The deadline for applications for 2008-2009 is January 7, 2008.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q: Can I apply for GELS graduate student fellowship if I expect to be a candidate by the beginning of the fellowship in fall?
A: No, you need to be a Ph.D. candidate by the application deadline in January.

Q: Can Master’s graduate students apply for a GELS fellowship?
A: No, unfortunately, only Ph.D. candidates are eligible at this time.

Q: Does a GELS fellowship count toward the ten term LSA funding rule?
A: Yes.

Q: I recently became a candidate and my candidacy status is not reflected on my transcript.
A: In addition to official transcripts, please submit a letter from your unit attesting to your candidacy status.

Q: What is a proposed undergraduate course?
A: For graduate students, the course description should target first and second year students. This means in all likelihood that you should not try to teach your dissertation. For faculty, the course description may target any level of undergraduate teaching.

Q: Are graduate student applicants required to submit a proposed undergraduate course description?
A: Yes, this requirement applies to both graduate student and faculty applicants.

Q: How many official transcripts should I submit?
A: Please submit 6 original, official transcripts.

Q: My official transcripts arrived sealed in individual envelopes. Should I open them or attach them in their original envelopes?
A: Official transcripts need not be sealed.

Q: What is a letter of support?
A: A letter of support does two things for GELS purposes. It evaluates the applicant and attests to the willingness of the unit to allow an applicant to accept the fellowship.

Q: I received only one letter of support from my department / dissertation chair in a sealed envelope. Should I open the envelope to make 5 copies?
A: We prefer to have six copies of the letter. In the event that you receive one in a sealed envelope, send us that letter unopened and we will make the additional copies for your file.

Q: How many letters of support should I submit?
A: If you are a graduate student, please submit 6 copies of ONE letter of support. Faculty members should submit 6 copies of ONE letter of support from their unit chair. Joint faculty should submit 6 copies of ONE letter of support from all unit chairs.

Q: Are graduate students required to submit a curriculum vitae?
A: No, a curriculum vitae is only required for faculty applicants. But you may submit one if you like.

Q: How should my application materials be collated?
A: Please submit 6 sets of application materials. DO NOT STAPLE ANYTHING. Please use ONE paper clip or binder clip to secure each packet. Please collate your documents in the following order:

FOR FACULTY APPLICANTS:
Application Form
Project Description
Letter of Support
CV

FOR GRADUATE STUDENT APPLICANTS:
Application Form
Project Description
Letter of Support
Official Transcript

THESE MATERIALS WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO APPLICANTS.
For more information please contact:
Carrie Baker, mscarrie@umich.edu
734.647.6251, fax: 734.764.8503
GELS (Global Ethnic Literatures Seminar)
Department of Comparative Literature
2015 Tisch Hall, 435 S. State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1003