The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars program at Northern Arizona University is a multi-year program funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation that serves to strengthen the conservation profession by training students who can make significant contributions to conservation and increase participation by groups that are currently underrepresented the field. The program creates opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in mentored research experiences in conservation biology and other disciplines relevant to land, water, and wildlife conservation.
The DDCSP@NAU program includes four essential elements:
A five-week summer immersion program in the Grand Canyon region that provides exposure to authentic, compelling environmental issues and builds community among the students.
Paid annual research internship experiences with conservation scientists and managers who are enthusiastic about their work and about mentoring young people.
Winter conservation workshops on scientific, career, and leadership topics.
A strong support network that will help students transition from college to career. Eligibility
DDCSP@NAU is looking for 18-20 first- and second-year undergraduate students with a passion for conservation. Doris Duke Conservation Scholars must be U.S. citizens or "dreamers" enrolled at four-year colleges or universities anywhere in the United States. The program is open to students from ANY major.
How to apply
To apply for the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at Northern Arizona University, you will need to fill out this online application. Required questions are marked with an * (asterisk) and some questions will require you to email documents to [email protected].
There are several parts to this application:
1. Information that you type directly into this website, or that you can cut‐and‐paste from a file on your computer (for instance, a Word document) into the appropriate boxes.
Information about you
Description of your recent jobs, activities, awards Your answers to three essay questions
2. Letters of recommendation. You’ll need two (2) recommenders. Please complete the information on this online form about who your letters are coming from. Have the recommenders email the letters to [email protected].
3. Transcripts. We would like to see your college transcripts. Unofficial copies are fine, and they are typically easier for you to obtain. You can send a pdf of your transcripts by email to [email protected].
We will also ask you for optional demographic information about yourself. This information will not be used for admissions decisions. It will be separated from your application before its review.
If you are having trouble with ANYTHING about the application, you can email or call DDCSP@NAU Director Angie Moline at [email protected] or 928-523-0361.
You are welcome to ask about the status of your application by emailing [email protected]. Deadlines
This online application form and your transcript(s) are due by midnight (Arizona time) on February 8, 2016.
Your two letters of recommendation are due by midnight (Arizona time) on February 15, 2016. Editing your application
We highly recommend that you compose your essays and gather the required information ahead of time, then submit your full application all at once. However, you will also receive a link on the confirmation page that will allow you to go back and edit your responses. After you submit, please follow the instructions provided to follow that link and save the correct URL to allow you to return to your application.
Previous experience shows that students often have trouble re-accessing their application. If this is the case, and you need to change your application, please just submit another application. As long as you use the same first name, last name, and email, we will know to use the later submission.
Please email [email protected] if you have questions during the application process.
A
PPLICATION
Q
UESTIONS
Your contact informationThis will help us get in touch with you about your application and any follow up interviews. First Name *
Last Name * Email Address *
Phone Number (with area code)
Street Address (example: 16 1/5 E Cherry Street) City *
State *
Zip Code (5 digits) * I am a: (check one) *
o U.S. Citizen
o U.S. National
Academic information
What college or university do you currently attend? * Where is it located (town, state)? *
What type of academic calendar does your university use? *
o Semesters
o Quarters
o Other:
When do finals end at your school in Spring 2016? * What year or class are you in school? *
Note: The DDCSP@NAU application is open to students with first- or second-year standing (freshmen and sophomores).
How many more semesters/quarters until you plan to graduate? *
It is okay if this changes, we just want to get an idea of how long you could be in the program. The expectation is that scholars will participate in the program for at least two years.
What is your current major? *
If you are undeclared or undecided, you may just write "unknown" or "undecided". What is your current college GPA? *
If you are a first semester student, you can write "none yet" and then send your transcript at the end of the term.
Please submit all college transcripts by email to [email protected]. *
Please indicate below how many transcripts you will send by email. If you need to have transcripts mailed by post, there is an address at the end of the application where you can have them sent. Email [email protected] if you have questions.
o I will send transcripts from one college / university
o I will send transcripts from two colleges / universities
o I will send transcripts from more than two colleges / universities
This application is for the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program @ Northern Arizona University. There are five different DDCS Programs around the country. Are you applying to any of the other programs? *
o Yes, DDCSP @ University of Washington
o Yes, DDCS Consortium Program @ U Florida, Cornell U, U Arizona, U Idaho, and North Carolina State U
o Yes, DDCSP @ University of California, Santa Cruz
Activities and experience
Please list activities or clubs in which you have participated during recent years. List the years that you were active and estimate the time spent on each activity (hours/week, hours/month, or
hours/year). *
Example: Volunteering as a tutor for English Language Learners (ELL or ESL). 2014. 5 hours/month. Please list any part-time or full-time jobs that you have held in recent years. You may also include internships or volunteer positions. Briefly describe what you did and please list the dates and estimate the time spent on each (hours/week, hours/month, or hours/year). *
Example: Worked as cashier and salesperson at small fabric store. 2010-2012. 10 hours/week. Please list recent awards, scholarships, or special recognitions. List the year the award was given after the name of the award and arrange them in order of decreasing importance to you. *
Example: Rotary Club Scholarship. 2012.
