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.

Several broad-reaching fiscal policies (http://oregonstate.edu/fa/manuals/fis) have been updated which can affect individuals who travel or purchase on behalf of OSU as part of their work.  These changes 1) clarify personal reimbursements to generally $100 or less; 2) establish a maximum 60 day submittal period to the appropriate Business Center for personal reimbursements (FIS 407) and travel (FIS 411-07); and establish mandatory procedures regarding the use of non-contracted vendors for airfare travel (failure to follow the policy could result in loss of a future reimbursement (FIS 411-01)).

If these changes affect your OSU business, be sure to review the complete policy as noted in brackets.

The Center for Sustainable Materials Chemistry is sponsoring a webinar on Feb. 2 (12-1 PM) entitled Intellectual Property, Tech Transfer and YOU(http://nciia.org/node/1771).

Join our expert panel in exploring the roles of students, postdocs, faculty, and Tech Transfer in the protection of intellectual property.  REGISTER EARLY TO SAVE YOUR SPACE! IT’S FREE! (http://nciia.org/node/1771)

The Leadership Academy is a one-year, not-for-credit program open to all undergraduates in the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry. Selected students evaluate their leadership strengths and areas for growth and set goals for long- and short-term leadership development. Working closely with a faculty mentor, students identify on- and off-campus activities, professional development workshops and organizations that will help them take steps toward reaching their leadership development goals. Students also seek out academic coursework that will enhance their growth and complement the requirements of their chosen degrees. Interested students, complete and submit your application to be part of the 2012-2013 Leadership Academy. Applications due Feb 10, 2012.

http://agsci.oregonstate.edu/leadership_academy/

The Provost has designated funds for graduate fellowship stipends and recruitment bonus scholarships to recruit students of the highest quality and to raise the profile of graduate education at OSU.

The Provost’s Distinguished Graduate Fellowship Program provides prestigious university fellowships for one year only, which will be comprised of twelve‐month stipends, plus tuition scholarships and subsidized health insurance. Fellowship nominations will be accepted on behalf of newly recruited and admitted doctoral and master’s degree students. Provost’s Distinguished Graduate Scholarship Program will provide one time, academic year scholarship awards for recruiting purposes. Awards will be made to students admitted for the 2012‐13 academic year.

Fellowships will include a twelve‐month stipend of $30,000 for doctoral students and $22,000 for master’s students, to be distributed in four equal quarterly installments during the year. The fellowship will also provide full academic year tuition remission through the Graduate School’s Targeted Graduate Tuition Scholarship program plus a supplemental scholarship to cover the cost for enrollment in three graduate credits during summer term. Recipients will be formally appointed as OSU graduate fellows to allow access to subsidized health insurance under the prevailing graduate assistant/fellow health insurance plan. Fellowships will be administered by the Graduate School.

Deadline: February 6, 2012

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/grad_school/ProvostDistinguishedGradAward_Form.pdf

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) – Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) is soliciting applications from eligible colleges and universities located in the U.S. and its territories nominating undergraduate students to participate in the NIST – SURF Gaithersburg or Boulder Programs. The programs will provide research opportunities for undergraduate students to work with internationally know NIST scientists, to expose them to cutting-edge research, and to promote the pursuit of graduate degrees in science and engineering.

Applications consist of two parts: (1) The student’s university must submit a grant proposal that provides details about its academic program and must nominate one or more students, (2) Students must provide copies of their transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a letter of intent or personal statement.

The University Honors College (UHC) will take the lead in submitting proposals from OSU. Please contact Kevin Stoller (kevin.stoller@oregonstate.edu) if you are interested in applying to the NIST – SURF Gaithersburg or Boulder Programs.

Complete NIST – SURF information: http://www.nist.gov/surfgaithersburg/

If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Delmore (debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu).