Established by the Michigan Legislature in 1986 and named in honor American civil rights activists Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), César Chávez (1927-1993), and Rosa Parks (1913-2005), the King-Chávez-Parks (KCP) Initiative is comprised of seven different programs. The ultimate goal of these programs is to increase the number of Michigan’s most educationally 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. Preference is not given to applicants on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, gender, or national origin. Applications from minorities, women, people with disabilities, and individuals from cultural, linguistic, geographic, and socio-economic backgrounds who would otherwise not adequately be represented in the graduate student and faculty populations are encouraged to apply.
The KCP Future Faculty Fellowship (FFF) Program at Michigan State University (MSU) is funded by the State of Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the MSU Graduate School. This program aims to increase the pool of academically or economically disadvantaged candidates pursuing faculty teaching careers in postsecondary education. 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 or out-of-state postsecondary institution for a minimum of three (3) years equivalent full-time. 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. 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 KCP Loan) that the fellow repays to the State of Michigan.
For detailed descriptions of the eligibility requirements (Sections 1 and 2), see King-Chavez-Parks (KCP) Initiative Future Faculty Fellowship (FFF) Eligibility Requirements (PDF). An applicant must satisfy all eight criteria in Section 1 and must satisfy at least one from Section 2 to be eligible.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The applications (only complete applications will be considered) will be evaluated by a KCP 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
- Informed statement on diversity/inclusiveness
- logical timeline and dissertation completion plan
AWARD AMOUNT
The KCP Future Faculty Fellowship award amount is $35,000; distribution of the award (lump sum or multiple payments) will be made in consultation with awardees. MSU supplements the award with a health care allowance, one credit of tuition and fees for the Fall and Spring semesters, and one credit of tuition and fees for 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.
CONDITIONS OF THE AWARD AND FELLOWSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
A KCP Future Faculty Fellowship awardee at MSU agrees to:
- participate in an orientation program and meet with Terah Chambers (MSU KCP Director, Graduate School Associate Dean) at least once per semester.
- complete a doctoral degree within two years of receiving the fellowship.
- complete a 3-year service obligation 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 one year after obtaining the doctoral degree.
- submit an annual progress report until graduation.
- participate, if possible, in at least one activity in another KCP 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).
Please Note: While holding a KCP Future Faculty Fellowship, documented teaching verified by the KCP Initiative Office will apply toward the three-year full-time equivalent teaching agreement. This includes pre-approved teaching assistantship appointments as well as postsecondary teaching at two-year or four-year institutions. This Fellowship will be considered defaulted and a loan subject to repayment in full to the State of Michigan if the conditions for acceptance are not met.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applicants must complete the KCP-FFF application located in the KCP Future Faculty Fellowship Online Management System.
- In order to submit a FFF application, applicants must create a MILogin ID and “Request Access” to the KCP 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 KCP 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 diversity statement that addresses your experience with diversity in the classroom and/or in your past or planned research endeavors, any experience mentoring diverse students or community outreach initiatives, and how you will advance inclusive excellence (1000 words maximum)
- two or three letters of recommendation (one of which must be from your faculty major adviser) - Reference Report (PDF)
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The State of Michigan’s KCP-FFF Application is open October 1, 2024.
For questions or additional information pertaining to the KCP FFF, contact Dr. Terah Chambers at terah@msu.edu or Deanne Hubbell at dhubbell@msu.edu.
