King/Chávez/Parks Future Faculty Program
Note: This program may, or may not, continue to be funded by the State of Michigan. Contact the Center for Student Inclusion and Diversity for information.
The purpose of the King/Chávez/Parks (KCP) Future Faculty Fellowship Program is to increase the pool of traditionally underrepresented candidates pursuing faculty teaching careers in postsecondary education. Preference may not be given to applicants on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, gender, or national origin. We encourage 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.
KCP awards have a maximum value of up to $20,000 for master’s students and $35,000 for doctoral students. Future Faculty Fellowship graduates are obligated, by 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 who do not fulfill the teaching and/or other obligations of their fellowship agreement may be placed in Default, which results in their fellowship converting to a loan (referred to as a KCP Loan) that the Fellow repays to the State of Michigan.
Eligibility. To be eligible, the student must meet all entrance requirements for Graduate Studies and be accepted into a program of study that facilitates a teaching career in postsecondary education by the application deadline. The student must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of Michigan (as defined by CMU). Applicants must not currently be receiving a KCP Initiative Fellowship Award at another institution, and they may not have previously received another KCP Fellowship Award for the same degree level (master’s or doctorate). Applicants may not be currently in default on any guaranteed student loan and/or a KCP loan. Additionally, students must intend to teach at a postsecondary institution after graduation.
Students who accept a KCP fellowship must fulfill certain conditions or the award becomes a loan repayable to the State of Michigan. Recipients are required to: (1) maintain good academic standing (3.0 or higher); (2) earn the master's degree within 4 years; (3) within one year after attaining a master's degree, either enroll in a doctoral program or teach at a two or four-year postsecondary institution for three years; (4) within one year after attaining the doctoral degree, teach in a postsecondary institution for at least three years.
Application Procedure. Applicants must submit the following: (1) a completed KCP application; (2) transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework; (3) three letters of recommendation from academic and professional people, at least two of which must be from faculty within the applicant's proposed field of study; (4) a professional statement describing current educational status, goals for graduate study, and how you would fulfill the goals of the FFF program; and (5) a current resume or curriculum vitae.
Application Deadline. Application information is available on https://www.cmich.edu/diversity/OID/Pages/King%20Chavez%20Parks%20-%20Future%20Faculty%20Fellowship.aspx.