President's Diversity Dissertation Fellowship

1. One-year stipend: $20,000 (non-STEM) - $25,000 (STEM: sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics) depending upon discipline.
2. Student health insurance for fellowship recipients.
3. Opportunity to participate in workshops, symposia, and events in the Graduate Mentoring Center. Possibility for expenses to be paid to attend the Institute for Teaching and Mentoring conference by the Southern Regional Education Board’s Compact for Faculty Development (value: $3,750); and, the possibility for expenses to participate in one of the semester-long activities sponsored by the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (value: $3,250).

1. Doctoral candidates in Ph.D. programs at Indiana University Bloomington.
a. Applicants must have been admitted to candidacy and received Ph.D. recorder approval at least one month prior to the application deadline.
Note: open to Ph.D. candidates earning a dual degree (e.g. M.D./Ph.D., J.D./Ph.D., etc.) who are underrepresented (< 30%) or minority students in their IU degree program
2. U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card) of the U.S.A.
3. Individuals belonging to one or more of the following classes:
a. Must be an underrepresented minority, URM, in their particular discipline. The term URM includes DOMESTIC African Americans, Native American/American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, or Pacific Islanders/Native Hawaiians.
b. Person with disabilities. Under the ADA, an individual is considered to have a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of their major life activities and has a record of such impairment.
c. A gender minority (< 30% of the current graduate population in the department).
d. A first generation college student (a student whose legal custodian(s) did not complete a four- year college degree).
4. Individuals who have not received a dissertation fellowship.
Selection 
Applications from each department will be evaluated by a fellowship committee. The committee will use the letters of support, academic records, the proposed timetable, plan for completion of the doctoral degree, and student summary as the basis for determining the extent to which candidates meet the eligibility requirements and the selection criteria, including:

1. Degree of promise of completing the Ph.D. dissertation near the end of the fellowship period

2. Type and amount of funding received prior to the application of the President’s Diversity Dissertation Fellowship

Recipients of the President’s Diversity Dissertation Fellowship will be notified directly by the University Graduate School via their university email address. Those who are not awarded Fellowships will also be notified by the University Graduate School.

President’s Diversity Dissertation Fellowship awardees are expected to be engaged in a full-time program leading to a Ph.D. in an eligible field of study. Those who accept the President’s Diversity Dissertation Fellowship must agree to the stipulations in the Terms of Appointment that accompanies the award letter. The University Graduate School may request feedback on the efficacy of the award during the year.
The student
1) will be enrolled full time;
2) will be responsible for paying mandatory fees;
3) agrees not to accept other graduate scholarships or employment (including Student Academic Appointments) during the award period;
4) agrees to meet with deans in the University Graduate School during the term of the fellowship.
 
The department will encourage the student to participate in University Graduate School mentoring activities through the Graduate Mentoring Center that are both relevant and appropriate to their career aspirations and will submit an annual report on behalf of the student, summarizing their progress towards the degree.

All students must submit their application to their department.

Student Deliverables

1. Student Application Form
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Unofficial transcript
4. Work-plan/timetable for completion of the doctoral degree and rationale for needing this fellowship year
5. Dissertation summary, not to exceed six pages that includes:
   1. Objectives/Approach/Purpose
   2. Limitations of Study
   3. Significant Findings

Note: Please limit the nomination packet to the documents that comprise the application. We will not be able to accept additional documents including additional letters of recommendation or appendices.

Am I eligible to be nominated if I will receive funding from another source? Can I accept other awards?
No. You may not receive awards that carry stipends in addition to the President’s Diversity Dissertation Fellowship. Non stipend- containing research or travel awards are allowed.
 
Can the recipient work while using the President’s Diversity Dissertation Fellowship?
The President’s Diversity Dissertation Fellowship is meant to help cover the educational costs and modest living expenses a recipient incurs while completing his or her dissertation. With this in mind, Fellows may not hold outside employment during the award term. This includes Student Academic Appointments such as Assistant Instructorships, Graduate Assistantships, and Research Assistantships.
 
How are the fellowship funds paid?
If the student selects a fall start, the President’s Diversity Dissertation Fellowship is disbursed equally between enrolled terms. If the student selects a summer start, a small portion of the funds is disbursed sometime after July 1, and the remainder of the funds is disbursed equally between the fall and spring terms. In both cases, the stipend is disbursed directly into the recipient’s financial/bursar account. Once the fellowship money is applied to the institutional charges (fees, et cetera), remaining funds are disbursed to the student.
 
What if I cannot participate in the required mentoring and professional activities?
Mentoring and professional developmental activities are optional benefits to receiving the President’s Diversity Dissertation Fellowship.