2008-2009 Applications are being reviewed by a faculty committee. Decisions will be announced by early April 2008.

PURPOSE
The Graduate College (GC) Reach for the Stars Fellowships (RFS) are graduate fellowships which support new and regularly admitted, 1st year graduate students who are Arizona residents and underrepresented in his/her field of study. Students must be nominated by the admitting academic unit.

The RFS fellowship supports the fellow during the first year of their master's or doctoral degree program, both academically and financially. Academically, the RFS fellowship must be an integral part of the students'academic career preparation. Financially, the fellow is supported by the GC their 1st year. In the second year, the fellow's academic unit will provide them with a TA or RA position.

CONTACT
Debra Crusoe at dcrusoe@asu.edu or Jennifer Cason at Jennifer.Cason@asu.edu.

AWARD

• $15,000 for the 1st academic year
• Resident tuition award for the 1st year
• Student Health Insurance provided by the academic unit for the 1st academic year
• Continued support by academic unit for the 2nd year
• Participation in the GC's Diversity across Curriculum Seminar Series

• The nominee must be a resident of Arizona at the time of the nomination
• The nominee must be regularly admitted into a master’s level or doctoral degree program in the semester nominated
• The nominee must contribute to diversity in the field of study and the profession
• The nominee must be a US Citizen or assigned an IP visa

• The Academic Unit submits a completed Diversity Support Program nomination form ( ) by March 2, 2008 to the Graduate College (GC); mail code: 1003, or email the e-nomination to Debra Crusoe at debra.crusoe@asu.edu or fax to (480) 727-6615. If more than one nomination is being submitted, department must rank by preference.
• The GC Review Committee will review all nominations and notify the Academic Unit by March 17 or within 5 business days of receipt of completed nomination form, if submitted after March 17.
• Once approved by the GC, the Academic Unit will submit an offer letter to the approved nominee (allowing the nominee until April 15th or if offer is made after April 15th, 5 business days to accept or decline the fellowship offer). The Academic Unit must notify the GC of the status of the fellowship offer as soon as possible.

• RFS Fellows are required to attend and participate in the GC Diversity across Curriculum seminars, the first Monday of each month
• Fellows must maintain a minimum of 9 hours graduate-level credit hours.
• Fellows should not be employed as a TA, RA or in any other position at ASU during the year of this award.
• Academic unit will apprise Graduate College of any interruptions in the students registration or any fellowship concerns, such as falling below 9 credit hours. etc.
• Academic unit is responsible for submitting a program evaluation at the end of each semester.
• The RFS fellowship is valid only during the time period specified in the award letter. This fellowship is contingent on semester satisfactory progress as defined by ASU, the academic unit and the Graduate College.

Deferral Policy: Failure to use this award during the specified period will result in its loss. Under very unusual circumstances (e.g., a documented medical situation; documented U.S. military service in the event of a crisis or when the draft is in effect) a one-year deferral may be granted.

Download Nomination Form