Mission Statement
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation was established as a nonprofit philanthropic organization in June of 1969 with a mission to "aid and promote such religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes as may be in the furtherance of the public welfare or tend to promote the well-doing of mankind." In 1988, under this broad charter, the Foundation made a long-term commitment to help remedy the serious shortage of faculty of color in higher education through the Mellon Minority Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) program.
In 2003, the Foundation reaffirmed its commitment and broadened the mission of MMUF. The name of the program was changed to the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship program, to symbolically connect the mission to the stellar educational achievements of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays. The fundamental objective of MMUF is to increase the number of minority students, and others with a demonstrated commitment to eradicating racial disparities, who will pursue PhDs in core fields in the arts and sciences. The program aims to reduce over time the serious underrepresentation on the faculties of individuals from certain minority groups, as well as to address the attendant educational consequences of these disparities. The program serves the related goals of structuring campus environments so that they will be more conducive to improved racial and ethnic relations, and of providing role models for all youth. MMUF aims to achieve its mission by identifying and supporting students of great promise and helping them to become scholars of the highest distinction.
MMUF at Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College has participated in the MMUF program since its inception in 1988. In any give year, there are ten MMUF students at the College, five seniors and five juniors. The application process is open primarily to sophomores and takes place every spring. The program accepts applications from:
underrepresented minority students interested in pursuing a research project in one of the Mellon designated fields of study (see below).
any student, regardless of race or ethnicity, who has a demonstrated commitment to eradicating racial disparities in academia and who wishes to pursue research in one of the designated areas.
In addition, criteria for eligibility include:
interest in pursuing a Ph.D. and an academic career in one of the designated fields
commitment to participating fully in all aspects of the program
willingness to work with a faculty mentor on a Mellon approved research project during the junior and senior years
strong academic promise
status as U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The MMUF program has identified 21 fields of study most underrepresented by minorities in the academy.
Anthropology |
Ecology |
Mathematics |
Area Studies |
English |
Musicology |
Art History |
Ethnomusicology |
Philosophy |
Classics |
Foreign Languages |
Physics |
Computer Science |
Geology |
Political Theory |
Demography |
History |
Religion |
Earth Science |
Literature |
Sociology |
Each fellow is required to conduct an individual research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor during the junior and senior years. Guided research is the foundation of MMUF, and it is intended to prepare the student for graduate study.
Each fellow will be paired with a faculty mentor with whom she is expected to meet on a regular basis. Your mentor must be an active scholar and professor in one of the Mellon-designated fields. Mentoring represents a serious commitment of time and effort for both students and professors. An MMUF coordinator will meet with you and your mentor periodically to make sure you are engaging actively and productively in the mentoring process.
Students gather several times a month to present their research, exchange and critique ideas and support each other's goals.
New fellows attend a workshop on research at the end of the spring semester of their sophomore year. In subsequent years, workshops are offered on topics such as preparation for the GRE, writing and research skills, interview skills, presentation skills, navigating social codes of life in academia, and financial aid. Students attend lectures or other events at nearby MMUF host campuses, as well. We also plan cultural outings such as attending theatrical or dance performances.
Academic Year (Fall and Spring)
Each fellow is awarded a stipend during the academic year, disbursed in regular monthly payments. This stipend is intended to facilitate opportunities to engage in research with a faculty mentor, by alleviating or eliminating the need to engage in additional paid employment. In exchange for the stipend, the Mellon Foundation expects fellows to conduct research for several hours per week during the academic year. We will ask you to reserve certain hours every week for MMUF activities. See Expectations.
Summer Stipend
The MMUF offers a summer stipend to allow fellows to participate, for a minimum of six weeks, in a meaningful research, learning or work experience that may be underpaid or even unpaid. These can include summer institutes such as those offered by IRT and the University of Chicago, internships, intensive language courses, or a carefully developed individual research program under the guidance of a mentor or professor. Immediately after being admitted to the program, new fellows are encouraged to confer with their mentor and the coordinators for help identifying or refining an area of intended study. Summer proposals for new fellows are due in early May.
With the support of their mentor and/or coordinators, fellows in the junior year are expected to design a summer experience that will enhance and complement studies in their major and advance their Mellon research project.
All fellows will submit a brief summer proposal (including a detailed budget) to the coordinator(s) and faculty mentor. Funds, minus ten percent, are awarded when the proposal has been approved. The final ten percent will be awarded once the final report on the summer project is received.
MMUF summer grant funds must be used for the purposes described in the proposal; unused funds must be accounted for. Changes in students' summer plans must be communicated promptly to program coordinators. PLEASE NOTE: MMUF summer grants may not be combined with any other fellowship or grant offered by the College unless there are special circumstances. Students who receive federal and/or College financial aid should be aware that MMUF stipends may affect their financial aid package. In most cases, the impact will be minimal, but fellows should be in frequent contact with Mellon coordinators and BMC financial aid officers to avoid any problems.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
If your research involves work with human subjects, you may need approval from IRB to conduct or to continue research. Please plan to talk with your mentor in the weeks following your selection so that you will have enough time to complete an IRB application if necessary. You can also find out information at the IRB webpage: http://www.brynmawr.edu/grants/irb
Students are encouraged to study abroad, but they must maintain regular communication with their Faculty Mentor and MMUF Program Coordinators.
While not guaranteed, travel funds may be available to support fellows' participation in academic conferences or to attend scholarly meetings that may expose students to ideas which expand their comprehension and insight of a research subject or career directions. Students who anticipate a need for travel expenses should speak with the coordinator(s) about the availability of funds and reimbursement procedures.
Fellows are eligible for up to $10,000 for the repayment of undergraduate loans, provided they enroll in full-time graduate study.
All fellows appointed in the sophomore year will be reevaluated at the end of the junior year before being approved to continue for the second year. This will give students, mentors, and coordinators the chance to more fully determine if the program offers the right match between a student's career objectives and the MMUF goals.
Senior fellows are required to deliver a public presentation in the second semester of senior year on their thesis or a senior research paper or project.
The Mellon Foundation requires each fellow to submit regular records to the Foundation. Both the Foundation and the Bryn Mawr coordinators must have up-to-date contact information for fellows--even after graduation. Because the Foundation is making a long-term investment in its fellows, and collecting information to assess the effectiveness of the program, it is essential that accurate and up-to-date records be maintained on each student. Periodically, you will receive reporting forms (online or hard copy). Please complete and return them promptly.