2012-2013 Barbara Bush Family
Literacy
Doctoral Research Fellowships at Texas A&M University
Up to $100,000 in Fellowship Funds Available
The Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning (TCALL) announces the availability of up to $100,000 in Barbara Bush Fellowships for the 2012-2013 academic year. Each fellowship will consist of a one-year financial award, which may be used to offset the cost of travel expenses to conferences, dissertation research, tuition and fees, and/or maintenance while a student is enrolled in a doctoral program at Texas A&M University’s College Station campus. Up to four Barbara Bush Fellowships of $25,000 each will be awarded for research on topics relevant to Family Literacy.
Family Literacy defined for purposes of this Fellowship
Family Literacy programs generally offer literacy (reading, writing, or oral language skill) instruction for the whole family – both adults and their young children. Children in Family Literacy programs are typically infants through early elementary grades. In addition to literacy instruction for adults and literacy or preliteracy activities for their young children, Family Literacy programs also include Interactive Literacy Activities (ILA) or Parent and Child Together (PACT) activities that give parents instruction and practice in effective methods for reading with their children. Many Family Literacy programs also include parenting education and/or home visits for further instruction and modeling of parenting practices and ILA or PACT activities in the home environment.
Research topics relevant to Family Literacy
Research proposals that utilize a quantitative research paradigm will be given special consideration. Some examples of possible research topics on Family Literacy (as defined above) include: how Family Literacy programs can successfully recruit “hard to reach” populations and foster persistence in meeting literacy goals; how Family Literacy programs can respect the culture and native language of dual-language families while developing their English language skills; program approaches that accommodate cultural differences in parenting style; culturally sensitive approaches to encouraging family involvement in children’s education; effect on children's educational outcomes of parents' literacy level, educational attainment/motivation, and involvement in their children's education; Family Literacy program evaluation topics, such as effect of evaluation on program sustainability, comparison of urban and rural Family Literacy evaluation plans, etc.; potential application and efficacy of home-based child care or parenting assessment tools for Family Literacy programs' home visit component; effects of parent education in Family Literacy programs on parenting behaviors; effects of Family Literacy program participation on school readiness for participating children, as well as the literacy development of the parent; impact of teacher professional development on Family Literacy programs. This is not an exhaustive list, but merely provides some suggested topics for exploration. A candidate can propose an alternative topic as long as it falls within the scope of Family Literacy research.
Requirements:
The fellowships will be awarded for a one-year academic period beginning September 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. The following requirements will apply to recipients of the Barbara Bush Fellowship at TCALL award:
- Submit joint presentation proposal for 2013 National Conference on Family Literacy, in collaboration with other 2012-2013 Barbara Bush Fellows.
- Attend the 2013 National Conference on Family Literacy, even if presentation proposal is not accepted.
- Present at two state or national conferences that include the field of Family Literacy.
- Work with TCALL Faculty Principal Investigator toward submission of a co-authored peer-reviewed journal article.
- Be available for occasional meetings at the Texas A&M College Station campus and/or TCALL Riverside Campus location.
- Make a time commitment of approximately 20 hours per week (on average) over the course of the academic year.
- Subscribe to TCALL’s statewide Family Literacy email discussion list as well as NCFL’s national Family Literacy discussion list. Participate in statewide discussion by contributing postings about Fellowship research as well as research and best practices in the field of Family Literacy generally.
Eligibility:
Applicants for the Barbara Bush Fellowship at TCALL must:
- Be admitted on a full-time basis to Texas A&M University’s main College Station campus. You are not required to reside in the Bryan-College Station area, but you must be willing to make yourself available for meetings as needed.
- Be enrolled in a doctoral program. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of the discipline or program of study.
- Submit the complete application packet to TCALL by the deadline. Application can be downloaded from TCALL website (www-tcall.tamu.edu). Complete application packet includes:
- cover letter
- signed cover sheet form
- curriculum vitae
- letter of recommendation (preferably from a professor)
- 3-4 page proposal describing your background and interest in Family Literacy and other qualifications that you deem relevant to this fellowship
- budget proposal justifying use of $25,000 in fellowship funds
- Describe in your cover letter any financial aid or other funding that you anticipate receiving for the 2012-2013 academic year.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants should be aware that receiving a Fellowship award could affect their eligibility for other anticipated forms of financial aid. Applicants are advised to consult with financial aid advisors to be aware of this potential impact.
Download application instructions and cover sheet here.
DEADLINE:
Complete applications are due by email to the TCALL Director
no later than 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time on Monday, February 6, 2012.
Finalists will be interviewed between March 21 and 27, preferably face-to-face
or by telephone conference call if necessary.
Fellowship applicants will be notified of selection decisions by April 15, 2012.
For further information, please contact Harriet Vardiman Smith, TCALL Director by phone
(979-862-6519) or e-mail (hsmith@tamu.edu).
