Q. Is the fellowship open to NYU students outside Gallatin?
A. Yes, it is, but only from a select few schools/departments. These are undergraduate and M.A. students in Sociology and Social and Cultural Analysis and Master's-only students in Latin American Studies and Wagner. All students should have a clear academic focus on urbanism or urban studies.
Q. May I choose more than one community partner, being sure to list my first, second, third, etc. choices?
A. Yes, but you will need to write a separate Research Statement for each organization you choose. Even if only one community partner is listed in your application, please note that you may be asked to consider working with a different community partner due to limits in organizational capacity.
Q. The fellowship application deadline is in the Fall but I am studying away at that time. Am I eligible to apply?
A. Yes. Students studying away during the Fall may apply, but they must be enrolled at NYU's Washington Square campus in the Spring to be eligible.
Q. I plan to graduate in the Spring semester following the application deadline. May I still participate in the program?
A. No. For legal and liability reasons, the fellowship recipients must be matriculated at NYU while completing the summer fellowship component. Therefore, they must not graduate before September of the fellowship year.
Q: I will be studying away in the Spring semester. May I still participate in the program?
A. No. Fellows are required to be in residence at NYU Washington Square to participate fully in the Spring seminar.
Q. What if I am enrolled in a summer course or awarded another NYU fellowship that takes place at the same time as the Fellowship in Urban Practice? Can I still participate in the Fellowship in Urban Practice?
A. If the course or other fellowship period overlaps or interferes with the research period for the Fellowship in Urban Practice, which takes place roughly June 1 to August 15, then no. Otherwise, yes!
Q. Why is the spring seminar required?
A. The process of undertaking community-engaged research in partnership with a grassroots organization is different from most research you may have conducted in the past. Whether you are an undergraduate who is new to research or a seasoned graduate student who has already published research findings, this seminar will prepare you for the ethical and intellectual responsibilities required of the fellowship. It will also provide you with the support system you gain through collaborative learning with your peers before you begin your independent research projects.
Q. May I the take the required Spring seminar for 0 credits?
A. No, the seminar is a required, credit-based component of the fellowship for all participating fellows, undergraduate and graduate.
Q. How do you choose your community partners? Can I propose one of my own?
A. We choose community partners based on shared values, shared social justice priorities, and established relationships with core members of the staff. In some cases, organizations have approached us; in others, we have connected to them through a network of colleagues both inside and outside the academic setting. We believe very strongly in developing long-term commitments to our partner organizations and expect to work with them in different capacities over many years. For this reason, we do not allow applicants to choose their own organizations for the purposes of the fellowship.
Q. What language skills will I need?
A. Fellows working in Madrid are required to have advanced proficiency in Spanish. Intermediate or Advanced Spanish language skills are encouraged for Chicago and New York, but are not required. For the African Communities Together partnership, advanced French, Arabic, or other African languages are desirable. Fpor Berlin partnerships, German is strongly encouraged, but also not required.
Q. Why do I have a “faculty mentor” assigned to me for the summer and what should my relationship with this person be?
A. In most cases, we assign local faculty mentors to guide you in conducting your summer research. On very rare occasions, your faculty mentor will guide and meet with you remotely, but will have deep knowledge of the subject and location you are studying. Faculty mentors are selected on the basis of their own scholarship, experience with and commitment to community-engaged research, and strong familiarity either with the community organization or city (or both) where you will be situated. You should make it a priority to meet with your mentor weekly, pursue research leads and assignments she or he shares with you, and consult your mentor if you encounter research questions, dilemmas, or obstacles.
Q. Where will I live during my summer research period?
A. Housing will vary depending on the location of your research. If you are partnered with a U.S.-based organization, you will be responsible for finding and paying for your own housing. If you are partnered with a Madrid-based or Berlin-based organization, your housing will be arranged and managed for you through the NYU Madrid or NYU Berlin site. In all cases, payment for housing will come from your fellowship money. NOTE: For summer 2021, fellows should be prepared to work remotely in the event that travel and/or in person work is not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q. How can I learn more about past fellows, faculty mentors, community partners, and fellows' on-line work?
A. To learn more about the prgoram, visit our dedicated Gallatin Global Fellowship in Urban Practice web site.
Q. How do accepted fellows receive the fellowship payment?
A. Payments vary depending on the location of your research experience. Generally, however, you will receive 2-3 payments between mid-April and summer’s end. Payments are contingent upon receipt of required travel documents and completion of the summer research, including weekly, on-line assignments. Please note that the fellowship money is considered taxable income; for international students, the taxes might be withheld from the checks themselves.
If you have a question that is not answered here or on the general information page for the fellowship, please send it to us at urbandemos@nyu.edu