at Duke University

Faculty Scholars Award

THE AWARD

  • Highest award given by faculty to undergraduates (about 3-5 per year).
  • Nomination of candidates only through Departments and Programs.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

  1. Student will graduate in May 2008.
  2. Student record shows:
    1. impressively high overall Grade Point Average
    2. evidence of independent work (e.g. independent studies, research, special projects, field study, creative writing, etc.)
    3. potential for innovative scholarship
    4. intention to pursue a scholarly career.

SELECTION PROCEDURES

  1. Department/Program uses faculty polls, record searches, student declarations of interest, etc. to select nominees.
  2. One nominee if number of majors is less than thirty; otherwise, maximum number of nominees is two.
  3. Deadline for selection: August 30.
  4. Department/Program notifies nominee and solicits student essay (see below)
  5. Deadline for submission of complete dossiers in quadruplicate: 3:00 p.m., Thursday September 6. Dossiers contain 1) Application Cover Sheet (enclosed); 2) Transcript; 3) Two supporting letters; 4) Student essay

STUDENT PROCEDURES

  1. Contacts DUS to indicate interest in the award (optional)
  2. If selected as candidate, writes essay (maximum 3 pages) describing:
    1. educational and professional goals
    2. how academic program has been designed to achieve these goals (through independent scholarship as well as coursework)
  3. Submits essay to DUS by September 5.

FACULTY SCHOLAR COMMITTEE

  1. Evaluates application packets submitted by Departments/Programs
  2. Selects finalists; notifies them by phone September 11-13
  3. Interviews finalists (Friday, September 14)
  4. Presents recommendations to the Academic Council (September 20) for vote

AMOUNT OF AWARD

  • Based on financial need (as determined by the Financial Aid Office)
  • If student is on financial aid, the amount awarded will reduce the loan and work-study parts of the regular financial aid package, with any excess given as honorarium to the extent permitted by Federal Law
  • Minimum of $500 honorarium if student currently receives no financial aid.

TIMETABLE

August 30:     Department/Program selects candidate(s), requests student essay

September 5: Student submits essay to DUS

September 6: DUS or Chair submits 4 (four) copies of each completed application by 3:00 p.m.(with cover sheet stapled on top) to:

Professor Benjamin F. Ward
Chair, Faculty Scholar Committee
c/o Academic Council Office 684-6447
304 West Union Building (West Campus)
Box 90928
Duke University

September 11-13: Faculty Scholar Committee phones semi-finalists

September 14: Faculty Scholar Committee interviews semi-finalists

September 20: Academic Council votes on Faculty Scholar Committee selections