The Principal Fellows Program (PFP) is a scholarship loan program funded by the North Carolina General Assembly. Awards are based exclusively upon academic merit (financial need is not a consideration), and are intended to provide support for the best and most highly qualified students pursuing a master's degree in school administration. The master's degree programs participating in PFP offer one year of full-time academic study, a variety of enrichment and professional development activities, and a one-year internship in a public school in North Carolina.

The two-year scholarship loans are in the amount of $20,000 per year of full-time study. The recipient agrees to seek, obtain, and maintain employment in a public school of a United States government school in North Carolina for four years. Meeting that obligation satisfies the recipient's scholarship debt. If the individual does not complete the program, or does not serve in an eligible school administration position for the required period of time, the debt must be repaid in cash at an interest rate of 10% within a period of twelve (12) years.

To be considered for the PFP scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Be a citizen of the United States and be domiciled in North Carolina
Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
Have at least a 3.2 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 hours of study, including graduate work
Be unconditionally admitted as a full-time student in the first year of the two-year Master of School Administration program at one of the participating UNC institutions by the date the Principal Fellows Commission selects the award recipients
Have completed no more that two courses that apply toward the master's in educational administration
Have a minimum of four (4) years of successful teaching experience or other relevant experience
Provide evidence of leadership and management potential
Provide evidence of communication skills
Be willing to practice at an approved site in North Carolina as a full-time administrator for four (4) years, within six (6) years of completing the master's degree, or repay in cash the amount received through the PFP, plus interest at a rate of 10%.

For More Information:

North Carolina

Principal Fellows Program

P.O. Box 2688

Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2688

919-962-4575, or

http://www.ga.unc.edu/Principal_Fellows/