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Activities & Policies
The WCURF program funds fellows to conduct research for ten weeks full-time during the summers after their sophomore and junior years and for approximately eight hours per week during the academic year. This section is intended to help you understand how to best structure your fellowship for the two-year period.
First Summer
At Williams, fellows are selected at the end of their sophomore year. The following summer they, along with the new Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows, participate in the Summer Research Colloquium on campus. The Colloquium lasts six weeks and provides new fellows with intensive instruction in advanced research skills. Faculty members from different divisions offer classes in various aspects of research across the disciplines. Simultaneously, students conduct their own research projects under the guidance of the faculty mentors and reference librarians, who teach workshops and provide individual assistance. At the end of the six weeks, fellows are expected to present their research in both a paper and a formal talk to the faculty, students, and staff of the Colloquium.
During the Research Colloquium, fellows live together in campus housing. Various activities are planned to provide a broad introduction to academic life and to allow the group to develop positive working relationships while taking advantage of the many cultural and recreational activities that a summer in the Berkshires has to offer. Additionally, workshops are offered on topics relating to the process of applying to graduate school: choosing the right graduate program, GRE preparation, writing a personal statement, etc. Because of the intensive nature of the Summer Research Colloquium, fellows are asked not to make any other commitments for those six weeks and to plan to spend weekends on campus.
After the Research Colloquium ends, fellows spend the remaining four weeks of their summer fellowship working specifically with their faculty mentors. They may conduct their research on or off campus, providing that, either way, there is close contact with the mentor. Fellows remaining on campus must make their own housing arrangements, but the program will cover the cost (of room, not board). Fellows wishing to earn additional income during their first WCURF summer are asked to restrict their work to outside the ten-week fellowship period. This is in accordance with the College’s intention that the stipend frees the fellow from the distraction of summer employment and allow for full concentration on research.
Academic Year
During each semester, WCURF Fellows are funded to work with a faculty mentor on their research. The fellowship should take up approximately eight hours per week total. This is considered to be a replacement for campus employment. Students who wish to study away may do so as long as a mode of frequent communication has been established with the program coordinator and with the faculty mentor. Fellows may work on projects of their own initiative or on some component of their mentor’s research. Research activities might include annotated bibliographies, computer or library searches, assistance in course development, or writing research papers. The nature of the work should be negotiated between the fellow and the mentor with the goal of helping the fellow develop graduate level research skills. A senior WCURF fellow wishing to write an honors thesis may combine the two research projects with the expectation that the fellowship would allow for extra time to be spent on the thesis.
Throughout the year, the office of Special Academic Programs organizes workshops, lectures, meetings, and gatherings with mentors. We hold monthly meetings in Hardy House to announce and discuss program activities, to share research experiences, and to discuss the graduate school application process. These meetings are essential in maintaining the “research community” that begins to develop over the summer. In the fall of each year, we travel to the MMUF Northeast Regional Conference, where fellows have an opportunity to meet colleagues from other area colleges. OSAP encourages fellows to be involved in the planning and selection of all events, and expects that fellows will participate in all program activities.
Second Summer
During the summer after junior year, WCURF Fellows are expected to work under the guidance of a faculty mentor full time for ten weeks. This is considered to be a replacement for summer employment. While the academic year does not afford a significant amount of time for independent research, the summer is an opportune time for fellows to delve deeply into their research interests either on or off campus. Again, summer research may include a variety of activities, depending upon the mentoring relationship. Should a fellow decide to study off campus, s/he must first establish a plan that will facilitate frequent communication with both their mentor and the program coordinator. All aspects of the research plan should be worked out in consultation with the mentor. If a second-year fellow needs to earn extra income beyond the WCURF stipend, s/he may work outside of the ten weeks or up to ten additional hours per week during the ten-week fellowship. The purpose of this restriction is to minimize distractions from research and to ensure that the fellowship receives the attention it requires.
Stipends
The WCURF provides stipends so that fellows can dedicate themselves to their research without the distraction of work-study and summer jobs. The summer stipends are awarded in three installments of $1000 each for a total of $3000. The semester stipends are also awarded in three installments and total $1000.
Travel Funds
Travel funds are available to support fellows’ research-related travel or participation in academic conferences. Fellows anticipating travel expenses should speak with the coordinator about the availability of funds and reimbursement procedures. Fellows are strongly encouraged to use these funds!
Program Reports
The Office of Special Academic Programs (OSAP) requires that you write a brief project proposal (see Appendix B) in anticipation of each term of funding and a research report (see Appendix C) at the end of each term. These reports vary in length and substance based upon the stage and nature of the project. This paperwork documents your work and progress as a fellow and provides you with an opportunity to take stock of your progress in relation to your short- and long-term goals. A mentor's signature is required on these documents to insure continued communication and cooperation between the fellow and the faculty mentor.
Application to Graduate School
By accepting the Williams College Undergraduate Research Fellowship, fellows have indicated an interest in attending academic graduate school. Fellows are strongly encouraged to investigate graduate school options during their junior and senior years, and various forms of support for this are provided by OSAP. Workshops are offered on preparing for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), financing a graduate education, writing personal statements, and on the application process as a whole. Travel funds may be used for visits to graduate programs, and OSAP will help with all such arrangements. A representative from the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers, which provides support for students of color applying to graduate school, will visit campus and work with students wanting to apply to that program. Furthermore, each year, Duke University offers an overnight program to acquaint seniors with its graduate programs and with the application process in general. OSAP arranges for fellows to participation in this program. The office also works with fellows who wish to take time off between college and graduate school.
Welcome & Forms | About the Program | Faculty Mentoring | Activities & Policies | Resources