MLIS Scholarships!
We are looking for 2 additional students for Fall 2014!
UW-MILWAUKEE, SCHOOL OF INFORMATION STUDIES (SOIS)MLIS Scholarships AvailableFostering East Asian Librarianship (FEAL) (FEAL.pdf)
FEAL
will award 2 additional Masters of Library Science (MLIS) scholarships to
paraprofessionals currently working within domestic East Asian libraries
to pursue the 36(30) credit MLIS program at SOIS, specializing in
Chinese, Japanese, or Korean studies/service. SOIS will partner with the
library of each participating paraprofessional to coordinate an
individualized strategy for each student. This will include the
identification and assignment of a professional mentor within the host
library, and a commitment to active career guidance, occupational
placement assistance, and other wrap-around services to support the
paraprofessional(s). Students will also receive financial support in the
form of tuition, and travel support to attend informational meetings
and national conferences.
The 2 students admitted for the Fall 2014 will join a cohort of 10 students who began the program in Spring 2014. The cohort will consist of students from each of the 3 targeted
areas of study (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean), although alternative
distributions of students will be considered if necessary. The entirety
of the MLIS degree can be completed within our online environment,
onsite at UWM, or any combination therein. Students are expected to
complete all coursework within the period of the Institute of Museum and
Library Services (IMLS) grant support.
FEAL Admission Requirements
Students
must meet the standard criteria for the MLIS program, including an
English Proficiency exam. In addition to these standard entry
requirements, students must be currently employed within an East Asian
library as non-professional staff and demonstrate proficiency in
reading, writing, and speaking in one of the targeted languages –
Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. Preferred entry criteria will include an
undergraduate degree in East Asian humanities (history, anthropology,
literature, communication, etc.). In anticipation of a large pool of
applicants, priority status will be given to students meeting the U.S.
Census Bureau’s definition of Asian. View complete admission details online: wwww.uwm.edu/sois/admission/masters/
Application Requirements
In addition to SOIS’ admission requirements for the MLIS program, FEAL applicants must provide the following:
Mentor Letter of Commitment
A
letter must be provided by a professional at the host library that will
provide the FEAL participant with professional mentoring, career
guidance, and occupational placement assistance throughout the project.
References
Two
letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant's
academic experience and/or potential for graduate work in Information
Studies.
Proof of Employment
Proof of Employment within a Library containing significant East Asian collections.
FEAL provides students with a unique combination of wrap-around services and support:
Coursework and Academic Support:
The purpose of the MLIS program is to prepare librarians and information
professionals who are able to manage change in an urbanized,
technologically oriented, and knowledge-based society. The MLIS program
provides a systematic course of study which enables individuals with a
strong service orientation to apply principles of library and
information science, use current methods and tools, and recognize the
value of research.
Academic Mentoring: Depending on area
of expertise, SOIS faculty members will be the academic advisors
offering students advice on selection of courses and career development.
SOIS Student Advisor, Twyla McGhee, will offer logistic and
administrative support to guide students through the FEAL program.
Professional Mentoring, Occupational Development, and Career Guidance:
Each partner library will designate and assign an information
professional to serve as a mentor and guide for each student. This
professional mentor will be instrumental in the development of new
skills, and the refinement of existing talents within the
paraprofessionals, and the installation of those qualities required to
become an agent of change.
Another critical form of mentoring
that they will provide is targeted professional development and
occupational placement assistance. The assigned professional mentors
will also take an active role in assisting FEAL students to develop a
career strategy, build crucial professional relationships with
colleagues and potential employers and to develop the professional
skills and abilities which lead to gainful employment.
Cohort Development:
Community encourages teamwork, encourages the individuals to see
themselves as part of something greater, and fosters an environment of
success. Each year will begin with a FEAL summit on the campus at UWM.
This event will include a mix of informational meetings, discussions of
timely issues, visits from professionals, visits to local libraries and
other information venues, and social events. Students will get the
opportunity to meet each other, SOIS faculty members and staff, and the
chance to build interpersonal relationships.
The
School of Information Studies, Fostering East Asian Librarianship (FEAL)
diversity initiative is made possible by the Laura Bush 21st Century
Librarian Program (LB21) grant from the Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS).
SOIS has a
distinguished history in actively promoting diversity within the field
of librarianship. Through the “Diversity in the Organization of
Information and its Technology (DOIT) Project”, funded by an IMLS
Librarians for the 21st Century grant from 2005-2009, SOIS supported 21
master’s students from diverse populations to achieve professional
standing within librarianship. The IMLS-funded “Overcoming Barriers to
Access (B2A)” recruitment program currently supports 6 full-time
doctoral students with research interests that address barriers to
information access.
Please share this information with interested individuals.
Brochure:
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/groups/sois/webdocs/FEAL-Fall2014.pdf
Complete details available online:
Fostering East Asian Librarianship (FEAL)