King Huerta Hood Parks Future Faculty Fellowship Program

Established by the Michigan Legislature, the goal of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Dolores Huerta - Morris Hood Jr. - Rosa Parks (KHHP) Programs is to increase the number of Michigan's academically or economically disadvantaged citizens who have the opportunity to complete college degrees and experience career success as active participants in a knowledge-based global economy. There are seven unique programs designed to assist students along the academic pipeline from sixth grade through graduate study.

Preference is not given to applicants on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, gender, or national origin. We welcome applications from students who believe that they embody the spirit, vision, and goals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dolores Huerta, Morris Hood Jr., and Rosa Parks as demonstrated through their life experience, commitment to service, and response to adversity. Selection is nondiscriminatory and the selection committee does not consider applicants' protected identity statuses in selecting recipients.

Applicants must complete the KHHP-FFF application located in the KHHP Future Faculty Fellowship Online Management System (see above).

Process

• In order to submit a FFF application, applicants must create a MILogin ID and “Request Access” to the KHHP Future Faculty Fellowship Program under “Search Application”.
  • Once access is granted, the application can be found under “My Opportunities” on the right-hand side of the page.
• In the “Application Questions” section of the application in the KHHP Future Faculty Fellowship Online Management System, please upload the following items in one document with the appropriate headers, where it reads “to upload additional document, click ‘+’ sign”.
  • description of your dissertation project—i.e., an abridged dissertation prospectus (1500 words maximum).
  • a detailed timetable for completing your dissertation.
  • A personal statement that addresses how you have embodied the spirit, vision, and goals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dolores Huerta, Morris Hood Jr., and Rosa Parks as demonstrated through their life experience, commitment to service, and response to adversity.
• Two or three letters of recommendation (one of which must be from your faculty major adviser) - Reference Report (PDF).

For questions or additional information pertaining to the KHHP FFF, contact Terah Chambers or Deanne Hubbell.

The completed applications will be evaluated by a KHHP FFF Award Selection Committee. Preference will be given to those applicants who meet the following selection criteria: 

• Excellent academic credentials
• Outstanding letters of recommendation
• Compelling personal statement
• Detailed description of dissertation project
• Significance of contributions to field of research
• Logical timeline and dissertation completion plan
• Affirms an intent to fulfill the Michigan service obligation by teaching or an approved administrative position

The KHHP Future Faculty Fellowship award amounts will vary between $10,000 and $35,000 depending on a variety of factors including availability of funds from the State of Michigan. Regardless of the amount awarded, MSU supplements the award with a health care allowance, one credit of tuition and fees for the Fall and Spring semesters, and a Summer semester. Requests for additional credits will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants are highly encouraged to speak with the Office of Financial Aid to determine how the fellowship may affect any aid received and the cost of attendance. 

A KHHP Future Faculty Fellowship awardee at MSU agrees to:

• participate in an orientation program and meet with Terah Chambers (MSU KHHP Director, Graduate School Associate Dean) at least once per semester.
• complete a doctoral degree within two years of receiving the fellowship.
• complete a 1-3-year service obligation (time dependent on the amount of the award) within the state of Michigan that can be met by a part- or full-time postsecondary teaching or approved administrative position (pre-approved teaching assistantships count toward this obligation.
• obtain a part- or full-time faculty teaching or approved administrative position in an accredited, public two- or four-year postsecondary institution within the state of Michigan within one year after obtaining the doctoral degree.
• submit an annual progress report until graduation.
• participate, if possible, in at least one activity in another KHHP Initiative at MSU.
• remain in the local (East Lansing) area while completing the doctoral degree (exceptions may be made for those needing to move outside of the area for dissertation data collection).

Future Faculty Fellowship graduates are obligated, by a signed agreement, to remain in postsecondary faculty teaching or administration in a public or private, 2- or 4-year, in-state, postsecondary institution for one (1) to three (3) years equivalent full-time depending on the award amount.

Fellows may also substitute up to one-third (1/3) of the 3-year full-time equivalency portion of teaching or administrative service credit with non-traditional service that has been pre- approved by the State of Michigan. This will be verified by the KHHP Initiative Office.

Fellows who do not fulfill the teaching and/or other responsibilities, requirements, and obligations of their fellowship agreement may be placed in default, which would result in the fellowship being converted into a loan (referred to as a KHHP Loan) that the fellow repays to the State of Michigan.