How is my application evaluated?
A committee of professors and researchers in diverse fields of study (e.g., education, sociology, economics, policy studies) read and evaluate the applications based on a number of criteria. These include: superior academic achievement, significance of the contribution to understanding the educational pathways of high-achieving, low-income students, quality of the proposal, and feasibility of projected timeline. As such, the Foundation suggests that you ask not only your dissertation advisor, but also colleagues from a variety of fields to review your application for clarity and consistency. In addition, please avoid jargon in an effort to make your application accessible to larger audience. For further information, please visit the Reviewer Recommendations page.
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How many fellowships will be awarded?
The Foundation will award four fellowships in 2013 with plans to increase the number in the coming years.
Am I eligible if I am a doctoral candidate in a field other than education?
Yes. Applicants are not limited to a particular field. However, the applicant’s dissertation must address issues related to the Foundation’s mission: advancing the education of exceptionally promising students with financial need. Please see the Guidelines and the application introduction (online) for more information on the criteria used in determining eligibility.
Is there information on past fellowship recipients’ dissertation proposals?
The 2011 and 2012 Fellowship recipients all have biographies posted on our website. They are:
Jill Bowdon Dissertation Proposal Title: Non-cognitive skills and the emergence of the black-white test score gap
Kirby Chow Dissertation Proposal Title: Against all odds: Examining how teachers and parents help homeless students stay on track academically
Nicole Deterding Dissertation Proposal Title: Start and start again: Education aspirations and the community college of pathways of disadvantaged young mothers
Minseop Kim Dissertation Proposal Title: Nonstandard work schedules, parent involvement, and academic achievement of low-income children
Johanna Lacoe Dissertation Proposal Title: Exposure to crime, disorder, and juvenile justice: Urban young outcomes in context
Ellen Moore Dissertation Proposal Title: Fighting for an education: Veterans' pathways from combat to college
Brian Galla – Dissertation Proposal Title: Clarity in the eye of the storm: The role of inhibitory control in low-income adolescents' daily emotion regulation and its consequences for academic achievement
Rose Honey – Dissertation Proposal Title: The moose and the moon: Culturally integrated science education with American Indian students
Rachel Lambert– Dissertation Proposal Title: Authoring a mathematical self: Processes of identification with mathematics for young people in an urban school
Ricardo Ortega – Dissertation Proposal Title: Latina/o undergraduates navigating the undocumented university
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What is the deadline?
The application is closed.
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What can be sent via mail and what can be emailed?
The application, cover letter, summary of the dissertation proposal, work plan, and curriculum vitae are included in the electronic application. The letter of support from a dissertation chair or academic advisor must be completed and uploaded by the individual. Applicants “nominate” the author of the letter of support and he/she submits separately through the application platform. .
Applicants can scan and upload their official graduate transcript or have it mailed. See below for these instructions.
How would you like me to submit my official graduate transcript?
You may scan and upload a copy of your official transcript to the application site. Breaking the seal and scanning will not invalidate the transcript for the purposes of this process.
If you choose to have the official transcript mailed, use the address below:
Cooke Dissertation Fellowship, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, 44325 Woodridge Parkway, Lansdowne, VA 20176 Attn. Barbara Schmertz
Lastly, the transcript can be emailed from your school’s registrar: if so, please email to fellows@jkcf.org.
We will NOT accept unofficial transcripts.
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Do I need to submit my undergraduate transcript?
No. We only require your official graduate transcript.
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May I submit additional documents, such as letters of recommendation or appendices?
Please limit your application to the documents that comprise the application. We will not be able to accept additional documents.
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When will the award decision be announced?
Award decisions will be announced in May 2013.
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How will I be notified?
Recipients of the Fellowship will be notified by phone. Those who are not awarded Fellowships will receive a letter from the Foundation.
Will the Foundation give feedback if my application is not chosen?
No. The Foundation will not comment on applications after making award decisions. All applications and supporting materials become the property of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and, as such, will not be returned.
