Cost and Financial Aid

Student sitting on a bench in the south oval, reading a book.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

All International Travel, including conference and research-related travel, must be registered using the appropriate form. When traveling abroad, you MUST register with Education Abroad for the international insurance and travel assistance plan and pay the associated premium (~$1.50/day). Fill out this form and Education Abroad will email you with further instructions on how to register your travel and pay for your international insurance & travel assistance. You may include these additional costs in the budgeting for your award.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR NON-RESIDENT ALIEN FOR TAX PURPOSES INDIVIDUALS

Please be aware that if you are considered a nonresident alien for US tax purposes, any financial aid or scholarship amounts you receive may be subject to taxation under specific conditions, based on how the award is received:

Paid directly to Bursar account: When scholarship payments are applied directly to your bursar account, taxation depends on whether the awards exceed qualified tuition and fees (referred to as ‘excess awards’) during the calendar year, your residency status throughout that year, and the existence of tax treaties between the US and your home country.
Paid via voucher: When a scholarship payment is paid via voucher (i.e., check), taxation is determined at the time of payment based on your residency status and the existence of tax treaties between the US and your home country . The paying OU department determines whether taxes will be netted out of the scholarship payment or covered by the OU department.

If you have any inquiries regarding the taxability of awards for nonresident aliens, feel free to contact fstax@ou.edu

TRAVEL AND RESEARCH GRANTS

Robberson Travel and Research Grants

Robberson Travel Grants provide financial assistance to graduate students who are presenting their research results or creative products at a professional venue.

Robberson Research Grants provide financial assistance for expenses incurred as graduate students conduct research or produce creative products. Funded activities may include dissertation or thesis research and national research presentations, exhibitions, or performances.

Robberson Research and Travel Grants are awarded on a competitive basis.
Submission of an application does not guarantee funding - funding rates for the 2023-2024 academic year were ~50%.
Students must submit their Robberson Grant application before the expected travel dates or research expenditure needs.

Limitations:

Students may receive a maximum of one award per academic year (July 1st -May 15th funding cycle).
Students in master’s programs may receive up to two awards per degree program. This can be any combination of travel and research awards.
Students in doctoral programs may receive up to four awards per degree program. This can be any combination of travel and research awards.
Students who have not received any prior funding from the Graduate College Robberson Travel and Research Funding Program will receive funding priority in each funding cycle.
Students are not eligible for a travel grant in the same year they receive a research grant. Likewise, students are not eligible for a research grant in the same year that they receive a travel grant.

WHEN TO APPLY

Travel Grant: As soon as possible after receiving confirmation that the student's presentation has been accepted, and before travel.

Research Grant: Students may apply for expenditures up to May 31st of the following academic year of their application, as long as they are enrolled when expenditures are incurred.

Application Deadlines: 5pm on July 1st and the 15th of every month August-May (except December)

All application materials must be received by this deadline. Students should submit their applications well in advance of the deadline so that their graduate liaison and major advisor have enough time to complete the form as well.

HOW TO APPLY

If you have any questions or issues, please email Will O'Donnell at willodonnell03@ou.edu.

To view a draft or saved form, go here: Dynamic Forms

Apply

AMOUNT AWARDED

Travel and Research Grants:  Students may receive up to $1,000 per academic year (July 1st-May 15th academic year funding cycle).

Students can apply each year of their degree program and receive one award per year (see Limitations section above).
A single application may include travel to more than one conference.
Students who do not receive an award on their first application are eligible to apply one additional time in the same academic year. This may include a revised version of a previous application if the travel is still within the eligibility period.
Students who have never previously received a Robberson Travel or Research Grant during their degree program will receive priority.
Matching funds are not required, but students are encouraged to utilize all available funding streams.

Application Guidance: Remember that your application will be read by a diverse group of individuals with little or no background in your disciplinary area. Keep the use of jargon and acronyms to a minimum. Two major criteria in the application review are the quality of description and significance of the project and the contribution to the student’s professional development.

Travel Grants: The one-page project summary should: explain the nature of the project, discuss the compelling reasons for the project, clearly state the anticipated conclusions of the project, discuss the project's contribution to the discipline, and discuss broader societal impacts, if applicable. Also, ensure you have a thorough and justified budget. Hotel stays should not extend beyond the conference dates.

