FORMS

Block Grant Memo

Program Profile Form

Approval Form

Block Grant FAQs

PROGRAM
The University Graduate Fellowship (UGF) Block Grant program provides an annual allocation of resources to each academic unit to support the recruitment and completion of the very best graduate students. It is expected that these resources will be targeted toward the highest level graduate degrees (e.g., Ph.D. over masters in a 3 to 1 ratio), although master's students may be supported on a very selective basis.

This program is intended to provide a supplement to existing resources and allow academic units to strategically shape recruitment and completion packages for the very best graduate students. For example, funds can be used to provide additional fellowship monies along with an RA/TA stipend to put together a recruitment package that will help units compete with peers and aspirational peers. In addition, because the resource allocation will be relatively predictable (pending favorable review of previous allocation strategies) units can put together multi-year recruitment packages.

Accountability will be built into the annual renewal process so that everyone is cognizant of how the resources are being used to build the highest quality programs. The block grant renewal process will ask that units lay out how the previous year's resources were used and what strategic efforts were made toward building graduate programs.

PROCESS
GC has developed an interactive screen (through gPortal) that allows authorized staff in the academic units to input the amounts to be distributed to UGF recipients. The interactive screen also contains a page of summary information (UGF funds allocated, used, remaining).

Units may allocate funds to be distributed to recipients for Fall 08, Spring 09, and/or Summer 09. Checks will be disbursed to UGF recipients at the beginning of the semester via the financial aid system. If a student has direct deposit, the funds will be deposited to his/her back account the week before classes start. Otherwise the check will be mailed to the student's local address. Checks will not be issued until the student has registered for classes (minimum of 6 credit hours for the fall and spring semesters and 1 credit hour for the summer).

Prior to disbursement the financial aid system will interface with the accounts receivable system to determine if the student has outstanding financial obligations (unpaid tuition, parking tickets, library fines, etc.). Any outstanding financial obligations will be deducted from the award before a check is issued to the student.

Sample Language for Offer Letters
We have had requests from academic units for language to use in making UGF offers to students. Below is a sample paragraph that may be incorporated into offer letters.

The [department/school/unit] of ___________ and the Graduate College are pleased to offer you a University Graduate Fellowship in the amount of $x,xxx. This award will be distributed to you in the amount of [$x,xxx for the Fall 2008 semester, $x,xxx for the Spring 2009 semester, and $x,xxx for the 2009 Summer]. Any financial obligations to the university will be deducted prior to the disbursement of funds to the recipient. Recipients of this award must enroll for a minimum of 6 credit hours each semester during the academic year and a minimum of 1 credit hour during the summer.