Environmental Growth Management (EGM) Fellows are funded by the Florida Atlantic University/ Catanese Center for Urban & Environmental Solutions (CUES). Students admitted to the Masters of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) degree program, offered by the Department of Urban & Regional Planning in the College of Architecture, Urban, & Public Affairs (CAUPA), are eligible to apply for the EGM Fellowship.
Students who pursue the full-time five semesters MURP degree program receive $20,000. Full-time study means carrying 12 credit hours a semester in order to complete the program in the time allotted, therefore completing 48 semester credits. Fellows are expected to start the program as a cohort in the fall and cannot transfer previous coursework into the program.
The application deadline for the EGM Fellowship is April 15; final selection will be made on or about May 15. Students must apply separately for admission to the MURP program according to university procedures as outlined by the university Catalog. Degree applicants must submit the following items to the FAU Admission’s Office, 777 Glades Road, PO Box 3091, Boca Raton, FL 33431:
- Graduate Application
- Official Transcripts
- Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Scores or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Scores
- Application Fee
EGM applicants must supply the following items to Todd Hedrick, Coordinator of Academic Programs, Higher Education Complex, Rm. 1010, 111 E. Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301:
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
- EGM Application (You may download a PDF version of the application by clicking here)
- Current Resume
- Statement Summarizing Relevant Experiences and Interest
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.2 in the last sixty (60) credit hours of the undergraduate program (calculated by the CAUPA Coordinator’s Office), a cumulative GRE score of 1200 on the quantitative and verbal sections of the GRE and 2 letters of recommendation. When either the GPA or GRE criterion is not met, a formula score (GPA x 200+ GRE), preferably of 1840 or better, along with other factors such as relevant professional experience and letters of recommendation, may be taken into consideration in the EGM Admission Committee’s decision. The EGM Admission Committee is chaired by the Associate Director of the Catanese Center for Urban & Environmental Solutions (CUES) and includes representatives from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, , with input given by the CAUPA Student Service Center. Decisions regarding the award of the EGM Fellowship do not affect an applicant’s chances of being accepted into the MURP degree program.
Internship Requirement
Each EGM Fellow spends one semester serving an internship or work assignment with a public agency or government within the local region. The Catanese Center for Urban & Environmental Solutions (CUES) staff places the EGM Fellow in the internship/work assignment. In addition to its educational aspects, the internship/work assignment provides practical experience in the field and networking opportunities for future employment. The work experience occurs in the summer semester (May-August). The assignment lasts for 20 hours per week for 16 weeks.
Research Assistance and Employment
A condition of the fellowship is that each student, during times other than the internship semester, is to work as a graduate assistant 10 hours per week within the university, typically within CAUPA or the Catanese Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions.
Tuition Waiver
In addition to the fellowship stipend, Fellows receive a partial tuition waiver. The Office of Academic Support Services in the College handles the procedure. Funds are allocated to the College from the FAU Office of Graduate Studies and Research to fund matriculation fee waivers and non-resident tuition waivers. Depending on University funding the amount of the tuition waiver for each Fellow varies from year to year. Each EGM Fellow is responsible for paying the portion of tuition not covered by the tuition waivers.
EGM Guidelines
EGM Fellows are expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their graduate studies. They are expected to carry out their duties responsibly and cooperatively. The Catanese Center for Urban & Environmental Solutions (CUES) reserves the right to cancel a fellowship appointment due to poor academic performance or acceptance or maintenance of employment elsewhere and may assign the fellowship to another applicant. EGM Fellows are expected to attend an EGM orientation meeting that is held at the beginning of the fall semester.
- As of Fall 2004, one credit of matriculation fee waiver is worth $282.10.
- One credit of non-resident fee waiver is worth $ 869.48.