Research Grants: Another major criterion is the budget justification. Be sure it is detailed and outlines the portions that are covered by the Graduate College funding. The single-spaced one-page research or creative project summary should be written as a proposal rather than an abstract of work already completed, clearly identify the compelling questions to be investigated, outline the tasks that will be performed, identify the potential contribution of the project to the discipline, discuss broader societal impacts, if applicable, and include early conclusions and preliminary findings, if applicable.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The applicant must be in good academic standing and have an OU grade point average of 3.0 or better.
The applicant must be enrolled during the semester they plan to travel or make research expenditures. Applicants are not required to be enrolled in the Summer semester in order to be eligible to receive funding for research/travel costs during the Summer semester. However, applicants should be enrolled in the following Fall semester.
Post-doctoral scholars are not eligible for these funds.

TRAVEL GRANT

The applicant must be an active presenter. Verification of the student’s presentation at the professional venue will be required before funds are disbursed.
These funds may not be used to attend training workshops, short courses, field schools, or other types of events; apply instead for the Robberson and Wethington Scholarship.
Travel to local or state meetings will not be supported from these funds. However, national conferences which happen to occur in Oklahoma are eligible for funding.
Travel for research purposes (e.g., to visit archives, collect samples or conduct interviews) will not be supported from these funds; apply instead for a Research Grant.

RESEARCH GRANT

These funds may be used to fund research-related expenses such as supplies, equipment, books, data sets, or travel related to the project.
The funds may also be used to compensate research participants (e.g., gift cards), but the student will need to seek further approvals from the IRB, the student's academic unit, and follow OU Purchasing policies outlined by Financial Services.
These funds may not normally be used to pay salaries, make dissertation copies, or fund publication costs.
Travel to present research or creative activity will not be supported from these funds; apply instead for a Travel Grant.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Council’s Travel and Research Subcommittee during the three weeks after the deadline.
A notification letter will be sent to the applicant’s OU email address once decisions are made. Notifications of award (or that your application was not funded) will be made after the 10^th of the month following the application deadline (e.g., Oct. 10^th for a Sept 15^th application deadline).
Applicants awarded funding will be contacted by the Shared Business Services Center regarding processing of their award funds. SBSC@ou.edu will be copied on your award notification letter. When necessary, the SBSC will work with your home department to allocate any charges over the amount of the travel grant (if applicable) to the appropriate account(s). For research grants, awards are often transferred to a departmental account for use.
If the awardee does not process the necessary paperwork to receive the funds within three months from the date they received the award, the grant funding will be forfeited.

Robberson and Wethington Scholarship

The Robberson and Wethington Scholarships provide financial assistance for academically outstanding doctoral students to attend competitive and prestigious training/courses at other universities or institutions.

Funding for this opportunity is provided from the Richard, Mary, and Glenn Robberson fund and the Mr. and Mrs. W.O. Wethington Scholarship fund.

WHEN TO APPLY

Application Deadlines: 5pm on July 1st and the 15th of every month August-May (except December).

Applications where the academic unit contributes significant cost sharing will be given priority in the review process.

AMOUNT AWARDED

Requests up to $5,000 will be considered.

HOW TO APPLY

If you have any questions or issues, please email Will O'Donnell at willodonnell03@ou.edu.

To view a draft or saved form, go here: Dynamic Forms

Apply

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

International doctoral students studying in the areas broadly defined as natural sciences, history, business, engineering, or mathematics are eligible.
Domestic doctoral students in all fields are eligible.
Post-doctoral scholars are not eligible for these funds.
These funds may be used to fund expenses related to attending the training/courses such as course registration fees, books, or travel related to attending the training/courses.
Students are eligible for this award once per academic program and are not eligible for travel or research awards in the same year as they receive a scholarship (and vice versa).

Applicants for these funds must show evidence that the training/courses for which funding is requested will provide the following:

Knowledge that cannot be obtained at OU
Significant networking opportunities
A positive impact on the student’s career.

