Title 45—Public Welfare--Volume 1
PART 2400—FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
§ 2400.1   Purposes.
(a) The purposes of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Program are to:
(1) Provide incentives for master's degree level graduate study of the history, principles, and development of the United States Constitution by outstanding in-service teachers of American history, American government, social studies, and political science in grades 7-12 and by outstanding college graduates who plan to become teachers of the same subjects; and
(2) Strengthen teaching in the nation's secondary schools about the principles, framing, ratification, and subsequent history of the United States Constitution.
(b) The Foundation may from time to time operate its own programs and undertake other closely-related activities to fulfill these goals.
§ 2400.2   Annual competition.
To achieve its principal purposes, the Foundation holds an annual national competition to select teachers in grades 7-12, college seniors, and college graduates to be James Madison Fellows.
§ 2400.3   Eligibility.
Individuals eligible to apply for and hold James Madison Fellowships are United States citizens, United States nationals, or permanent residents of the Northern Mariana Islands who are:
(a) Teachers of American history, American government, social studies, or political science in grades 7-12 who:
(1) Are teaching full time during the year in which they apply for a fellowship;
(2) Are under contract, or can provide evidence of being under prospective contract, to teach full time as teachers of American history, American government, social studies, or political science in grades 7-12;
(3) Have demonstrated records of willingness to devote themselves to civic responsibilities and to professional and collegial activities within their schools and school districts;
(4) Are highly recommended by their department heads, school heads, school district superintendents, or other supervisors;
(5) Qualify for admission with graduate standing at accredited universities of their choice that offer master's degree programs allowing at least 12 semester hours or their equivalent of study of the origins, principles, and development of the Constitution of the United States and of its comparison with the constitutions of other forms of government;
(6) Are able to complete their proposed courses of graduate study within five calendar years from the commencement of study under their fellowships, normally through part-time study during summers or in evening or weekend programs;
(7) Agree to attend the Foundation's four-week Summer Institute on the Constitution, normally during the summer following the commencement of study under their fellowships; and
(8) Sign agreements that, after completing the education for which the fellowship is awarded, they will teach American history, American government, social studies, or political science full time in secondary schools for a period of not less than one year for each full year of study for which assistance was received, preferably in the State listed as their legal residence at the time of their fellowship award. For the purposes of this provision, a full academic year of study is considered by the Foundation to be 18 credit hours or 27 quarter hours. Fellows' teaching obligations will be figured at full academic years of study; and when Fellows have studies for partial academic years, those years will be rounded upward to the nearest one-half year to determine Fellows' total teaching obligations.
(b) Those who aspire to become full-time teachers of American history, American government, social studies, or political science in grades 7-12 who:
(1) Are matriculated college seniors pursuing their baccalaureate degrees full time and will receive those degrees no later than August 31st of the year of the fellowship competition in which they apply or prior recipients of baccalaureate degrees;
(2) Plan to begin graduate study on a full-time basis;
(3) Have demonstrated records of willingness to devote themselves to civic responsibilities;
(4) Are highly recommended by faculty members, deans, or other persons familiar with their potential for graduate study of American history and government and with their serious intention to enter the teaching profession as secondary school teachers of American history, American government, social studies, or political science in grades 7-12;
(5) Qualify for admission with graduate standing at accredited universities of their choice that offer master's degree programs that allow at least 12 semester hours or their equivalent of study of the origins, principles, and development of the Constitution of the United States and of its comparison with the constitutions and history of other forms of government;
(6) Are able to complete their proposed courses of graduate study in no more than two calendar years from the commencement of study under their fellowships, normally through full-time study;
(7) Agree to attend the Foundation's four-week Summer Institute on the Constitution, normally during the summer following the commencement of study under their fellowships; and
(8) Sign an agreement that, after completing the education for which the fellowship is awarded, they will teach American history, American government, social studies, or political science full time in secondary schools for a period of not less than one year for each full academic year of study for which assistance was received, preferably in the State listed as their legal residence at the time of their fellowship award. Fellows' teaching obligations will be figured at full academic years of study; and when Fellows have studies for partial academic years, those years will be rounded upward to the nearest one-half year to determine Fellows' total teaching obligations.
