Dwight D. Eisenhower MIHE Transportation Fellowship Program

Student Application Packet

3/4/2014

DISCLAIMER: This document contains materials in support of Northern Arizona University’s Dwight D. Eisenhower Fellowship Program, made possible through a partnership with the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, Universities & Grants Programs Division. The contents of this application packet are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an obligation by Northern Arizona University or the U.S. Federal Highway Administration to award funding.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER TRANSPORTATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Program Overview

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) provides funding for Native American students in the pursuit of Bachelor’s (junior and senior), Master’s Degrees or Doctorates in transportation related fields at Northern Arizona University (NAU). The program objectives are to attract the nation's brightest minds to the field of transportation; to enhance the careers of transportation professionals by encouraging them to seek advanced degrees; and to retain top talent in the transportation industry of the United States. The Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program encompasses all modes of transportation.

PROGRAM PURPOSE

The purpose of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program is to stimulate interest among Minority Institutions of Higher Education (MIHE) students in conducting transportation-related research, pursue transportation-related degrees, to enter the transportation workforce.

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for MIHE fellowships must:

Possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. Institution if applying for a graduate award; Be enrolled in an accredited U.S. Institution of higher education Be pursuing a degree in a full-time program in a transportation-related discipline Have at least one full academic year remaining in program of study; Conduct ongoing research in one or more transportation-related disciplines; and Plan to enter the transportation profession after completing their higher level education.

A list of transportation-related disciplines can be found in appendix B or on the U&GP website (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tpp/ddetfp.htm#FellowshipsDiscip). Foreign students who are not U.S. citizens must provide a certified copy of their student I-20 ID from the University or I-551 Permanent Resident Card that is issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS).1 Applications without this information will not be considered complete.

Fellowships are intended for: Undergraduate students (juniors and seniors) pursuing transportation-related undergraduate degrees at

an MIHE who plan to enter the transportation profession upon completing their higher education. Graduate students (Masters or Doctorate) pursuing transportation-related graduate degrees at an MIHE

who plan to enter a transportation profession upon completing their higher education.

TENURE OF FELLOWSHIP

The duration of the fellowship will be 9 to 12 months for each academic year.

1 A Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), commonly known as a Green Card, is evidence of your status as a lawful permanent resident with a right to live and work permanently in the United States. It also is evidence of your registration in accordance with United States immigration laws. Once students are accepted by the school, the University / College provides students a form known as a Certificate of Eligibility (SEVIS I-20).

Fellowship recipients are eligible for funding only during the months of full-time enrollment in undergraduate or graduate degree programs, or during on-site research projects or internships with approved transportation agencies.

Recipients are only allowed to receive the MIHE fellowship for a maximum of two consecutive years. During the tenure of the award, the recipient must maintain satisfactory academic performance as

established by Northern Arizona University’s Student Handbook.

TUITION CAP

Annually a maximum of $10,000 in tuition and mandatory fees will be covered. All recipients may not receive a full award (i.e. tuition, stipend, and travel to Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting). Recipient award will be based on the rankings from the local Selection Panel. Recipients will receive a minimum of $1,500, for attendance at the Transportation Research Board’s Annual Meeting.

The stipends for the Eisenhower Transportation Fellowships are as follows:

MonthlyUndergraduate Level Up to $1,450Masters Level Up to $1,700Doctorate Level Up to $2,000

Attendance at the TRB Annual Meeting is mandatory for all fellowship recipients. The TRB meeting is held in January 2015 in Washington DC. All recipients are required to submit a 300 word presentation abstract pertaining to their research for this conference. Those selected will be required to present at the conference. Additional information will be provided to students selected for the program for planning purposes.

Please note stipends are taxable income and must be reported to the IRS. Recipient awards are based on the ranking given, and the availability of funding. All program-related expenses must be supported by receipts and invoices. Any unused funds must be returned to FHWA.

SELECTION PROCESS & TIMELINE

All NAU student fellowship applications will be evaluated by an Evaluation Panel, consisting of local, state, and private transportation professionals. Following the completion of their review, recommendations for fellowship awards are sent to the Federal Highway Administration for review. The final decision on fellowship recipients is the sole responsibility of the Federal Highway Administration and is subject to funding availability.

March 7, 2014 Program Announced and Application available online for downloadFriday, March 13 4, 2014 Faculty and Student information session will be held in RM 220, located

in Engineering Building (#69) from 11am-12pm.March 7, 2014- April 4, 2014 Complete of application packet, including Part 1 Application form,

Part 2 Program of Study essay, and supplemental materials (official college transcripts, four letters of recommendation, eligibility documents (non-US citizens only) and professional resume (max 2-pages). Please note that all student applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their Program of Study with their faculty advisor and/or the Campus Manager (Dr. Jun Ho). At minimum, applicants must obtain their faculty advisor’s signature on the application form, prior to submission.

