The funds for the 1st Generation Ph.D. Fellowship Program are made available to The University of Memphis by the State of Tennessee. The purpose of the fellowship is to provide financial assistance to graduate students who are underrepresented in their respective disciplines and who will become the first person in their immediate families to earn a doctoral degree.

In order to be eligible to apply, students must be:

1. A resident of Tennessee
2. Fully admitted to a graduate program by March 2008
3. Underrepresented in the discipline/major by gender or race
4. First immediate family member to complete a doctoral or MFA program

• To enroll in at least 9 semester hours of graduate course work for the full-time option or 6 hours for the part-time option
• Maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 in order to be eligible to continue the fellowship.

Award Information:

• Full-Time Option (minimum of 9 hours per semester): Tuition scholarship plus a $6,000 stipend ($750 per month for four months each semester)
• Part-Time Option (6 hours per semester): Tuition scholarship plus a $1,000 stipend ($500 per semester)
• Award Period: The fellowship is awarded for one academic year contingent upon the student maintaining each semester a 3.00 or higher grade point average.
• Summer Support: Summer support is contingent upon availability of funds and is not guaranteed.

Application Information:

Applicants must complete the 1st Generation PhD/MFA Application along with required documentation and the Graduate School Competitive Award Self-Application. Both applications are also available in the Administration Bldg., 215.

In addition to the application, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation, one of which should be academic. Letters should be sent by the recommender directly to the following address:

ATTN: 1st Generation Ph.D. Fellowship Selection Committee
The University of Memphis
Vice Provost for Graduate Programs
The Graduate School, Administration 215
Memphis, TN 38152

Deadline:

All completed applications with supporting documents (see Documentation Required for Graduate Awards chart) must be turned in to the Graduate School, 215 Administration Building, by March 20, 2008.

Last revised on: February 8, 2008.