Undergraduate Program for Archival Studies and Practice Fellowship

SCUA is elated to once again partner with the Oregon Humanities Center (OHC) in awarding a UO undergraduate student our Archival Studies and Practice Fellowship. Curious to see the work our fellows did last year? Check out their blogs on the John F. Finerty papers and what it’s like to process an archival collection.

Application Deadline

Applications are due no later than 5 pm on Friday, October 13, 2023. Applicants will be notified in November, 2023.

Overview

University of Oregon (UO) undergraduates interested in the humanities and humanities-affiliated social sciences and professions can earn eight internship credits and a $3,000 fellowship stipend during a twenty-week program. The program will provide students with important humanities library sciences research and career readiness skills, while expanding their post-college job prospects. Students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Program background

Study of and research in the humanities helps students develop critical thinking, problem solving, communication, presentation, collaboration, and other important skills required to successfully navigate an ever-changing post-college world regardless of the chosen profession, and to be prepared to help solve society’s most complex issues. To assist students in this transition and to create a student-to-career pipeline, the University of Oregon’s Oregon Humanities Center (OHC) and UO’s Libraries Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) are collaborating to offer an undergraduate student fellowship program focused on building primary archival research and career readiness skills.

SCUA staff will guide the student through an internship and research production experience that will enable the students to think more broadly about their career opportunities and interests, seek other research funding support, and pursue honors theses. Students will gain library science experience while developing project management, data collection and analysis, and digital humanities experience.

The student will receive $3,000 for the twenty-week internship/fellowship, in addition to the high level of support from SCUA and OHC faculty and staff. The student will participate in tutorial sessions led by SCUA faculty and professionals while completing a research fellowship that will culminate in the student performing actual archival work (processing and description), in addition to a public presentation (in-person or virtually) on their project, along with  blog posts and social media collections.

The term humanities as used here includes: literature; philosophy; history; religion; ethics; the history, theory, and criticism of the arts; and historical or interpretive aspects of social and natural sciences and the professions.

This program was made possible by the generosity of OHC donors Herb Merker and Marcy Hammock.

Program Length

This program takes place during the 2024 Winter and Spring terms and lasts twenty weeks.

Schedule

The early weeks of the first term will focus on the student’s coursework, readings, and trainings, followed by an orientation to project management and archival collection processing; the second term will be dedicated to  the student’s  development of archival, technology, research, writing, and public presentation skills.

Eligibility

• Be enrolled at the UO full time as an undergraduate in a humanities or humanities-related major or minor.
• Have a GPA of 3.0 or greater in UO humanities courses.

Expectations and requirements

• Remain enrolled as a full-time student and be in good academic standing during the entirety of the twenty-week program. The credits earned during this program will count toward full-time status.
• Graduation date cannot take place before the completion of the twenty-week program.
• Complete all required training, reading, meetings (weekly and monthly), and projects satisfactorily in order to receive the eight total internship/practicum credits over twenty weeks.
• Participate on the Oregon Humanities Center panel at the Undergraduate Research Symposium in Spring 2024 and/or publicly present findings to OHC, SCUA, and Library staff and faculty.
• Students may not be paid to conduct research through other internal UO research support programs during the same twenty-week program period. Students may, however, accept an external award for the same academic year as this program.
• If for any reason a student’s circumstances change (e.g., due to exit from the University, loss of full-time student status, or the receipt of any grant or award that conflicts with the con­ditions of this program) and the student is unable to use the award during the academic year for which it was granted, the award must be forfeited. This program cannot be deferred.
• Students may participate in this program only once.
• Acknowledge the OHC and SCUA in any work resulting from research done during the program period.
• Notify the OHC and SCUA of any publications, conference presentations, or other awards, fellowships, or employment that result from your research project.
• Notify the OHC and SCUA immediately of other support or any conflict with the eligibility criteria of this program.

Credits and Award

• The student(s) in this program will earn eight internship credits and receive a $3,000 award.
• The student(s) must complete a minimum of three hours of coursework for each credit earned during the class experience.
• To earn eight credits (or four credits per term for two terms as required by this program), the student(s) complete a total of twelve hrs./week over the course of twenty weeks.

IMPORTANT: If you are receiving federal financial aid, this award may affect your financial aid eligibility. Students who receive federal aid have a responsibility to report all awards earned to the UO Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for more information. The OHC will provide recipients and the Financial Aid Office with supporting documents if required.

HOW TO APPLY

Step 1: Read program information and check eligibility

• Read all program information and instructions completely before beginning to work on your application.
• Ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria.

Step 2: Complete the application and compile the required forms.

• Complete application.
• Save the PDF file as: “[Your name]-SCUA program application.”

Step 3: Letter of Recommendation

• The faculty member that is providing your recommendation to this program must submit the letter of recommendation worksheet (both matrix and narrative). Letters of recommendation are accepted from Tenure Track Faculty or Career Non-tenure Track Faculty with an FTE of .50 or above.
• Request that your letter writer complete and email the Letter of Recommendation worksheet, by the required deadline to ohcapplication@uoregon.edu. It is your responsibility to communicate in advance of the deadline with the faculty member providing your recommendation, so they have time to submit the required recommendation worksheet before the deadline.

Step 4: Obtain an unofficial copy of your UO transcripts

• Visit the UO Registrar website to obtain unofficial copies of your transcript.

Step 5: Send your PDF application and unofficial transcripts to: ohcapplication@uoregon.edu. In the subject line write: “[your name]-SCUA program application.”

IMPORTANT NOTE: Under the federal law titled the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and according to the University of Oregon Student Record Policy, registered students are given the right to inspect their records, including letters of recommendation and teacher recommendations. If the student wants to waive their right of access to this recommendation, they may do so by completing a waiver form.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact: Contact information Jena Turner, Associate Director, at jenap@uoregon.edu or 541-346-1001, or Melissa Gustafson, at melissag@uoregon.edu, 541-346-1002.