Friday, April 4, 2014 Student Fellowship Applications Due by 4:00 p.m. Submit applications to Dr. Jun Ho’s door box, RM 322D (Engineering

Building - 3rd floor) (Building #69). Please put all application materials in a storage envelope.

April 4 – April 14, 2014 Student applications reviewed by Evaluation Panel

April 16, 2014 Fellowship recommendations sent to Federal Highway Administration Program Manager for review and final decision.

April 18 – May 30, 2014 Federal Highway Administration, U&GP Program Manager makes final selection. NAU notifies all applicants of decision as soon as the final notifications are received.

August 1, 2014 Fellowship recipients begin program Note: fellowship recipients are encouraged to prepare their study early in the summer of 2014 in order to submit an abstract in a timely manner to Federal Highway Administration before September 16, 2014.

CRITERIA FOR APPLICATION EVALUATION

MIHE Fellowships will be awarded on the basis of merit. Evidence of merit will include:

Class standing, GPA, and official university transcripts; Potential for Outstanding Career in Transportation (Transportation work experience, if applicable); Proposed plan of study; Letters of recommendation regarding the applicant's qualifications; Overall quality of Application

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD ANNUAL MEETING (TRB)Recipients will be provided a one-time expenditure (up to $1,500) for travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the TRB Annual meeting held January 11-15, 2015.

The recipients are responsible for logging on to www.trb.org and registering themselves and for arranging travel and hotel accommodations through the university to obtain the most cost-efficient rates. Discounted registration is provided for all Eisenhower recipients. Since funding is provided, attendance at TRB is mandatory. In addition to attendance at TRB, it is also required that students attend ALL Eisenhower Events. All Students should plan to arrive by Sunday, and leave after the Networking Reception on Tuesday. If students have other commitments (i.e., presentations or poster sessions) during TRB they must notify the U&GP Program Manager in advance and get approval. Campus Managers are responsible for students securing per diem for their trip by December, 2014.

Recipients are also required, regardless of funding level, to submit an abstract of their research (or proposed research) for review and consideration for presentation at TRB. The abstract will contain 300 words maximum. Selected recipients will be required to deliver a 10 – 15 minute presentation describing their research project at the meeting.

The following contact information shall be provided with each abstract:

a. Name of Recipient;b. Name of Eisenhower Campus Manager; c. Name of Faculty Advisor; d. University / College; e. Research Title;f. Major of Recipient; and

g. Name as it is to appear on the TRB Badge.

The abstract should be submitted electronically through the Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Campus Manager no later than September 16th to gerald.hill@dot.gov.Note: All student travel arrangement (registration, lodging, per diem and airfare) should be completed by December, 2014.

INTERNSHIPS

Recipients may study or participate in research at transportation organizations during their tenure if, in the judgment of the faculty advisor and the Eisenhower Campus Program Manager, such study will enhance their knowledge in transportation. The Program Manager, U&GP must approve all internships. The stipend rate will remain the same. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

Undergraduate and graduate recipients shall prepare a thesis/dissertation, or research paper on a topic directly related to a relevant transportation problem or issue. The Faculty Advisor MUST approve topics.

Recipients are required to attend TRB held in January in Washington, D.C. and be prepared to present on their research project.

The results of all research will be the property of FHWA and a copy must be made available to FHWA on an unlimited, royalty-free basis.

Upon completion of the fellowship, a copy of each student’s thesis/dissertation, or research paper and any other related research must be submitted to the Program Manager, U&GP, along with the university’s year and DDETFP report. In addition, fellowship recipients also should notify the Campus Manager, Dr. Jun Ho, with the completion of their research project and a copy of their thesis/dissertation or report should be sent to Dr. Jun Ho to keep a record.

DEADLINE FOR STUDENT APPLICATIONS

Applications to the Fellowship Program must be submitted no later than April 4, 2014 by 4:00 p.m. for consideration. Late responses will not be considered. Electronic or fax submissions will not be accepted. Please put all application materials in a storage envelope. Completed applications must be submitted in hard copy format and delivered to Dr. Jun Ho’s door box, RM 322D, (located on the 3 rd floor of the Engineering Building) (Building #69).