§ 2400.4   Definitions.
As used in this part:
Academic year means the period of time in which a full-time student would normally complete two semesters, two trimesters, three quarters, or their equivalent of study.
Act means the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Act.
College means an institution of higher education offering only a baccalaureate degree or the undergraduate division of a university in which a student is pursuing a baccalaureate degree.
Credit Hour Equivalent means the number of graduate credit hours obtained in credits, courses or units during a quarter, a trimester, or a semester which are needed to equal a specific number of semester graduate credit hours.
Fee means a typical and usually non-refundable charge levied by an institution of higher education for a service, privilege, or use of property which is required for a Fellow's enrollment and registration.
Fellow means a recipient of a fellowship from the Foundation.
Fellowship means an award, called a James Madison Fellowship, made to a person by the Foundation for graduate study.
Foundation means the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation.
Full-time study means study for an enrolled student who is carrying at least 9 credit hours a semester or its equivalent.
Graduate study means the courses of study beyond the baccalaureate level, which are offered as part of a university's master's degree program and which lead to a master's degree.
Incomplete means a course which the Foundation has paid for but the Fellow has received an incomplete grade or the Fellow has not received graduate credit for the course.
Institution of higher education has the meaning given in Section 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1141(a)).
Junior Fellowship means a James Madison Fellowship granted either to a college senior or to a college graduate who has received a baccalaureate degree and who seeks to become a secondary school teacher of American history, American government, social studies, or political science for full-time graduate study toward a master's degree whose course of study emphasizes the framing, principles, history, and interpretation of the United States Constitution.
Master's degree means the first pre-doctoral graduate degree offered by a university beyond the baccalaureate degree, for which the baccalaureate degree is a prerequisite.
Matriculated means formally enrolled in a master's degree program in a university.
Repayment means if the fellowship is relinquished by the fellow or is terminated by the Foundation prior to the completion of the Fellow's degree, and/or the Fellow fails to fulfill the teaching obligation after the graduate degree is awarded, the Fellow must repay to the Foundation all Fellowship costs received plus interest at a rate of 6% per annum and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees.
Resident means a person who has legal residence in the state, recognized under state law. If a question arises concerning a Fellow's state of residence, the Foundation determines, for the purposes of this program, of which state the person is a resident, taking into account the Fellow's place of registration to vote, his or her parent's place of residence, and the Fellow's eligibility for in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education.
Satisfactory progress for a Junior Fellow means the completion of the number of required courses normally expected of full-time master's degree candidates at the university that the Fellow attends, with grades acceptable to that university, in not more than two calendar years from the commencement of that study. Satisfactory progress for a Senior Fellow means the completion each year of a specific number of required courses in the Fellow's master's degree program, as agreed upon each year with the Foundation and outlined on the Plan of Study form, with grades acceptable to the Fellow's university, in not more than five calendar years from the commencement of that study.
Secondary school means grades 7 through 12.
Senior means a student at the academic level recognized by an institution of higher education as being the last year of study before receiving the baccalaureate degree.
Senior Fellowship means a James Madison Fellowship granted to a secondary school teacher of American history, American government, social studies, or political science for part-time graduate study toward a master's degree whose course of study emphasizes the framing, principles, history, and interpretation of the United States Constitution.
State means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and, considered as a single entity, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Stipend means the amount paid by the Foundation to a Fellow or on his or her behalf for the allowable costs of graduate study which have been approved under the fellowship.
Teaching Obligation means that a Fellow, upon receiving a master's degree, must teach American history, American government, social studies, or political science on a full-time basis to students in secondary school for a period of not less than one year for each year for which financial assistance was received.
Term means the period—semester, trimester, or quarter—used by an institution of higher education to divide its academic year.
Termination means the non-voluntary ending of a fellowship by the Foundation when the Fellow has not complied with the rules and regulations of the fellowship or has not made satisfactory progress in his or her program of study.
University means an institution of higher education that offers post-baccalaureate degrees.
Withdrawal means the voluntary relinquishment or surrender of a Fellowship by the Fellow.
§ 2400.10   Application.
Eligible applicants for fellowships must apply directly to the Foundation.
§ 2400.11   Faculty representatives.
Each college and university that chooses to do so may annually appoint or reappoint a faculty representative who will be asked to identify and recruit fellowship applicants on campus, publicize the annual competition on campus, and otherwise assist eligible candidates in preparation for applying. In order to elicit the appointment of faculty representatives, the Foundation will each year request the head of each college and university campus to appoint or reappoint a faculty representative and to provide the Foundation with the name, business address, and business telephone number of a member of its faculty representative on forms provided for that purpose.
§ 2400.20   Preparation of application.
Applications, on forms mailed directly by the Foundation to those who request applications or downloaded from the Foundation's Web site, must be completed by all fellowship candidates in order that they be considered for an award.
§ 2400.21   Contents of application.
Applications must include for
(a) Senior Fellowships:
(1) Supporting information which affirms an applicant's wish to be considered for a fellowship; provides information about his or her background, interests, goals, and the school in which he or she teaches; and includes a statement about the applicant's educational plans and specifies how those plans will enhance his or her career as a secondary school teacher of American history, American government, social studies, or political science;
(2) An essay of up to 600 words that explains the importance of the study of the Constitution to:
(i) Young students;
(ii) The applicant's career aspirations and his or her contributions to public service; and
(iii) Citizenship generally in a constitutional republic;
(3) The applicant's proposed course of graduate study, including the name of the degree to be sought, the required courses to be taken, as well as information about the specific degree sought;
(4) Three evaluations, one from an immediate supervisor, that attest to the applicant's strengths and abilities as a teacher in grades 7-12; and
(5) A copy of his or her academic transcript.
(b) Junior Fellowships:
(1) Supporting information which affirms an applicant's wish to be considered for a fellowship; provides information about the applicant's background, interests, goals, and the college which he or she attends or attended; and includes a statement about the applicant's educational plans and specifies how those plans will lead to a career as a teacher of American history, American government, social studies, or political science in grades 7-12;
(2) An essay of up to 600 words that explains the importance of the study of the Constitution to:
(i) Young students;
(ii) The applicant's career aspirations and his or her contribution to public service; and
(iii) Citizenship generally in a constitutional republic;
(3) Applicant's proposed course of graduate study, including the name of the degree sought, the name of the required courses to be taken, and information about the specific degree sought;
(4) Three evaluations that attest to the applicant's academic achievements and to his or her potential to become an outstanding secondary school teacher; and
(5) A copy of his or her academic transcript.
§ 2400.22   Application deadline.
Completed applications must be received by the Foundation no later than March 1st of each year preceding the start of the academic year for which candidates are applying.
§ 2400.30   Selection criteria.
Applicants will be evaluated, on the basis of materials in their applications, as follows:
(a) Demonstrated commitment to teaching American history, American government, social studies, or political science at the secondary school level;
(b) Demonstrated intention to pursue a program of graduate study that emphasizes the Constitution and to offer classroom instruction in that subject;
(c) Demonstrated record of willingness to devote themselves to civic responsibility;
(d) Outstanding performance or potential of performance as classroom teachers;
(e) Academic achievements and demonstrated capacity for graduate study; and
(f) Proposed courses of graduate study, especially the nature and extent of their subject matter components, and their relationship to the enhancement of applicants' teaching and professional activities.
(g) Content of the 600-word essay.
§ 2400.31   Selection process.
(a) An independent Fellow Selection Committee will evaluate all valid applications and recommend to the Foundation the most outstanding applicants from each state for James Madison Fellowships.
(b) From among candidates recommended for fellowships by the Fellow Selection Committee, the Foundation will name James Madison Fellows. The selection procedure will assure that at least one James Madison Fellow, junior or senior, is selected from each state in which there are at least two legal resident applicants who meet the eligibility requirements set forth in § 2400.3 and are judged favorably against the selection criteria in § 2400.30.
