Graduate student in biological sciences, winner of 2nd Place in the Biological & Health Sciences Division at the 2007 James F. Jakobsen Graduate Conference.  more...

Dean's Graduate Fellowships

Description of Fellowship – Each year, the Dean’s Graduate Fellowship Program brings up to 30 outstanding students who will contribute to the diversity of the graduate community within their disciplines. These Fellows may be entering doctoral or master’s programs and will receive substantial financial support during their graduate training while making good progress towards the degree. No more than one-third of the Dean’s Graduate Fellowships will be awarded to Master’s candidates. For doctoral students, the Graduate College will provide first year and dissertation year support that are service free, as well four service free summers. The department/program will appoint Fellows as teaching or research assistants during years two and three.

Nomination and Selection Criteria [click here for guidelines] – Dean’s Graduate Fellows must be nominated by the department/program to which they are applying. The selection of Fellows is done by a Graduate College committee on a rolling basis through March 15.

Nominations should be sent to Associate Dean Minnetta Gardinier, Graduate College, 205 Gilmore Hall. For questions, please contact Dean Gardinier or Paul Meintel (phone 335-2147).

Minnetta Gardinier m-gardinier@uiowa.edu
Paul Meintel paul-meintel@uiowa.edu

Awards are made to students based on demonstrated academic excellence and on potential for achieving success in their chosen program of graduate study, including such indicators as:

• Grades
• GRE scores (or GMAT, if appropriate)
• Letters of recommendation
• Previous research experience
• Other special educational experiences or relevant extracurricular experiences

Nominated students must have stated in their applications their degree goal (e.g., Ph.D., Master’s). Two fellowship packages are offered through the Dean's Graduate Fellowship Program and both require shared commitment of funds from the Graduate College and the department/program.

For Doctoral students [click here for stipend schedule]

The Graduate College will pay tuition and standard graduate student fees for four years of graduate study. The Graduate College will provide fellowship stipend support for two academic years ($17,500 each) and four summer sessions ($4,000 each).

The Department/Program will fund a 50% teaching or research assistantship during the two academic years immediately following the initial fellowship year supported by the Graduate College. Submitted nominations for Dean’s Graduate Fellowships for doctoral students MUST include a clear statement affirming the Department’s commitment for this departmental support.

The Fellow is responsible for making progress toward the degree. Continued funding of fellowship recipients will be contingent upon the student making good progress toward the degree. The second year of Graduate College support is the dissertation year award available to the student only after s/he has completed the comprehensive examination and will complete the doctoral dissertation by that end of that academic year.

Stipends for the Dean’s Graduate Fellowships for doctoral students are described in the Stipend Schedule table.

For Master’s students [click here for stipend schedule]

The Graduate College will pay tuition and standard graduate student fees for two academic years of graduate study. The Graduate College will provide fellowship stipend support for one academic year ($16,500). The department/program may request that the Graduate College provide this fellowship stipend to support the student during year one. Alternatively, the Graduate College will distribute this support over a two-year period ($8,250 per year) with the department/program funding a 25% teaching or research assistantship. If the student registers for summer session, s/he may request summer stipend support ($3,000).

The Department/Program is responsible for funding a 25% teaching or research assistantship for two academic years of support, and the Graduate College will provide service free fellowship to bring the total to approximately $16,500. Alternatively (as noted above), the department/program may request that the Graduate College provide full stipend support in year one ($16,500), and the department/program will agree to fund a 50% teaching or research assistantship in year two.

If the student is unable to complete the master’s degree in two years, the department/program is expected to fund a 50% teaching or research assistantship following the original two year Fellowship commitment, assuming the student is making good progress towards the degree.

Submitted nominations for Dean’s Graduate Fellowships for master’s students MUST include a clear statement affirming the Department’s commitment for this departmental support.

The Fellow is responsible for applying for summer fellowship funding. Students who register for the summer session may request Summer fellowship support that will include a stipend, tuition and standard graduate student fees. Continued funding of fellowship recipients is contingent upon the student making good progress toward the degree.

Stipends for the Dean’s Graduate Fellowships for master’s students are described in the Stipend Schedule table.