NAU STUDENT & FACULTY INFORMATION SESSIONS

Information sessions for students interested in learning more about this program will be held on the following date and time:

Friday, March 13 from 11am-12pm in RM 220 (located in Engineering Building #69)

For more information about the Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program, please contact the Campus Manager, Dr. Jun Ho, at chun-hsing.ho@nau.edu or 928-523-5307.

Appendix ADWIGHT D. EISENHOWER TRANSPORTATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

STUDENT APPLICATION CHECKLIST

Download and review all program information and application materials

Review eligibility requirements for program

Non-U.S. Citizens Only: Must include a copy of your I-20 ID or I-551 issued by the U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service with your application.

Completed Part 1 of Application Form and obtained NAU faculty advisor signature

Completed Part 2 of Application Form providing details on proposed Program of Study.

Obtained minimum four letters of recommendation supporting your qualifications for the program.

Professional resume (maximum 2-pages)

Ordered official NAU Transcripts (applicants are responsible for tracking your transcript order).

Submit complete application package to Dr. Jun Ho’s door box, RM 322D, located in the Engineering Building (#69) by 4:00 p.m. March 27, 2014.

Appendix A: Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship

Transportation-Related Disciplines *

Arts and SciencesArchitectureChemistryCommunicationComputer ScienceCriminal JusticeEnvironmentalScience InformationSystems LogisticsMathematicsPublic AdministrationPhysics

AviationAeronautical StudiesAirway ScienceAviation Flight Management Science

BusinessAccountingBusiness AdministrationBusiness ManagementFinanceEconomicsManagementMarketing

Education and Human DevelopmentEducationHuman FactorsHuman ResourcesPsychology

EngineeringChemical EngineeringCivil EngineeringConstruction EngineeringElectrical EngineeringElectronic EngineeringEngineering (General)Environmental EngineeringGeotechnical EngineeringManufacturing EngineeringMechanical EngineeringStructural EngineeringTransportation Engineering

LawLaw

Public Policy and PlanningPublic Policy & AnalysisPolitical Science/GovernmentUrban and Regional PlanningUrban Studies

TransportationPavement and MaterialsTransportation (General)Transportation (Infrastructure)Transportation (Traffic Operations)Transportation LogisticsTransportation Planning & ManagementTransportation PolicyTransportation Studies

*Other transportation-related disciplines may be approved by the Program Manager, U&GP on a case-by-case basis.

Appendix B

2014 EISENHOWER MIHE TRANSPORTATION FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION (Part 1)

BURDEN STATEMENT

Name * Signature of Applicant (Required)

Current Address Telephone No.: E-mail Address:

Permanent Address Telephone No.:

Check one box and circle year to indicate your status as of 9/1/2014:

Undergraduate Undergraduate Master’s Student Doctoral Student (Junior) (Senior) 1 st yr 2 nd yr 1 st yr 2 nd yr 3 rd yr

RACE (optional) American Indian Alaskan Native Asian African/African American Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander White Other

ETHNICITY (optional) Hispanic or Latino Not Hispanic or Latino Hispanic or Latino in Puerto Rico Not Hispanic or Latino in Puerto Rico

U.S. Citizen Yes No If no, please attach a CERTIFIED copy of Certificate of Eligibility (SEVIS I-20) or Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) issued by the C.I.S..

Gender:

Male Female

Experience in Other Transportation Educations Programs

ENO Fellow Yr ______ NSTI Yr______ DDETFP Yr _______

UTC Award Yr _______ STIPDG Yr _____

This collection of information is voluntary and will be used to determine the applicant’s qualifications for the DDETFP. Public reporting burden is estimated to average three hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions and completing the application. All information collected is confidential and will be used by program staff for program administration purposes only. Please note that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 2125-0617. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Application MUST be typed. Printed / Handwritten applications will not be considered

University

Academic Department

Applicant’s Major (i.e. Civil Engineering, Urban Planning)

Applicant’s Field of Study (i.e. Traffic Studies, Physical Planning)

Faculty Advisor

Name:

Title:

Address:

Telephone No.:

E-mail Address:

*Signature of Faculty Advisor (Required) Date

Campus Program Manager

Name:

Title:

Address:

Telephone No.:

E-mail Address:

*Signature of Campus Program Manager (Required) Date

*Electronic Signatures are NOT acceptable. Print and sign document. Unsigned documents will NOT be considered.

DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER TRANSPORTATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM2014 EISENHOWER MIHE TRANSPORTATION FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION (Part 2)

Must be typed

Proposed Plan of Study

Please provide a summary of how your plan of study will impact and enhance the field of transportation and what role transportation takes in your professional goals. Incorporate educational, personal and work experiences, accomplishments, volunteer activities and/or events that support your plan of study. (max 750 words)