Call for Applications: RCAH Fellowship

Since 2007, the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities (RCAH) has been a leader in
interdisciplinary teaching and learning in the arts and humanities with a strong commitment to social justice, community engagement, the visual and performing arts, and world languages and cultures. 

As part of our mission—and in collaboration with the Graduate School at Michigan State University (MSU)— RCAH provides fellowship opportunities for graduate students to develop their capacities to work in a liberal arts college setting within a large research university. 

RCAH announces three fellowship opportunities for MSU graduate students for the 2026-2027 academic year:

1. RCAH Graduate Fellowships in Undergraduate Teaching and Learning - The primary goals of RCAH Graduate Fellowship Program in Undergraduate Teaching and Learning are to provide a diverse cohort of graduate students committed to a career in interdisciplinary undergraduate education with professional development opportunities outside of regular classroom instruction; and to prepare Fellows to make meaningful contributions to the scholarship and/or design of teaching and learning in areas important to RCAH. RCAH Graduate Fellows will be supported in disseminating project results in peer-reviewed journals and venues, at conferences, and will present at year-end symposia.
2. RCAH Cultures and Languages across the Curriculum (CLAC) Fellowship Program - Graduate Fellows in the CLAC Fellowship Program focus on the scholarship of teaching
   and learning in interdisciplinary, translingual, and transcultural settings. Representing multiple MSU colleges, Graduate Language Fellows participate in different components of the RCAH’s Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum (CLAC) Program. Exploring pedagogical principles and practices of transformational teaching, Graduate Language Fellows may facilitate project-based language immersion sessions (Integrated Language Options) for RCAH undergraduates, collaborate with faculty to bring first-hand cultural insights about specific topics as guest speakers in RCAH courses, or create CLAC-related events for the wider community. Graduate Fellows will be supported in disseminating project results in peer-reviewed journals and venues, at conferences, and will present at year-end symposia.
3. RCAH Arts and Community Engagement Fellowship Program - In Fall 2023, RCAH launched the Arts Living Learning Community (LLC). The Arts LLC will serve as the heart of the arts at MSU over the coming years and seeks to fully integrate the arts into the MSU undergraduate experience by creating a non-curricular, living/learning community focusing on socially engaged arts. RCAH Arts and Community Engagement Graduate Fellows will provide support to ongoing community engagement projects and community partnerships, arts programming, and other non-curricular projects, including workshops, co-curricular programming, and access to the University’s extensive arts exhibitions and performances. Graduate Fellows will be supported in disseminating project results in peer-reviewed journals and venues, at conferences, and will present at year-end symposia.

Eligibility

Eligible graduate students must be enrolled full-time in any MSU college, be in good academic standing, and be making progress toward a terminal degree in their field. Those applying for a CLAC Graduate Fellowship must also have (near) native fluency in any language other than English. 

Candidates with experience teaching undergraduates, experience working in the fellowship area to which they are applying, and whose work is likely to further RCAH’s mission and vision will be given higher consideration.

Expectations

Each fellow receives a stipend of $3,250/semester to help support research project expenses,
professional development workshops, and/or travel to professional conferences. Graduate Fellowship Recipients do not receive benefits or tuition reimbursement as part of the award, but the award can be held in addition to other MSU assistantships. 

You must be enrolled during the semester(s) that you receive funding. Continuation of any fellowship is contingent upon fulfilling the responsibilities of the program that will be outlined in the first meeting of the academic year. 

Responsibilities include: 

• Attending seminar/meeting that will meet five times each semester, in-person, on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:00 PM in Snyder Hall throughout the academic year.
• Fellows are required to participate in several RCAH community events throughout the academic year, all fellows are required to attend RCAH’s Fall Showcase and present project findings at RCAH’s Spring Showcase. 

Given the community focused nature of all RCAH Fellowship Programs, fellows who are unable to attend in-person for weeks at a time will not be considered. 

For further information or questions, please contact Alyssa Briones or Professor Torrez.

Application

Applications must be submitted via Google Forms.

The Selection Committee will begin reviewing applications on April 25, 2026, with preference given to applications received by April 18, 2026.

Applications must include the following items:

1. A completed application form that includes:
   1. The applicant’s information
   2. The fellowship program to which you are applying
   3. The name and email of the applicant’s graduate advisor or department chair
      who will be providing a recommendation
   4. PDF versions of the following (to be uploaded via the form):
      1. A curriculum vitae
      2. An essay (maximum 600 words) that explains:
         1. the fellowship program
            to which you are applying
         2. your reasons for applying
         3. your professional
            goals
         4. how participation will help you achieve those goals.

2. A Recommendation Form to be completed by the applicant’s graduate
advisor or department chair and sent under separate cover to Alyssa Briones
(brione14@msu.edu).