The Franke Sustainability Fellowship Program supports undergraduate students who are studying and/or practicing sustainability projects in either domestic or international settings.  These fellows are a prestigious cohort of our top students who will participate in off-campus exchange or education programs or complete a field project or research.

In 2016, William A. and Carolyn Franke and their family presented the University of Montana with the largest single gift in its 120-year history.  The W.A. Franke Sustainability Fellowship Program (FSFP) in the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation (FCFC) was made possible through this gift. The FSFP supports undergraduate students to engage in experiential education related to sustainability.   Consideration will be given to credit-bearing experiences of three months or longer.  To meet the diverse needs and interests of undergraduate students enrolled in FCFC degree programs, two types of fellowships are offered:  (1) Off-campus exchange or education programs; and (2) individual or collaborative field study projects.  Awards typically range from $3,000 to $15,000, but larger awards will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

See application info below.

Off-Campus Exchange or Education Program

Students may apply to participate in international education abroad programs that directly address sustainability offered through the University of Montana Global Engagement Office, through opportunities in the W.A. College of Forestry and Conservation, or by another institution.  Proposed programs should be at least three months in length.  Applicants should outline and budget for all of their proposed activities (e.g., tuition costs + travel expenses + room and board) in their proposals and clearly link the proposed experiences to the concept of sustainability.

Field Projects or Research

Students may also apply to participate in sustainability-related field study conducted under the guidance of FCFC faculty or faculty at international institutions whose research addresses sustainability issues.  Projects may be either student or faculty initiated, and conducted by individuals or by teams of students and faculty and may utilize a variety of field study methods including hypothesis testing as well as participatory and qualitative methods. Proposed activities should be at least three months in duration.  Students may also request support to attend conferences or workshops focused on topics or subjects related to the field experience.  Students interested in pursuing this option should plan to meet with a potential faculty research mentor before or during their sophomore or junior year to identify common interests and opportunities, and to begin discussing research ideas and the proposal process.

Application Information

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants should submit application materials at least eight weeks prior to the proposed fellowship activities in order to allow enough time for review. 

For additional information and to submit your application materials, please visit our How to Apply page.

Fellow Spotlight

Dominic Noce spent spring 2020 in Botswana's Okavango Delta studying abroad with Round River Conservation Studies, a conservation organization focused on vast landscapes and community conservation which runs immersive educational programs around the globe. The program provides students an opportunity to experience Botswana and gain diverse perspectives on conservation in southern Africa. Botswana is home to some of the world’s most abundant and diverse wildlife populations. That’s perfect for Dominic, a senior in the Wildlife Biology Program and a Davidson Honors College student. Dominic is also a member of the Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society and UM’s Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Student Chapter.