APSA Ralph Bunche Summer Institute

Programs

2012 Program Update (May 10, 2012)
APSA is committed to and is currently developing a series of 2013 summer RBSI-related activities, in light of the recent cancellation of the 2013 APSA Ralph Bunche Summer Institute. These activities may include student participation in summer research training programs and professional development, panels and workshops at the 2013 APSA Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois (Read background on 2013 RBSI (PDF)). As the April member e-newsletter states, during its 2013 spring meeting, the APSA Council agreed to the creation of an endowment fund to secure the long-term future of the APSA RBSI Program. APSA is also working to ensure funding for the 2014 RBSI. As more details become available, we will post updates on 2013 plans and details about the upcoming endowment development campaign.

In the meantime, contributions to support the long-term future of the RBSI can be made through the Prestage-Fenno Fund.

Picture of Ralph Bunche reading a book

The 2013 APSA Ralph Bunche Summer Institute (RBSI) has been canceled. The RBSI program was awaiting funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), however the NSF is currently unable to release the 2013 funds. The restrictions in the recently passed Coburn amendment limit NSF political science program funding to projects/programs that are found to be in the economic interest of the United States or related to the national defense of the United States. (The RBSI program is jointly sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Duke University, and the American Political Science Association). For more information on the Senate Amendment and APSA’s Advocacy Efforts, please visit the APSA Advocacy Page.

RBSI Program Description and Information

RBSI Alumni Experiences

The APSA Ralph Bunche Summer Institute

Named in honor of the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize winner and former APSA President, Ralph J. Bunche, the Ralph Bunche Summer Institute (RBSI) program goal is to encourage students to pursue academic careers in political science by helping to:

Enhance participants' writing, research, and analytical skills and make them more competitive applicants for graduate school admissions and financial assistance;
Improve the students' use of computers for statistical analysis of research data used in the study of political science;
Expose interested and engaged students to issues in the discipline and profession of political science;
Introduce participants to leading political scientists;
Inform promising students about political science career opportunities and encourage applications to Ph.D. programs in political science.

Who is Eligible for the APSA Ralph Bunche Program?

The program targets students from racial/ethnic groups that are significantly underrepresented in science in the United States, e.g. African American, Latino/a, Native American, and Pacific Island students. All students who are members of these groups, or who are interested in broadening participation in political science by students from underrepresented minority populations and pursuing scholarship on issues affecting under-represented groups, are eligible to apply. Applicants must be:

United States citizens.
Completing their junior year of undergraduate study.
Majoring in political science or a related discipline.
Have an interest in attending graduate school in political science.

For application information, click here.

Questions:
If you have any questions please contact Shaunda Ragland, sragland@apsanet.org or 202-483-2512 ext 362.

Program News and Highlights

2012 APSA RBSI Scholars
2012 Annual Meeting Poster Presenters
RBSI Alumni Experiences
RBSI Program Information
APSA Seeks RBSI Alumni!
APSA hopes to enhance the unique mentoring and networking opportunities available among alumni by including this group in social networking opportunities and news updates. Please help us by providing your input to a brief survey at the following link: RBSI Alumni Survey
List of RBSI Alumni
Mentor These Exceptional Future Political Scientists
Mentor a recently graduated RBSI student and advise them on issues related to graduate school admissions, financial aid, career tracks, and issues facing minority individuals in the profession. New mentors should select the appropriate field on the APSA Mentor form. Current mentors may update their database record by contacting mentoring@apsanet.org.

Operations and Funding

Since 2000, the Bunche Institute has been hosted and co-sponsored by Duke University, under the direction of Professor Paula D. McClain. The program has also been supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and in the past, has been designated as an REU Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Site.The APSA provides additional operational support and funding.

In 2009, Dr. Paula D. McClain, Duke University Professor of Political Science and Public Policy and Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in the Social Sciences, was awarded an REU grant from the National Science Foundation in the amount of $404,000 over three years. Provost Peter Lange, of Duke University had this to say about Dr. McClain and the RBSI's contribution to the discipline of political science and Duke University:

Duke University is pleased and honored to be home to the APSA Ralph Bunche Summer Institute. We are also pleased to have faculty leaders such as Paula McClain, Professor of Political Science and Public Policy and Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in the Social Sciences at Duke University, and her colleagues, willing to put in the enormous time and energy to bring the Institute here and to lead in the teaching and mentoring of its participants. Diversity and inclusion are central to building a strong, vibrant academic community and to the development of scholars who can teach and do research that enhance the disciplines and professions. Duke is enriched by our contribution to this effort in Political Science.