PROGRAM PURPOSE:
Joseph and Carol Ferguson have established their fund at
Bellarmine to support rigorous academic work and study abroad,
to provide the student with opportunities beyond the traditional
classroom environment on Bellarmine's campus. They are providing
students with this opportunity to encourage them to undertake
the kind of work - - the kind of rigorous study abroad -
- that will challenge serious students to enhance their
intellectual potential and realize their career ambitions.
Their wish is to create a program that encourages student
initiative, academic rigor, creativity, and independence
in thinking and learning to best prepare students for successful
achievement in competitive graduate or professional programs
following their undergraduate experience at Bellarmine.
Students eligible for a Ferguson Scholarship
must be nominated (by letter) by a member of the Bellarmine
faculty familiar with the student's work. The student must
also have the proposal recommended (by letter) by a second
faculty member at Bellarmine. The academic rigor of the
proposed project or program and the opportunity to do such
rigorous work abroad are the two most critical guidelines
for funding.
ELIGIBILITY:
Any full-time Bellarmine student is eligible
and must arrange the experience consistent with requirements
of the academic calendar.
Applications
must be student initiated and must take the form of a
proposal, to include:
Description of the proposed work
and its objectives
Description of the student's qualifications
for performing the academic work and how this furthers
his or her academic goals
Description detailing timetable,
logistics, schedules, and work plan for the program
An itemized budget of program expenses
and statement of how Ferguson Funds will be used to offset
certain expenses
A statement outlining the report
to be written and submitted both to the nominating and
recommending faculty members at Bellarmine and any way
in which the experience will be shared with other students
and faculty on Bellarmine's campus
Letters of recommendation from two
faculty members at Bellarmine: nominating and recommending.
FURTHER GUIDELINES:
Grants will usually be limited to a maximum of $1000 per
student.
Applications must be submitted at least
six weeks prior to the date the project would begin, or
when the student might need the funding for the project,
or by the end of the first full week in April, whichever
date comes first.
Applications will be reviewed and decisions
on grants made by external readers and professional colleagues,
in consultation with the donors.
Project reports (including financial
expenditures and accounting) must be submitted to both the
nominating and recommending faculty members within thirty
days of completion of the funded program. If a faculty member
is not available, reports are to be submitted to the Office
of the Provost, Bellarmine University.
Students who fail to comply with provisions
of the grant shall be obligated to repay the Fund for grants
received. Signed authorizations will be required for participation
in this funding program.