Applicants for these funds:

Must be in good academic standing and have an OU grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Additional Notes:

Workshops and other courses connected or associated with conferences will not be considered for this award
Applicants are encouraged to consult with Associate Dean Ioana Cionea (icionea@ou.edu) before applying for this award.
Applicants should apply in advance of the course.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Council’s Travel and Research Subcommittee during the three weeks after the deadline.
A notification letter will be sent to the applicant’s OU email address once decisions are made. Notifications of award (or that your application was not funded) will be made after the 10th of the month following the application deadline (e.g., Oct. 10th for a Sept 15th application deadline).
Applicants awarded funding will be contacted by the Shared Business Services Center regarding processing of their award funds. SBSC@ou.edu will be copied on your award notification letter.
If the awardee does not process the necessary paperwork to receive the funds within three months from the date they received the award, the grant funding will be forfeited.

Cindy and Jizhong Zhou Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Award in Environmental Science and Technology

The Cindy and Jizhong Zhou Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Award in Environmental Science and Technology is a prestigious award that aims to facilitate travel for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers attending professional society meetings in the field of environmental science and technology.

WHEN TO APPLY

Application Deadlines: September 15th and April 15th by 5pm CST

All application materials must be received by this deadline. Students/post-doctoral researchers should submit their applications well in advance of the deadline so that their graduate liaison and major advisor have enough time to complete the form as well.

AMOUNT AWARDED

Awards will vary from $500 to $1000 depending on fund availability and number of requests.

*Please note that the process for Zhou Awards is highly competitive, as there are only up to 5-6 awards available per year.

HOW TO APPLY

If you have any questions or issues, please email Will O'Donnell at willodonnell03@ou.edu.

To view a draft or saved form, go here: Dynamic Forms

Apply

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Regularly enrolled graduate students or benefits-eligible postdoctoral fellows at the University.
Demonstrated quality of research through publications or academic accomplishments, as evaluated by the selection committee.
Not the Donor or an immediate family member of the Donor.
Student or postdoc must be presenting research at the conference.

In addition to the eligibility criteria, priority consideration will be given to:

Those giving oral presentations.
Graduate students and postdocs affiliated with the School of Biological Sciences, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, School of Computer Science, the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, and the College of Earth and Energy.
The following conferences: International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME), American Society of Microbiology (ASM), Ecological Society of America (ESA), American Meteorological Society, American Geophysical Union (AGU), International Water Association (IWA), and ASCE-EWRI World Environmental and Water Resources Congress.

Applications will be submitted and reviewed through the Graduate College Travel and Research submission process. We encourage all eligible graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to apply for this opportunity. If the awardee does not process the necessary paperwork to receive the funds/be reimbursed within three months from the date they received the award, the grant funding will be forfeited.

Graduate Student Senate (GSS) Research and Conference Grants

The Graduate Student Senate accepts Research and Conference Grant applications twice a year. These grants are supplementary in nature. More information and application forms can be found on the GSS website.

Open Access Publication Funding

Graduate students are eligible for some forms of funding to support open-access publication. To learn more, click the link below.

Take me to publication funding

COMPLETION INCENTIVES

Eddie Carol Smith Scholarship

The Eddie Carol Smith Scholarship was established to honor the contributions of Dr. Eddie Carol Smith who served as Graduate Dean from 1993 until 1999 and Vice President of Research from 1995 until 1999.

The scholarship encourages research and creative activity among graduate students and recognizes the significant contributions of these graduate students to our society. The Eddie Carol Smith Scholarship is a one-year award that will go to a graduate student whose research/capstone project either opens a new area of scholarly endeavor or significantly expands an existing area of scholarly endeavor. Applicants must be near the end of their degree requirements, as it is expected that the academic year during which the student serves as the Eddie Carol Smith Scholar is also the academic year in which the student will complete the degree.

WHEN TO APPLY

Application Deadlines: Call for applications will be announced when funds are available..

AMOUNT AWARDED

$2,000 in professional development funds. These funds may be used to assist with the research project (i.e., archival research, data collection, supplies and equipment, etc.); to assist with the preparation of the final dissertation, thesis, or capstone project; or for travel to either present the research/project or to conduct research for the project
A full tuition waiver for both the fall and spring semesters of the award year.

HOW TO APPLY

If you have any questions or issues, please email Will O'Donnell at willodonnell03@ou.edu.

To view a draft or saved form, go here: Dynamic Forms

Apply

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Any academic unit offering a graduate degree on the Norman campus may submit up to two nominations for the Eddie Carol Smith Scholarship for the 2022-23 academic year.

To be eligible for nomination an applicant must:

Be a graduate student on the Norman campus
Carry at least a 3.75 grade point average in all coursework for the degree
Be approaching the “last” year of the graduate degree
Be engaged in either a doctoral dissertation, master’s thesis, or master’s capstone project
Be recommended for the Award by the major professor

[Note: the recipient need not hold a graduate assistantship during the year of the award]

NOMINATION PROCESS

Nomination materials must be submitted by an OU faculty member or Graduate Liaison and must include:

A copy of the student’s completed Program of Study Form for master’s applicants or a copy of the student’s completed Advisory Conference Report for doctoral applicants
A current copy of the applicant’s curriculum vitae
A one to two page research statement prepared by the applicant. This statement should include a detailed description of the research/project and must be readable by an interdisciplinary audience. It should be written in a grant proposal format rather than as an abstract of a work already completed. It should clearly identify the scholarly issues being addressed in the research/project and outline the tasks that will be performed to complete the research/project. If applicable, it should include any early conclusions or preliminary findings.
A brief budget/financial statement indicating the proposed use of the professional development funds in conjunction with the research/project.
A reference letter prepared by the applicant’s major professor. This letter should speak to the ability of the student to complete the proposed research/project and the current status of the research/project (i.e., prospectus completed, conducting research, etc.). It should also describe the scholarly significance and potential impact of the proposed research/project, as well as the expected time frame for the applicant to complete the degree.
An endorsement signature of the applicant’s graduate liaison or academic unit chair.

SELECTION PROCESS

An ad hoc committee selected from members of the Graduate Council will review the nominations immediately following the deadline and recommend a single recipient each year to the Graduate College dean. The scholarship will begin the following fall semester.

Nancy L. Mergler and Bullard Dissertation Completion Fellowships

The Nancy L. Mergler and Bullard Dissertation Completion Fellowships support outstanding graduate students in completing their doctoral work.

Up to four applicants (as determined by a committee of faculty from diverse fields of study across campus) will be awarded the Nancy L. Mergler Dissertation Completion Fellowship. Additional awardees (determined by the same committee) will be awarded the Bullard Dissertation Completion Fellowship.

WHEN TO APPLY

Application Deadlines: February 6th, 2025, at 5:00pm

AMOUNT AWARDED

Up to four applicants (as determined by a committee of faculty from different fields of study across campus) will be awarded the Nancy L. Mergler Dissertation Completion Fellowship, which will pay a stipend of $25,000 for two semesters of a 0.50 FTE GRA appointment. Tuition waivers and health insurance coverage will be provided. Completing the dissertation will be the sole duty associated with the GRA position.

Additional awardees (determined by the same committee) will be awarded the Bullard Dissertation Completion Fellowship. This fellowship will pay a stipend of $12,500 for one semester of a 0.50 FTE GRA appointment. Tuition waivers and health insurance coverage will be provided. Completing the dissertation will be the sole duty associated with the GRA position.

HOW TO APPLY

If you have any questions or issues, please email Will O'Donnell at willodonnell03@ou.edu.

To view a draft or saved form, go here: Dynamic Forms

Apply

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Students may apply directly. They do not need to be nominated by their academic unit.
At time of application, applicants must have completed the general exam and must hold a 0.50 FTE GTA or GRA appointment in their academic unit.

NOMINATION PROCESS

Nomination materials must include:

An application cover letter that highlights the academic and professional journey (this may also include information about alternate pathways in education/career, interdisciplinary endeavors, delays in completion, etc.).
A one-page plan for completion which explains the structure of the dissertation, states which elements are complete, and offers a plan and schedule for completing the remaining elements.
A letter of reference from the applicant’s major professor describing the scholarly significance and potential impact of the work. The letter should summarize the status of the project and offer a clear assessment of the applicant’s potential for completing the dissertation during the following academic year (e.g., the applicant is very likely to complete; the applicant has a reasonable prospect of completing; it is uncertain that the applicant will complete). The letter should also provide an estimate regarding the relative quality of the applicant’s project (e.g., is the project in the top 5%, 10%, or 15% of dissertations seen to date?). When the electronic application form is submitted, the major professor will receive an email requesting submission of the letter.
A current copy of the applicant’s curriculum vitae including information about research, service, and outreach activities if applicable.
A short abstract of the dissertation (maximum two single-spaced pages) that explains the significance and impact of the work in terms accessible to a lay person.
A sample of the applicant’s writing (maximum 10,000 words) that allows evaluation of the project. Co-authored work is acceptable if it presents the student’s original research. Work that has already been published is welcome.
The applicant’s academic transcript.
Please submit all materials in .PDF format.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Scholarly significance and potential impact of the work, expressed in a way that conveys the importance of the work to a multidisciplinary faculty committee. (The committee favors projects that are innovative, high-impact and groundbreaking in nature. We welcome projects that address topics and perspectives historically underrepresented in the academy and/or that have potential impact in support of underserved communities.)
Overall academic record and professional activity.
Potential for completion of the dissertation during the award period.

OTHER AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Alice Mary Robertson Award

The Alice Mary Robertson Award was established to honor the memory of Alice Mary Robertson, Oklahoma's first female representative in the United States Congress.

The purpose of the award is to stimulate an interest among graduate students in the study and interpretation of the contributions made by women to the culture and progress of Oklahoma as well as to awaken the public to a greater appreciation of these contributions. The Alice Mary Robertson Award is a one-time award to a graduate student whose creative activity and/or scholarly or archival research enhances the appreciation of these contributions.

AMOUNT AWARDED

One award of $1,000 will be made annually. A committee will select the recipient during the spring semester, based on an evaluation of the creative or research activity.

Contact the Department of Women's and Gender Studies for additional information.

HOW TO APPLY

If you have any questions or issues, please email the Department of Women's and Gender Studies at wgs@ou.edu..

Ambassador James R. Jones Graduate Fellowship

The Ambassador James R. Jones Graduate Fellowship was established to assist with the archival digitization efforts of the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center’s Congressional and Political Collections.

Ambassador Jones served as Appointments Secretary (Chief of Staff) to President Lyndon Johnson, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973-1987 and was appointed United States Ambassador to Mexico from 1993 to 1997.

The Jones Graduate Fellow will be a .50 GRAs in the Carl Albert Center while completing their graduate degree in their home department. The Graduate Fellow will learn valuable research and archival management skills, metadata development, content migration strategies, and long-term preservation techniques. Fellows will have practical, hands-on opportunities with various archival materials including manuscript, photographs, and moving image/sound content. This unique position allows a robust learning experience and offers one-on-one instruction for in-depth skill development.

For more information on eligibility requirements and the application and selection process, please visit the Carl Albert Center's website by clicking the link below:

Jones Graduate Fellowship

CASH Scholarships

Current OU students may also apply for some scholarships through CASH (the Centralized Academic Scholarship Hub).

Carl Albert Fellowship Program

At the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, our commitment to the study of representative government is reflected in the highly competitive and prestigious Carl Albert Graduate Fellowship program.

Carl Albert Fellows work closely with Center faculty to pursue a rigorous and individualized program of study leading to a PhD in political science. Fellows focus their program of study on fundamental issues in representative government in America including the study of institutions, processes, and public policy. Faculty regularly interact with fellows in an office space that facilitates collaboration and scholarly exchange. The laboratory model of graduate education means students will be involved with research from day one. Fellows are expected to develop original research leading to professional conference presentation and publication.

Fellows may also avail themselves of a rich and diverse selection of other resources at The University of Oklahoma to advance their individual research and intellectual development:

For more information on eligibility requirements and the application and selection process, please visit the Carl Albert Center's website by clicking the link below:

Carl Albert Fellowship Program

Other Fellowships and Scholarships

Every fellowship has specific criteria and application instructions, but as a general rule, most competitions ask for:

A fellowship proposal, explaining your research topic and what you plan to do if you are granted the fellowship
Recommendation letters
A budget of expenses you expect to incur, especially for fellowships requiring travel
Transcripts
A current CV, which includes a list of awards and fellowships you have won during your time as a graduate student, presentations, publications, and other relevant information.

Below is a list of links to get started on your search!

FACULTY-NOMINATED AWARDS

RECRUITMENT INITIATIVES

Alumni and Foundation Recruitment Fellowship and Wethington Graduate Fellowship

The Alumni and Foundation Recruitment Fellowship program, originally established by Graduate Dean Emeritus Lee Williams, provides Alumni and OU Foundation Fellowships to academic units to assist with recruitment of superior doctoral students.

