Fellowship Guidelines

Faculty must nominate students for consideration; students are not allowed to apply for these awards. Graduate Program Director and Department Heads should review these guidelines for details on available fellowships and specific criteria for each award.

All applications must be submitted through the Fellowship Nomination Form in Slate.

Nominations Open: January 10, 2024

Deadline 1: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 by 5:00 pm. Nominees not selected in the first round will be included automatically in the second round. Review and selection for this group of nominations will occur by the end of March.

Deadline 2: Friday, March 1, 2024, 2023 by 5:00 pm

Description:

These are the largest and most prestigious awards offered by the Graduate School. The Alumni Fellowship was established by the UNCG Alumni Association; the Excellence by the University; and the last by Mr. Charles Hayes, former chairman of the UNCG Board of Trustees and President of Guilford Mills.  Recipients will receive at least a $22,000 stipend.  Complete tuition remission will be provided for one year by the Graduate School.

Submit all nominations through the Fellowship Nomination form in Slate.

Note:

  • Nominees must be full-time doctoral students newly admitted for the next incoming fall semester, including doctoral track students.
  • Nominees must have exceptionally strong academic qualifications.
  • Each department may nominate up to three individuals for these awards.
  • Departments are expected to provide ongoing support, including tuition remission after the first year.

The Alumni-Excellence-Hayes Fellowships are the most prestigious awards offered by the Graduate School. Nominees should have an extraordinarily strong academic record or other qualities that demonstrate their potential for success in their program.

Selection of recipients is based on clear evidence of exceptional academic achievement and alignment with the particular award. Letters may include information from the student’s statement of purpose, letters of reference, or personal interviews. In the past, members of the selection committee have found these summaries especially helpful in deciding among highly competitive candidates.

Please note that nominations for the Alumni-Excellence-Hayes Fellowships are handled as one nomination (only one form needed per candidate). These are our largest awards with identical criteria for eligibility, so we make no distinctions among them in the nomination process.

A committee will review and rate the nominations independently, and the Graduate School will make final decisions.

Nomination Requirements:

  • A completed nomination form.
  • The nominee must meet the eligibility criteria of the specific award.
  • A letter of departmental support (3-page limit) must be uploaded based on specific award criteria.

Note: If the student is nominated for more than one award, a separate nomination form and departmental letter of support must be included.

Nominations Open: January 10, 2024

Deadline: Wednesday, March 13, 2024, by 5:00 pm

Submit all nominations through the Fellowship Nomination form in Slate.

Description:

Vanessa Louise Hall died tragically at age 18 in 1998. During her brief life, she practiced the principles of kindness, friendship, love, loyalty, sincerity, and respect. Her family created this award in loving memory of their daughter, and in consideration of their belief that education is extremely valuable both for individuals and the society in which they live.

Nominees are required to:

  • be new doctoral students
  • have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.5
  • be students who strive for excellence in all areas of life.

Preference for the Hall Fellowship shall be given to eligible students whose nomination highlights their strong academic record as well as a history of helping others and sharing their knowledge with others.

Selection of recipients is based on clear evidence of exceptional academic achievement and alignment with the particular award. Letters may include information from the student’s statement of purpose, letters of reference, or personal interviews. In the past, members of the selection committee have found these summaries especially helpful in deciding among highly competitive candidates.

A committee will review and rate the nominations independently, and the Graduate School will make final decisions.

Nomination Requirements:

  • A completed nomination form.
  • The nominee must meet the eligibility criteria of the specific award.
  • A letter of departmental support (3-page limit) must be uploaded based on the specific award criteria.

Note:

  • If the student is nominated for more than one award, a separate nomination form and departmental letter of support must be included.
  • This is a one-year fellowship.
  • Departments are permitted to nominate up to three entering students who will matriculate in the upcoming academic year.

Nominations Open: January 10, 2024

Deadline: Wednesday, March 13, 2024, by 5:00 pm

Submit all nominations through the Fellowship Nomination form in Slate.

Description:

One million dollars of a six-million-dollar anonymous gift to UNCG was used by the Graduate School to establish these awards in 2011. Awards typically range from $4,000 to $8,000.

In order to support inclusiveness in graduate education at UNCG, the Graduate School will provide awards to outstanding students whose presence contributes to inclusiveness at the university. Inclusiveness is defined broadly and may include factors such as low-income background, a history of overcoming disadvantage or discrimination, nontraditional age for a student, being a member of an underrepresented group in a field or discipline, being the first in one’s family to enter graduate school, having cultural differences, or unique work or service experience.

  • Nominees must possess outstanding academic records.
  • Nominees may be newly admitted or continuing master’s or doctoral students.
  • Each department may nominate one individual.
  • These are one-year awards, although departments may re-nominate previous winners.
  • Inclusiveness is defined broadly to include a variety of life experiences, and nomination letters should explain clearly how the nominee contributes to diversity on the UNCG campus and/or in the specific program. Among the factors that might contribute to greater inclusiveness for graduate programs would be low income background, a history of overcoming disadvantage or discrimination, nontraditional age for a student, membership in an underrepresented group in a field or discipline, being the first in the family to enter graduate school, having cultural differences (such as may arise from being foreign-born or raised within a distinct culture), and unique work or service experience.

Selection of recipients is based on clear evidence of exceptional academic achievement such as high undergraduate or graduate GPAs and high scores on the entrance exam, (if they are required for your program), audition/portfolio assessments, as well as very strong letters of departmental support (please adhere to the 3-page total limit for each nomination). Letters may include biographical highlights taken from the student’s statement of purpose, letters of reference, or personal interviews. In the past, members of the selection committee have found these summaries especially helpful in deciding among highly competitive candidates.
A committee will review and rate the nominations independently, and the Graduate School will make final decisions.

