Dean's Humanities Fellowship at Tufts 2011–2012

Our doctoral programs in the humanities are committed to achieving a diverse student body in keeping with the profession's call for increasing the number of students and faculty from underrepresented groups in university graduate programs. As stated in The Chronicle of Higher Education: "Policies that encourage a comprehensive diversity help universities achieve their mission. Specifically, they are indispensable in training future leaders how to lead all of society, and by attracting a diverse cadre of students and faculty, they increase our universities' chances of filling in gaps in our knowledge with research and teaching on a wider—and often uncovered—array of subjects" (June 1, 2007). At Tufts, the need for increased diversity is especially acute in doctoral programs in the humanities.

The Dean's Fellowship in the Humanities has been established to increase diversity in our graduate programs in the humanities. The fellowship augments the financial stipend of an incoming doctoral student by $5,000 per year for the first two years of the student's program of study. The Dean's Fellowship in the Humanities is awarded to prospective students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and whose enrollment in the program would enhance the diversity of our intellectual community, based on racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in graduate education. Two Dean's Humanities Fellowships may be awarded each year. The success of the fellowship program in increasing diversity will be assessed after three years of awards.

Each doctoral program in the humanities can nominate up to two candidates for a Dean's Fellowship. A candidate for a fellowship should have a strong academic record as indicated by his or her transcript, recommendation letters, and test scores. The nomination material should include the student's application as well as a cover letter from the graduate program's director that summarizes how the candidate will enhance the diversity of our doctoral community.

Please submit to Charlene Carle, charlene.carle@tufts.edu in the dean's office the material for a program's nominations in electronic form by February 8, 2012. Nominations for the fellowship will be reviewed by Dean Berger Sweeney and Dean Lynne Pepall and programs will be informed of whether they can offer a fellowship by Monday February 13, 2012.