Beginning in fall of 2017, Goddard College will award one $10,000 Goddard/PEN North American Centers Scholarship to an applicant in Goddard’s low-residency MFA in Creative Writing Program. This opportunity represents a partnership between Goddard College and PEN America, PEN Canada, PEN Mexico, and PEN Center USA.

“PEN America is proud to be a partner on this scholarship,” said Rob Spillman, PEN America Membership Committee Chair. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for our members to pursue their creative goals and hone their craft in an environment that recognizes the importance of standing in solidarity with threatened writers around the world and the need to advocate for the liberties that make free expression and great literature possible.”

North American PEN members who do not hold a bachelor’s degree and who otherwise do not meet the criteria for admission to the MFA program may apply for admission into the BFA in Creative Writing Program at Goddard College. All PEN members who are admitted to the BFA in Creative Writing Program will receive a one-time $1,000 BFA Goddard Engaged Artist Award.

PEN members who are admitted to the MFA in Creative Writing Program but who do not receive the Goddard/PEN North American Scholarship also will receive a one-time $2,000 MFA Goddard Engaged Artist Award.

All questions regarding the scholarship should be directed to [email protected]. Full details on applying for the scholarship can be found here on the Goddard College website. 

GENERAL TERMS

1. Goddard will grant a single annual award of $10,000, dispersed in two payments over the recipients’ first two consecutive terms of enrollment in pursuit of the MFA in Creative Writing at Goddard College.

2. Only individuals who are members in good standing of PEN America, PEN Canada, PEN Mexico, or PEN Center USA will be eligible to apply for the Goddard/PEN North American Centers (Membership at any level, including Professional, Advocate, Patron, and Student membership, will qualify.)

3. Candidates for the Goddard/PEN North American Centers Scholarship must apply for admission and be admitted to the MFA in Creative Writing program before being considered for the award. See application instructions below.

4. Goddard College offers its MFA program in Creative Writing on the East Coast and on the West Coast, with residencies either in Plainfield, Vermont, or in Port Townsend, Washington. Candidates for the Goddard/PEN North American Centers Scholarship may apply to the program in either location.

5. Candidates will be evaluated by an Awards Committee to include the Director of the Goddard College MFA in Creative Writing Program and Creative Writing faculty.

6. All PEN members who are admitted to the MFA in Creative Writing Program but who do not receive the Goddard/PEN North American Centers Scholarship will receive a one-time $2,000 Goddard Engaged Artist Award to be distributed in equal installments in their first two consecutive semesters of matriculation at Goddard College.

7. Applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s degree and who otherwise do not meet the criteria for admission to the MFA in Creative Writing will be considered for admission into the BFA in Creative Writing Program at Goddard College.

8. All PEN members who are admitted to the BFA in Creative Writing Program will receive a one-time $1,000 Goddard Engaged Artist Award to be distributed in equal installments in their first two consecutive semesters of matriculation at Goddard College.

HOW TO APPLY

Please download the online application at the Goddard College website. 

Goddard/PEN North American Centers Scholarship candidates must submit their applications between Dec. 1, 2016 and April 1, 2017.

Complete instructions on how to apply can be found here at the Goddard College website.