General Information

The Graduate Research Fellowship in Community Development Policy-Making enables participants to engage in participatory action research focused on critical environmental, economic, and social problems confronting the residents of New York City's poorest neighborhoods.
 

Eligibility Requirements
Any graduate student who has completed two residential semesters at Cornell University, regardless of her/his field, and is interested in public policies designed to promote the health and welfare of New York City's poorest citizens and communities is strongly encouraged to apply.
 

Financial Aid and Housing Support
Each Graduate Research Fellow will receive a research stipend of $3,600 to cover costs related to their NYC-based research activities. Each student will also receive an $1100 housing allowance to cover a portion of shelter costs. Students will receive these funds in four equal payments following submission of:

	• Research Proposal		June 4, 2008
	• Annotated Bibliography and Database		July 30, 2008
	• Outline of Final Research		July 21, 2008
	• Final Research Report		September 15, 2008

 

Housing in New York City
Students needing housing while pursuing their NYC research activities are strongly encouraged to consider living at the 92nd Street YWHA - one of Manhattan's most desirable student housing facilities. The 92nd Street Y, located in one of NYC's most attractive residential neighborhoods, accommodates students in dorm-like rooms on floors with common baths, shared kitchen facilities, lounges, and computer labs. For more information, visit 92ndStY.org.
 

Collaborative Research Logistics

Finding a Community Research Partner/Project
Research pursued through the Graduate Research Fellowship must be conducted on a collaborative basis with non-profit organizations, municipal departments, or government agencies providing direct services, issue advocacy, or policy change resources to the City's poorest children, families, and communities. Potential research projects may be identified by local neighborhood leaders, non-profit staff, municipal officials, Cornell faculty, or student applicants.

Assistance in Identifying a Community Research Partner
The faculty and staff of the Cornell Urban Scholars Program have a rich network of individuals representing NYC's most innovative non-profit and municipal agencies and are prepared to assist graduate students interested in applying to the program in identifying such organizations. Each year, the Urban Scholars Program produces a listing of over 70 organizations interested in working on a collaborative project. Some of these organizations include:

• The Outreach Project
• Randall's Island Sports Foundation
• Covenant House
• Project Choice
• The Enterprise Foundation
• New York City Cornell Cooperative Extension
• New York City Council
• North Brooklyn Local Development Corporation

Possible Research Topics
Among the universe of research topics that can be pursued through the Graduate Research Fellowship in Community Development Policy-Making are:

• Assess to Primary Health Care for the Poor
• Charter School Performance
• Welfare-to-Work Program Impacts
• Environmental Racism in Land-Use Decision-Making
• Gentrification and Displacement in Changing Neighborhoods
• Recent Demographic Trends within NYC's Newest Immigrant Communities
• Substance Abuse Prevention Programs for Teens and Young Adults
• Impacts of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Programs
• AIDS Prevention and Treatment
• Juvenile Justice and Court Reform

Preparing for Collaborative Research in New York City
Students accepted into the Graduate Research Fellowship Program are expected to enroll in CRP 395, Participatory Action Research Seminar, in the spring. This two-credit course, which meets once a week during April, provides an introduction to the basic principles and methods of participatory action research. Among the topics covered are:

• Introduction to Participatory Action Research
• Collaborative Research Design
• Human Subjects Approval
• Basic Data Collection Techniques
• Data Analysis Techniques
• Reporting Research Findings

Research Support
Participating students will have the support of a Faculty Supervisor to assist them in formulating their research topic and in their data collection and analysis. In addition, students will have the opportunity to participate in a bi-weekly seminar during the summer. A draft of the final research report will also be presented to Cornell faculty, CUSP funders, and representatives from the community partner, who will offer constructive feedback in preparation for submission of the final report.
 

Questions about the Graduate Research Fellowship should be directed to Dr. Ken Reardon or Dr. Richard Kiely.
 

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