President's Diversity Dissertation Fellowship

Deadline: Monday, February 5, 2024

The President’s Diversity Dissertation Fellowship was established in 2014 to provide one year of support to advanced doctoral students who are completing Ph.D. dissertations. These are one time fellowships meant to offset a scholar’s living expenses while completing the dissertation. This competition is specifically aimed at graduate students who are underrepresented minorities (URMs) in their field. The URM designation applies to racial, ethnic, gender, disability, and first-generation classifications. Graduate students in the natural, physical and life sciences, technology, and math fields, are especially encouraged to apply. In order to apply for this award, applicants must have been admitted to candidacy and receive Ph.D. recorder approval at least one month prior to the application deadline.
Dissertation fellowships will be awarded in a university-wide competition administered by core campus committees to individuals who have demonstrated academic achievement and show promise of future achievement as scholars, teachers, researchers, or professionals. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a strong likelihood of filing their dissertation at the end of the fellowship period.

One-year stipend: $25,000
Student health insurance for fellowship recipients.
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:

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

Student Application Form
Curriculum Vitae
Unofficial transcript
Work-plan/timetable for completion of the doctoral degree and rationale for needing this fellowship year
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.

Students must be nominated by their department.

In nominating the student, the department must submit:

Nomination Form
Letter of nomination by the department chair (max 1 page, .5" or larger margin, 10 pt or larger font).
Letter of support from the student's dissertation chair or doctoral advisor (max 2 pages, .5" or larger margin, 10 pt or larger font).

In nominating the student, the department also agrees to ensure that the recipient does not accept other graduate awards or employment during the award period and to submit a final report on behalf of the student. If submitting multiple nominations, the department must rank the nominees.
The University Graduate School will award nine fellowships annually at the IUB campus.

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.

For more information contact Jen Barron, Fellowships and Awards Coordinator, at 812-855-1362, or email ugsawrd@iu.edu.

President's Diversity Dissertation Fellowship

Stipend and Benefits

Eligibility and Selection

Requirements

Student Application

Department Nomination Process

FAQ

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