Dear IFP Partners,
I am very pleased to report that the Spring International Language Center (SILC) at the University of Arkansas received over 100 applications from IFP Fellows for the Intensive English Language and Leadership program in 2008. As you know, applications were accepted for five intakes next year: January, March, June, and August, and October, 2008. IFP can support up to 90 Fellows at SILC in 2008, so all the places have been filled.
However, since there may be some cancellations, other Fellows who would like to attend in 2008 can still submit applications. If accepted, they will be considered alternates for 2008 and would be assigned priority for 2009.
The IFP Secretariat is very pleased with this enthusiastic response to the Arkansas program, which is a unique opportunity within IFP for Fellows studying in their home countries and regions.
Even though the slots have been filled for 2008, we wanted to reiterate the eligibility criteria. These criteria remain the same, with several important modifications, noted below:
New Eligibility Criterion
Current Ford Fellows or Alumni whose grant end dates are within one year of the beginning date of the selected Intake (January, March, June, August, October) are eligible to apply. (We have extended this from six months to one year.)
New Administrative Procedure
To avoid cancellation fees for air tickets and administrative disruption to the program, Fellows must confirm their participation two months prior to the beginning date of the selected Intake at Arkansas. No cancellations will be permitted after this time, except for health reasons for family emergencies.
Current Eligibility Criteria (These remain the same.)
1) Fellows must be studying for their masters, doctoral or similar degrees in their home country or within their home region to qualify for the Arkansas program. Fellows studying in their home country or adjacent countries will have priority over those studying in more distant parts of their home region. Example: Guatemalan Fellows studying in Mexico or Costa Rica will have higher priority than those studying in Chile or Brazil. However, Fellows studying in Chile or Brazil are eligible if space permits.
2) Fellows studying in their home country or region must be studying in non-English language programs and/or in a non-English speaking country. The Arkansas course is intended for Fellows with a basic or low intermediate English level.
2) Master's degree-seeking Fellows planning to take or who have already taken an "approved" sandwich program should not apply for the Arkansas program as they cannot do both.
3) Ph.D.-seeking fellows are allowed to attend the Arkansas program and undertake a sandwich program provided that these activities do not interfere with the timely completion of their doctoral degree.
Other Reminders
1) Fellows are required to complete the program and housing applications supplied by the Spring International Language Center. Each applicant needs to complete the forms and submit them with a copy of their passport and a letter of academic release from their advisor.
2) The program is very intensive. Fellows will not have time to work or conduct research for their home institutions while in Arkansas and should not expect to do so. Both the Fellows and their advisors should be aware of the time demands of the Arkansas program, and plan their home university academic schedule accordingly.
3) The deadline for submitting applications for the following year will be set by the Spring International Language Center ( SILC). This year's deadline was October 26, 2007. The SILC staff will forward you information about the 2009 deadline in the Fall of 2008. Because places fill up quickly, you should encourage all interested Fellows to apply by the Fall deadline for the following year.
We ask that you make these eligibility criteria and guidelines very clear to all potential applicants. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Very best regards,
Joan Dassin
Executive Director, IFP
Note also the contact information at Arkansas:
Dr. Leyah Bergman or Ms. Alannah Massey
Spring International Language Center
University of Arkansas
300 Hotz Hall
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
Phone: (479) 575-7600
Fax: (479) 575-7673
Web Site: www.uark.edu/international
Email: ifpsilc@yahoo.com