Assistantships | Fellowships | Taft Funding

Taft Funding

As one of ten departments in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences with access to the Charles Phelps Taft Memorial Fund, the Department of English may recommend a number of its advanced graduate students for one-year Taft Fellowships. Granted by the Taft Faculty Committee, the Fellowships carry a full stipend for advanced doctoral students, with the top doctoral recipient being awarded the Advanced Fellowship, which includes an additional summer stipend. Each year, every Taft Department receives one Fellowship; another six Fellowships are awarded competitively to advanced students from all Taft departments. In addition, the Taft Fund offers enhancement fellowships that may be added to other awards. These typically go to doctoral students.

             

All Taft Fellows receive tuition scholarships in addition to their stipends. No outside employment during the Taft year is permitted.

Advanced PhD students (typically those who have completed their oral exams) need to submit an application if they are interested in a Taft Fellowship. The Graduate Director invites such applications each January and provides guidelines for how to prepare them.

To be nominated by the Department for a Taft Fellowship or a Taft Enhancement Award, a doctoral student should show evidence of academic excellence beyond normal academic progress as well as the ability to profit from a Fellowship year free from teaching responsibilities. Academic excellence is based on GPA, progress to degree, publications, service, teaching, awards and evaluations.