Graduate Community Fellows

    at the University of Dayton

Information

To apply, download the application and brochure.

BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW

The Graduate School, Fitz Center for Leadership in Community, and local nonprofit agencies have partnered to establish a Graduate Community Fellows (GCF) program at the University of Dayton. Graduate education at the University of Dayton advances learning, knowledge, and skills, and prepares students for immediate and ethically-grounded leadership and service to their professions, intellectual disciplines, and communities.  Consistent with this objective, graduate students who are selected to become GCFs will have the opportunity to connect classroom learning to educational experiences within the Dayton community through meaningful and substantive roles within nonprofit agencies.

GCFs will be appointed as University of Dayton Graduate Assistants to work within Community Partner Agencies. The commitment will be for two academic years (including the summer session between the first and second years) with 20 hours of agency work per week and scheduled regular meeting times with the GCF Coordinator and Faculty Mentor.  Brother Raymond L. Fitz, S.M., Ph.D., will serve as the Faculty Mentor for the program. The program provides each fellow with full tuition remission, a monthly stipend, and the opportunity to become a community leader while pursuing any Master’s degree offered at the University of Dayton.

EXPECTATIONS OF GRADUATE COMMUNITY FELLOWS

Each GCF is expected to:

1.   Pursue a Master’s degree as a full-time student while working within a Dayton area nonprofit agency as a University of Dayton Graduate Assistant.

2.   Remain in good academic standing within the chosen program.

3.   Participate in a one-credit course each semester of the program during the academic year for a total for four (4) one-credit courses. This will include a regularly scheduled course with the other GCFs in the cohort as well one-on-one meetings with the Faculty Mentor.

GCFs will also be strongly encouraged to enroll in MPA 526: Leadership in Building Communities during either their first or second years.  (Depending on the program of study, this course could be integrated into the program, used as an elective, or taken in addition to required and elective courses.)

Appointment as a GCF requires dedication to the community agency in which the student is working in addition to coursework. The GCF Coordinator and Faculty Mentor will work with academic program directors to ensure that GCFs are satisfactorily meeting all requirements.

At the conclusion of the first academic year of the program, both the academic and community service performance of GCFs will be reviewed by the Fitz Center and appropriate Graduate Program Director.   Continued appointment as a GCF is contingent upon satisfactory academic and community service performance.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

All administrative procedures, regulations, and benefits associated with appointment as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Dayton will pertain to the GCFs.   Compensation will include a stipend of $4,500 per semester covering two full academic years and the summer between the first and second academic years.  Tuition remission sufficient to enable completion of the Fellow’s degree program and any additional coursework required by the Fellowship will also be included.  Health benefits associated with appointment as a Graduate Assistant at the University will also be provided.  Fellows will work 20 hours per week throughout each academic year and during the summer between the first and second academic years at the Community Partner Agency.  It is anticipated the Community Partner Agency will offer the opportunity for up to 15 hours of additional compensated work per week during the summer between the first and second academic years.   The GCF will have the option of deciding whether or not to accept this additional summer work.