APPLICATION FORM
Return applications by Monday, April 10, 2006
Mail to: Dr. Balmurli Natrajan, Anthropology, 329 Science Building,
William Paterson University of New Jersey,
Wayne, New Jersey 07470

 If you have questions or need more information, please contact: Dr. Balmurli Natrajan at 973- 720-3869 or Dr. Roja Singh at 973-720-3378 or email: natrajanb@wpunj.edu or singhj4@wpunj.edu or visit: www.wpunj.edu/

Institution Highlights: William Paterson University of New Jersey is a mid-sized regional comprehensive public institution enrolling more than 12,000 students, and offering baccalaureate and graduate degrees, and teaching certification programs in 31 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs. Its five colleges – Arts and Communication, Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Health – house approximately 370 full-time faculty. The Asian Studies Program at WPUNJ received Title VI grant awards from the US Department of Education in 2001 and in 2004. It now has a Major and a Minor in Asian Studies at WPUNJ. 

Program: WPUNJ will coordinate a Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad. The project “Worlds of Work: Meeting Challenges for Teaching India in the 21st Century” will be a short-term 4-week seminar to India focusing on social transformations in the context of globalization in order to develop resources for teaching about India. It includes pre-trip meetings, an intense immersion experience in India, and several post-trip meetings and presentations for 10-12 participants who are teachers and administrators from elementary and secondary schools in New Jersey and New York metropolitan area and faculty from William Paterson University of New Jersey. The main focus is – the diverse “worlds of work” and work related activities – around which we will explore multiple facets of change in 21st century India. The project will be based in the south India city of Bangalore – a widely acknowledged nodal point in a globalizing world and having claims to being a “global city” since the late 1990s. 

Program Objectives: Major objectives of the project are to enable integration of international studies in New Jersey schools, enhance the Asian Studies Program at WPUNJ, and establish an active network and resource base on South Asia for teachers in New Jersey. Activities will include visits to organizations and places of work (nodal points in the global economy, educational centers, and grassroots development projects), historical sites, and in-class lectures and discussions. Participants will meet school and university teachers and students, development workers, intellectuals, policy makers, ordinary people in rural and urban India. Major outcomes include lesson plans for teaching India in schools, an interactive website on South Asia using material from the India trip, a document “Worlds of Work in a Global Age: An Indian Tapestry” produced collectively by participants, presentations of papers on pedagogical issues at the Teaching Asia conference at WPNJ in Spring 2007, and linkages with the Indian community in New Jersey. 

Program Dates:
Application deadline: Monday, April 10, 2006
Notification: Friday, 14, 2006
Pre-departure meetings: April 22-23, May 20-21, June 3-4, 2006 (at WPUNJ)
India Seminar: Tentatively July 1 – July 28, 2006 (depending upon flight booking availability)
Post-trip meetings: September 23-24, October 21-22, December 9-10, 2006 (at WPUNJ)
Post-trip presentation: Spring 2007 at the Teaching Asia conference, WPUNJ

Cost: The grant provides for all expenses in India including a return airfare from the USA, room and board, and internal travel. Participants will be responsible for expenses to attend pre- and post-trip meetings (all held in Wayne, New Jersey), medical insurance for travel, passport and visa, travel related medical care, and personal and incidental expenses.

Eligibility: Elementary, middle and high school social science teachers who teach ancient civilizations, world history/cultures, geography, advanced education students, and art and other classroom teachers are eligible to apply. The participants will be required to attend all the pre- and post- trip meetings and cooperate in the major outcomes listed above and make a commitment to outreach upon return.

*Participation in WPUNJ’s 2006 Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad grant is subject to eligibility criteria established for all federally subsidized programs.

Applicants must be:
1) Citizens, national, or permanent residents of the United States;
2) A humanities or social science teacher in elementary, middle, and high schools in New Jersey or New York metropolitan area schools

Selection Criteria: Applications will be evaluated based on overall previous performance and a promise and interest in the development of curriculum based on India, as reflected in the statement of purpose and letters of reference. Strong applications will explain the contribution of this study travel project to the applicant’s career and teaching objectives. The project administrators are committed to providing equal access and treatment to eligible project participants and to affirmative action policies.

When applications are ranked as equivalent by the advisory committee based on the above criteria, priority will be given first to applicants from under-represented groups and to applicants with no previous experience in travel to South Asia.

Equal Opportunity: William Paterson University of New Jersey is an equal opportunity/ affirmative action institution. Participation in University programs is decided on the basis of qualifications and credentials without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or disability. All employees and participants in the program are governed by the University’s policies against discrimination.

I.                  PERSONAL INFORMATION

 II.                COURSE(S) CURRENTLY TEACHING AND WILL TEACH IN 2006-07 

III.             CURRICULUM VITAE: Please attach a current copy of your resume or curriculum vita

IV.              PERSONAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

This should be no more than two pages (single-spaced, 12 point font). Your statement should include the following:

• Highlight your current knowledge of Asia in general and India in particular. Are there any particular areas that you are more familiar with about India? What are some areas or topics on India that you would like to learn more about?
• How do you think this Fulbright-Hays project will be useful for your personal and professional growth as an educator? Also, note how it may benefit your students.

 V.                 REFERENCES:

Please submit three letters of reference. One reference letter must be from the current principal or head administrator in the school where you work. Other letters might come from colleagues at your school or other institutions. Letters of reference must be received by the application deadline. Indicate below the names and titles of your referees.

Position: _____________________________________________________________

Name:    _____________________________________________________________ 

Position: _____________________________________________________________

Name:    _____________________________________________________________

Position: _____________________________________________________________

Name:    _____________________________________________________________

Letters can either be submitted with your application or mailed directly to Dr. Balmurli Natrajan, Anthropology, 329 Science, William Paterson University of New Jersey, Wayne, NJ 07470.