(c) The Foundation may name, from among those applicants recommended by the Fellow Selection Committee, an alternate or alternates for each fellowship. An alternate may, at the Foundation's discretion receive a fellowship if the person named as a James Madison Fellow declines the award or is not able to pursue graduate study as contemplated at the time the fellowship was accepted. An alternate may be named to replace a Fellow who declines or relinquishes an award until, but no later than, March 1st following the competition in which the alternate has been selected.
(d) Funds permitting, the Foundation may also select, from among those recommended by the Fellow Selection Committee, Fellows at large.
§ 2400.40   Institutions of graduate study.
Fellowship recipients may attend any accredited university in the United States with a master's degree program offering courses or training that emphasize the origins, principles, and development of the Constitution of the United States and its comparison with the constitutions and history of other forms of government.
§ 2400.41   Degree programs.
(a) Fellows may pursue a master's degree in history or political science (including government or politics), the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching in history or political science (including government or politics), or a related master's degree in education that permits a concentration in American history, American government, social studies, or political science. Graduate degrees under which study is excluded from fellowship support are indicated in § 2400.63.
(b) A master's degree pursued under a James Madison Fellowship may entail either one or two years or their equivalent of study, according to the requirements of the university at which a Fellow is enrolled.
§ 2400.42   Approval of Plan of Study.
The Foundation must approve each Fellow's Plan of Study. To be approved, the plan must:
(a) On a part-time or full-time basis lead to a master's degree in history or political science, the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching in history or political science, or a related master's degree in education that permits a concentration in American history, American government, social studies, or political science;
(b) Include courses, graduate seminars, or opportunities for independent study in topics directly related to the framing and history of the Constitution of the United States;
(c) Be pursued at a university that assures a willingness to accept up to 6 semester hours of accredited transfer credits from another graduate institution for a Fellow's satisfactory completion of the Foundation's Summer Institute on the Constitution. For the Foundation's purposes, these 6 semester hours may be included in the required minimum of 12 semester hours or their equivalent of study of the United States Constitution; and
(d) Be pursued at a university that encourages the Fellow to enhance his or her capacities as a teacher of American history, American government, social studies, or political science and to continue his or her career as a secondary school teacher. The Foundation reserves the right to refuse to approve a Fellow's Plan of Study at a university that will not accept on transfer the 6 credits for the Institute.
§ 2400.43   Required courses of graduate study.
(a) To be acceptable to the Foundation, those courses related to the Constitution referred to in § 2400.43(b) must amount to at least 12 semester or 18 quarter hours or their credit hour equivalent of study of topics directly related to the United States Constitution. More than 12 semester hours or their credit hour equivalent of such study is strongly encouraged.
(b) The courses that fulfill the required minimum of 12 semester hours or their credit hour equivalent of study of the United States Constitution must cover one or more of the following subject areas:
(1) The history of colonial America leading up to the framing of the Constitution;
(2) The Constitution itself, its framing, the history and principles upon which it is based, its ratification, the Federalist Papers, Anti-Federalist writings, and the Bill of Rights;
(3) The historical development of political theory, constitutional law, and civil liberties as related to the Constitution;
(4) Interpretations of the Constitution by the Supreme Court and other branches of the federal government;
(5) Debates about the Constitution in other forums and about the effects of constitutional norms and decisions upon American society and culture; and
(6) Any other subject clearly related to the framing, history, and principles of the Constitution.
(c) If a master's degree program in which a Fellow is enrolled requires a master's thesis in place of a course or courses, the Fellow will have the option of writing the thesis based on the degree requirements. The preparation of a master's thesis should not add additional required credits to the minimum number of credits required for the master's degree. If a Fellow must write a thesis, the topic of the thesis must relate to subjects concerning the framing, principles, or history of the United States Constitution. If the Fellow can choose between two degree tracks, a thesis track or a non-thesis track, the Foundation in general, requires the non-thesis track.
§ 2400.44   Commencement of graduate study.
(a) Fellows may commence study under their fellowships as early as the summer following the announcement of their award. Fellows are normally expected to commence study under their fellowships in the fall term of the academic year following the date on which their award is announced. However, as indicated in § 2400.61, they may seek to postpone the commencement of fellowship study for up to one year under extenuating circumstances.
