Deadline
Applications and advisor approval forms are due Wed, Feb 14 at 11:59 PM CST.
Purpose
This award is intended to support travel for international students engaged in the study Global Black Cultures. The award is intended to support research, archival work, and/or creative or artistic endeavors.
Eligibility
International graduate students in good standing from any department or program who are engaged in the study of Global Black Cultures are eligible to apply. Students must hold a F, J, or M visas (U.S. citizens and permanent residents are ineligible).
Amount
Up to $4000
Application Details
Complete the online application form and upload an application packet as a single pdf. Your application packet should include the following:
- Project statement (1,000-word maximum): statements should clearly address the specific work applicants intend to undertake during their time abroad as well as how the proposed fieldwork fits an applicant’s overall research plan and prior experience in the country/region, itinerary (as appropriate);
- Curriculum vitae (2 pages maximum)
- Copy of your UW-Madison student record/transcript and, if appropriate, graduate transcript/s for courses taken at other institutions. Unofficial transcripts are fine.
- Budget: Please format the budget like the example below. If total costs exceed the available award amount, please describe other funding or your plan to secure funding. Students with existing funding are eligible to apply and will be given full consideration. Briefly explain why additional funding is needed.
| Flight | $1,800 (MSN-ACC, roundtrip) |
| Accommodation | N/A (staying with family) |
| Meals & incidentals | $50/day X 60 days = $3,000 |
| Local transport | $10/day X 60 days = $600 |
| *CISI travel insurance ($42.84/mo) | 2 mos X $42.84/mo = $86 |
| Other (supplies, writing support, etc.) | Translation services = $1,000 Portable recorder = $500 Editing software = $200 |
| TOTAL BUDGET | $7,186 |
| African Studies Program | $4,000 |
| Other support | 3,500 travel award from History Department |
*UW System policy requires travelers to secure comprehensive travel health insurance. All students must enroll in CISI Travel insurance for the duration of their research travel.
About the Advisor Approval Form
Students should seek input from their advisors prior to submission. The student must list the name and email address of their advisor in their application, and the advisor must submit an approval form before the deadline. This form replaces the need for a formal letter of recommendation and is designed to:
- Encourage students to discuss their proposals with their advisors prior to submission.
- Ensure that student proposals are evaluated on their merit instead of on the merits of the accompanying recommendation letters.
- Reduce administrative burdens.
Award Disbursement and Timing
- Applications will be evaluated by an interdisciplinary faculty committee and award decisions will be returned by April 1.
- Awards are considered taxable income.
- Awardees who have non-resident alien status will have taxes deducted from their award prior to payout.
- All other recipients will receive their awards through the Bursar’s scholarship system: if you have an outstanding balance on your student account all or part of your award may be used to pay that balance before being disbursed to you.
- Funds will be released within 30 days of award acceptance.
- Award recipients must submit a photograph, brief bio, and a report on their work within one year of receiving funding. This information may be displayed on our website.
Reports from previous award winners:
About Tejumola Olaniyan
Tejumola Olaniyan (1959-2019) was the Louise Durham Mead Professor of English and African Cultural Studies, and the Wole Soyinka Professor of the Humanities. Professor Olaniyan was an internationally-recognized scholar of African, African American, and Caribbean literatures, post-colonial studies, genre studies and popular culture studies, whose distinguished body of work serves as a foundation for other scholars around the world in Global Black Cultural Studies. Professor Olaniyan was also known for his dedication to mentoring students.
Upon Prof. Olaniyan’s passing in 2019, family, friends, and colleagues created a memorial foundation to celebrate his legacy. Professor Olaniyan’s wife, Mojisola Olaniyan, and his daughters Bolajoko and Olabimpe, established this fund to support students working in the field of Global Black Cultural Studies. The Tejumola Olaniyan International Student Travel Award directly supports international graduate students’ research, archival work, and/or creative or artistic endeavors.
Extend the impact of this generous gift. Consider making a donations to the UW Foundation Tejumola Olaniyan International Student Travel Award Fund – 132500021