Grants and Opportunities
The University of Kansas ' Center of Latin American Studies is committed to helping students find financial support and other sources of income, including grants, graduate teaching assistantships, work-study, and student loans. The Center of Latin American Studies (CLAS) supports undergraduate students in all fields with scholarships, fellowships, loans, and undergraduate research grants. In 2009, 58.8% of the Center's undergraduates received support .
The Center of Latin American Studies provides further support through the Stansifer Fund to support PhD research on Central America, the Oppenheimer Memorial Fund ($6,000 per year for student research on Latin American topics), and Tinker Field Research Grants.
CLAS students may also work as GTAs in Spanish & Portuguese. Graduate teaching assistantships typically involve leading discussion sections, advising, and designing and grading student papers and exams in exchange for free tuition and a stipend. The Department of Spanish and Portuguese regularly offers assistantships and teaching positions to Latin American Studies students to teach undergraduate Spanish language classes, you will need the Out of Field GTA Appointment form. Other university departments also occasionally offer assistantships for which Latin American Studies students may be competitive.
Other financial aid and funding for graduate students may also be available through external sources. Visit the Office of Student Financial Aid .
Latin Americanist Graduate Research Competition
Held during the Spring semester, the annual Latin Americanist Graduate Research Competition allows KU graduate students focusing on a Latin American topic the opportunity to present their work in front of their peers and a panel of faculty judges. A keynote faculty speaker is featured during the catered lunch. Cash prizes are awarded to the top presenters at both the MA and PhD level.
2010 Winners
MA Level
1st- Sydney Silverstein, Anthropology: "After the Smoke has Cleared: The Truth Commission and Challenges Toward Reconciliation in Peru"
2nd- Emily Tummons, Linguitics: "Positional Roots of Kaqchikel Maya"
3rd- Andrew Bailey, LAS/Business: "Overcoming Barriers through Integration: The Development of Ecuadorian Football 1900-Present"
PhD Level
1st- Pedro dos Santos, Political Science: “O Pulo do Gato: Campaign Strategy, Finance, and Women’s Representation in Brazil”
2nd- Jodi Gentry, Environmental Engineering: “Application of Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning Systems for Implementing and Managing a
Water and Sanitation Project in Patanatik, Guatemala”
Stansifer Fellowship
Endowed by Professor Emeritus Charles Stansifer, this annual award supports graduate students planning to complete a doctorate in the study of Middle America (Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean).
Priority is to be given first to students of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, or Panama) second to Mexico, third to the Caribbean, and fourth to students of relations between the United States and any Middle American country.
Graduate students from any department in the College of Arts and Sciences are eligible. An interdisciplinary committee from Latin American Studies will decide the competition. The award will depend upon the interest from the endowment but will not exceed $5000 per year. A student may hold the fellowship in succeeding years, at the discretion of the committee.
Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Scholarship
This award was established for graduate students in History and Latin American Studies in memory of Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, former KU professor of Latin American history. The Center of Latin American Studies and the Department of History alternate years in which the award is made to a graduate student in the corresponding department.
In 2009 the Center of Latin American Studies awarded several research travel grants to KU graduate students, including MA candidates in Latin American Studies and graduate students in the humanities or social sciences performing research projects in Latin America (lower priority will be given to students in History). The amount of the individual awards will depend on project design and budget. Funds of up to $3,000 per award are to be used toward expenses in lodging, food and/or travel.
Selection is based on a statement of academic plans, overall academic and career goals, grade point average, and letters of recommendation. Recipients of other awards (such as Tinker Field Research grants, FLAS, etc.) are eligible.
Tinker Summer Field Research Grants
The Center of Latin American Studies and the Tinker Foundation sponsor a competition for field research money open to graduate students for summer research. The Tinker Foundation is an organization dedicated to issues in Latin America, Spain and Portugal.
Tinker grant money provides $10,000 per year through 2010 to fund short-term summer research for KU graduate students from a variety of disciplines. Awards can only be used cover airfare and in-country transportation expenses. Research periods typically range from eight to twelve weeks. The recent 2010 and previous Tinker recipients are listed here.
Foreign Language and Area Studies Grant (FLAS)
The Center of Latin American Studies (funded by the U.S. Department of Education) awarded academic year fellowships for 2010-2011. Fellows are required to enroll in foreign language classes throughout the year. Portuguese, advanced Spanish, Quichua, Kaqchikel Maya, and Haitian Creole qualify, although French does not. Ph.D. candidates who have completed their coursework may substitute dissertation research in a Latin American language for actual language study. Travel abroad is limited to Ph.D. candidates performing dissertation research ( Puerto Rico is excluded). Special approval must be requested for fellows going abroad.
