About KCP Future Faculty Fellowship Program

The King-Chavez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship Program was established in 1986 by the Michigan State Legislature.  The purpose of the program is to increase the pool of traditionally underrepresented candidates pursuing faculty teaching careers in postsecondary education.  Applications from minorities, women, people with disabilities and individuals from cultural, linguistic, geographic and socio-economic backgrounds who would otherwise not adequately be represented in the graduate student and faculty populations are encouraged to apply. 

King-Chavez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowships (KCP) are funded from an annual State of Michigan appropriation to Wayne State University. The Graduate School holds a competition for KCP awards and provides recipients with financial assistance to pursue doctoral degrees.  Each Fellow is awarded a stipend from one to three years, up to a maximum of $35,000 over a three-year period.  The KCP Fellowship may be used to supplement other awards. 

Eligibility requirements include: United States citizenship or permanent resident status; Michigan residency status as defined by the University; being a member of a traditionally underrepresented category, as outlined in the first paragraph above,  and acceptance into a Wayne State University doctoral program.    

KCP Fellows agree to complete a doctoral program within eight years of receiving the Fellowship and are obligated, by a signed agreement, to remain in faculty teaching positions in public or private post-secondary institutions for a minimum of three years equivalent full-time.  A KCP Fellow has one year following degree completion to obtain a faculty position. 

The King-Chavez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship Program is administered by The Graduate School with the support of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, King-Chavez-Parks Initiative.