General

1. Who should apply (eligibility criteria)?

• • Those in a traditionally underrepresented minority group. For the purposes of this scholarship, this means any of the minority groups designated in the Act which are represented in Illinois post-baccalaureate enrollment at a percentage rate less than the percentage of the minority group’s representation in the total Illinois population. Traditionally, this group includes Black/African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Pacific Islanders. 
    
    
  • Those who meet the Illinois residency requirements as defined on the DFI application. To be classified as an Illinois resident, for the purposes of this fellowship, an applicant must have received a high school diploma or postsecondary degree from an accredited educational institution in Illinois AND have three or more years of residency in Illinois.
    
    
  • Those who are unconditionally admitted to a first master’s/professional or doctorate degree who plan to teach or become an administrator in higher education or K-12. This means that there are no prerequisites that you must satisfy before being fully admitted to your degree program. Applicants in all academic disciplines are eligible. Candidates pursuing degrees in any of the sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields are encouraged to apply and will receive priority consideration.
    
    
  • Those who are enrolled full-time during Fall 2023 through Spring 2024 terms and who are NOT working full-time during Fall 2023 through Spring 2024 terms. Students in the CPS Residency Program are ineligible to apply for DFI since they are paid five days a week as employees during their program.
    
    
  • Those who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. They must also have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 (scale 4.0 = A) in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.
    
    
  • Those who have earned academic credit in at least 9 hours of graduate study and have a minimum grade point average of 3.2 (scale 4.0 = A).
    
    
  • Those who demonstrate financial need (as defined on page 15 of the DFI application) as evidenced by the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR the Illinois RISE Act/Alternative Application for State financial aid. Undocumented students who meet the definition of an underrepresented group may complete the Illinois RISE Act/Alternative Application. See the deadlines below in the “New Applicant Checklist”.

2. When is the deadline to apply?

• • All DFI applications and required documents must be submitted New DFI application and required documents within your student portal, by 3/1/24, if you wish to be considered for the DFI fellowship. We encourage you to submit your application earlier than 3/1/24 if you would like to have it critiqued and to allow time for making recommended changes. NLU reserves the right not to submit applications with poorly written essays.
    
    
  • Academic Transcripts must be submitted electronically to stapplications@nl.edu by the extended deadline 3/1/24 and should include the following in the subject line of the email: “DFI Applicant, Your Name, & NLU ID#”
    
    
  • The deadline to submit your 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is 2/14/24. If not eligible to file the FAFSA you may complete the 2024-2025 the Illinois RISE Act/Alternative Application for State financial aid online at https://studentportal.isac.org/en/alternativeapp by 3/1/24. Undocumented students who meet the definition of an underrepresented group may complete the Illinois RISE Act/Alternative Application.
    
    

3. What must I submit, along with my application, in order to apply for the fellowship?
   The New Applicant Checklist has all of the details. New Applicant Checklist: https://nl.edu/tuition-and-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/dfi-fellowship/
   
   
4. How and where do I submit my application?
   Upload your DFI application and supporting documents within your student portal.
   Here's how: Uploading Your DFI Application & Supporting Documents Into Scholarship Universe
   
   Upload ALL of the following:
   -DFI Application
   -Official NLU Unconditional Admissions Acceptance Letter
   -Essay
   
   ***Submit professional letters of recommendation and official academic transcripts as detailed in the “New Applicant Checklist”.
   
   
5. How much is the fellowship award?
   Levels are set annually and are subject to appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly. The amounts are typically set during late Summer. The new applicant amount for the current year, 2022-2023 is $16,500 which is disbursed equally over Fall through Spring terms. There is no Summer term award. We currently do not have the 2024-25 award amount. Award amounts are subject to change annually.
   