Test scores
We will use test scores in conjunction with your grades and essays to assess your preparedness for DDCSP@NAU. Please note that low test scores and/or grades will not necessarily prohibit your acceptance into the program.
What was your score on the critical READING section of the SAT test? * This section is out of 800 points. If you did not take the SAT, please write N/A. What was your score on the MATH section of the SAT test? *
This section is out of 800 points. If you did not take the SAT, please write N/A. What was your score on the WRITING section of the SAT test? *
This section is out of 800 points. If you did not take the SAT, please write N/A. What was your score on the ENGLISH test for the ACT exam? *
If you did not take the ACT, please write N/A.
What was your score on the MATH test for the ACT exam? * If you did not take the ACT, please write N/A.
What was your score on the READING test for the ACT exam? * If you did not take the ACT, please write N/A.
What was your score on the SCIENCE test for the ACT exam? * If you did not take the ACT, please write N/A.
Please answer the following essay questions
We will use your answers to these three essay questions to gauge your interest in and commitment to conservation, assess your experience working with underrepresented groups, and determine whether you will be a good fit for the program.
We recommend that you write your essays with word processing software, such as MS Word, to check for grammar and spelling before copying and pasting your response here. Please limit each answer to 750 words.
What does the word "conservation" mean to you? *
What personal experiences have you had that make you want to consider a career in conservation? What have you done outside of school to explore the conservation field (e.g., volunteer projects, student clubs, internships, personal reading)? *
What personal experiences have you had that have led to your interest in developing and fostering ethnic, racial, and/or cultural diversity? Please describe any experiences that you have working with ethnic, cultural, and/or racial minorities or working across ethnic, racial, and/or cultural lines. These experiences do not need to be related to conservation. *
Letters of recommendation
Please request letters of recommendation from two people who are familiar with some of the experiences that you have described in your essays. We ask that your recommenders describe your suitability for this program. In particular, they should comment on your potential to make a significant contribution to the field of conservation and your experience and interest in working with people from underrepresented groups.
Please have the letters sent to [email protected] by February 15, 2016.
What is the name of the first person who will provide a letter of recommendation for you? * How do you know this person? *
What is their email address? *
What is the name of the second person who will provide a letter of recommendation for you? * How do you know this person? *
What is their email address? *
Complete your DDCSP@NAU application
A complete DDCSP@NAU application includes the following: 1. Application information and essays (this online form)
2. College transcripts (unofficial transcripts are OK) emailed to [email protected] 3. Two letters of recommendation emailed to [email protected]
If your Registrar's office will only mail transcripts directly, they should be sent to: Angie Moline
SESES / Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program PO Box 5694
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
February 15, 2016.
For additional program information, please contact the program director, Angie Moline. If you have trouble completing this form, you are welcome to send an email to [email protected] to request a copy of this form that you can edit on your own computer and submit by email.
The bottom of this form requests optional demographic information that will be separated from your application before its review. Thank you!
Optional information
This information is being collected for statistical purposes only and will be separated from your application before its review.
Please list your date of birth. Optional: What is your sex?
o Female
o Male
o Other
Optional: Please describe your ethnic/racial status. You may choose more than one box.
o American Indian or Alaskan Native
o Asian
o Black or African American
o Hispanic or Latino/a
o Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
o White or Caucasian
o Multiracial
o Other:
Optional: What is the highest level of education attained by your mother (or first parent)? Students who grew up with legal guardians should also answer this question for one or more guardians. It's okay if the gender doesn't match.
o Did not finish high school
o High school
o Some college
o Two-year college (community college) degree
o Four-year college/university degree
o Completed post-graduate degree (Masters, PhD, or Professional Degree: business, law, medicine, dentistry, public health)
o I don't know
Optional: What is the highest level of education attained by your father (or second parent)? Students who grew up with legal guardians should also answer this question for one or more guardians. It's okay if the gender doesn't match.
o Did not finish high school
o Some college
o Two-year college (community college) degree
o Four-year college/university degree
o Completed post-graduate degree (Masters, PhD, or Professional Degree: business, law, medicine, dentistry, public health)
o I don't know
Optional: Please describe your military status.
o Active duty
o Veteran
o ROTC
o None
