Letter of Offer for Project Nexus Scholar Fellowship

March 21, 2022

Dear Ms. Erstad,

On behalf of Texas Woman’s University and Project Nexus, we are very pleased to offer you a full-time
fellowship as a Project Nexus Graduate Scholar beginning in the fall semester of 2022. This fellowship
is funded through a U.S. Department of Education - Office of Special Education Personnel Preparation
in Special Education Early Intervention and Related Services grant (CFDA 84.325K) and supported by
the Texas Woman’s University School of Health Promotion and Kinesiology and Department of
Communication Sciences and Oral Health. We are offering you a Project Nexus Scholar Fellowship for
the fall, spring, and summer semesters of the 2022-2023 academic year. The term of the appointment is
to begin on or about August 22, 2022 and extend through August of 2023. Your fellowship includes the
following financial and professional supports:
1. Graduate tuition for 37 credit hours, including fees (~$16,000 of support);
2. Annual stipend of $2,400 to support living expenses;
3. A travel allowance of $1,300 to support travel to the Texas Association for Health, Physical
Education, Recreation and Dance state convention and at least one national conference during
your graduate program;
4. Paid membership for one year to the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD); and the National Consortium for Physical Education for
Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID);
5. Paid registration fee for the Adapted Physical Education National Standards (APENS) Exam to
be taken near or immediately after the completion of your graduate program;
6. Access to a computer workspace and an iPad during your graduate program for professional
activities associated with teaching and the grant; and
7. Support and mentorship from the Project Nexus Project Director (Dr. Dillon) and APE Field
Supervisor (Dr. Goudy), as well as other Project Nexus personnel. This mentoring support is also
available to you through your first year of teaching, as needed.

THE PROJECT NEXUS: INTERDISCIPLINARY PREPARATION OF ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATORS AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE
PATHOLOGISTS TO SERVE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE HIGH-INTENSITY NEEDS
SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROMOTION AND KINESIOLOGY
1200 FRAME STREET ● DENTON, TX 76204 ● 940-898-2582
www.twu.edu/kinesiology
Acceptance of the Project Nexus Scholar Fellowship indicates your commitment to professional
development as an adapted physical educator and participation in associated Project Nexus activities
including, but not limited to:
1. Beginning the graduate program coursework at the agreed upon time (e.g., Fall 2022);
2. Participating in scheduled Project Nexus grant meetings, training sessions, parent workshop and
other associated grant activities during your graduate program;
3. Participating in Project Nexus practicum experiences and making satisfactory progress toward
competence working with children with disabilities with high-intensity needs using evidence-
based practices, integrating technology into teaching practices, and collaborating with
professionals, parents and caregivers (including the Project Nexus Workshop for Parents);
4. Developing and maintaining a professional portfolio documenting professional development
consistent with the Project Nexus Competencies for Beginning Adapted Physical Educators and
the Adapted Physical Education National Standards;
5. Completing/graduating from the program in a timely manner but no later than the end of the
grant’s project period (i.e., Summer 2024);
6. Sitting for the APENS Exam within three months of completing their coursework but no later
than the end of the grant’s project period;
7. Continuing communications with Project Nexus Staff and sharing professional portfolios as a
means to reporting progress and professional work to the Office of Special Education Programs,
for a period beyond the completion of your graduate program;
8. Seeking employment in a local education agency and/or school district with a shortage of
adapted physical education teachers within three years of graduation/completion of the program;
9. Assisting with Project Nexus evaluation through data collection and data entry specific to your
own training activities.

Acceptance of the Project Nexus Scholar Fellowship also acknowledges that you have discussed the
Federal service obligation of scholarship/fellowship recipients with the Project Director; and that you
accept the corresponding service obligation.

This fellowship offer is a clear indication of the confidence that the Project Nexus Staff have in your
academic ability and is made in recognition of your accomplishments and potential. If, as we hope, you
find this offer to be satisfactory as presented, please indicate your acceptance by signing, dating and
returning this agreement by no later than close of business on Friday, April 15, 2022. A copy of these
signed documents will be provided to you for your files. Should you wish to decline this offer, please
write the Project Director, Dr. Suzanna Rocco Dillon, at Texas Woman’s University, Pioneer Hall 119B,
1200 Frame Street, Denton, TX, 76204; immediately so that the position might be offered to another
candidate.
We look forward to your favorable response, which should be returned directly to Dr. Dillon, Texas
Woman’s University, Pioneer Hall 119B, 1200 Frame Street, Denton, TX 76204 or emailed as a signed
PDF document to sdillon@twu.edu by Friday, April 15, 2022. Congratulations again on being selected
and we sincerely hope to have you as a part of Project Nexus!

Sincerely,

SUZANNA ROCCO DILLON, Ph.D., C.A.P.E.

Professor and Project Nexus Project Director
 Project Nexus Scholar Fellowship

I have read and understand the financial and professional supports provided through the Project Nexus
Scholar Fellowship as well as the professional development commitments expected of a Project Nexus
Scholar. With that understanding:

I accept the Project Nexus Scholar Fellowship being offered to me.

I do accept the Project Nexus Scholar Fellowship being offered to me.

Signature Date