The University Fellowship Program has been established at Eastern Michigan University for the purpose of recognizing and encouraging superior academic work at the graduate level for full-time or part-time students.
Fellowship Guidelines
The graduate fellowship for students enrolled in full-time or part-time study is an award for academic distinction given to selected students on the basis of their academic performance and meritorious/leadership efforts. The award is in the form of a scholarship ranging from $500 to $4,000 for the academic year, half paid in the fall and half paid in the winter semester.
Graduate students who receive a University fellowship:
1. must hold degree admission to an academic program leading to either a graduate certificate, a masters, a specialist, or a doctoral degree program
2. must maintain a cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.6 during the semesters in which the fellowship award has been granted
3. may re-apply for a second award for one additional academic year if a 3.6 cumulative graduate grade point average is maintained
4. must meet the University’s definition for a full-time graduate student (i.e., enrolled in and complete at least 8 credit hours of approved graduate-level course work) or part-time status (i.e., enroll in and complete at least 4 credit hours of approved graduate-level course work) during each semester for which the award is made. The number of hours depends upon the size of the award. Students who receive a $500-$2,000 award may be part-time and those who receive a $2,500-$4,000 award must be full-time.
Recipients who cannot enroll in and complete the required number of graduate-level credit hours for either the fall and/or winter semesters forfeit their fellowships.
Eligibility
Both new and continuing graduate students are eligible to apply for a fellowship. New graduate students must present a minimum 3.6 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to receive consideration. Graduate students who have already begun their programs must present a minimum 3.6 cumulative graduate grade point average to receive consideration.
Preference is given to new students seeking their first graduate degree and who have no other form of institutional support. Students receiving graduate assistantships are eligible to receive a fellowship, as funds are available. Fellowships are distributed equally among degree programs. Where there are many applicants from one program, fellowship documents are forwarded to the department for faculty input to rank applications.
Application Process
Applicants must complete a Financial Assistance Application for Graduate Students Form. Applicants must submit this and the requested documentation to the Graduate School, 200 Boone Hall, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 by February 15 for the fall semester or October 15 for the winter semester. Letters of recommendation and a personal statement regarding academic goals and how a fellowship will help attain the goals should accompany the application form.
Once award decisions have been made, the Graduate School will notify all recipients in writing. Fellowship recipients must accept or decline the award by the date designated on the letter.
Should awards be turned down, a second round of offers may be issued. The process is very competitive with many outstanding applicants.
Financial Assistance Application for Graduate Students Form (291K)