Awards will be chosen by a committee of graduate faculty members from a range of disciplines. We encourage applications that support access and opportunity goals by recruiting underrepresented students.

The Wethington Graduate Fellowship is used to recruit outstanding doctoral students in the areas of business, engineering, history, mathematics, and natural science. Preference is given to students who have previously resided in Alfalfa, Garfield, Grant, or Woods counties in Oklahoma; however, if students from those counties are not available, other Oklahoma and non-Oklahoma students may be considered (including international).

WHEN TO NOMINATE

Deadlines: January 24th, February 7th, February 21st, and March 7th, 2025

AMOUNT AWARDED

Up to $5000/yr

Each award is $5000 per year for up to six years of funding or through completion of the degree, whichever comes first.
The academic unit must provide a .5 FTE graduate assistantship throughout the term of the award.
An award may be split between two students ($2500/year each).
Academic units may nominate prospective students for one or two awards per year.
Funds will be administered as a $2500 scholarship (or, in the case of split awards, a $1250 scholarship) at the beginning of each fall and spring semester.

HOW TO NOMINATE

If you have any questions or issues, please email Will O'Donnell at willodonnell03@ou.edu.

To view a draft or saved form, go here: Dynamic Forms

NOMINATE

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Students being admitted to any Norman-based doctoral program are eligible to be nominated.

To be eligible for the Wethington Graduate Fellowship a nominee must:

Be an incoming doctoral student in business, engineering, history, mathematics, or the natural sciences
Preferably reside in, or have previously resided in, Alfalfa, Garfield, Grant, or Woods Counties in Oklahoma
Have at least a 3.50 admission grade point average

SELECTION PROCESS

Nominations will be evaluated based on responses to the following questions.

Excellence: Describe the academic and professional achievements and unique perspectives and experiences that make this student an outstanding prospect. How does this student rank among all the doctoral students your unit is recruiting this year?
Enhancement of department: How will this student positively impact the profile of the unit, given their distinctive academic, professional and personal interests and competences? Which faculty is this student likely to work with, and which projects is the student likely to contribute to? Does this proposal support program access and opportunity goals through recruitment of a student from an underrepresented group?
Plan to support the student(s): What is the plan to support the nominated student(s) in finding community, thriving, successfully completing the degree, and securing an attractive professional position? The narrative may include both supports specific to the nominated student(s) and general supports the unit offers to all students.

Note: The fellowships are to be used for recruitment only. They are not transferrable to other students already committed or enrolled at OU. Once the duration of each fellowship is set, it cannot be extended.

Kenneth L. Hoving Fellowship

The Kenneth L. Hoving Graduate Fellowship was established by an anonymous gift to honor Dr. Kenneth L. Hoving, who served as Dean of the Graduate College from 1980 to 1990.

The Fellowship supports incoming doctoral students in history, music, and the WaTER Center.

WHEN TO NOMINATE

Deadlines: Contact the Graduate College for information about whether your academic unit is eligible.

AMOUNT AWARDED

The Hoving Fellowship is a multi-year award which includes:

A $5,000 scholarship for four years
A 0.50 FTE Qualifying Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantship provided by the academic unit
A full tuition waiver for the total number of credit hours required to complete the degree
A subsidy for the basic student health insurance plan

Continuation of the award is contingent upon the student making satisfactory progress toward the degree and the academic unit’s ongoing commitment to provide a .50 FTE Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantship

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible for nomination an applicant must:

Be a new doctoral student in one of the following areas:
- Music (Vocal Music, with preference for Opera, or Instrumental Music, with preference for Piano or Violin)
- History
- WaTER Center

HOW TO NOMINATE

If you have any questions or issues, please email Will O'Donnell at willodonnell03@ou.edu.

McNair Fellowship

The Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program strives to increase the number of graduate degrees awarded to students from low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented groups.

The program pairs academically-promising undergraduate scholars with graduate faculty mentors, who advise them as they develop, conduct, and publicly present original research projects.

The McNair Graduate Fellowship program encourages McNair Scholars who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree and who demonstrate high excellence to attend graduate school.

