Immersion '20 Scholarship Application

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Immersion '20 Scholarships

Immersion '20 Program Cancellation

March 13, 2020

Dear Colleagues:

We regret to inform you that ACRL is cancelling the 2020 Immersion Program at Loyola University Chicago, August 2-7, 2020.

We have been carefully monitoring Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and local health authorities to make a good decision about whether to hold the program, given it is still more than four months away. However, Loyola just notified us that they were no longer able to provide the campus facilities that are crucial for the program. Given this information, we are cancelling the 2020 Immersion Program. We realize that these are unprecedented times and that the health and safety of both Loyola’s campus community and our membership is of utmost importance.

We are grateful to those of you who have already registered and thank the Immersion Facilitators, who were planning what would have been an excellent program. We are already making plans for the 2021 program and will have information about Immersion ’21 available soon.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be issuing full refunds to everyone who has already registered. If you don’t see your refund arrive by April 15, 2020, please email registration@ala.org.

Please also feel free to direct any questions to me at mconahan@ala.org. We are here to answer your questions and thank you in advance for your patience and understanding in these difficult circumstances.

Be well,

Margot Conahan

Manager, Professional Development

Association of College and Research Libraries

a division of the American Library Association

50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611

The ACRL Immersion Program Scholarships provide opportunities for academic and research librarians with diverse backgrounds, and those working at under-represented institutions, to expand their professional horizons and to update their skills and knowledge by participating in the Immersion 2020 Program.

Award

Six scholarships providing complimentary registration (a $1,895 value) will be awarded.

Eligibility

Scholarship applicants must be:

  • Currently employed in an academic or research library
  • Recommended by their library’s dean or director, or their immediate supervisor

Preference given to (a) applicants employed at institutions or in positions serving under-represented groups (examples include Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Community and Junior Colleges, and Tribal Academic Institutions), and (b) applicants from diverse cultural or ethnic backgrounds.

Application

To be considered, applicants must:complete the online scholarship application. The application includes the following essay questions:

1. How will attendance at Immersion 2020 support your current job duties and long-term career goals? (max. 500 words)

2. What unique qualities would you bring to the Immersion Program community? (max. 300 words)

3. What does critical reflective practice mean to you and how would it influence your participation in the Immersion Program? (max. 300 words)

4. What other sources of financial support are available for you to attend Immersion 2020? (max. 100 words)

Applicants must obtain a recommendation from their dean, director, or supervisor in electronic written form that can be cut and pasted into the application (max. 300 words). The recommender should discuss how attendance at Immersion 2020 would support the applicant’s professional development. This letter must be in electronic form so that it can be cut and pasted into the application form.

Criteria

The ACRL Immersion Program Scholarship Committee consists of members of the ACRL Immersion Program Committee. The Committee will score applications based on the following:

  • Responses to the applicant essay questions
  • Recommendation by the applicant’s dean, director, or immediate supervisor

Preference will be given to (a) applicants employed at institutions or in positions serving under-represented groups, and (b) applicants from a diverse cultural or ethnic background.

Deadline

Applications must be submitted via the online scholarship application by 5:00 p.m. Pacific, Friday, March 20, 2020.

Notification

Scholarship applicants will be notified via e-mail by April 20, 2020.

Apply now!

Questions should be directed to Margot Conahan at mconahan@ala.org.