North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University are jointly establishing the NSF/AEMP Interinstitutional Fellowship Program. The primary objective of the proposed program is to increase the number of African-Americans pursuing doctorates in engineering and qualifying for academic and research careers. A secondary objective is to establish a model for similar programs at other universities. In brief, the program will provide approximately eight full fellowships for minority, women, or disabled students, but focusing initially on African-American students. The program will provide full fellowship support during the first, second, and fifth years of doctoral study (following the BS) and research assistantships and supplementary fellowships during the third and fourth years. The program will also provide full payment of tuition and fees and funds in support of publication preparation, travel, and minor equipment purchases by fellows for up to five full years of study. Important components of the program are to make doctoral study more attractive and to accelerate progress toward the degree by providing full support during the time when a student is preparing for research and afterward, when the student is writing the dissertation. During the research phase the student would receive support as a graduate research assistant supplemented by a reduced fellowship stipend. This would allow the student, during this period, to concentrate fully on completing the research requirements associated with the PhD degree.
