Black Caucus Stipend

Guidelines for  BLACK CAUCUS ROUNDTABLE (BCRT) CONFERENCE STIPEND TLA Annual Conference 

Purpose: To further the professional growth of one African descent library school student in the state of Texas by granting a $400.00 stipend for registration fees and conference expenses to attend the annual 2023 Texas Library Association Conference. Applicants are judged on an essay of 250-500 words describing how they will benefit from attending the 2023 Texas Library Conference. One winner will be awarded and paired with an active BCRT member in a mentor/mentee affiliation for a period of no less than one (1) year.

AWARD: $400.00 

Eligibility Criteria:

• The student must be of African descent.
• The student must be enrolled full-time or part-time at an American Library Association accredited university or a CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accredited program and pursuing a Library Science or Information Science/MLS/ MLIS or certification requirement in a library information services area in Texas.
• The student must be a TLA and Black Caucus member at the time of winning the stipend. (A TLA/ALA student rate is available.)
• GPA 3.0 or higher  

Required Materials:

• 250–500-word essay, typed and double-spaced, in .doc or pdf, describing how the applicant will benefit from attending the TLA library conference.
• The applicant must be willing to submit proof of conference attendance if selected.
• An official transcript (signed and sealed) GPA 3.0 or higher 

Acceptance Criteria:

• Winner will receive $200.00 by January 15, 2023, to help cover the conference costs.
• Winner will receive $200.00 by June 6, 2023, to help cover the conference costs.
• Winner must attend the BCRT Brunch, BCRT General Business Meeting, and BCRT Reception during TLA Annual Conference.
• Must show proof of registration for the TLA 2021 Conference due by March 1, 2023. Send via email to the chair of the BCRT Conference Stipend Committee; Janice Newsum newsume@uhcl.edu
• Winner must volunteer for an hourly shift daily at the TLA Black Caucus Roundtable booth over the course of the 3-day conference (for a total of three hours).
• Winner must write a reflective essay with pictures about the benefit of attending the TLA library conference due by May 26, 2023. Essay will be printed in the BCRT Newsletter. Send via email to the chair of the BCRT Conference Stipend Committee.

Student(s) will be selected on their academic merit and the essay.

Timeline:

• September 1, 2022 to November 30, 2022, Promoting stipend application to Texas Colleges and Universities and turning in application/essay
• December 1, 2022, ALL applications are due by 5 pm CST
• January 4, 2023 Scholarship announcement/Check $200.00 mailed
• April 25 to April 28, 2023, TLA Conference: Austin, Texas
• May 23, 2023 Reflection Essay due
• May 31, 2023 Check $200.00 mailed

Please forward all applications to: newsum@uhcl.edu

Transcripts can be mailed to:
Janice Newsum, Ph.D. 
6111 Del Rio Street
Houston, Texas 77021-1203

BCRT Stipend Application