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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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- Do I qualify for this Fellowship?
- Which schools are eligible for the Undergraduate (GRO) Fellowship?
- My school is a two-year institution. Do I qualify?
- What type of assistance do Fellows receive?
- How many years does this award cover?
- Is the summer internship a requirement for this award?
- What should be included in my Personal Statement?
- Who should provide my letters of recommendation?
- One of my professors would like to e-mail a letter of recommendation. Is that okay?
- When, where, and how do I submit my application?
- I’m having problems with some of the forms. Can someone help me?
- I am having problems with my on-line submission through grants.gov. Can someone help me?
- Are there any official forms that I must complete?
- If I have another fellowship, must I give it up to be eligible for the EPA Fellowship?
- How will my application be reviewed?
- What is the best advice you can give me in completing this application?
- How do I know that you got my application?
- Do I qualify for this Fellowship?
To be eligible for the fellowship, undergraduates must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence. Resident aliens must include a green card number in the application. Before a fellowship is awarded, the residency status of all aliens will be confirmed with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services.
- Must be pursuing a bachelor's degree in an environmentally related field of specialization.
- Have at least a “B” average (3.0 on a 4.0 scale).
- Have two full-time years of study remaining before receiving a Bachelor’s degree.
- Must attend a four-year accredited institution full time, or a two-year accredited institution with plans to attend a four-year institution following graduation. Furthermore, the four-year institution must be a U.S. academic institution which receives less than $35 million in Federal Research and Development expenditures (see the National Science Foundation's publication "Federal Science and Engineering Support to Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit Institutions: FY 2006," Table 12 column 2). Institutions identified as receiving a $35 million or less in annual federal research and development funding, as designated in column 2 of Table 12, are eligible, including those accredited institutions not listed. These data can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf09310/pdf/nsf09310.pdf (297 pp, 1.13 MB, about PDF), Table 12, pp. 37 – 64. Note that not all of these schools receive less than $35 million. Consult the NSF Report specified above to see if you school is eligible.
- Which schools are eligible for the Undergraduate GRO Fellowship?
Students at institutions receiving $35 million or less in annual federal research and development funding, as designated in the National Science Foundation’s report, "Federal Science and Engineering Support to Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit Institutions: FY 2006," Table 12 column 2. Institutions identified as receiving $35 million or less in annual federal research and development funding, as designated in column 2 of Table 12, are eligible, including those accredited institutions not listed. These data can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf09310/pdf/nsf09310.pdf (297 pp, 1.13 MB, about PDF), Table 12, pp. 37 – 64. Note that not all of these schools receive less than $35 million. Consult the NSF Report specified above to see if you school is eligible.
Applicants attending eligible institutions with substantial minority enrollment are particularly encouraged to apply. Examples of such schools are those that the U.S. Department of Education lists as “Accredited Postsecondary Minority Institutions” consistent with Executive Orders 13125 (Increasing Participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Federal Programs), 13230 (President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans), 13256 (White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities), and 13270 (Executive Order on Tribal Colleges and Universities), which seek to advance the development of the Nation's full human potential, advance equal opportunity in higher education, strengthen the capacity of these institutions to provide the highest quality education, and increase opportunities for these institutions to participate in and benefit from Federal programs. Note however, that not all of these schools receive $35 million or less annually in Federal Research and Development expenditures. For specific information regarding Federal funding to minority-serving institutions, see The Extent of Federal S&E Funding to Minority-Serving Institutions, at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf04325/nsf04325.pdf (6 pp, 438 K).
- My school is a two-year institution. Do I qualify?
Students who are currently enrolled in a two-year institution that meets the eligibility criteria, and who will be entering a four-year institution for their junior year are eligible for the fellowship.
Also regarding students who are attending community college, note that only those institutions that are either four-year baccalaureate-granting institutions with degree programs in one or more eligible academic fields, or two-year institutions that grant associate degrees and participate in Articulation Agreements with four-year institutions, are eligible to participate in this fellowship program.
An Articulation Agreement is a signed contract between a community or technical college and a four-year college or university that guarantees that a student who earns an associate degree at a participating two-year institution can transfer all of the general education core credits to the four-year institution toward the completion of baccalaureate degree requirements. More information can usually be obtained directly from the institution’s Registrar.
- What type of assistance do Fellows receive?
A more detailed breakout of the funding covering stipend, tuition, and expenses is as follows:
- Stipends: During the nine-month academic year, a $800 stipend will be paid to the fellow each month, for a total annual stipend of $7,200. Stipends are paid directly to the Fellow. Each institution may choose to supplement a Fellow's stipend from institutional funds in accordance with the supplementation policy of the institution.
