General Questions about the 2017-19 Jeanne Sauvé Public Leadership Program

1. Does the Jeanne Sauvé Foundation provide financial support to students?

Yes. The Jeanne Sauvé Fellows are provided with a living stipend during the Residential Phase of the program (10 months). They are also given accommodation in the Sauvé House at no cost.

Outside the Jeanne Sauvé Public Leadership Program, the Foundation does not offer scholarships to students.

2. One of the Program’s eligibility requirements is three years of full-time professional experience. Can full-time internships and/or volunteer positions constitute part of my professional experience?

Yes, we consider full-time internships and volunteer positions to be professional experience. We are far less interested in the titles you have held than we are in the impact you have had on communities and causes, the ingenuity you have demonstrated, as well as your level of commitment and overall professionalism.

3. Can one be enrolled in an academic program while also participating in the Public Leadership Program?

Participants in the Jeanne Sauvé Public Leadership Program may not be officially enrolled in an academic program while participating in the residential year of the Program. This phase of the program is a full-time commitment; there would simply not be time to fully participate in both our Program and an academic course of study.

However, during the residential year, Public Leadership Fellows benefit from access to all courses at McGill and Concordia Universities (though not for credit) in order to support their intellectual development.

During the Field Year, Fellows may be enrolled in an academic program or may work full time, as the time required for their participation in the Jeanne Sauvé Program is approximately eight hours per month.

4. How is the Jeanne Sauvé Program different from the Sauvé Scholars Program?

The new Jeanne Sauvé Public Leadership Program builds on the strengths of the Sauvé Scholars Program, which were refined over the past ten years. However, in several key areas, it marks a departure from the structure of that Program, reflecting the Foundation’s priorities (as set by the Board of Directors through its 2013-14 Strategic Planning Process) and in response to a changing world.

The following changes characterize the Jeanne Sauvé Public Leadership Program:

• Emphasizes public leadership as an approach to solving key global challenges.
• Group projects that aim to have positive impact.
• Increased public engagement on the part of Program participants enables them to further refine their public presentation and writing skills through practice, while also meeting the Foundation’s enhanced Public Education objectives.
• Explores intercultural communications as a core leadership competency.
• Reframed as a two-year leadership journey.
• New complementary programming encourages participants to take part in and contribute to our expanding global network of problem-solvers.

5. Can I have the contact information of a past Fellow to ask them more about their experience?

Yes, please feel free to contact a past Sauvé Scholars Program participant. Their Email addresses are listed at the bottom of their profiles, in the Sauvé Fellows searchable database.

6. I am currently working on a project jointly with a partner that directly applies to the theme. How do you treat such situations? Can we apply together?

No. The Program is meant to be individually tailored. You and your partner may apply separately.

Questions about the Residential Phase of the 2017-19 Jeanne Sauvé Public Leadership Program

7. What kind of visa will I need to participate in the program, and whose responsibility is it to secure the visa?

Jeanne Sauvé Fellows come from Canada and around the world. Each Fellow is designated a visiting academic trainee by either McGill University, our founding partner and academic home, or Concordia University. On this basis, Jeanne Sauvé Fellows coming from outside Canada apply for a work permit to take up the Fellowship. In some cases, a visa is also required. The Foundation will assist you.

Selected candidates are responsible for undertaking all steps necessary to secure this work permit. Reasonable* associated costs will be reimbursed by the Foundation upon the Fellows’ arrival in Canada.

*Expenses above $150 must be approved in advance by the Foundation.

8. Are all travel and visa costs covered by the Program?

Yes, the Foundation reimburses all reasonable* visa/permit and economy fare travel costs incurred by participants in the course of their visa/permit applications.

*Expenses above $150 must be approved in advance by the Foundation.

The Foundation also covers the costs of economy travel to and from Montreal at the start and end of the residential program (exact dates to be approved in advance by the Foundation).

9. As a Jeanne Sauvé Fellow, can my partner/family member live at Sauvé House for the duration of the in-house program?

No, we regret that we cannot accommodate partners, dependents or other visitors for extended periods at Sauvé House.

However, partners or family members are welcome to visit Fellows and, upon availability and advance approval by the Foundation, to stay at Sauvé House for short periods over the course of the residential year, provided that the timing of their visit does not interfere with key Program activities.

10. As a Jeanne Sauvé Fellow, can I host guests at Sauvé House?

Upon advance approval by the Foundation, guests are welcome to visit for short periods at Sauvé House. (See above.)

11. Does the monthly stipend cover all regular living expenses, or will I have to spend extra money during my time as a Jeanne Sauvé Fellow?