(b) In determining the two- and five-year fellowship periods of Junior and Senior Fellows respectively, the Foundation will consider the commencement of the fellowship period to be the date on which each Fellow commences study under a fellowship.
§ 2400.45   Special consideration: Junior Fellows' Plan of Study.
Applicants for Junior Fellowships who seek or hold baccalaureate degrees in education are strongly encouraged to pursue master's degrees in history or political science. Those applicants who hold undergraduate degrees in history, political science, government, or any other subjects may take some teaching methods and related courses, although the Foundation will not pay for them unless they are required for the degree for which the Fellow is matriculated. The Foundation will review each proposed Plan of Study for an appropriate balance of subject matter and other courses based on the Fellow's goals, background, and degree requirements.
§ 2400.46   Special consideration: second master's degree.
The Foundation may award Senior Fellowships to applicants who are seeking their second master's degrees providing that the applicants' first master's degree was obtained at least three years prior to the year in which the applicants would normally commence study under a fellowship. In evaluating applications from individuals intending to pursue a second master's degree, the Fellow Selection Committee will favor those applicants who are planning to become American history, American government, social studies, or political science teachers after having taught another subject and applicants whose initial master's degree was in a subject different from that sought under the second master's degree.
§ 2400.47   Summer Institute's relationship to fellowship.
Each year, the Foundation normally offers during July a four-week graduate-level Institute on the principles, framing, ratification, and implementation of the United States Constitution at an accredited university in the Washington, DC, area. The Institute is an integral part of each fellowship.
§ 2400.48   Fellows' participation in the Summer Institute.
Each fellow is required as part of his or her fellowship to attend the Institute (if it is offered), normally during the summer following the Fellow's commencement of graduate study under a fellowship.
§ 2400.49   Contents of the Summer Institute.
The principal element of the Institute is a graduate history course, “Foundations of American Constitutionalism.” Other components of the Institute include study visits to sites associated with the lives and careers of members of the founding generation.
§ 2400.50   Allowances and Summer Institute costs.
At the Foundation's discretion, Fellows may be paid an allowance to help offset income foregone by their required attendance. The Foundation also funds the costs of the Institute and Fellows' round-trip transportation to and from the Institute site. The costs of tuition, required fees, books, room, and board entailed by the Institute will be paid for by the Foundation directly but may be offset against fellowship award limits if the credits earned for the Institute are included within the Fellows' degree requirements.
§ 2400.51   Summer Institute accreditation.
The Institute is accredited for six graduate semester credits by the university at which it is held. It is expected that the universities at which Fellows are pursuing their graduate study will, upon Fellows' satisfactory completion of the Institute, accept these credits or their credit-hour equivalent upon transfer from the university at which the Institute is held in fulfillment of the minimum number of credits required for Fellows' graduate degrees. Satisfactory completion of the Institute will fulfill 6 of the Foundation's 12 semester credits required in graduate study of the history and development of the Constitution. Fellows, with the Foundation's assistance, are strongly encouraged to make good faith efforts to have their universities incorporate the Institute into their Plan of Study and accept the 6 Institute credits toward the minimum number of credits required for their master's degrees.
§ 2400.52   Amount of stipend.
Junior and Senior Fellowships carry a stipend of up to a maximum of $24,000 pro-rated over the period of Fellows' graduate study. In no case shall the stipend for a fellowship exceed $12,000 per academic year. Within this limit, stipends will be pro-rated over the period of Fellows' graduate study as follows: a maximum of $6,000 per academic semester or trimester of full-time study, and a maximum of $4,000 per academic quarter of full-time study. Stipends for part-time study will be pro rata shares of those allowable for full-time study.
§ 2400.53   Duration of stipend.
Stipends for Junior Fellowships may be payable over a period up to 2 calendar years of full-time graduate study, and those for Senior Fellowships may be payable over a period of not more than 5 calendar years of part-time graduate study, beginning with the dates under which Fellows commence their graduate study under their fellowships. However, the duration of stipend payments will be subject to the maximum payment limits, the length of award time limits, and the completion of the minimum degree requirements, whichever occurs first. A waiver of the time limit may be given for full-time students who require more than 36 credit hours or 54 quarter hours to complete their approved degree.
