Graduate Fellows Program

In the Bailey Scholars Program, Graduatate Students engage with the our work to explore their scholarly and professional interests through our Graduate Fellows program.  The graduate fellows program is designed to provide a learning opportunity for graduate students to learn more about the unique and innovative paradigms associated with the program, while engaging further in their own goals for their future.  Depending upon the availability of funds, graduate students are provided a stipend for their work with the graduate fellows program on a semester to semester basis.  There are also opportunities to engage in the Graduate Fellows Program through practica experiences depending on home department standards.

Envisioning

The Graduate Fellows Program begins with an envisioning process where students outline their intentions and goals for their work with the Bailey Scholars Program.  This is to encourage intentionality and criticality for their work, as this is not a position, but an opportunity to gain skill sets in areas previously unexplored, gain a greater understanding of learning paradigms and higher education, and refine those skill sets the graduate student currently employs.  This envisionment provides accountability.  The students gauge their work based on their envisionment, and the program also holds them accountable to their proposed work.  However, we recognize the ability for our graduate fellows to grow and expand, and this envisionment may be revised depending upon the evolving and emerging interests of the student.

You may view examples of envisionments of graduate fellows in the envisionments section.  We encourage you to read through them and explore the amazing work of our Graduate Fellows.

Project Possibilities

The possibilities to work and engage with the Bailey Scholars Program truly are endless.  However, in order for students to gain a better understanding of the innovative work we perform, they must engage with the endeavors of the program in some fashion.  Students may devise a project of their own, or may engage in the work already associated with the program. 

We offer opportunities to serve as a Course Convener for our graduate fellows with our faculty.  Due to the nature of our courses, instructors do not necessarily "teach" in the conventional sense, but instead convene the course's progression.  For more information on convening and an greater explanation of our courses, please visit our course information section.  This aids our Graduate Fellows in their future work, as it provides an opportunity to view our theory and paradigms in practice, permitting them to view multiple methods for encouraging the learning of students.

Graduate Fellows may also engage in other work of the program.  We have two international programs, a study abroad to County Mayo, Ireland and a study abroad to County Monaghan, Ireland that our Graduate Fellows may engage with.  We also have multiple research opportunities with our faculty.  They may also work with our development projects.  Graduate Fellows may also design a project for the program that fits the needs of our future, but also enhances their professional development as well.

Monthly Meetings

In addition to their individual work, our Graduate Fellows meet as a group monthly to create a supportive community they may identify with through scholarly dialogue and discourse.  During these montly meetings, we discuss the progress of the work of our Graduate Fellows.  Each individual is given the opportunity to discuss the work he or she is engaging in.  During this time, scholarly articles associated with our work in the Bailey Scholars Program are read and discussed so they may be processed as a group and to continually consider how theory may inform our practice.

Semesterly Presentations

At the end of each semester, each graduate fellow is required to communicate to the community the work they are performing, and how it is moving forward the envisionment he or she designed.  This provides our Graduate Fellows with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with presenting their work to their peers in practical preparations for their future professional careers.  This process also encourages community dialogue and learning, one of the tenets of the Bailey Scholars Program.

Funding

Each Graduate Fellow receives a monetary stipend per semester to supplement the time spent working with projects associated with the Bailey Scholars Program.  Amounts vary year to year depending on fund availability.  Each Graduate Fellow is also provided with a small amount of professional development dollars to aid in their work associated with the Bailey Scholars Program and their future careers.

Applying To Be A Fellow

Appointments are on a semesterly basis, with the option to renew for multiple semesters depending on performance and interest.  The application process is usually opened in the summer of each academic year, but there are options to engage as a Graduate Fellow throughout the year.  If you are interested in becoming a Bailey Scholars Graduate Fellow, please contact Glenn Sterner at sternerg@msu.edu or (517) 432-0735 for current availability.