The award provides a stipend of $15,000 and covers tuition and fees for up to 12 hours. Selection will be based on an evaluation of grade point average, GREs, career objectives, evidence of long-term commitment to Latin American Studies , a writing sample, and letters of recommendation. Applications for FLAS 2011-2012 will be due Febuary, 2011 (Application link coming soon).
Global Scholars Program (for Undergraduates)
This fall, the first cohort for the Global Scholars program will be chosen. The Global Scholars Program, administered by International Programs, is designed to recognize and encourage its most academically-talented and motivated undergraduate students who have demonstrated an interest in global studies and are selected in a competitive process. The program provides cohorts of students (15 each year) with opportunities to develop their intellectual capabilities and interests to the fullest and better prepares them for careers, further study, and leadership roles in today's complex international arena.
Students selected as Global Scholars for 2010-2011:
1) Enroll in an interdisciplinary honors seminar during the spring semester of their sophomore year. This spring, the first Global Scholars seminar will be taught by Professor Brent Steele (Political Science/International Studies) on the topic of “Truth in a Global Society.”
2) Are matched with a distinguished faculty mentor based on their academic interests. Although the exact nature of the relationship is left to each Scholar and mentor, its purpose is to foster intellectual growth.
3) Receive a scholarship of $1000 toward a KU-approved Study Abroad program, providing their grade point averages are maintained at an appropriate level of 3.0.
We also intend to bring Scholars together in a symposium in their senior year to present any internationally-oriented research with which they are engaged.
Because of your accomplishments, you are invited to apply to either the University OR the Global Scholars Program (you can only apply to one).
We hope you take the time to read the information on both programs carefully to decide which one is right for you. Students may apply to only one of these two programs. In addition to the application form, you are asked to solicit references from two current or former teachers. At least one needs to be from a KU faculty member or instructor with whom you have taken a class. Students selected for the programs are generally expected to have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher for all college work completed. Students with slightly lower GPAs who show evidence of exceptional promise in other respects will also be considered.
Application materials for both programs are due Wednesday, September 22, 2010.
Global Scholars applications should be turned in to International Programs, 300 Strong Hall. Materials will be reviewed by the programs' respective selection committees. Interviews for both programs are scheduled for Sunday, October 10, 2010 at Nunemaker Center.
The Global Scholars application form is available at the International Program website:
http://www.international.ku.edu/~oip/GlobalScholars/ <http://www.international.ku.edu/~oip/GlobalScholars/>
University Scholars Program (for Undergraduates)
The University Scholars Program, now in its 29th year is designed to recognize and encourage the University's most academically talented students early in their undergraduate careers and provide them with a unique opportunity to develop their intellectual capabilities to the fullest.
Students selected as University Scholars for 2010-2011:
1) Enroll in an interdisciplinary honors seminar during the spring semester of their sophomore year. This spring, the seminar will be taught by Professor John Gronbeck-Tedesco, Department of Theatre. It is titled, Modernism in Culture and Daily Life, and will address the broad subject of modernism with primary attention to the U. S. version between the 1920s and the present.
2) Are matched with a distinguished faculty mentor based on their academic interests. Although the exact nature of the relationship is left to each Scholar and mentor, its purpose is to foster intellectual growth.
3) Receive a scholarshipof at least $250 per semester for five semesters, providing their grade point averages are maintained at an appropriate level.
We hope you take the time to read the information on both programs carefully to decide which one is right for you. Students may apply to only one of these two programs. In addition to the application form, you are asked to solicit references from two current or former teachers. At least one needs to be from a KU faculty member or instructor with whom you have taken a class. Students selected for the programs are generally expected to have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher for all college work completed. Students with slightly lower GPAs who show evidence of exceptional promise in other respects will also be considered.
Application materials for both programs are due Wednesday, September 22, 2010. University Scholars applications should be turned into Nunemaker Center, 1506 Engel Rd.
Materials will be reviewed by the programs' respective selection committees. Interviews for both programs are scheduled for Sunday, October 10, 2010 at Nunemaker Center. Twenty University Scholars will be chosen from a pool of 40 interviewed.
The University Scholars application form is available on the Honors Program website:
http://www.honors.ku.edu/current_students/scholarships/universityscholars.shtml <http://www.honors.ku.edu/current_students/scholarships/universityscholars.shtml>
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program provides scholarships to U.S. undergraduates with financial need for study abroad, including students from diverse backgrounds and students going to non-traditional study abroad destinations. Established under the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000, Gilman Scholarships provide up to $5,000 for American students to pursue overseas study for college credit.
2011 Application Deadlines : Online applications must be submitted by October 5, 2010 for Spring 2011 study abroad programs. Please consult the Deadlines & Timeline page for more information on when to apply.
Please visit the U.S. Department of State Website for more information.
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