   
6. What are the terms of the fellowship award?
   Upon graduation or separation from the DFI institution, an award recipient must agree to accept (actively seek), when offered, a teaching or non-teaching full-time appointment at an Illinois postsecondary educational institution or accept a position as an employee of this state in an administrative, educational-related position equal to the number of years for which he or she receives the DFI fellowship. Students failing to fulfill this condition of the award are required to repay a percentage of their cumulative award amount, subject to revision by the DFI Program Board. A Fellow can only receive two years of Master’s-level funding (for first master’s only) and two to four years of Doctorate-level funding. The DFI award is available for a maximum of four years. See more details on the application.
   
   
7. I don’t have an assigned advisor/mentor. What do I do?
   If you have not yet registered for classes at NLU, you may not have been assigned an advisor. Please contact the Advising Office to request an advisor whose information you must list on page 12 of your DFI application.
   
   
8. The application asked if I have completed at least 9 hours of graduate coursework. Does the coursework have to be in my current program? I have a Master's degree and 6 hours of Doctorate courses completed.  I am unclear if my master's credit applies for this question.
   Yes, your Master’s degree satisfies the 9-hour requirement of graduate coursework.
   
   
9. I am on track to complete my graduate program at the end of Fall semester 2024. Can I apply for the fellowship?
   Yes, you may still apply.
   
   
10. I won't be enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year. I am in the process of applying to the Doctor of Education program at NLU. I have not received an acceptance letter and won't have one by the deadline. Am I still eligible to apply or do I have to wait for the 2025-26 academic year?
    Correct, if you won’t be enrolled in a post-baccalaureate degree during 2024-2025 you should wait to apply once you’ve been admitted and will enroll. The application opens around the same time each academic year.
    
    
11. Can I work full-time and receive the fellowship?
    No, a DFI fellow may not be employed full-time, regardless of field, and receive the fellowship.
    
    
12. I currently work in higher education as an administrator. Can I apply for the fellowship?
    Yes, if your position is NOT considered full-time, then the student may keep the position while receiving DFI. We would need a letter from your employer stating that the position is not full-time. Please have employer list your full name, position, and number of hours worked per week and state that position is not full-time. Ask that your employer forward directly to us at stapplications@nl.edu on your behalf with “DFI and your NLU Student ID#” in the Subject Line.
    
    
13. I am currently working as a full-time college administrator and plan to continue to work in higher education upon receiving my doctorate.  I am unclear if that makes me eligible especially in regards to how I am to respond to the professional goals statement because it seems to imply that I am supposed to seek out a higher education position as if I don't already have one.  Does working in higher education already disqualify me?
    No, working in higher ED does not disqualify you; however DFI fellows may not be employed full-time during the period in which they receive the fellowship, regardless of field. If your position is NOT considered full-time, then you may keep the position while receiving DFI. We would need a letter from your employer stating that the position is not full-time. Please have employer list your full name, position, and number of hours worked per week and state that position is not full-time. Ask that employer forward directly to us at stapplications@nl.edu on your behalf with “DFI and your NLU Student ID#” in the Subject Line.
    
    
14. I work In Higher ED. Can I use current work hours towards my service commitment?
    If position is NOT considered full-time (while enrolled during the school year), it can count toward your agreement to serve AFTER you complete your degree program. So hours worked before you complete your degree do not count towards your service commitment.
    
    
15. Do you have a similar program in Florida? We currently do not offer this program in Florida. It is an Illinois program administered by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). Applicants must meet the DFI Illinois residency requirements.

Application & FAFSA OR the Illinois RISE Act/Alternative Application

1. Can I submit my application directly to IBHE?
   No, you must submit your application directly to NLU. The number of applications that NLU may submit to IBHE is limited. Please reference the new applicant checklist for how to submit your application within your student portal. New Applicant Checklist: https://nl.edu/tuition-and-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/dfi-fellowship/
2. When must I complete my 2024-2025 FAFSA OR the Illinois RISE Act/Alternative Application?
   The deadline to submit your 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is 2/14/24. Note that the deadline to submit the DFI application and ALL other required documents is 3/1/2024. If not eligible to file the FAFSA, complete the 2024-2025 the Illinois RISE Act/Alternative Application for State financial aid online at https://studentportal.isac.org/en/alternativeapp by 3/1/24. Undocumented students who meet the definition of an underrepresented group may complete the Illinois RISE Act/Alternative Application.