In addition to free accommodation at Jeanne Sauvé House, Fellows in residence receive a monthly living allowance that is above the estimated monthly cost of living for graduate students in Montreal; it enables them to buy food, clothing and other necessities, as well as to enjoy the city of Montreal.

12. How much time does participating in the Residential Phase of the Program require of participants?

The residential phase of the Jeanne Sauvé Public Leadership Program represents a full-time (40 hours per week) commitment. On average, about half of participants’ time (20 hours per week) is devoted to the common program, including time spent working on the collective project. The remaining time is devoted to individual pursuits and personal reflection in a supportive, semi-structured environment.

The schedule varies from week to week; intensive learning modules are balanced with periods that are largely free from scheduled activities. A detailed schedule for the Residential Year was provided to successful candidates during the induction period (June-July) prior to the official commencement in August.

13. How is the tailored leadership development programming built? Is this program unique to each Scholar, or is it a collective program?

Participants should expect the Program to be a combination of individualized programming and collective programming.

14. Is the group project predetermined or do the Fellows collaborate together on its structure?

While the theme is determined by the Foundation, the project that advances this theme is created by the participants with Foundation support and guidance.

15. How are academic mentors assigned?

Insofar as possible, each participant will be assigned an individual academic mentor from McGill University and Concordia University, based on mutual interest and availability.

16. What kinds of public engagement activities do the Fellows undertake?

Public engagement is an essential part of the Public Leadership Program. Fellows will be invited to engage a wide range of groups and audiences, including events hosted both within the Jeanne Sauve Foundation, and outside by high schools, community groups, associations and partner organizations, such as McGill and Concordia universities. Through their team project, Fellows are also expected to identify and reach out to other relevant organizations.

Fellows will be supported in their public presentations through professional development training.

17. Are Fellows free to travel while residing at Sauvé House, either to a nearby city or other countries, if they cover the expense themselves?

The residential portion of the Program is intense and goes by quickly. Experience has shown that the absence of even one participant is profoundly felt. As a result, it is the responsibility of each participant to maximize their presence and active participation in the Program. Any prolonged absence penalizes not only the Fellow but also the entire cohort. Therefore, there are only a certain number of “absent days” allowed in order not to disrupt the group dynamic.

When Fellows do undertake travel, they must (a) make the necessary visa and travel arrangements and (b) ensure the dates do not conflict with program commitments and the group project schedule. Any travel or other arrangements that involve being absent from Program commitments must be cleared in advance with the Foundation to ensure smooth planning.

Questions about the Field Phase of the 2017-19 Jeanne Sauvé Public Leadership Program

18. How much time does the field phase require?

The field phase of the Jeanne Sauvé Public Leadership Program requires a commitment of about eight hours per month. Participation will usually be via phone, Skype, or email, as Fellows may be living anywhere in the world. Fellows who wish to collaborate more extensively are encouraged to do so during this phase.

19. Does the Jeanne Sauvé Foundation provide financial support for the second phase of the Public Leadership Program?

During the Field Year, Fellows do not receive a living stipend.

20. Do all program participants do the same field work during the second year of the program?

No. During the Field Phase of the Program, Fellows continue on their individual public leadership journeys – either in their home countries or elsewhere, and either through continued work or study.

Other Questions

21. At what stage can I apply to the Alumni Collaboration Fund?

The Alumni Collaboration Fund is designed for Jeanne Sauvé Fellows who have completed the program. For 2015-17 and 2017-19 Fellows, the program is completed at the end of the Field Phase. With the Foundation’s support, this global community collaborates on initiatives that help you and us to advance our mission around the world.

22. Is there a policy against Harassment and Violence at Sauvé House?

Yes, there is.  The Jeanne Sauvé Foundation is actively committed to providing its visitors, Fellows, employees and other individuals involved in its various activities and Programs with an environment free from harassment and violence, and to ensure that all will be treated with respect and dignity.  Any form of harassment or violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, under any circumstance. To this end, the Foundation put forward a new Policy against Harassment and Violence and appointed an ombudsperson in the fall of 2017. The Policy was reviewed by current Fellows and other stakeholders for several months and eventually passed by the Sauvé Foundation Board in 2018.  Since it was passed, the policy has already been given (and will continue to be given) to all residents, Fellows, employees and other individuals involved that come to live or work at Sauvé House. To see the Policy, please go here.

23. What will the next Public Leadership Program look like? When will the call for applications open?

The next program is set to begin in August 2019. The program is currently undergoing a review, after which a new program will be introduced and a new call for applications launched. The 2019-20 program will not be entirely the same as the 2017-19 program. Stay tuned for more details!