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Information about the Bishop Fellowship
Updated with information for 2009.
To: Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors
Fr: Lauren Stolper, Director of Study Abroad <lstolper@caltech.edu>
Re: APPLICATION DIRECTIONS: Bishop Summer Study Abroad
Prize
Application Deadline of February 15, 2009
Our efforts to expand study abroad opportunities have
resulted in an exciting opportunity for summer study abroad. The Bishop family
has agreed to honor the memory of Dr. Amasa Bishop who graduated from Caltech
with his B.S. in physics in 1943 by establishing the Amasa Bishop Summer Study
Abroad prize. Dr. Bishop served as Chief of the U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission's Controlled Thermonuclear Branch and went on to become the Atomic
Energy's European Scientific representative.
Due to Dr. Bishop's understanding of the need for scientists
and engineers to gain exposure to international issues and cultures, his
family, has agreed to fund prizes for summer study abroad.
Two types of prizes will be awarded:
- Long Term Option: This prize type will fund study for 5
to 10 weeks. Applicants should propose a budget not to exceed $8000. The
budget must cover costs specifically related to the program's fees, travel to
the program, room/board expenses, local travel, and personal expenses such as
laundry. Items such as cell phone costs or equipment should not be included.
One to two prizes will be available. This option is intended to be the major
focus of the applicant's summer. Note that for the Long Term Option it is
possible to combine two study programs, e.g. two weeks of language study
followed by four weeks of a classroom program. However, the programs should be
in the same country.
- Short Term Option: This prize type will fund 2 to 4
weeks of summer study abroad. Applicants should propose a budget not to exceed
$5000. The budget must cover costs specifically related to the program's fees,
travel to the program, room/board expenses, local travel, and personal expenses
such as laundry. Items such as cell phone costs or equipment should not be
included. One to four prizes will be available. This option can be done
before or after a summer research position or summer job.
Application requirements:
- Juniors, sophomores or
freshmen with a 2.8 and above GPA may apply.
- Must be in good standing
– no disciplinary problems. Applicants may not be on leave from
Caltech for the current year or fall following the summer abroad.
- U.S. citizens, permanent
residents and international students may apply. Note you cannot study in
a country where you hold citizenship already or are a permanent resident.
- The program you propose must
provide housing set up by the program. Housing arranged by the student
will not be allowed.
- The proposed study plan should
have a strong cultural component, e.g., history, politics, language, etc.
- Language study should be a
component of the program in countries in which English is not the native
language. Exceptions will be made for archaeology related programs and
certain field programs in Africa countries. Students may study in an
English speaking country, but must have a strong cultural component to
their program.
- Applicants may only apply for
formal programs – no independent study is allowed.
- Classroom or field study is
preferred. In select cases public or community service internships may be
allowed, but only in not English speaking countries when there is a
formally language component. Note that casual language study arranged by
the student is not allowed. Language study must be arranged by the
program and provide at daily lessons.
- Students may not solicit or
obtain funding from any other source to fund any aspect of their
activities abroad as a Bishop Prize winner.
What is covered:
Round trip airfare and all tuition fees and living expenses
as proposed in the student's budget request (see application procedures below)
and up to amount specified in the Long and Short Term Study Options above.
Within this budget, applicants can request funds for travel in the country of
their study program. Travel can be done before or after the study program. A
complete and detailed budget that breaks down the cost of the program into
components such as tuition, fees, meals covered, additional meal costs,
estimated round-trip travel, and books is required. Note that Bishop funds
cannot be used to pay elective personal costs such as phone charges or to
purchase equipment such as cameras, travel guides, etc. Also note that travel
before or after the program funded by the Bishop should be done independently.
Program requirements
- Students will select an established study abroad program
that is at least two weeks in length and is a maximum of ten weeks in length.
Some summer programs begin as early as late May, but there cannot be a conflict
with the end of Caltech's third term or the start of fall term. Note that no
independent study will be allowed. Students must propose an established
program. Information about hundreds of such programs is available in our
office's library. Note that students may not do internships that are
equivalent to work experience. Some programs offer an internship component
that is more akin to a structured learning experience. Work in for-profit
organizations is never allowed. Students who wish to apply to a program with
an internship or field component should submit a complete hard copy description
to the Office of Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad as part of their
application and clearly describe what the field or internship entails.
