Writing Fellowship Proposals

All first-year students in the FN/EP write fellowship applications in the spring semester to request additional funding for their second year in the program. Writing such applications is a good workout in 1) representing oneself and one’s ideas to an external agency, 2) learning to tell stories, and 3) learning to give and accept feedback on written work. In composing these applications, students write multiple drafts, share those drafts with each other and instructors in the program, and write again according to the response they receive.

Switzer Fellowship Program

Though students may apply to several fellowship programs, the one to which all students apply is the Switzer Program. General guidelines for 2005 follow, though they may vary slightly year-to-year:

Application Procedures and Guidelines

The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation awards ten $13,000 Environmental Fellowships in New England each year. Applicants must first be nominated by an academic advisor or an environmental professional. If you are a nominator, please make sure that the individual you are nominating meets both the qualifications and the criteria for the Switzer Fellowship. Competition for these Fellowships is intense. There are typically over 100 applicants. If you are an applicant, please make sure you meet all the Fellowship qualifications and follow the application procedures.

Qualifications for Fellowship

To apply for a Switzer Fellowship in New England, a candidate must:

• be a US citizen;
• have completed either one semester of course work at the Master's level or one year of Doctoral course work;
• be enrolled in an accredited institution in New England;
• have superior academic qualifications.

Criteria for Selection

Switzer Fellowship candidates must demonstrate the following:

• Commitment to aggressively pursue and implement effective solutions to improve the quality of our natural environment;
• Maximum potential for producing an early impact on environmental quality;
• Strong leadership, communication and critical thinking skills;
• Relevant work or volunteer experience in an environmental field;
• Breadth of skill, creativity and flexibility to effectively bridge the public, private and academic arenas.

Click here to read recent successful Switzer Fellowship proposals and editing examples.

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Field Naturalist Program - Department of Plant Biology
120B Marsh Life Science Building - 109 Carrigan Drive
University of Vermont - Burlington, VT 05405
(802) 656-2930 - Lillian.Reade@uvm.edu

Last modified January 28 2008 04:54 PM