Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship

Each year the Center selects a number of qualified students for Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships (FLAS) funded by the U.S. Department of Education Title VI Program. Northern Illinois University offers the following Southeast Asian languages: Burmese, Indonesian, Khmer (Cambodia), Tagalog (Philippines) and Thai. To learn more about the Center for Southeast Asian Studies and its Southeast Asian language program visit www.cseas.niu.edu and www.seasite.niu.edu. In reviewing applications, the Fellowships Committee will currently give consideration to the following criteria (not inclusive and not in order): 1) the degree to which the applicant has taken Southeast Asian area courses in his/her major field as well as courses in other departments; 2) the clarity of the applicant’s need for language training and how this language will be used; 3) the level of language to be studied (Priority will be given to advanced students); and 4) the degree being sought. We encourage applications from students at all levels, but some priority will be given to M.A./M.S. students with a commitment to a career in government service, e.g., translation, diplomatic, foreign service, international trade, security, cultural attaché, Peace Corps, or other positions within the federal government.

Requirements for Application

Applicants must be citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the U.S.

Applicants must be accepted by the Graduate School, Northern Illinois University and must demonstrate their commitment to the study and the need for one of the offered Southeast Asian languages as part of their total program.

If an applicant is NOT currently a graduate student at NIU, he/she MUST apply to the Graduate School for admission to a specific department. Please note that this process is entirely separate from the application for a FLAS fellowship. Applications for admission can be obtained by writing to the department or college applicant wish to enter. Applicant may also choose to apply via the web using the NIU Graduate School online application at www.grad.niu.edu/apply.htm.

The following materials must be received at the Center by 4:30 p.m. on February 1 or the first business day thereafter:

an official application form
transcripts showing degree(s) granted and/or in process
GRE, LSAT or GMAT scores
a curriculum vitae
two letters of recommendation from those in a position to evaluate your academic credentials. There is not a required form for these letters of recommendation. The letter should be addressed to the FLAS Fellowships Committee.
a language reference form (last page of Official Application form)
a statement of purpose explaining your previous language learning experiences, both formal and informal, and how you intend to use the language you would study at NIU.
an application checklist and certification

NOTE: Some students may elect to use the same application material from their Graduate School application or other scholarship applications. Photocopies of transcripts, letters of recommendation or test scores will be accepted for the FLAS Fellowship application. However, these copies must come directly from the Graduate School and/or your academic department. Copies from the applicant will not be accepted. Transcripts, letters of recommendation and test scores can come separately from your other application materials, but please be sure that all required materials are received in the Center by the deadline.

Award Provisions and Reporting Requirements of Fellows

For Fall and Spring Semesters:

FLAS awards are expected to provide a stipend of $15,000 ($1,666.66/month for 9 months), payment of regular class fees, and health insurance for the academic year (fall and spring semester). In addition, the Graduate School will provide a tuition waiver. Material or lab fees are the responsibility of the student.

A fellowship recipient must register for a minimum of one course per semester in their selected Southeast Asian language.

A fellowship recipient must enroll as a full-time student (9 credit hours minimum). All classes must be taken for credit - auditing is not permitted.

A fellowship recipient must inform the Center of any change in his/her program of study or academic status.

A fellowship recipient must present a paper at the annual NIU Southeast Asia Student
Conference. In addition, a recipient is strongly encouraged to participate in other, extra-
curricular events sponsored by the Center as well as the Southeast Asia Club.

A fellowship recipient must submit to the U.S. Department of Education a final on line report at the end of his/her fellowship tenure. Each recipient will receive an email notice when the form is available for completing.

For Summer Semester Proceeding Fellowship Award:

A fellowship recipient will receive a tuition waiver only for the summer semester - no stipend, insurance or payment of any fees. There is no minimum number of hours for summer enrollment, nor are language classes required. The Center must be notified if a fellowship recipient will take summer hours in order for the tuition waiver to be processed. This tuition waiver is for classes taken at NIU. It does not pertain to SEASSI which is an entirely separate application process.

RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION AND REQUIRED MATERIALS BY FEBRUARY 1 or FIRST BUSINESS DAY THEREAFTER TO:

Center for Southeast Asian Studies
Northern Illinois University
520 College View Court
DeKalb, IL 60115
Tel. (815) 753-1771
Email: cseas@niu.edu

A federally funded National Resource Center since 1997, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies provides leadership, focus, and coordination for Southeast Asian studies at the university. cseas@niu.edu