§ 2400.54   Use of stipend.
Stipends shall be used only to pay the costs of tuition, required fees, books, room, and board associated with graduate study under a fellowship. The costs allowed for a Fellow's room and board will be the amount the Fellow's university reports to the Foundation as the cost of room and board for a graduate student if that student were to share a room at the student's university. If no shared graduate housing exists, then costs for regular shared student housing will be used. If no campus housing exists, the equivalent room and board costs at neighboring universities will be used. Stipends for room, board, and books will be pro-rated for Fellows enrolled in study less than full time. The Foundation will not reimburse Fellows for any portion of their master's degree study, that Fellows may have completed prior to the commencement of their fellowships. Nor will the Foundation reimburse Fellows for any credits acquired above the minimum number of credits required for the degree. If a Fellow has already taken and paid for courses that can be credited toward the Fellow's graduate degree under a fellowship, those must be credited to the degree; the remaining required courses will be paid for by the Foundation.
§ 2400.55   Certification for stipend.
In order to receive a fellowship stipend, a Fellow must submit the following nine items in writing:
(a) An acceptance of the terms and conditions of the fellowship including a completed certificate of compliance form;
(b) Evidence of admission to an approved graduate program;
(c) Certified copies of undergraduate and, if any, graduate transcripts;
(d) A certified payment request form indicating the estimated costs for tuition, required fees, books, room, and board;
(e) a photo copy of the university's bulletin of cost information;
(f) The amount and nature of income from any other grants or awards;
(g) information about the Fellow's degree requirements, including the number of required credits to fulfill the degree;
(h) a statement of the university's willingness to accept the transfer of 6 credits toward the Fellow's degree requirements for the Fellow's satisfactory completion of the Summer Institute (see § 2400.51); and
(i) A full Plan of Study over the duration of the fellowship, including information on the contents of required constitutional courses. Senior Fellows must provide evidence of their continued full-time employment as teachers in grades 7-12.
§ 2400.56   Payment of stipend.
Payment for tuition, required fees, books, room, and board subject to the limitations in §§ 2400.52 through 2400.55 and §§ 2400.59 through 2400.60 will be paid via Electronic Funds Transfer to each Fellow at the beginning of each term of enrollment and upon the Fellow's submission of a completed Payment Request Form which includes the current University bulletin of cost information.
§ 2400.57   Termination of stipend.
(a) The Foundation may suspend or terminate the payment of a stipend if a Fellow fails to meet the criteria set forth in § 2400.40 through § 2400.44 and § 2400.60, except as provided for in § 2400.61. Before it suspends or terminates a fellowship under these circumstances, the Foundation will give notice to the Fellow, as well as the opportunity to be heard with respect to the grounds for suspension or termination.
(b) The Foundation will normally suspend the payment of a stipend if a Fellow has more than one grade of “Incomplete” in courses for which the Foundation has made payment to the Fellow.
§ 2400.58   Repayment of stipend.
(a) If a Fellow fails to secure a master's degree, fails to teach American history, American government, social studies, or political science on a full-time basis in a secondary school for at least one school year for each academic year for which assistance was provided under a fellowship, fails to secure at least 12 semester hours or their credit hour equivalent for study of the Constitution as indicated in § 2400.43(b), or fails to attend the Foundation's Summer Institute on the Constitution, the Fellow must repay all of the fellowship costs received plus interest at the rate of 6% per annum or as otherwise authorized and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees, as prescribed in Section 807 of the Act (20 U.S.C. 4506(b)).
(b) If a Fellow withdraws from the fellowship or has a fellowship terminated by the Foundation, the Fellow must repay all fellowship funds which have been remitted to the Fellow or on his or her behalf under a fellowship.
§ 2400.59   Other awards.