- Tuition and Academic Fees: Up to $10,000 per year will be paid directly to the institution for allowable tuition and fees. For the purposes of this fellowship, health insurance is not considered to be an academic fee even if it is required by the institution. Health insurance costs may, however, be paid from the expense allowance.
- Expense Allowance: Up to $2,500 will be provided to pay for items and activities for the direct benefit of the student's education, such as for health insurance, books, supplies, equipment, and travel to technical and scientific meetings. Specific instructions regarding the disbursement and management of the expense allowance will be provided during the award process.
- Internship Allowance: During the summer internship, the fellow will receive a total of $9,500 for the three-month period. This amount includes $1,000 for travel to and from the summer internship site, $1,500 for travel while at the site, and a stipend of $7,000 for living expenses.
- How many years does this award cover?
The award provides financial support for the final two years of study, beginning in the fall. Students with less than or more than two years remaining toward their Bachelor’s degree are not eligible.
- Is the summer internship a requirement for this award?
YES! The summer internship is a requirement for undergraduate fellows. The EPA will provide a fellow with a paid internship at one of its laboratories, regional offices, or headquarters programs in the United States. Also, a stipend and temporary relocation support will be provided during the internship.
- What should be included in my Personal Statement?
The Personal Statement provides you with an opportunity to explain your interests and goals. You should give serious attention to this part of your application, answering the specific questions posed in the RFA. Give enough information so that you may be adequately evaluated. Note that there is a 750 word limit for the Personal Statement.
- Who should provide my letters of recommendation?
You will need three letters of recommendation from different individuals. One of these should be from your school advisor. The remaining two letters should come from faculty members who can attest to your interests and potential. It is important to choose faculty members who know you very well and can describe your abilities in great detail. Letters could also be written by past or current employers or others who know your potential and interests. The letters must be recent.
- One of my professors would like to e-mail a letter of recommendation. Is that okay?
Yes. Letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically. All letters must arrive by 11:59:59 P.M. Eastern Time on the closing date of the solicitation and must clearly identify the applicant and the funding opportunity number. Read the announcement for details.
- When, where, and how do I submit my application?
You may submit either a paper application or an electronic application (but not both) for this announcement. The necessary forms for submitting a paper application will be found on the NCER web site. See the RFA for the URL. To apply electronically you must follow the instructions printed in the RFA (see Section IV). Paper applications must be received by EPA by 4:00 PM ET on the solicitation closing date. Electronic applications must be submitted to Grants.gov by 11:59:59 PM ET on the solicitation closing date.
- I’m having problems with some of the forms. Can someone help me?
Please read the solicitation again. If you still have problems, send a web-based inquiry as instructed in the RFA. Typically, you will receive a response within 48 hours.
- I am having problems with my on-line submission through grants.gov. Can someone help me?
Please read the solicitation again. If you still have problems, call 1-800-490-9194, or send an electronic inquiry as instructed in the RFA.
- Are there any official forms that I must complete?
If you are selected for a fellowship, EPA will send you two federal forms which must be completed and returned before the award can be made.
- If I have another fellowship, must I give it up to be eligible for the EPA Fellowship?
Possibly not. You cannot receive any other federal assistance – scholarships, grants, fellowships, or traineeships – at the same time as the EPA fellowship. However, if the funding source of your other fellowship is not federal, you can accept both awards.
- How will my application be reviewed?
Depending on the number of applications we receive, the review process could consist of mail reviews, convened panels or a combination of the two. Each application will be reviewed by experts in the general field of specialization that you have identified. Reviewers are given detailed guidance on the review process, including the review criteria. We will make award decisions based upon the recommendations of the peer review panel, EPA needs, and available funds.
- What is the best advice you can give me for completing this application?
This year only, you have the option of completing a paper application or an electronic application, but you cannot do both. Therefore, decide which one you prefer, then review the instructions carefully and underline only the instructions that relate to the application process that you selected to use. Use those underlined instructions as a checklist to insure that you follow all of them completely and within the deadlines given.
- How do I know that you got my application?
For both paper and electronic applications, an e-mail will be sent by NCER to the applicant to acknowledge receipt of the application and transmit other important information. The e-mail will be sent from receipt.application@epa.gov; e-mail to this address will not be accepted. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 30 days of the submission closing date, immediately call 1-800-490-9194 (the EPA/NCER toll-free telephone number). Failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed. See “Submission Instructions for Electronic Applications” for additional information regarding acknowledgment of receipt of electronically submitted applications. Please note: Due to often lengthy delays in delivery, it is especially important that you monitor NCER’s confirmation of receipt of your application when using US Postal Service mail.