Koch Student Scholar Opportunity at Michigan State University

The Koch Charitable Foundation funded a unique scholarship program in 2011-2012 that gave Michigan State University students from James Madison College and other academic disciplines the opportunity to read and discuss on a weekly basis a variety of books on the subject of freedom and responsibility in politics and economics.

We are now seeking students who would be willing to commit to participation in the same program in 2012-2013.

Koch Scholars will meet weekly on Monday evenings during both the fall and spring semesters to discuss selections from at least a dozen important books on our topic. The agenda of these discussions is to engage critically the ideas in the books. Each Koch Scholar will receive a stipend and all texts. A light meal will be served each week, prior to the discussion. Koch Scholar meetings are held in the MSU Radiology Boardroom.

Support for the Koch Scholar program will once again be sought from the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation whose mission is “to advance social progress and well-being through the development, application and dissemination of the Science of Liberty.”(tm) The Foundation will make a final decision regarding funding in summer 2012, at which time the selected applicants will be informed that their participation has been finalized.

Apply to become a Koch Scholar if you:

· are a mature scholar who embraces the opportunity to read, think, and talk;

· are committed to contributing to each discussion;

· have time to devote to a challenging set of readings;

· are a person who enjoys discussing ideas;

· are willing to put their ideas before a group for critical, sometimes passionate discussion and dissection;

· are available Monday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 throughout the 2012-2013 academic year.

To apply, please submit a letter outlining your interest in the program and your background for participation in it, along with an unofficial transcript, to Professor Ross B. Emmett ([log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]), , who directs the MSU Koch Scholars program. The deadline for applications is February 17, 2012.

The Koch Scholar program is competitive and selects only the most promising candidates. Applicants are chosen based on their application materials; interviews may also be conducted. Applicants may be asked for references or additional materials. Selected applicants will be notified of provisional acceptance prior to the start of registration for 2012-2013 courses, so that they can reserve Monday evenings. Final acceptance will be provided once the Koch Foundation authorizes the program in the summer.

In addition to attending weekly Koch Scholars meetings, prior to each meeting you will write a short post (approximately 250 words) for the Koch Scholars Meetup Group page. Towards the end of the semester, you are expected to collaborate in the production of a stewardship report for the Koch Foundation describing your experience.