- The program may be in any country of the world including
English-speaking countries. However, students should not propose countries
with which the U.S. does not have diplomatic relations or for which there are
current State Department travel warnings or prohibitions.
- The proposed program should include at least one course
that is language or cultural study. For example, if you wish to go to Britain,
you should choose a program that teaches British history, architecture,
literature, etc. If you propose a non-English speaking country, your program
should have at least one course studying the language. This covers beginning
through advanced. NOTE THAT STUDENTS CANNOT PROPOSE COUNTRIES FOR WHICH THEY
HOLD CITIZENSHIP, PERMANENT RESIDENCY, OR IN THAT THEY WISH TO LIVE WITH
RELATIVES.
- The study program aside from the language/cultural
requirements may have study in areas such as economics, public policy,
environment, science or engineering, architecture or history.
- The proposed program should provide a homestay or
dormitory for participants. You cannot make your own living arrangements or
stay with a friend or relative.
Application Procedures
- An essay describing why the applicant is seeking this experience. The applicant's goals
should reflect the ideals of Dr. Bishop and reflect in some way his interests
in the importance of global interaction and experience, the environment, and
his love of science. Students will also complete a basic information form
available in our office. An article on Dr. Bishop is also available in our
office.
Applicants should also describe their proposed program of
study, the number of weeks of the program's duration and what they hope to gain
from the summer intellectually and personally. Applicants should comment on how
the program will enhance or positively impact their academic and/or career
goals.
- Students must submit a detailed budget proposal. There should be separate budget lines for airfare,
program tuition, room, board/food, living expenses such as laundry and local
travel. Note that travel before or after the program should be detailed and an
itinerary submitted as well as a specific budget provided in the budget
proposal. Also note you must breakdown the program cost into components such as
meals, tuition, fees, excursions, etc. If this information is not listed on
the program's web site then telephone them or email them to obtain it. Do not
supply one overall figure – although you should provide a total for your
budget request. Note that it is important to obtain cost information or
estimates for next summer – do not base you budget on the previous year's
costs. Contact your prospective program to obtain next summer's costs or an
estimate of costs. Airfare can be estimated based on an online search. Please
provide an average of 3 airfares, versus the lowest you find, as such fares may
not be available.
- Students must complete the two part application.
Please provide all information requested on each form.
- YOU MUST ALSO SUBMIT A COPY OF THE PROGRAM BROCHURE
OR THE WEB PAGE PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE PROGRAM AND A GOOD DESCRIPTION OF
WHAT THE PROGRAM ENTAILS. Books reviewing
study abroad programs and travel are available in our office library. Also you
can use http://www.iiepassport.org to
search for study abroad programs.
- A current transcript from Caltech and any other university at which the applicant has been
a full time student must be submitted.
- Two letters of reference are required from Caltech faculty, lecturers, instructors or
administrators. Reference forms are available in my office. Peer references
or references from family or friends are not allowed.
Additional Important Points for Bishop Applicants:
The Bishop Prize can only be used for classroom based or
structured learning study abroad programs sponsored by bona fide universities,
language schools, or non-profit education agencies such as the Institute for
International Education. The Bishop must be your primary summer activity for
the Longer Term Option. Note that Bishop recipients may not hold or apply
for other funds to support their Bishop experience. Those who do so will
forfeit the prize.
Note that any Bishop funded travel must be done in the
country in which you choose to study.
Students may not use personal funds to contribute to
program tuition costs. Personal funds or airmiles may be used to supplement or
pay for travel and small personal expenses. Students may not combine the Bishop with funds from another grant or prize.
Also note:
- The Bishop Award cannot be used to fund work, work
oriented internships (see comments above in#1 of Program Requirements), research,
self-designed study programs or volunteer work.
- The Bishop Award cannot be held in conjunction with a
Caltech SURF and you cannot simultaneously hold a Bishop Award and a SURF or
other award funding summer study or travel, e.g., NSEP, Studenski, or
research.
- You must provide a complete description of the program
giving requirements, programs description, costs and dates. Brochures or a web
page printout is acceptable. If current information is not available,
information from the previous summer with an estimate (obtained from the
program organizers) should be submitted.
- Bishop Prize holders are required to be in regular email
contact (weekly) with the Study Abroad Office during the academic component of
the prize.
The application deadline for all materials is February 15.
Turn all materials into our Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad, Room
319.
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