Matching Program to Support Graduate Students from Traditionally Underrepresented Groups

Goal

To increase recruitment and funding of graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds by combining college funds with local unit funds to expand the number of graduate assistantships in Academic Programs that have initiated formal strategies to increase diversity.

Support Provided

Tuition at the Grant-in-Aid rate (pre- or post-comps).

Eligibility Requirements

Student is from a population that is underrepresented in the extramural scientific workforce that has traditionally had fewer opportunities to experience education and research opportunities to pursue a graduate degree (See link for descriptions and definitions of each).

Racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in biomedical research: Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders;
Individuals with disabilities, defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities;
Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet two or more of the following criteria:
- Were or currently are homeless
- Were or currently are in the foster care system
- Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years
- Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree
- Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants
- Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as a parent or child
- Grew up in one of the following areas: a) a U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), or b) a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas

Student is applying for or enrolled in a graduate program in the College of Health and Human Development and/or is an inter-college graduate degree program (IGDP) student being advised by College faculty.
Department/School/Center must provide stipend support equal to or exceeding the level of a grade 14 (master’s student) or a grade 18 (doctoral student) funding level for a half-time assistantship.
Support must come from a non-general funds source (i.e., gift or endowment, federal research funding, foundation funding). If the funding source is not available for all years of the student’s program (e.g., 5 years), programs are responsible for providing the student with an equivalent support package for the remaining years, provided the student is making satisfactory academic progress.

Application Process

Applications (2 pages maximum) should be submitted by the department head or graduate professor-in-charge to the Associate Dean for Research, and include:
- Narrative describing the departmental overall strategy to increase diversity of the student population and how this support fits into the strategy (i.e., using the regular departmental allotment and/or positioning students for other funding sources, such as nominating students for a University Graduate Fellowship).
- Description of source of funding for the stipend.
- Projected plans for assistantship duties of the student (in brief, such as relative time spent on teaching/research/administrative duties).
In approving applications, the college will consider the extent to which this funding is part of a more comprehensive departmental strategy to increase recruitment and retention of underrepresented students.
Proposals are due by February 1 and units will be informed of availability of matching support by March 1.