WCMER Fellowship Program
Deep Dives, Urban Sabbaticals and Urban Graduate Fellowships are designed to enhance the impact of Extension, and the broader land-grant university system, in metropolitan communities. The application period for fiscal year 2024 will open in spring 2023.
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Fellowship Overview
WCMER Fellows address complex issues facing metropolitan areas, while providing opportunities for faculty at WCMER member institutions to lead multi-state or national projects. Each WCMER fellow is led by a funded WCMER Fellow, a subject matter expert from a member institution, who will provide leadership to:
- assess the current state of the issue –the current knowledge base, and the need and opportunities within metropolitan communities;
- build a collaborative network of other professionals working in an area;
- identify and pursue funding opportunities; and
- help advance the knowledge base of other Extension professionals.
How we Support our Fellows' Applied Research
The WCMER is actively engaged in the success of these fellowships. Applicants should view these as collaborative agreements and not stand-alone research or program development funding. To support the Fellow in accomplishing the planned activities, regular check-ins are scheduled between WCMER leadership/staff and the Fellow throughout the project.
To support our fellows, WCMER provides:
- funding to the Fellow to support their work;
- grant support for multi-university projects, including established master agreements with WCMER member institutions;
- staffing support for workshops, webinars, summits, or other activities associated with the deep dive; and
- access to metropolitan communities across the nation through connections to WCMER member institutions and the National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) network to help expand the reach and impact of the fellowship.
The goal of each fellowship is to build a sustainable network which continues to secure funded projects, produce scholarship and expand Extension’s capacity in metropolitan areas after the formal association with WCMER concludes.
Timeline
- June 15, 2022: Application period opens
- July 31, 2022: Application deadline (11:59 PDT)
- August 31, 2022: Awardees notified
- January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023: Period of performance
- June 30, 2023: Final report detailing accomplishments and use of funds due.
DEEP DIVE PROGRAM
Deep Dives were created to spur innovation within Extension, address complex issues facing metropolitan areas, and support the organizational needs of urban Extension programs, while providing opportunities for academic and community-based professionals to lead multi-state or national projects. Each WCMER Deep Dive is led by a WCMER Applied Research Fellow.
Anyone may apply. Only participants from WCMER platinum member institutions are eligible for funding which may be up to $10,000 annually for up to two years. See the WCMER member page to find out if your institution is a platinum member.
URBAN SABBATICAL FELLOWSHIP
Urban Sabbaticals allow community-engaged scholars to work with the WCMER and faculty from member institutions to conduct applied research, develop or sharpen skills related to working in metropolitan communities, develop and/or pilot new programs, conduct feasibility studies for new programmatic areas, or co-author scholarly products.
Sabbaticals may range from 2-12 months and must be completed by the end of the fiscal year. Anyone is eligible to apply. Only participants from WCMER member institutions will be eligible for stipends of up to $5,000 for platinum members and $2,000 for silver members. See the WCMER member page to find out if your institution is a member.
URBAN GRAD STUDENT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Urban Graduate Fellowships will allow post-graduate students pursuing Master’s or Doctoral degrees to work with the WCMER and faculty from member institutions to conduct applied research, develop new or sharpen existing skills related to working in metropolitan communities, develop and / or pilot new programs, conduct feasibility studies for new programmatic areas, or co-author scholarly products.
Graduate fellowships may range from one quarter up to a full academic year including summer terms, and must be completed by the end of the fiscal year. Anyone is eligible to apply. Only participants from WCMER platinum member institutions will be eligible for stipends of up to $2,500. See the WCMER member page to find out if your institution is a member.
2022-23 Topics of Interest
The WCMER will accept applications on any topic of interest that addressed the goals and mission of WCMER, However, for the current round of funding, WCMER is especially interested in applications that address or relate to the intersection of diversity, equity and inclusion and the following topics:
- Climate Change
- Workforce Development
- Health Equity