EEPS FAQ

The Emerging Education Policy Scholars (EEPS) program seeks to counter the long-standing, well-documented divide between research and policy in education. The program focuses on three over-arching goals:

• To foster an opportunity for talented, promising scholars to connect with other scholars in their field, as well as to introduce them to key players in the education policy arena;
• To expand the pool of talent and ideas from which the education policy arena currently draws; and
• To increase understanding of how the worlds of policy and practice intersect with scholarly research in education and related fields.
  
  

What is the Emerging Education Policy Scholars program? 

EEPS is a seminar-based program that cultivates talent within the education research and policy fields by introducing new scholars to each other and to the members of the reform-minded education policy community in Washington, D.C. The program encourages new scholars and experts to share both research and ideas.

Who are EEPS?

The Emerging Education Policy Scholar is a current doctoral candidate or a doctoral-degree recipient in the last five years. He or she may work in higher education, K-12 administration, or a nonprofit or for-profit organization. He or she also has a keen interest in public policy, is eager to engage in the national conversation about how best to educate children, including amending the structure of our current system in pursuit of that goal, and is in the process of or has recently completed some notable scholarly research that will further that conversation.

EEPS are organized into cohorts that meet for two events in D.C., typically in the summer and winter. After the second meeting, EEPS graduate to “alumni status” and have the opportunity to present at future EEPS meetings to new cohorts.

What do EEPS do?

Participants gather informally with think-tankers, academics, policymakers, and reformers in Washington, D.C. The purpose of these events is to bridge connections between up-and-coming scholars and senior education-policy experts and K-12 education practitioners, as well as to foster an opportunity for both groups to share research and ideas.

How are EEPS chosen?

Admissions decisions are made jointly by Fordham and AEI. We like to see out-of-the-box-thinking and strong scholarship.

How do I apply?

Applications from eligible scholars (see Who are EEPS? above) are accepted on a rolling basis up to ten weeks before the event. Accepted participants are notified of their admission six weeks before each EEPS event. (Event dates will be posted as confirmed.)

While our current 2012-13 EEPS cohort is closed, we will begin accepting applications for our 2014-2015 EEPS cohort on a rolling basis in January 2014. At that time, application materials should include:

1. A letter describing your interest in the program (no longer than one page);
2. An up-to-date résumé or curriculum vitae; and
3. A sample of your recent work (i.e., scholarly journal article; opinion piece; evaluation report; draft research paper; draft chapter of a dissertation).

An application will be considered complete only when all four components are received.

What is the cost of the program?

There is no cost to apply to EEPS. Accepted scholars attend EEPS events free of charge, and will also be reimbursed for reasonable travel and accommodation expenses. The EEPS program is generously supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

Direct questions to Program Coordinators Matt Richmond and Taryn Hochleitner.