Governor Robert F. Bradford Fellowship Program

What You Need to Know

The Commonwealth Bradford Fellowship provides for one academic year, September 2023 - May 2024, and includes a summer program in July/August 2023 preceding the start of the school year. 

Completion of the summer program is required as a condition of acceptance into the program.  In addition to full tuition and fees for the academic year, fellowship recipients will receive full salary while attending the MPA program, including the summer program.  Fellowship recipients are personally responsible for the cost of books/supplies that are approximately $2,500 for the full year.

 

December 1, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. EST	Harvard Kennedy School admission application due. (Must be complete, no deadline extensions will be granted.)
February 17, 2023, 4:00 p.m. EST	The Commonwealth's Bradford Fellowship application due. (Incomplete applications will result in disqualification.)
March 8, 2023	Bradford Fellowship virtual interviews: Candidates must interview in order to be considered. Candidates will be notified of date and time.
Week of March 13, 2023	Applicants notified of Harvard Kennedy School’s admission decisions.
March 21, 2023	Bradford Fellowship Program decisions will be released.

Eligibility & Exclusions

Eligibility & Exclusions

In order to be eligible to receive the Bradford Fellowship, a manager must;

• Have graduated from an undergraduate institution;
• Be accepted for admission by Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, for its Mid-Career MPA Program;
• Upon application, occupy a full time position, be paid from the AA subsidiary, have at least twelve 2 years of full-time service with the Commonwealth, be in an active status, classified as management at levels MV - MXII within the Executive Department, or be a member of the Massachusetts State Police Department classified as a Lieutenant or above;
• Possess at least seven years of professional work experience in federal, state, municipal or county government, including time spent as a consultant or volunteer for a public and/or private non-profit organization; or as a manager in a private non-profit organization;
• Be recommended by the appointing authority and supervisor;
• Possess a strong commitment to continue serving the public interest upon completion of the program;
• Be willing to sign an agreement to serve in Massachusetts State Government in the Commonwealth in the same or higher level management grade for a minimum of two years following graduation, or to repay the salary received while attending the program if one defaults on this agreement. This repayment provision will not apply if the individual is not offered a position at the same or higher-level management grade;
• Not have applied for the Bradford Fellowship more than three (3) times.

Please Note:

• Applicants who hold a graduate degree must specifically address what an MPA would offer them that their current graduate degree does not, in reaching their management career goals.

Exclusions

The following categories of employees are excluded:

• Contract employees
• Employees in non-management positions
• Employees classified below Lieutenant
• Employees in positions classified at level MV who occupy a qualifying position in an "acting" capacity are excluded from participation in the program
• Employees appointed directly by the Governor; whose salary, by statutory requirement, is set by the Governor
• Employees employed by the Office of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Attorney General and State Treasurer
• Employees in public institutions of Higher Education
• Employed by in Legislative and Judicial branches
• Employed by Massachusetts public authorities or other quasi-public agencies
• Employed by county government organizations

How to Apply

Governor Robert F. Bradford Fellowship Program 

Step 1 - Admission to the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)
The HKS catalogues and admission application packages are available at: http://www.hks.harvard.edu/.

Step 2 - Submit online application to HKS Admissions Office
Completed applications for admission must be submitted online directly to the Admissions Office at the Harvard Kennedy School by December 1, 2022 at 3 p.m. EST. Please mark the HKS application as "Bradford Applicant” in the sponsorship section. Please note that the admission application will not be forwarded to HRD to be considered for the Bradford Fellowship application.

Step 3 - Commonwealth Bradford Fellowship Application 

The Bradford Fellowship Online Application must be submitted online and all required approvals must be submitted directly to the Human Resources Division by 4:00 p.m. EST on February 17, 2023. 

Note: in order to be considered for the Bradford Fellowship, applicants first must be accepted for admission by Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, for its Mid-Career MPA Program.

Next Steps

In addition to completing the Bradford Fellowship Program online application, all applicants must ensure the submission of a supervisor recommendation and appropriate leadership approvals by 4:00 p.m. EST, February 17, 2023.

• In the online application, applicants will input the names and emails of the supervisor and the appropriate agency leadership (agency HR Director and Agency Head).
  • The Human Resources Division will send an email to the supervisor with a link to the recommendation form.
  • The Human Resources Division will also send an approval email sent to the HR Director and Agency Head. 

Please note, your supervisor recommendation and approvals can take some time. We suggest that you complete the recommendation and approval information as soon as possible. You can submit the form for the approvals ahead of time and an email will be sent to you with a link to get back into your application to complete.