Program Overview & Application Information
The Freshman Fellowship Program at Northern Michigan University provides academically talented students with an enriched educational experience. Some of the programmatic advantages include formal learning outcomes, while others are more personal, involving interactions with a faculty mentor, other freshman fellows, and advanced students and staff at the university. The program provides an opportunity to understand and practice scholarship, work with a university professor, interact with other students and enhance overall intellectual curiosity all while earning a stipend.
The Freshman Fellowship Program consists of a monetary award of up to $1,000, paid per hour. Most fellows work 3-4 hours per week throughout the year with their faculty mentor. Fellows have been placed with mentors in a wide variety of academic fields, including biology, business, chemistry, criminal justice, economics, education, history, geography, nursing, psychology, and theatre.
We are currently working on an updated Faculty Research Interests list that will be available during the fall of 2023. Thank you.
To learn more about how to apply, check out our How to Apply webpage.
History of the Program
The Freshman Fellowship Program was launched in the fall of 1995 under the leadership of Dr. Karen Reese, vice president for Student Affairs. The pilot program began in 1995 and had five fellows. The experience was to provide academically talented students with the opportunity to understand and practice research while working with a university professor on a research project. For their research efforts, students were paid a stipend of $1,000 for the academic year. The Freshman Fellowship Program has grown over the years to serve well over 30 fellows. The Freshman Fellowship Program has resulted in better-educated students and students who graduate and enter the world of work with a competitive advantage.