WHEN TO NOMINATE

Deadlines: January 24th, February 7th, February 21st, and March 7th, 2025

AMOUNT AWARDED

The McNair Fellowship is a multi-year award based on the student’s degree program (master’s or doctoral). Each award includes:

A $5,000 annual scholarship for 6 years (doctoral students), administered as a $2500 payment at the beginning of each fall and spring semester
A $2,500 annual scholarship for 2 years (master’s students), administered as a $1250 payment at the beginning of each fall and spring semester
A 0.50 FTE Qualifying Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantship provided by the academic unit
A full tuition waiver for the total number of credit hours required to complete the degree
A subsidy for the basic student health insurance plan

Continuation of the award is contingent upon the student making satisfactory progress toward the degree and the academic unit’s ongoing commitment to provide a 0.50 FTE Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantship.

HOW TO NOMINATE

If you have any questions or issues, please email Will O'Donnell at willodonnell03@ou.edu.

To view a draft or saved form, go here: Dynamic Forms

NOMINATE

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible for nomination an applicant must:

Be an incoming master’s or doctoral student
Hold a Qualifying Graduate Assistantship that is provided by the academic unit
Have successfully completed an undergraduate McNair Scholars Program
Have at least a 3.0 admission grade point average

NOMINATION PROCESS

Nominations must be submitted by one of the application deadlines below. Nomination materials must include:

Nomination letter from the chair or graduate liaison of the academic unit, describing the student’s strengths and contribution to the program and specifying how many years of McNair Graduate Fellowship are requested
Verification of the student's undergraduate McNair Scholars Program completion or active participation with the expectation of completion during the spring or summer academic term
Verification of the department’s offer of an assistantship that is expected to continue for the requested duration of the McNair Graduate Fellowship

SELECTION PROCESS

An ad hoc committee will review the nominations following the spring deadlines and recommend recipient(s) to the Graduate Dean.

AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

Graduate Dean's Distinguished Thesis Prize

The Graduate Dean's Distinguished Thesis Prize allows us to recognize and reward outstanding performance by our thesis-based master’s students.

The prize may be given to one student each year in each of the following three academic areas:

Science and Engineering
Social Sciences, Education, and the Professions
Humanities and Fine Arts

Any student receiving a master's degree from a Norman-based program from July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 is eligible. Students must be nominated by their academic unit. Winners will be selected by an ad hoc committee.

WHEN TO NOMINATE

Deadline: September 27th, 2024

AMOUNT AWARDED

Each prize consists of $500 and an inscribed certificate. Prizes will be awarded at a public occasion where both the recipients and the departments will be honored.

HOW TO NOMINATE

If you have any questions or issues, please email Will O'Donnell at willodonnell03@ou.edu.

To view a draft or saved form, go here: Dynamic Forms

NOMINATE

NOMINATION PROCEDURES

Units with fewer than 10 thesis-based master's degrees awarded during the calendar year of the prize can make one nomination; units with more than 10 can nominate two.

Nomination materials should include:

At least one letter of nomination, written for the non-specialist, which describes the quality, scholarly contributions, and disciplinary significance of the thesis. The nomination must specify one of the three academic areas.   
A letter of endorsement from the academic unit chair or director.
An abstract of the thesis (300 words maximum).
The applicant’s curriculum vitae.
One copy of the thesis in PDF format.
The names of two potential readers for the thesis. These readers must be OU faculty members in Norman-based programs who are not members of the nominee’s department or committee.
The electronic form will route to the department chair for an endorsement signature.

Nomination materials will be uploaded to the electronic form linked below and must be submitted by September 27th, 2024.

SELECTION PROCESS

The Graduate Dean will constitute an ad hoc faculty committee to review and recommend a thesis in each of the three categories to receive the award. The composition of the committee will depend on the fields represented by the theses to be considered. The committee will use the submitted materials to assess the overall quality of the thesis and its contribution to the discipline.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The thesis appears to be well written and well structured, using an appropriate method and suitably accountable to prior scholarship.
The thesis makes a novel contribution to scholarship worthy of publication.
The thesis has the potential for a significant impact on the scholarly discipline and/or on community well-being.

Provost’s Doctoral Dissertation Prize

The Provost's Doctoral Dissertation Prize allows us to recognize and reward outstanding performance by our doctoral students.