Must I be a US citizen to apply?
No. US citizens, US permanent residents, and non-citizens are invited to apply. However, applicants must be attending an accredited institution in the United States.
Who was Jack Kent Cooke?
Mr. Cooke was a philanthropist, businessman, and devotee of learning and the arts who left the bulk of his estate to establish the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to help students of exceptional promise reach their full potential through education. Learn more about Mr. Cooke.
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What is the mission of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation?
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s mission is to advance the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. The Foundation provides challenging opportunities to high achievers from lower-income families through its Young Scholars Program, generous scholarships for undergraduate and graduate study, and grants to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions that support high-achieving, lower-income students. More information about the Foundation’s mission can be found here.
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Am I eligible to apply if I am receiving funding from another source? Can I accept other awards?
Yes. You may receive other awards in addition to the Fellowship.
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Am I eligible to apply if I have received funding from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation?
No. Former and current Jack Kent Cooke Scholars are not eligible for the Cooke Dissertation Fellowship.
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How may I spend the award money?
The Cooke Dissertation Fellowship may only be used to cover costs associated with writing a dissertation. How the funds are expended depends on each recipient’s individual need depending on the cost of attendance determined by the Fellow’s institution. Expenses may include tuition, fees, books, room and board, and research travel. Funds are disbursed to the recipient’s graduate institution. Once the fellowship money is applied to the institutional costs (tuition, fee, et cetera), remaining funds (stipend, travel) are disbursed to the student. See more details below. Fellowship funds may not be used for activities that will benefit, supplement, or aid academic institutions or departments with which the Fellow is affiliated. The fellowship does not cover overhead.
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For how long can the award be used?
The one-time award may be used for a period of no less than nine months and no longer than 18 months beginning in May 2013. See timeline for more information.
How are the fellowship funds paid?
Depending on the recipient’s timeline, the Foundation will issue fellowship funds to the Fellow’s institution in one to three payments. Payment of funds is contingent on timely receipt of all specified forms, including a fellowship agreement.
To pay funds, we rely on the use of a Cost of Attendance form, which we would provide all recipients. The COA allows your financial aid office to list all costs affiliated with attendance, including room, fees, tuition, and insurance. The financial aid office will provide the costs of attendance for the Fellow, sign the form, and transmit the form to the Foundation for processing. All fellowship funds are issued in a check to the Fellow’s institution. The institution will use any and all funds needed to cover the Fellow’s bill for tuition or fees and will disburse the remaining stipend amounts, if any, to the student.
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Can I work while using the Cooke Dissertation Fellowship award?
The fellowship award is meant to help cover the educational costs a Fellow incurs while completing his or her dissertation. With this in mind, Fellows may hold limited outside employment as long as it does not hinder their progress in completing their dissertations.
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Will the Foundation provide 1099 forms?
No. Fellowship funds will be paid to the Fellow’s graduate institution and, therefore, 1099 forms are not needed. Ascertaining tax liability and reporting the applicable portion, if any, to the US Internal Revenue Service is the sole responsibility of the Fellow.
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What if I cannot attend Scholars Weekend?
We ask that Fellows attend Scholars Weekend as an opportunity for the entire Jack Kent Cooke community of Scholars to gather. This event also gives Fellows a forum in which they can share their research. If you know when you apply for the fellowship that you cannot attend Scholars Weekend, please indicate that in your application and explain why. We will consider these requests on a case-by-case basis.
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How will I know if the Foundation has received my application materials?
You can monitor the application via the Dashboard on the application site. When all requirements have been met (application completed, transcript received and confirmed, letter of support received), you must re-enter the site and hit the “submit” button.
Please feel free to send an email with links to the Foundation's Fellowship page. In addition, you can download the Fellowship flyer as an additional means of advertising.
How I can contact the Foundation if I still have questions?
Please call the Foundation at 703-723-8000 or use the Fellows email address at
fellows@jkcf.org.