The Essays

1. What should I include in my essay?
   Please refer to the details within the application and the new applicant checklist. New Applicant Checklist: https://nl.edu/tuition-and-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/dfi-fellowship/

Illinois Residency

1. I have been a resident of Illinois for three years graduated high school and received my bachelor’s degree in Pennsylvania. Can I apply for the fellowship?  
   No, you do not meet all of the DFI Illinois residency requirements. To be classified as an Illinois resident, for the purposes of this fellowship, an applicant must have received a high school diploma or postsecondary degree from an accredited educational institution in Illinois AND have three or more years of residency in Illinois.
   
   
2. I am an undocumented student who falls within one of the underrespesented groups. Only recently coming to the United States, I have not been a resident of Illinois for three years. Can I apply for the fellowship?  
   No, you do not meet all of the DFI Illinois residency requirements. To be classified as an Illinois resident, for the purposes of this fellowship, an applicant must have received a high school diploma or postsecondary degree from an accredited educational institution in Illinois AND have three or more years of residency in Illinois.
   
   

Unconditional Admission Letter

1. My email from NLU Admissions Office says that I was admitted with a three-course requirement. Can I apply for the fellowship?  
   No, this means that you were ‘conditionally’ admitted to the program until after you complete three course. These courses are prerequisites that you must satisfy before being fully admitted to your degree program.
   
   
2. How do I obtain a copy of my Admission/acceptance letter?
   The Admissions Office sends this via email to you. If you no longer have your copy, you may obtain a copy by contacting the Admissions Office. Applicant must be unconditionally admitted to a first master’s/professional or doctorate degree This means that there are no prerequisites that you must satisfy before admission to your degree program.
   
   Please see sample admission/acceptance letters and details on the new application checklist.  New Applicant Checklist: https://nl.edu/tuition-and-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/dfi-fellowship/

Professional Letters of Recommendation

1. How many letters of recommendation must I have?
   You must have three (3) recommendation letters.
   
   
2. Whom should I obtain them from?
   We strongly recommend letters from professors; however, you may also seek professional recommendation letters from high school counselors, and employers. We receive many recommendation letters that do not include a date and we must reject them.
   
   See more details on the new application checklist and page 6 of the DFI application. New Applicant Checklist: https://nl.edu/tuition-and-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/dfi-fellowship/
   
   
3. What should the letters include?
   We recommend that you give your recommender a deadline at least two days prior to 2/19/24 to allow ample time for them to complete the recommendation. Each letter must be signed and dated within the past 12 months.  We receive many recommendation letters that do not include a date and we must reject them. Emailed recommendation letters will not be accepted. Please tell your recommender the following:  1) be sure to date the letter; 2) be sure to sign the letter, and 3) be sure that the letter of recommendation speaks to your potential to reach your intended professional goals, ability to complete graduate work, and your potential to secure a full-time position in a State of Illinois institution of higher education.

Transcripts

1. I have NLU credits. Do I need to submit an NLU transcript?
   Yes, you must request an official NLU transcript.
   
   
2. How do I obtain an NLU transcript?
   If you have ANY NLU academic credits you must order an NLU transcript. Please order an NLU transcript (here https://nl.edu/student-services/office-of-the-registrar/transcript-requests/ ).  Ask that they forward to stapplications@nl.edu on your behalf with “DFI and your NLU Student ID#” in the Subject Line. See more details on the application.
   
   See more details on the new application checklist and page 6 of the DFI application. New Applicant Checklist: https://nl.edu/tuition-and-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/dfi-fellowship/

Next Steps

1. When will applicants be notified if they are selected as fellows?
   The DFI committee does not disclose the selection process.  The institutions merely confirm eligibility and submit those applications that have met the requirements listed on the application. The DFI committee notifies students and institutions after they’ve been selected. See more details on the application, page 6.