Nomination Requirements:

  • A completed nomination form.
  • The nominee must meet the criteria of the specific award.
  • A letter of departmental support (3-page limit) must be uploaded based on award criteria.

Note: If the student is nominated for more than one award, a separate nomination form and departmental letter of support must be included.
One million dollars of a six-million-dollar anonymous gift to UNCG was used by the Graduate School to establish these awards in 2011. Awards typically range from $4,000 to $8,000.

Nominations Open: January 10, 2024

Deadline: Wednesday, March 13, 2024, by 5:00 pm

Submit all nominations through the Fellowship Nomination form in Slate.

Description:

  • This award was established in honor of Mrs. Ellen Lyon, who graduated from the Woman’s College (UNCG) in 1949 and was employed in social service and active in civic organizations. The size of the award will depend on earnings of the endowed fund but in recent years has been $4,000 – $5,000. Tuition remission will be provided if possible.
  • The award is based on merit.
  • Nominations are open to any graduate student in any degree program.
  • Nominees may be newly admitted or continuing master’s or doctoral students.
  • Each department may nominate one individual.
  • This award is NOT automatically renewed.

Preference for the Lyon Fellowship shall be given to eligible students whose nomination highlights their strong academic record as well as a strong dedication to service.

Selection of recipients is based on clear evidence of exceptional academic achievement and alignment with the particular award. Letters may include information from the student’s statement of purpose, letters of reference, or personal interviews. In the past, members of the selection committee have found these summaries especially helpful in deciding among highly competitive candidates.

 

A committee will review and rate the nominations independently, and the Graduate School will make final decisions.

Nomination Requirements:

  • A completed nomination form.
  • The nominee must meet the criteria of the specific award.
  • A letter of departmental support (3-page limit) must be uploaded based on award criteria.

Note: If the student is nominated for more than one award, a separate nomination form and departmental letter of support must be included.
This award was established in honor of Mrs. Ellen Lyon, who graduated from the Woman’s College (UNCG) in 1949 and was employed in social service and active in civic organizations.  The size of the award will depend on earnings of the endowed fund but in recent years has been $4,000 – $5,000.

Nominations Open: January 10, 2024

Deadline: Wednesday, March 13, 2024, by 5:00 pm

Submit all nominations through the Fellowship Nomination form in Slate.

Description:

These scholarships were established by the UNC system and are intended to increase diversity in doctoral programs. The amount of the award varies but has ranged from $2,000 to $8,000 in recent years.

While primarily relying on the criterion of exceptional financial need, the award is designed to assist in the diversification of the University’s student body to include the presence of first-generation students, students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, and traditionally underrepresented populations.

  • Recipients must be residents of North Carolina and enrolled full-time in a doctoral program.
  • Financial need must be substantiated. Students need to submit the FAFSA no later than March 1, so that ratings will be available at the time of selection.
  • Special funding is designated for a Native American doctoral student. A copy of the nominee’s card indicating tribal affiliation should be included with the nomination.
  • Nomination letters should explain clearly how the nominee contributes to diversity on the UNCG campus.
  • Students may receive this award for up to three years, but they must submit a new FAFSA and be nominated by their department each year.
  • Each department may nominate up to three individuals for these awards.

Selection of recipients is based on clear evidence of exceptional academic achievement such as high undergraduate or graduate GPAs and high scores on the entrance exam, (if they are required for your program), audition/portfolio assessments, as well as very strong letters of departmental support (please adhere to the 3-page total limit for each nomination). Letters may include biographical highlights taken from the student’s statement of purpose, letters of reference, or personal interviews. In the past, members of the selection committee have found these summaries especially helpful in deciding among highly competitive candidates.

A committee will review and rate the nominations independently, and the Graduate School will make final decisions.

Nomination Requirements:

  • A completed nomination form.
  • The nominee must meet the criteria of the specific award.
  • A letter of departmental support (3-page limit) must be uploaded based on award criteria.

Note: If the student is nominated for more than one award, a separate nomination form and departmental letter of support must be included. This is a one-year fellowship.

Nominations Open: January 10, 2024

Deadline: Wednesday, March 13, 2024, by 5:00 pm

Submit all nominations through the Fellowship Nomination form in Slate.

Description:

This fellowship was first given in 1924 and honors Henry Weil, a successful businessman and philanthropist in Goldsboro, NC. The size of the fellowship will depend on earnings of the endowment but in recent years has been $7,000 – $8,000. Tuition remission will be provided if possible.

  • Nominees must be UNCG alumni, having earned their baccalaureate degree at UNCG, and must demonstrate exceptional academic achievement.
  • Nominees must be newly admitted to a master’s or doctoral program at UNCG (incoming in Fall) and must enroll for full-time study.
  • Each department may nominate one individual.

Preference for the Weil Fellowship shall be given to eligible students whose nomination highlights their strong academic record as well as their strong ties and affinity towards UNCG.

Selection of recipients is based on clear evidence of exceptional academic achievement and alignment with the particular award. Letters may include information from the student’s statement of purpose, letters of reference, or personal interviews. In the past, members of the selection committee have found these summaries especially helpful in deciding among highly competitive candidates.

 

A committee will review and rate the nominations independently, and the Graduate School will make final decisions.

Nomination Requirements.

  • A completed nomination form.
  • The nominee must meet the criteria of the specific award.
  • A letter of departmental support (3-page limit) must be uploaded based on award criteria.

Note: This is a one-year fellowship. If the student is nominated for more than one award, a separate nomination form and departmental letter of support must be included.