Gallatin Global Fellowship in Human Rights

"Human rights” has emerged as a prominent concept for justice amongst scholars, activists, politicians, aid workers, and NGO officials. It has wide use and powerful reach yet remains contested and fluid. What opportunities does the invocation of "human rights" enable, and what does it constrain? How do we understand the intellectual genealogy of human rights? Is human rights the terrain of resistance—or the new orthodoxy? The Gallatin Human Rights Initiative seeks to catalyze critical reflection and engagement with these and related questions.

The Gallatin Global Fellowship in Human Rights supports selected students with up to $5,000 in funding for extended summer research and experiential learning projects that focus on these issues with human rights organizations. The fellowship aims to allow students to contribute to the host organizations’ work while gaining experience in the human rights field in ways that complement their academic trajectory at NYU.

See below for eligibility and application instructions. Also see application FAQs and hear about past Fellows' summer experiences through their blog site and annual symposium presentations.
 

APPLICATION DEADLINE for 2016-2017: October 30, midnight

A Year-Long Program

SPRING

Fellows are required to attend and participate actively in two courses:

• A 75-minute weekly seminar specifically tailored to the work of the fellows that will be taught by the distinguished human rights lawyer, Ruben Carranza. The seminar will include an introduction to and analysis of key debates on human rights, brief assignments, guest lectures, and some exposure to NYC's human rights community. The seminar carries 2 credits, but a 0-credit Pass/Fail option is available on a case-by-case basis. Meeting time for Spring 2017: Mondays, 4:55 PM - 6:10 PM
  
  
• An independent study carrying at least 2 credits, exploring some aspect of the intended summer project under the mentorship of an NYU professor of the student's choice. The independent study should meet at least five times and explore a minimum of five texts.
  

SUMMER

Fellows commit 9-12 weeks of full-time work on a viable human rights-related research project and/or internship supervised by a host organization of their choice and must live on-site for the duration. Fellows must submit at least four blog posts about their experiences.

FALL

Fellows present their work to the NYU community at the annual Human Rights Symposium. This will involve a substantial 10- to 12-page paper and/or a panel presentation.

Eligibility

The program is open to all undergraduate students in degree-granting programs at NYU and to master’s students in Engineering, Gallatin, the College of Global Public Health, the Graduate School of Arts and Science, Law, Nursing, Social Work, Steinhardt, Tisch, and Wagner.

NOTE: This fellowship was organized primarily to benefit students who have little access to such funding; therefore, applications from undergraduates will receive priority consideration.

All selected fellows must be enrolled and in residence at NYU's New York campus during the Spring semester following the application deadline and must be matriculated at NYU during the summer of the fellowship project. Additionally, undergraduate fellows must be matriculated at NYU during the Fall semester following the summer project.
 

Prospective Applicants

Interested students are advised to do the following as early as possible in the application process:
 

• Identify an organization that clearly indicates in its literature that it operates from within a human rights framework. It may approach human rights in heterodox ways, but human rights should be an anchor in its effort to bring about social change. Organizations based abroad receive priority consideration. Prior involvement with the organization is not required.

A firm commitment from the organization is not required by the fellowship application deadline. However, you should verify that the organization has the capacity to host you during the summer period, supervise your project, and incorporate you into the substantive aspects of their work. A confirmation from the organization will be expected by January.
 

• Identify an NYU faculty member who can oversee the Spring independent study. This faculty member must also submit a recommendation letter by the application deadline. Accepted fellows will preferably register for their home school/department's independent study and should review related guidelines for stipulations and deadlines.
  

The independent study need not relate to human rights; it should focus on helping you to better contextualize the summer work (e.g., a history of the conflict, background on sociopolitical aspects of the region, etc.).
 

• See past Fellows' summer blogs and symposium presentations to get a sense of viable projects and organizations.
   

Interested students are also advised to attend the following events, where they can meet past fellows and learn more about their projects (not mandatory but highly recommended):

• Fall 2016 Information Sessions (Gallatin Building, 1 Washington Place):

* Thursday, Sept. 15, 12:30-1:30 ~ Jerry H. Labowitz Theatre
* Monday, Sept. 19, 2:00-3:00 ~ Room 801
* Tuesday, Oct. 4, 12:30-1:30 ~ Jerry H. Labowitz Theatre

• Gallatin Global Fellowship in Human Rights Symposium (meet the 2016 Fellows!):

* Tuesday, Oct. 4, 5:00-8:00 ~ Jerry H. Labowitz Theatre (1 Washington Place)

Application Requirements

DEADLINE: Sunday, October 30, midnight

• Online application
  
• 2-3-page statement of proposal
  
• 250-500-word independent study proposal
  
• Projected budget
  
• Current resume
  
• Recommendation letter from the NYU faculty member who has agreed to oversee the Spring independent study (to be sent separately by the faculty member)
  
• Contact information for an additional faculty reference