The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NC) strives to address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Planning profession as well as in our planning practices. The purpose of the APA-NC Diversity Scholarship program is to foster increased interest in the study of urban planning within the black, indigenous, or person of color (BIPOC) student population at the advanced undergraduate and graduate levels. The program is open to third and fourth year undergraduate degree students and first and second year master’s degree students. Three scholarships of $1,000 will be awarded to be used for tuition, fees, books, or academic materials.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants must be BIPOC students seeking to work in the planning profession, and have a student membership to the NC-APA. Applicants must intend to work as a practicing professional planner in the non-profit, public or private sector in the State of North Carolina and are currently enrolled in either of the following:
- Third or fourth year undergraduate students in a planning program in the State of North Carolina
- First or second year graduate students in a planning program in the State of North Carolina
Application Requirements
Applicants for the Diversity Scholarship shall submit all of the following:
- 1 to 2-page personal and background statement written by the student, describing their interest in a career in planning and describing what impact the student wants to make in the planning field related to marginalized communities/ populations or the planning profession;
- One letter of recommendation from a professor, a community leader, or current/ past employer in support of the student’s application and personal background statement;
- Official transcript of current course of study (for current students) or a copy of an acceptance letter from a graduate planning school (for incoming students); and
- Resume of work experience and background.
Selection Criteria
The Diversity Scholarship Selection Committee will review applications and determine the scholarship award winners. Applications will be judged using the following criteria, listed in order of importance:
- The significance of the applicant’s personal and background statement;
- The content in the letter of recommendation; and
- Academic achievement and/or service or impacts made in the community or the planning profession.
As part of the selection process and at the sole option of the Diversity Scholarship Selection Committee, the top applicants may be required to participate in a telephone interview with members of the committee.
The Award Process
The Diversity Scholarship Selection Committee will convene in August 2020 to review applications and identify the scholarship award recipients. The Committee will identify the top five participants and issue the awards to the highest ranked. Award recipients are required to provide an emailed acceptance of the award to the Diversity Scholarship Coordinator within ten (10) calendar days of receiving an award notification message. With the acceptance of the money, the award recipient will be asked to provide their current mailing address, a photo and a 250-500 word biography to be featured in the next APA-NC newsletter and in APA-NC social media and website. In the event that the winner cannot fulfill the requirements of the scholarship, the award will be granted to the next ranked participant.
Important dates
Submittal Deadline
August 15, 2020 by 11:59 P.M.
Award Announced
Fall 2020 via one or more of the following: Press Release, Blog Post, Social Media and the APA-NC Newsletter. Recognition will be made at the next in-person Conference of the NC-APA.