“The goal of the website is to help students understand what a fellowship is and what fellowships exist, but also to reach and support faculty,” Ting said. “The site conveys to students and faculty alike that the office provides resources, feedback and guidance during the application process.” FAQ sections, which clarify the mission of the UFO, are prominent in each of the website’s audience pages.
More than 70 fellowships and scholarships are spotlighted on the platform. Students and recent alumni can filter the opportunities by field of study, duration of the award, and application deadline, among other criteria. Faculty and advisers are encouraged to use the search function as well to identify relevant fellowships for their students.
Current students can take advantage of other features, including guidelines for crafting applications and requesting letters of recommendation. Overviews of additional on-campus resources and profiles of past recipients may further help students begin the fellowship process.
“Recommend a Student” forms are housed on the website, providing a streamlined way for faculty and advisers to immerse students in possible fellowships. After receiving a submission, the UFO will meet with potential candidates and identify opportunities that match their academic interests.
An extensive calendar is also posted, noting drop-in hours, national and office deadlines for fellowships, information sessions, and event theme weeks. Students can schedule appointments with the UFO through Starfish, the online advising platform.
To learn more, visit http://ufo.psu.edu/.
The University Fellowships Office is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education, the academic administrative unit that provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs and initiatives in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State. Learn more about Undergraduate Education at undergrad.psu.edu.