Janet M. Fitchen Service Award

Janet M. Fitchen was a professor of Anthropology at Ithaca College from 1977 until her untimely passing in 1995. She gained national recognition for her research on rural poverty in the U.S. She was the author of numerous articles and two books; Poverty in Rural America (1981) and Endangered Spaces, Enduring Places: Change, Identity, and Survival in Rural America (1991). In addition to her extensive research she was a distinguished teacher, recognized with a Dana Teaching Award in 1988. In her memory family, friends and colleagues established the endowment titled “The Janet Fitchen Student Development Fund” to support anthropology students at Ithaca College.

The Janet M. Fitchen Service Award

The Anthropology Program occasionally recognizes students who show excellence in providing service to communities outside of their normal course assignments. This award reflects the Program's commitment to a multidisciplinary education in Anthropology, whether projects carried out are uniquely targeted, or some combination of archeological, biological or cultural anthropology. The awardees will receive $100.00 with a certificate noting their achievement at our annual Faculty/Student Department gathering, and their name inscribed on the Fitchen Awards plaque displayed in the Department hallway in Gannett.

Eligibility: Faculty and students may nominate students for service awards in the spring semesters by filling out the service award application form, clearly outlining the place of service and providing a justification for the award. Students should note that these activities have taken place outside of normal course assignments. A letter of recommendation from the place of service and a faculty member should accompany the nomination. Please note that student interest in applied/service projects may begin within a specific course but should clearly go above and beyond a required assignment.

Deadline: October 30 (Fall) and March 30 (Spring) [deadline subject to change]

Fitchen Fund Application Checklist

*Attach this checklist to the front of your application.

Name: Date:

Type of Funding/Award Request:

_____ Professional Development or Research Grant

_____ Fitchen Paper Award

_____ Fitchen Service Award

Completed two-page application form

____ Completed two-page application form

_____ One page (double-spaced, typed) description and justification for funding request/award and budget

_____ Signature of your Anthropology faculty sponsor or advisor

_____ Letter of recommendation from the organization where the service was carried out, if applying for the Service Award

_____ Proof of Human Subjects Approval, if applicable for research funding Attach this checklist to the front of your application

_____ Submit your completed application materials to the Anthropology Program Coordinator via email by the proposed deadline

If you are awarded the Fitchen Fund Award for conference or research travel, please contact the Anthropology Program Coordinator to ensure all appropriate paperwork is completed.

*Keep all your receipts from your trip, and work with your faculty sponsor to reconcile your expenses on your return. 

The Janet M. Fitchen Fund Application Form

  1. Name of Applicant
  2. Address for notification
  1. Email & Phone number
  2. Major(s) and Minor(s)
  3. Semester and Year of Graduation
  4. Amount Requested (Please include detailed budget on the proposal)
  5. Please check which type of funding you are applying for and fill in the requested information:

_____ The Janet M. Fitchen Paper Award

Name of Course and Faculty that you originally prepared the paper for:

Semester and Year enrolled in the course listed above:

Note: Attach a copy of the original paper to your request

_____ The Janet M. Fitchen Service Award

Name of course that you originally conducted the service for, if applicable:

Name and address of the organization where you carried out the service:

Dates of service:

_____ The Janet M. Fitchen Professional Development and Research Grant (check type)

  • Conference Presentation

Dates of travel

Name of conference and location

Title of presentation

  • Conference Attendance

Dates of travel

Name of conference and location

  • Independent Field Research

Project title

Proposed dates of implementation

Location of study

  1. Have you received Anthropology Program funding in the past year?

_____ Yes If yes, what kind & when?:

_____ No

  1. Have you applied for other sources of funding?

_____ Yes If yes, what kind & when?:

_____ No

  1. Is Human Subjects approval needed for your funding request?

_____ Yes (indicate status below)

_____ No

  • To be submitted
  • Currently under consideration
  • Approved on (date)
  1. Printed Name of Anthropology Faculty Sponsor:

Faculty Sponsor Signature Date:

*Have you completed all the items listed in the checklist? Yes No