Emerging Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Program Contacts
- Eligibility
- Working with Placement Organizations and Projects
- About the Program
- Training and Workshops
- Selection Process
Who should I contact with additional questions? (back to top)
For more information contact:
Helga Stokes
(412) 396-4057
(412) 396-1681 (fax)
stokesh@duq.edu
About eligibility
Are doctoral students eligible for the fellowship? (back to top)
At the commencement of the fellowship year, fellows should have completed masters or doctoral work. That is, full-time graduate student work would have been completed.
Are non-U.S. students eligible? (back to top)
The RWJF Evaluation Fellowship is limited to US-born citizens. Be prepared to submit proof of citizenship upon request.
What constitutes a recently graduated student? (back to top)
Recently graduated students within three years of graduation are eligible for the program. Please provide evidence of graduation date (e.g. transcript, diploma, etc…) on or after January 1, three years prior to the current year.
Working with Placement Organizations and Projects:
Are fellows expected to work full-time on their projects? (back to top)
Yes. The fellowship is designed as a full-time position with a sponsoring agency. Fellows will work on negotiated evaluation projects during the project year.
If candidates have an organization that is willing to work with you, can you include this information in your application? (back to top)
No, placement organizations go through a competitive process and the program does not gurantee a fellow's placement with any particular organization. For organizations willing to serve as sponsoring organization, we would encourage them to contact Helga Stokes (before the application deadline):
Helga Stokes, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Department of Foundations and Leadership
School of Education
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
stokesh@duq.edu, or
(412) 396-4057
Meaning of Underrepresented
What does it mean to be “underrepresented in the field of evaluation”? (back to top)
The RWJF Evaluation Fellows program is open to US-born applicants from any group that has been historically disadvantaged or underrepresented in program evaluation. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals from ethnic and racial minorities historically underrepresented in program evaluation. It also includes persons of all races and ethnicity who come from groups that have historically been disadvantaged or underrepresented in program evaluation, such as individuals who are the first in their family to attend college and people from low-income communities.
Employment
Eligibible orgnizations will have: (back to top)
- established expertise and capacity in research and evaluation, and have research and evaluation projects underway,
- experienced evaluation staff to mentor and coach the RWJF Evaluation Fellow,
- the expressed willingness to provide a full-time, entry-level position in evaluation for the RWJF Fellow for one year, with the possibility of renewing the RWJF Fellow for an additional year,
- the expressed willingness to provide the RWJF Fellow with a competitive salary, based on the location of the placement and the Fellow’s prior professional experience. The placement organization must also provide the RWJF Fellow with the same employment benefits that other full-time employees of the organization receive (including health insurance),
- the expressed willingness to release the RWJF Fellow from work four times per year for training workshops, and
- the expressed willingness to release the RWJF Fellow’s mentor one time per year to travel to a program meeting.
Qualification
How do I apply for the program? (back to top)
Before applying for the program please check the qualifications and eligibility requirements on the programs website. Please fill out the pre-qualifying questionnaire.
Website
Where is the application on the website? (back to top)
After answering the pre-qualifying questions the online system makes a determination of eligibility. If one qualifies they are sent to a page where they can create an online profile. Once this profile is created and saved a link will appear that says “Start the application.” NOTE: the profile information will not be reviewed during the selection process.
Purpose
What is the goal(s) or purpose of the RWJF Evaluation Fellows Program? (back to top)
The RWJF Evaluation Fellowship program seeks to provide individuals with the necessary skills and training to become program evaluators. The program aims to infuse the evaluation field with well-trained individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to meet the increasing diversity of programs and communities that the profession serves. The training focuses on evaluation in general with special emphasis on culturally responsive evaluation.
Duration
How long is the fellowship program? (back to top)
The fellowship program will last for twelve months.
Funding
How are the grants associated with the program to be used? (back to top)
We will select up to seven placement organizations to host an RWJF Fellow for one year beginning in March.
What locations are possible for placement? (back to top)
A number of placements around the country are currently being negotiated. Negotiations with placements will be finalized in the fall and selected finalists notified. Applicants can indicate their location preferences in their application.
What is the process that determines whether or not a fellow would have to relocate? Will fellows be involved in selecting a placement organization? (back to top)
Considerable care will be given to matters of relocation and fit between the project office, selected fellows, and sponsoring organizations.
About stipends/salaries
What is the salary range for fellows? Do fellows receive a stipend and if so what is the amount of the stipend? (back to top)
It depends on the institution, but pay will range between $40,000-$65,000 and include health benefits.
About supervisors
What are the eligibility requirements for individuals who serve as supervisors? (back to top)
Each fellow will have a supervisor at their placement organization. Supervisors will offer guidance and feedback to fellows and ensure that fellows are assigned projects that will advance their learning goals.
Location
Where will the workshops for fellows be held? (back to top)
Fellow s are expected to participate in four training workshops during the year, including the American Evaluation Association’s (AEA) annual conference. These workshops will be in various locations throughout the US. The workshops will provide Fellows with intensive training in evaluation approaches and methodology to complement their placement experience. Organizations must also release supervisors for one program-wide meeting. The program will cover some travel expenses for Fellows and supervisors to attend the workshops and meetings.
What topics will be covered during the fellowship year? (back to top)
During the one-year fellowship, emerging professionals will work full-time in organizations that specialize in evaluation. The placement organization will provide Fellows with work projects that will build their skills in evaluation and research, including but not limited to: assisting in the development and conduct of surveys, questionnaires, and interview protocols; collecting, analyzing, and interpreting qualitative and quantitative findings; writing and producing written reports and other documents. In addition, the organization will make an effort to expose the RWJF Fellow to the following experiences: evaluation planning; proposal development; organizational management meetings; and client meetings. The practice and theoretical background of culturally responsive evaluation will be related to all these evaluation skills.
What is the deadline for submitting the application? (back to top)
The specific deadline is posted throughout the site. To be considered, all application materials have to be completed and submitted by the deadline, which is in the early part of summer each year.
Where do I send my supplementary materials? (back to top)
All supplementary materials for your application including letters of reference and official transcripts must be sent to:
Rosemary Rynn
Department of Foundations and Leadership
School of Education
Duquesne University
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282-0540
Who should I ask to write my recommendation letters? Do these individuals have to be faculty members? (back to top)
Your letters of recommendation should be written by people who know your work well. They can be faculty members or previous employers.
When can I expect to learn about being selected? (back to top)
A group of semi-finalists will be invited to participate in interviews and to be tested on their professional writing skills by the fellowship administrators in early fall. A smaller group of finalists wil then be interviewed by placement organizations. Those finalists for whom appropriate matches are secured will be invited to join the program as fellows.
Am I expected to pay for travels to interview locations? (back to top)
The fellowship funds will pay for travels and accommodations related to interviews.
When do I begin my work? (back to top)
Work at the placement agency begins the first Monday in March.
Who will be reviewing fellowship applications? (back to top)
Members of the program’s advisory board will be reviewing the applications.
Miscellaneous questions
Will Fellows have the opportunity to renew their Fellowship for a second year? (back to top)
The program intends to reach as many emerging professionals as possible. Therefore the fellowship is for one year only.
What kind of job placement/career services is provided for Fellows involved in the program? (back to top)
During the year the fellows will have the opportunity to network at two major conferences and will learn about various evaluation agencies. This will help fellows to establish contacts.
