Byron Nichols, professor of political science, this
fall assumes the post of director of graduate honors and fellowships in addition to his
teaching duties. Many other colleges and universities, have similar full- or part-time
positions, Nichols notes.
“I am not replacing those important members of the
faculty who are doing liaison work,” he emphasizes. “But I hope to work with
them to achieve more.”
In large part, his role will be to recruit prospective
students and cultivate current ones who may be appropriate applicants for fellowships and
grants during their senior year, Nichols said. He plans to contact incoming “A”
admit and honors students, send letters to students of high achievement, and send
pamphlets to faculty describing various programs and their criteria for eligibility.
He also plans to establish a Web site for Union
fellowships, scholarships and prizes with links to homepages of national organizations;
meet regularly with directors of national fellowship programs; consult with department
chairs and other faculty to help identify outstanding candidates; work closely with
students throughout the application process; and organize mock interviews.
Several years ago, a student approached Nichols with a
problem: he had applied for a fellowship and had been invited to New York City for an
interview luncheon, but he didn't know how to use the silverware.
So Nichols brought him to his home where he showed him how
and when to use knife, fork and spoon at a formal dining occasion. “My father was a
member of the clergy, so formal dining was natural to me,” said Nichols. “But it
was something new to this student.”
So began Nichols' idea to formalize the
College's program to encourage promising students to pursue honors and fellowships,
and to teach them all the skills – including formal dining etiquette — that will
make them viable candidates.