Selection Criteria for Holmes Scholars

Selection Criteria/Priorities

Individuals selected as Holmes Scholars should be doctoral students or students pursuing a terminal degree in the field.  These individuals should be nominated during their first year (preferably in their second semester) and begin their Scholar status at the beginning of the second year of their doctoral or terminal degree program. [1]  

• Are members of groups under-represented in the education professoriate or in the education field
• Intend to be or are engaged in teacher education (pre-service and/or in-service OR are engaged in fields/specializations with a clear school-based focus (e.g., school psychology, educational administration, educational technology)
• Demonstrate a commitment to equity and diversity
•  Agree to work in Professional Development Schools or other school/university/community/business collaborative partnership arrangements

Application Procedures

Applicants should complete and submit to their local partnership member institution the uniform Holmes Scholars Application form which can be obtained via the Holmes Scholar website or from the local partnership member institution.  Holmes Scholar Applications should be submitted to the local partnership member institution, which will select their Holmes Scholars.  After local partnership institutions have selected their Scholars a copy of the application and accompanying materials should be submitted to the AACTE, Holmes Scholars Office, 1307 New York Ave., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005-4701. 

In addition to the uniform Holmes Scholars Application, applicants should submit:

• Curriculum Vita
• A statement indicating their a) professional goals; b) commitment to education practice and improvement; and c) research agenda regarding equity and diversity
• A letter of nomination from a faculty member

Program Expectations

Students selected as Holmes Scholars should:

• Serve three-year terms
• Participate in The Holmes Partnership Annual Conference  (This includes the Holmes Scholars Conference which precedes the HP Annual Conference and the full HP Conference.) 
• Participate in at least one other education conference such as the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), American Educational Research Association (AERA) or the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE)
• Propose and implement a project that relates to or forwards the goals of the Holmes Partnership and authentically engages them with a PDS or other school/university/community/business collaboration

Program Support

At the level of the sponsoring local partnership member institution, Holmes Scholars should receive:

• Financial support (i.e., fellowship, scholarship, tuition waiver, etc.
• Full financial support to attend The Holmes Partnership Annual Conference (including appropriate land and air transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, and other related expenses)
• A stipend for professional development activities and materials
• Mentoring support

At the level of The Holmes Partnership national organization, Holmes Scholars will be provided:

• A website devoted to scholars’ activities
• Access to position announcements from Holmes Partnership members
• Opportunities to participate in electronic networks with other Holmes Scholars
• Special programs at The Holmes Partnership Annual Conference
• Special programs at other national conferences

Professional Opportunities

Each partnership member institution should provide Scholars with a menu of additional professional development opportunities.  Each scholar should have the possibility of participating in at least one activity.  These include but are not limited to the following:

• Shadowing a faculty member for a week (either at the sponsoring campus or at another HP institution)
• Serving as an apprentice to a faculty member around a particular activity (e.g., a research project, writing a manuscript, editing a journal, putting on a conference, etc.)
• Serving as a teaching assistant
• Attending one or two meetings with faculty involved in collaborative projects with colleagues in other departments or at other institutions
• Attendance at the Holmes Scholars Summer Leadership Institute
• Participate in PDS activities

To download the Application Form, click here