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:

1. 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.
2. 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:

1. Juniors, sophomores or freshmen with a 2.8 and above GPA may apply.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. The program you propose must provide housing set up by the program. Housing arranged by the student will not be allowed.
5. The proposed study plan should have a strong cultural component, e.g., history, politics, language, etc.
6. 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.
7. Applicants may only apply for formal programs – no independent study is allowed.
8. 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.
9. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Students must complete the two part application. Please provide all information requested on each form.
4. 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.
5. A current transcript from Caltech and any other university at which the applicant has been a full time student must be submitted.
6. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.