Summer Intensive Languages and Fellowships
Please Note, that the deadline for the SCALI FLAS fellowship was February 13th. However, applications and recommendations for admission to the SCALI program will continue to be accepted till the end of May; also, the latter applicants will be considered for SCALI FLAS, in case there is any leftover SCALI FLAS funds for fellowships, i.e., FLAS funds unallocated to those who met the first deadline of February 13th.
From June 15 to August 7, 2009, Michigan State University will host the national Summer Cooperative African Language Institute (SCALI). The intensive, eight-week institute provides the equivalent of one year of African language instruction with cultural exposure. Ten-to-14 languages are taught each summer.
SCALI is offered collaboratively by the nation's Title VI National Resource Centers for African Language and Area Studies with funding from the U.S. Department of Education.
Title VI FLAS Fellowships are available for graduate students to attend SCALI for all languages including Elementary Swahili. FLAS awards cover the cost of normal core college tuition and fees and a stipend of $2,500 for the duration of the institute. FLAS fellowships and the SCALI program are funded by the U.S. Department of Education.Please note that FLAS fellowship is NOT a precondition for being admitted to the SCALI program. Anybody can attend as long as the requirements of the application are met: e.g., transcript/s, letter/s of recommendation, and the completed signature page of the application form.
MSU students should apply for a FLAS fellowship first to Title VI centers at Michigan State University – either the African Studies Center or the Center for Advanced Study of International Development and Women and International Development Program.
If fellowships are not available from these MSU centers, you may apply for fellowships from other Title VI National Resource Centers on Africa. Deadlines at these institutions vary. In 2009, in addition to MSU, FLAS fellowships for SCALI are available from:
- Boston University, African Studies Center
- University of Florida, Center for African Studies
- University of Illinois, Center for African Studies
- Indiana University, African Studies Program
- Michigan State University, African Studies Center
- Ohio University, African Studies Program
- Stanford University, Center for African Studies
- University of California, Berkeley, Center for African Studies
- University of Kansas, African Studies Center
- Columbia University, African Studies
- University of Wisconsin, African Studies Program
- Yale University, Council on African Studies
Eligibility
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent by the time study with the fellowship begins and must be a U. S. citizen or permanent resident.
Applicants will be favored who (1) have clear promise of completing a Ph.D. program with concentration in African language and area studies, (2) plan to utilize their training for research in Africa, and (3) have excellent academic records as evidenced by course grades, recommendations, and other information.
Application Procedure
Applicants for Summer FLAS fellowships must submit the following:
- A completed online application form available on this website. If you do not have access to the internet to complete the application contact us at (517) 353-1700 or scali@msu.edu. We will e-mail you with a PDF version of the application form upon request.
- Official transcripts that list your academic performance for at least the last two years (thus, you must include your undergraduate study transcript if you have less that 2 years of graduate study);
- One letter of reference/evaluation each from your major professor and, if relevant, your African language instructor on forms provided on this website.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Yacob Fisseha, Assistant Director, African Studies Center
100 International Center, (517) 353-1700
e-mail: scali@msu.edu
