Eligibility and Selection for the SDICCCA Fellows Program

To be considered for a SDICCCA Fellowship, a potential fellow must meet the following

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Be currently enrolled in, or have completed, at least one semester of a one year-Master's program; or one year of a two year-Master's degree program; or, have completed a master's/doctoral degree course of study at a regionally accredited college or university in the discipline in which they plan to teach, counsel, or serve as a librarian; or,
2. If a Master's degree in the discipline you wish to teach is not expected or available (generally technical, trade or industrial fields), the potential fellow should be currently enrolled in, or have completed, a bachelor's degree course of study at a regionally accredited college or university and have two years professional experience in the discipline in which they plan to teach; or,
3. Meet the college-established equivalency-standards; AND
4. Demonstrate sensitivity to and an understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of the community college population.

NOTE: Foreign degrees must be validated by local accreditation services and determined to be equivalent to standards established by regionally accredited institutions. For more information about California's minimum qualifications for teaching at the community college level, please visit: www.cccco.edu

Selection Process for Fellows

1. Applicants that meet minimum qualifications are reviewed by members of the official selection committee, which is composed of representatives from each community college in the region.
2. Applications are distributed to each community college based on applicants first choice for campus placement, however applicants can be reviewed by and placed at any campus.
3. After being distributed to each community college, applications are evaluated based on the quality of their applications and then matched with potential mentors. Fellows may be invited to an interview with their mentors prior to being officially selected.
4. All applicants, whether accepted or not, are notified by early June.
5. The Faculty Fellowship Program begins in August with the Summer Orientation.
6. Participants must enroll in a 2-unit Continuing Education course through San Diego State University Global Campus. Tuition for this course is $442.00.
7. Acceptance into the SDICCCA Fellowship is contingent upon successfully completing all required Human Resources (HR) clearance requirements, including a background check, at the Fellow’s placement college. If a Fellow is unable to obtain the required HR clearance, they will unfortunately be unable to participate in the fellowship.

Fellows are responsible for reviewing and adhering to all registration, add/drop, withdrawal, and refund deadlines and policies established by SDSU Global Campus. All registration changes, tuition payments, refunds, drops, withdrawals, and other enrollment-related matters are administered directly by SDSU Global Campus and are subject to its policies and procedures.

NOTE: Often, candidates perceived as "outstanding" by the Steering Committee are not able to be "matched" with the needs of the faculty member willing to serve as a mentor.

Tips for Applicants

1. Research your schools of interest to be sure they offer programs in your discipline. Each college will accept applicants from any discipline they offer, however, some schools have expressed specific interest in the certain subject areas.
2. Reach out to potential mentors at various schools. Fellows and mentors are "matched" based on the needs of both the fellow and the mentor; it can be helpful to be aware of the expectations and needs of the mentors within the department at your school of interest. This does not guarantee a match and all applicants will still be reviewed by the committee before acceptance.
3. Fill out application thoroughly being sure to include research you have completed with regard to the fellowship program and any relationships you have formulated in the process.

Current Employees & Fellowship Placement

Fellows are generally not eligible to complete their SDICCCA Fellowship at a college where they are currently employed. Many participating colleges have HR policies that prohibit current employees from simultaneously serving as Fellows or interns at the same institution. Applicants who are currently employed by a participating college should plan to pursue fellowship opportunities at a different college or district.

Additionally, if you are hired for a position at the institution where you are completing your SDICCCA Fellowship, you may be required to end your fellowship placement before beginning employment, depending on the institution’s HR policies.

Teaching Applicants

• Applicants may identify a potential mentor through a personal or professional connection. Identifying or securing a mentor independently does not guarantee acceptance into the fellowship. Each participating campus selects its own Fellows and may have its own application and selection process.
• Mentors must be full-time faculty, and supervisor approval may be required depending on the campus.
• Applicants are also encouraged to connect with Department Chairs to begin building relationships and learn more about potential opportunities within their discipline.

Counseling Applicants

• Counseling internship and mentor selection processes vary by campus. Each participating college has its own process for selecting Counseling Fellows and coordinating mentorship placements.
• Applicants are encouraged to reach out to the Counseling Department Chair at the campus where they are interested in completing their fellowship to introduce themselves, express their interest in becoming a future SDICCCA Fellow, and learn more about that campus’s process.
• Connecting with a department or potential mentor does not guarantee acceptance into the fellowship.