Stepping Up Grant Application Form

The Stepping Up Program is currently full and we are not accepting new applications at this time. Thank you to all who applied and who are now a part of the program.

Please complete this form and provide your short essay answers by December 4, 2008. You may submit your application in one of three ways:

If you have questions, please contact Lynn Westbrook at (512) 232-7831 or lynnwest@ischool.utexas.edu.

Notes on the admissions process

After submitting this grant application and the rest of your admissions paperwork, your application is added to the pool of applicants applying for admissions. The iSchool's Enrollment Management Committee (EMC) will then make a determination of which applicants meet the iSchool's admissions requirements. For those who do meet the requirements, this grant application is then included in their admissions application packet as an additional piece of information for the EMC to consider. At this point, the EMC (with Lynn Westbrook available for consultation should they so choose) determines who is admitted to the iSchool. Finally, if more grant applicants are admitted than the grant will fund, then the EMC and Lynn Westbrook will work together to determine which applicants get funding (based on the evidence in this grant application of applicants' abilities to meet the priorities of the grant, especially with regard to leadership, diversity, and commitment to completing the degree).

General information

Name:

Email address:

Library at which you currently work:

[NOTE: Please contact Dr. Westbrook to talk about your individual situation if you do not work at one of the grant's partner libraries: Austin Public Library, Cedar Park Public Library, San Marcos Public Library, Round Rock Public Library, University of Texas Libraries, Texas State University Libraries, Huston-Tillotson University Library, Saint Edward's University Library.]

Diversity in the profession

One of the goals of this grant is to help our profession become more fully reflective of the diversity found in our society at large.

Specifically, this grant intends to promote librarianship in certain areas that have been consistently under-represented in the profession, namely diversity in terms of the following demographics: first-generation college, first-generation graduate school, language other than English (including signing), culture, race, ethnicity, and differently-abled.

Please write a short statement (100-200 words) that explains all the ways in which you see your own entry into the profession as an enhancement of this diversity.

Words: 0/200

Leadership in the profession

Another goal for this grant is to produce strong leaders for the library profession. While leadership and management may connect, it is possible to be a strong leader without having any managerial responsibilities. People lead in their libraries when preventing and solving problems, working on projects, helping to develop services, developing cost-effective operations, and more. Leadership can be powerful even when informal at the in-house, local, regional, state, national, and even international levels. How will your work exemplify leadership in both your own library and in the field as a whole? Explain in 100-200 words.

Words: 0/200

Commitment to education

The individuals selected for this grant must demonstrate a firm commitment to completing the degree. Help us see your commitment by explaining the following:

  1. how you plan to balance work, family, commuting, and graduate school obligations;
  2. how you plan to complete the remainder of the degree after this grant runs out;
  3. how you have made use of workshops and other continuing education opportunities in the past.

Explain in 100-400 words.

Words: 0/400