Call for Summer 2009 applications

The deadline for the summer university apprenticeship program is April 15, 2009. As many of you are aware, each semester and summer Mason is able to provide a $1,000 stipend to sixteen-eighteen high achieving undergraduates undertaking original research or creative projects with their Mason faculty mentors. If you are interested, you must apply with a faculty mentor who has agreed to work with you closely. That faculty member must also submit an application. We encourage applications from all disciplines, colleges, and departments. In addition to meeting and working closely with their faculty members, students will meet as a group three times (in June and July) to discuss professional development issues, including preparing for graduate school, graduate funding, designing a poster or other professional presentation, and writing abstracts. We also fund students to attend several undergraduate research conferences or disciplinary conferences, including that of the Colonial Academic Alliance (CAA).

This program is designed to encourage Mason's high achieving students to become involved in research and creative projects early in their academic careers. We especially encourage transfer students to apply, since many of them have excelled in the program in the past and might not yet be aware of this opportunity. We are also offering a stipend to faculty who participate to assist with equipment, material, or related costs associated with this program (first preference will be given to junior faculty).

The minimum GPA is 3.0, but please note that the average gpa of an apprentice is significantly higher. There are more details on the program on the UAP website, including profiles of students and their projects: http://uap.gmu.edu

Here is the link to the faculty and student portions of the application and related materials:

http://uap.gmu.edu/application.html

On the site, you will see that there is also a sample student application and a mentor's letter that you might find helpful as you work on your application. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you might have. For those of you who have other summer plans, we anticipate that the deadline for Fall 2009 apprentice applications will be around August 15th.

Best wishes,
Deirdre Moloney