Fellows may accept grants from other foundations, institutions, corporations, or government agencies to support their graduate study or to replace any income foregone for study. However, the stipend paid by the Foundation for allowable costs indicated in § 2400.52 will be reduced to the extent these costs are paid from other sources, and in no case will fellowship funds be paid to Fellows to provide support in excess of their actual total costs of tuition, required fees, books, room, and board. The Foundation may also reduce a Fellow's stipend if the Fellow is remunerated for the costs of tuition under a research or teaching assistantship or a work-study program. In such a case, the Foundation will require information from a Fellow's university about the intended use of assistantship or work-study support before remitting fellowship payments.
§ 2400.60   Renewal of award.
(a) Provided that Fellows have submitted all required documentation and are making satisfactory academic progress, it is the intent of the Foundation to renew Junior Fellowship awards annually for a period not to exceed two calendar years or the completion of their graduate degrees, whichever comes first, and Senior Fellowships for a period not to exceed 5 calendar years (except when those periods have been altered because of changes in Fellows' Plan of Study as provided for in § 2400.64), or until a Fellow has completed all requirements for a master's degree, whichever comes first. In no case, however, will the Foundation continue payments under a fellowship to a Fellow who has reached the maximum payments under a fellowship as indicated in § 2400.52, or completed the minimum number of credits required for the degree. Although Fellows are not discouraged in taking courses in addition to those required for the degree or required to maintain full-time status, the Foundation will not in such cases pay for those additional courses.
(b) Fellowship renewal will be subject to an annual review by the Foundation and certification by an authorized official of the university at which a Fellow is registered that the Fellow is making satisfactory progress toward the degree and is in good academic standing according to the standards of each university.
(c) As a condition of renewal of awards, each Fellow must submit an annual activity report to the Foundation by July 15th. That report must indicate, through submission of a copy of the Fellow's most recent transcript, courses taken and grades achieved; courses planned for the coming year; changes in academic or professional plans or situations; any awards, recognitions, or special achievements in the Fellow's academic study or school employment; and such other information as may relate to the fellowship and its holder.
§ 2400.61   Postponement of award.
Upon application to the Foundation, a Fellow may seek postponement of his or her fellowship because of ill health or other mitigating circumstances, such as military duty, temporary disability, necessary care of an immediate family member, or unemployment as a teacher. Substantiation of the reasons for the requested postponement of study will be required. All postponements are given at the Foundation's discretion and will normally not extend for more than one year.
§ 2400.62   Evidence of master's degree.
At the conclusion of graduate studies, each Fellow must provide a certified transcript which indicates that he or she has secured an approved master's degree as set forth in the Fellow's original Plan of Study or approved modifications thereto.
§ 2400.63   Excluded graduate study.
James Madison Fellowships do not provide support for study toward doctoral degrees, for the degree of master of arts in public affairs or public administration. The Foundation may at its discretion, upon request of the Fellow, provide tuition only assistance toward teacher certification.
§ 2400.64   Alterations to Plan of Study.
Although Junior Fellows are expected to pursue full-time study and Senior Fellows to pursue part-time study, the Foundation may permit Junior Fellows with an established need (such as the need to accept a teaching position) to study part time and Senior Fellows with established need (such as great distance between the Fellow's residence and the nearest university, thus necessitating a full-time leave of absence from employment in order to study) to study full time.
§ 2400.65   Teaching obligation.
Upon receiving a Master's degree, each Fellow must teach American history, American government, social studies, or political science on a full-time basis to students in secondary school for a period of not less than one year for each academic year for which financial assistance was received. Each Fellow will be required to provide the Foundation with an annual certification from an official of the secondary school where the Fellow is employed indicating the teaching activities of the Fellow during the past year. This same certification will be required each year until the Fellow's teaching obligation is completed. Any teaching done by the Fellow prior to or during graduate studies does not count towards meeting this teaching obligation.
§ 2400.66   Completion of fellowship.
A Fellow will be deemed to have satisfied all terms of a fellowship and all obligations under it when the Fellow has completed no fewer than 12 graduate semester hours or the equivalent of study of the Constitution, formally secured the masters degree, attended the Foundation's Summer Institute on the Constitution, completed teaching for the number of years and fractions thereof required as a condition of accepting Foundation support for study, and submitted all required reports.