Nomination Deadline:  February 20, 2012

The Graduate School is pleased to announce its call for the 2012-13 Graduate Diversity Recruitment Bonus Program. The purpose of the program is to advance inclusiveness in graduate education, to enrich the academic environment by embracing a broad range of perspectives, and to prepare students for their future roles as leaders in a diverse society.

To that end, the program is designed to augment recruitment-based assistantship and fellowship offers to incoming graduate students with meritorious records and demonstrated potential for graduate study by offering bonuses to students from divergent and/or nontraditional backgrounds.

Scholarship Award Level

Awards will provide eligible recipients with nonrenewable recruitment scholarships of $5,000 for their first academic year of graduate study.

Eligibility Criteria

Scholarship recipients will be evaluated by a faculty committee and determined by the graduate dean based on the following:

Part A

Nominees must meet all of the following criteria:

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident

• meritorious academic achievement and leadership potential as reflected in grade point average, GRE or other test scores, publications, presentations, awards/honors, and/or other professional activity;

• status as a first-time OSU graduate degree-seeking student in any graduate field for the approaching academic year (OSU baccalaureate recipients may be eligible);

• documented offer of departmental or program support equivalent to a 0.49 FTE graduate assistantship or fellowship at the Graduate School’s prevailing recommended minimum stipend level for the award period.

Part B

In addition to Part A, nominees must meet at least two of the following diversity enhancement-based criteria:

• previously participated in a TRIO Program (Educational Opportunity Center, Talent Search, Student Support Services, Upward Bound, McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program);

• previously participated in a College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP);

• previously attended a minority-serving institution

• primary language is other than English;

• documented financial need (based upon FAFSA application process for the proposed award period) with consideration of low income status;

• first generation to attend a university;

• previously participated in a summer research opportunity program for underserved undergraduates;

• demonstrated engagement with communities that are underrepresented in higher education and an ability to bring this experience to the learning environment;

• interest in using the diversity of human experience as an educational resource in teaching and scholarship.

Nomination Process

Departments and programs may submit only one nomination and must provide complete nomination packets containing all materials listed below (including transcripts) Incomplete nominations will not be reviewed.

Please submit 4 copies of the following materials:

• a nominating letter from the department chair, head or graduate program director articulating:

• the student’s academic merit and potential for success in graduate study;

• the basis for which the diversity bonus is being sought (i.e., relevant criteria in Part B above);

• how the bonus will contribute toward an inclusive graduate community within the department/program;

• specific details of departmental or program financial support offer (including quarterly stipend level and FTE, duration of appointment, tuition remission, health benefits, etc.). Departmental stipend support must meet or exceed the Graduate School’s prevailing recommended minimum stipend rate for 0.49 FTE graduate assistantships or fellowships for the award period.

2. two additional letters of recommendation. Letters submitted for admission purposes may be utilized; 3. the student’s résumé or curriculum vitae; 4. the student’s statement of academic goals; 5. transcripts of all post-high school academic work (note: must be supplied by nominating department/program.) Nominations Deadline Nominations must be received by the Graduate School by February 20, 2012 to be given priority consideration. Initial awards will be announced by February 29, 2012. After the initial deadline, nominations will be accepted on a rolling basis until all funds have been awarded.