Office of the Dean

Leslie C. Robins Dean's Excellence Awards for Outstanding Doctoral Students

Overview

The College of Education, with funding from the Leslie C. Robins Scholarship Fund, will award a $5,000 scholarship to outstanding new doctoral students.  These scholarships will be over and above other forms of support, including assistantships and fellowships.  The awards will continue for a total of four years, contingent upon the students making satisfactory academic progress and maintaining full enrollment status (minimum of 9 credit hours each semester).  Each doctoral degree granting department will be able to compete for these awards each year as long as funds continue to be available.  All students receiving these awards will be eligible for tuition waivers.

Academic Requirements and Criteria for Selection 

• An undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher for Master’s level work.

• No less than a 480 on the verbal section of the GRE (53rd percentile), or a 620 on the quantitative section of the GRE (50th percentile), with at least one of the scores at the 68/69 percentile, (i.e. verbal 540, quantitative 700).  Students should score no less than a four (4) on the analytical section of the GRE.

• A letter of nomination with supporting rationale from the department attesting to why the student is especially meritorious in terms of established standards in the department and in the field.

• A list of other awards or fellowships received by the nominee.

Admission Guidelines

Only students applying for admission for the Fall term will be eligible. 

• The names of prospective award recipients, along with evidence of their qualifications, must be provided to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs by the last Friday in March .
• Departments will be notified by the first Friday in April of the Dean’s selection.
• Letters of offer should be issued by the second Friday in April .
• Students must respond by the first Friday in May .   

Students who respond after the deadline may be admitted and receive support according to Departmental guidelines, but they will not be eligible for the Dean’s Excellence Awards.

Support

The degree granting department must agree to support the student as a GA at a level comparable to that provided other incoming doctoral students for the four-year duration of the award.  The College will provide additional funding in the form of a $5,000 scholarship.  If the department wishes to continue supporting at that level beyond the four-year award period, it must do so with its own resources.  Dean’s Excellence Award funds may not be used to supplement summer stipends.

Satisfactory Progress

Students must demonstrate satisfactory progress towards degree completion.  Failure to meet University deadlines or failure to maintain satisfactory academic standing (GPA of 3.5 or higher) will result in the termination of the Dean’s Excellence Award.

Withdrawal

Should a student withdraw from the doctoral program, his or her award will be terminated.  It cannot be transferred to another student.

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