Grant Information
THERE WAS 1 S-I-R AWARD AVAILABLE in 2023
Host Institution: East Los Angeles College (ELAC)
Hosting Department: Department of English
Specialization: Creative Writing
Program Start: August 2023
Program Length: 10 months
Institution Type: Community College
Location: Monterey Park, CA Locale: Urban
Eligibility Criteria:
- Citizen of Ireland (or EU Citizen with 5+ years Residency in Ireland) with English language proficiency.
- Possess Master of Arts (M.A.) in English, Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A) in Creative Writing, Master of Arts in Journalism, Comparative Literature or an equivalent degree to meet minimum qualifications to teach English at California community college level. Could have Ph.D in English, literature, Writing, Creative Writing, but not required.
- At least five years of full-time teaching experience and demonstrate academic and personal excellence, strong leadership skills or potential.
- Passion for self-expression through writing and guiding students in this pursuit.
- Experience with editing publications is preferred, but not required.
- Minimal or no prior experience living in the United States.
- Demonstrates an understanding and commitment to the ethos of being a Fulbrighter. The latter entails compliance with the two-year home residency requirement after the award’s completion.
Summary of Activities:
1) Teaching/Curriculum: Team teach/develop curriculum for 2 courses per semester, e.g., Creative Writing, Literature, Eng.
2) Eng. Department involvement: Meetings/Committees/Advising/Events/Publications
3) Campus-wide: interdisciplinary faculty committees, Student Clubs, One BookOne College, Global Education Comm.
4) Community-wide: LA/So Cal grassroots organizations & events (Homeboy Industries, LA Review of Books, Public readings, conferences at local colleges and universities)
Institutional and Program Summary:
East Los Angeles College (ELAC) is the largest community college in California, with an international, multicultural student body. The college offers both academic transfer courses, which prepare students for admission to four-year colleges and universities, and occupational programs which prepare students for careers in two years or less. Each semester ELAC typically serves 30,000+ students in all age ranges, from traditional college age to senior citizens, from almost fifty-two states and abroad. Classes are offered at dozens of locations, including local High Schools and Community Centers in East Los Angeles, and the college employs over a thousand faculty and staff. ELAC's student population is largely first and second-generation immigrants, many of whom are the first in their family to pursue higher education; the scholar would preferably have an interest in this demographic.
Academic Program: The scholar will be housed in the English Department, helping to develop and expand the creative writing program through collaboration with professors who teach general courses of reading/writing, creative writing, English literature, and student magazine editing. The scholar will choose up to two courses to teach per semester, either in collaboration with another instructor, or on their own. These may include: Eng. 101 & 102 (College Reading & Composition I & II); Eng. 103 (Composition & Critical Thinking); Eng. 127 (Creative Writing) ; and Eng. 32 (College Literary Magazine Editing). Each course is two or three academic units/hours per week, totaling up to six teaching hours per week, plus office hours with students and colleagues, committee meetings, curriculum planning, and grading assignments. There are many opportunities to interact with colleagues in English and in other departments in committees, professional development events, campus, and district-wide conferences.
Campus Activities: ELAC’s SIR key personnel will introduce the Scholar to the Administrative Council and Academic Senate to let him/her experience the shared governance structure at community colleges in California. We will also connect the scholar with Student Services, including various resources for students, student activities, and the Associated Student Union (student government). We will also provide opportunities for the scholar to interact with students and other ELAC staff, faculty, and administrators. The Scholar will be invited to all artistic, cultural, educational, and social events - including but not limited to ELAC's Vincent Price Art Museum, students' art shows, dance performances, music recitals, activities during various heritage celebrations, holiday socials, student clubs meetings, and other campus-wide events. There is a wide array of ways to get involved in the ELAC community.
Community Outreach: ELAC has a strong Dual Enrollment Program, which partners with surrounding high schools and some middle schools to offer college level courses on their campuses for their students. ELAC's SIR key personnel will connect the scholar with the Outreach/Dual Enrollment team and request campus visits to the feeder K-12 schools and school districts. Being one of the nine colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District, which is the largest community college district in the US, ELAC can arrange campus visits for the scholar at the other 8 colleges and the District Office. Many ELAC professors have partnerships with universities in the greater Los Angeles area and can connect the scholar with their contacts. East Los Angeles and the City of Monterey Park have a rich history of diverse populations of immigrants, and ELAC will be able to introduce the scholar to key city government officials and community representatives.
GRANT BENEFITS: Fulbright S-I-Rs are provided by the U.S. Department of State with:
- A stipend ranging from $2,850 to $3,700 per month (depending on grant geographic location)
- One-time allowances for materials, settling-in expenses, professional development and S-I-R supplemental allowance depending on grant length
- A monthly dependent allowance (note that qualifying dependents include spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 who accompany the scholar for at least 80% of the time in the United States)
- Round-trip international airfare for the S-I-R and one qualifying dependent (note that the grant must be for a full academic year and the dependent must accompany the scholar for at least 80% of the time in the United States)
- Accident and sickness health benefits for the S-I-R (scholars must purchase J-visa compliant insurance for all accompanying dependents)
- J-Visa sponsorship for the Scholar and accompanying spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21
- Salary Supplement provided by Host Institution
