recommendation
• Student's statement of academic and career interests
• Student desire to pursue research topics in the humanities and the social sciences
• Student desire to pursue a doctoral program in higher education.

NOTE: the selection and eligibility criteria are under review during the fall 2006 semester.  Please check this page in 2007 to review the new criteria.