§ 663.32 - What criteria does the Secretary use in recommending individuals for Faculty Research Abroad Fellowships?

The Secretary uses the criteria in this section to evaluate applications of faculty for the purpose of recommending to the Board of Foreign Scholarships candidates for fellowships under this part. The Secretary gives preference to American citizens who have served in the armed services of the United States. The criteria are weighted and may total 100 points.

(a) Quality of proposed project. (Maximum 45 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the research project proposed by the faculty member.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows the extent to which—

(i) The project is well formulated and demonstrates adequate knowledge of related research;

(ii) The methodology is specifically described, sound, and appropriate to the project;

(iii) The objectives of the project are relevant to the sponsoring institution's plans for developing and/or strengthening programs in modern foreign languages and area studies;

(iv) The applicant demonstrates knowledge and utilization of resources pertinent to the project in the United States;

(v) The project's location in the proposed foreign country(ies) is necessary for the successful completion of the project;

(vi) The applicant has made preparations to establish research contacts and affiliations abroad;

(vii) The application reflects the intent to share the results of the research with scholars and officials of the host country and of the American scholarly community;

(viii) The overseas facilities indicated will afford sufficient and appropriate locations for the proposed research; and

(ix) The project can be completed within the proposed fellowship period.

(b) Qualifications of the applicant. (Maximum 45 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the qualifications of the applicant.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows the extent to which—

(i) The applicant's academic record is excellent and relevant to the proposed project;

(ii) The applicant possesses adequate foreign language skills to carry out the proposed project; and

(iii) The applicant's ability to conduct research in a foreign cultural context, as evidenced by the applicant's references or previous overseas experience.

(c) Priorities. (Maximum 10 points)

(1) The Secretary may establish priorities each year for the selection of fellows. These priorities relate to: certain world areas, countries, academic disciplines, languages, or combinations of any of these categories. For example, the Secretary may establish a priority for a specific world area or country such as East Asia or the U.S.S.R., for an academic discipline such as history or political science, or for languages such as Hausa or Telegu.

(2) The Secretary announces any priorities in the application notice published in the Federal Register.