The prize may be given to one student each year in each of the following three academic areas:

Science and Engineering
Social Sciences, Education, and the Professions
Humanities and Fine Arts

Any student receiving a doctoral degree in a Norman-based program during the previous calendar year is eligible. Students must be nominated by their academic unit. Winners will be selected by an ad hoc committee.

WHEN TO NOMINATE

Deadline: January 27th, 2025

AMOUNT AWARDED

Each prize consists of $1,000 and an inscribed certificate. Prizes will be awarded at a public occasion where both the recipients and the departments will be honored.

HOW TO NOMINATE

If you have any questions or issues, please email Will O'Donnell at willodonnell03@ou.edu.

To view a draft or saved form, go here: Dynamic Forms

NOMINATE

NOMINATION PROCESS

Departments with fewer than 10 doctoral degrees awarded during the calendar year of the prize can make one nomination; departments with 10 or more can nominate two.

Nomination materials should include:

At least one letter of nomination, written for the non-specialist, which describes the quality, scholarly contributions, and disciplinary significance of the dissertation. The nomination must specify one of the three academic areas.
A letter of endorsement from the department chairperson.
The abstract that is included in the dissertation.
The applicant's curriculum vitae.
One copy of the dissertation in PDF format or a link to the open-access version in SHAREOK.
The names of two potential readers for the dissertation. These readers must be OU faculty members in Norman-based programs who are not members of the nominee's department or committee.

SELECTION PROCESS

The Graduate Dean will constitute an ad hoc faculty committee charged with recommending to the Provost whether or not a nominated dissertation should be considered for a prize. The committee will be chaired by a member of the Graduate Council; the remaining membership will depend on the fields represented by the dissertations to be considered. The committee will use the submitted materials to assess the overall quality of the dissertation and its contribution to the discipline. The committee shall forward the recommendations to the Provost by April.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The dissertation appears to be well written and well structured, using an appropriate method and suitably accountable to prior scholarship.
The dissertation makes a novel contribution to scholarship worthy of publication.
The dissertation has the potential for a significant impact on the scholarly discipline and/or on community well-being.

Provost’s Graduate Teaching Assistant Award

The Provost's Graduate Teaching Assistant Award allows us to recognize and reward outstanding performance by our graduate teaching assitants.

WHEN TO NOMINATE

Deadline: October 30th, 2024

AMOUNT AWARDED

Each consists of $1,000 and an inscribed certificate. Awards will be given at a public occasion where the recipients and the departments will be honored.

HOW TO NOMINATE

If you have any questions or issues, please email Will O'Donnell at willodonnell03@ou.edu.

To view a draft or saved form, go here: Dynamic Forms

NOMINATE

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Any Norman Campus graduate student with teaching responsibilities is eligible, provided the student has not received this award in the last two years. The awards may be given to one student each year in each of the following three academic areas:

Science and Engineering
Social Sciences, Education, and the Professions
Humanities and Fine Arts

NOMINATION PROCESS

Each department may nominate one master’s student and one doctoral student. The academic area best describing the course(s) taught by the GTA must be specified in each nomination. Nomination materials should include:

A letter of nomination indicating which of the three academic areas best describes the courses taught by the GTA (required)
Faculty evaluation(s) of the GTA’s performance (required)
Student Experience Survey (SES) reports and/or Course Reflection Survey reports of the GTA’s course(s) or section(s) (required)
The GTA’s curriculum vitae including information about pedagogy training the student has participated in if applicable (required)
The GTA’s statement of teaching philosophy (required)
Recommendation letters from students (optional)
Samples of syllabi or class projects described by the GTA and any other items that demonstrate the GTA’s qualifications (optional)

Nomination materials will be uploaded to an electronic form and must be submitted by October 30th, 2024.

SELECTION PROCESS

An ad hoc committee consisting of three faculty members (one from each of the three academic areas) and the student members of the Graduate Council will make the final selection. The ad hoc committee will forward its selections to the Provost by Friday, December 13th, 2024.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Amount and range of teaching experience (number of sections, number of distinct courses taught, experience in a traditional classroom vs. online setting, etc.).
Contribution to the academic unit's teaching mission (e.g. development or enchancement of course materials used by other instructors, mentoring of other graduate assistants).
Initiative to pursue training and/or scholarship in effective and inclusive pedagogy
Use of creative and evidence-based methods to effectively engage all students in learning.