Student Financial Assistance

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Western Michigan University provides fellowships, associateships, and assistantships for students planning to pursue graduate study. Collectively, these awards are known as graduate appointments. Graduate appointees are first and foremost students. As such, their most important task is to complete their degree requirements in a timely fashion; this is the primary expectation of the University. Graduate appointments are funded through state appropriations and federal, state, local, and private grants for at least three principal reasons. First, employment of graduate students in teaching, research, and non-teaching positions during their graduate education encourages and supports their participation in these major functions of university life and thereby strengthens the quality of the students’ educational experience. Second, appointments provide direct financial support to outstanding students who are essential to the development of quality graduate programs. Third, graduate students provide valuable and necessary services to the University in their roles as appointees. Applications are due by February 15, and appointments are usually made by April 1 for students planning to enroll in the fall semester. Appointments are often renewable, except for Graduate College Fellowships and Dissertation Fellowships. For more information, and to obtain application forms, visit or call The Graduate College (269) 387-8212, or visit the Graduate College’s financial assistance website: www.wmich.edu/grad/funding

The following appointments are available:

Graduate College Fellowship
Graduate College Fellowships for two semesters are awarded in open competition to outstanding students (3.25 and above) entering master’s degree programs.  An entering student is defined as one who will have earned no more than six graduate credits by the beginning of the fall semester. The fellowship requires no service from the student, but encourages participation in the professional activities of the department. Enrollment in at least nine hours per semester is required.  The fellowship will pay 18 hours of full tuition. Application deadline: February 15.

Graduate College Doctoral Associateship
Graduate College Doctoral Associateships for two semesters and one session are available to students admitted to a doctoral program. The associateship requires twenty hours of service per week from the student in the department or in a related area. Enrollment of at least six hours per semester and three hours per session is required. The associateship will pay up to 21 hours of full tuition. Application deadline: February 15.

Graduate College Dissertation Completion Fellowship
Graduate College Dissertation Completion Fellowships for two semesters and two sessions are awarded in open competition and on the basis of superior scholarly achievement to assist full time doctoral students with completion of their dissertations. To be eligible, an applicant must be a doctoral candidate who can demonstrate superior academic achievement and a record of timely and steady progress toward degree completion. Applicants must have completed all requirements for the degree except the dissertation and must have an accepted dissertation proposal. Enrollment of at least six hours per semester and three hours per session is required, except where the applicants have already completed the minimum number of dissertation hours specified by their programs. The Fellowship provides a tuition scholarship of up to 18 hours of full tuition. Application deadline: February 15.

Thurgood Marshall Assistantship
Thurgood Marshall Assistantships for the academic year plus the Summer I and Summer II sessions are available to U.S. citizens from historically underrepresented groups who are beginning their master’s degree programs and who have regular admission to the program. Enrollment is required in at least nine hours per semester and five hours per session, and service of ten hours per week is required in the student’s department or academic unit. The Thurgood Marshall Assistantship provides a partial tuition scholarship up to 27 hours. Application deadline: February 15.

Historically Underrepresented Groups Program
The Historically Underrepresented Groups Program doctoral associateships for the Fall and Spring semesters and Summer I and II sessions are available to qualifying entering doctoral students who are U.S. citizens from historically underrepresented groups who have regular admission to a doctoral program. Enrollment is required in at least six hours per semester and 3 hours per session, and service of twenty hours per week is required in the student’s department or academic unit. The associateship provides a tuition scholarship of up to 24 hours of full tuition. Application deadline: February 15.   

Martin Luther King/Cesar Chavez/Rosa Parks Future Faculty Fellowship
Martin Luther King/Cesar Chavez/Rosa Parks Future Faculty Fellowships are available to U.S. citizens from historically underrepresented groups with regular admission to a doctoral program and who wish to pursue a full-time teaching career in post-secondary education in Michigan or Illinois. The fellowship does not require departmental service; however, students must meet other requirements as stated in the guidelines for KCP fellowships. KCP fellowships can be awarded in conjunction with other appointments. Inquiries should be sent to The Graduate College. Application deadline: February 15.

Departmental Teaching or Research Assistantship
Teaching and Research Assistantships for two semesters of full-time appointment are available in many departments of the University. Inquiries should be sent to the chairperson of the department.

Graduate Student Research Fund
The Graduate Student Research Fund was established to support graduate students engaged in independent scholarly research, scientific inquiry, inventive technology, and original artistic activity. The fund is intended to help students pay extraordinary or unusual costs incurred in research projects. The typing of theses and dissertations and project papers, as well as the purchase of supplies and equipment commonly provided by departments or by other existing grants or funds are not considered to be unusual expenses.

To be eligible for a grant from the Graduate Student Research Fund, an applicant must be regularly admitted to a graduate degree program, in good academic standing, and enrolled for at least six hours in the semester or for at least three hours in the session that the research takes place (students on “continuous enrollment” status are exempt from this requirement), and the sole or principal investigator.

Applicants whose research involves human subjects, animals, and/or bio-safety requirements must provide documentation of prior approval of the research proposal by the appropriate University review body.

Grants will range up to $600.00 for those applicants selected for funding. The amount will depend, in part, on the number of applications received and the budget available and, in part, on the priority given the application by the selection committee. Normally, preference is given to applications submitted before the research project has been completed. However, applicants should be aware that not all applications may be selected for funding and that not all applicants may receive the amount of funding requested. Applications are available at The Graduate College or at www.wmich.edu/grad/funding. Application deadline: September 15, November 1, and March 15.

Graduate Student Travel Fund
The Graduate Student Travel Fund was established to support graduate students engaged in independent scholarly research, scientific inquiry, inventive technology, and original artistic activity. The fund supports graduate student travel to meetings or events sponsored by professional organizations for the purpose of reporting the results of research, exhibiting or performing creative works, or otherwise disseminating results of their scholarly activity. This fund does not cover conference attendance for other purposes (e.g., as a non-presenting attendee or workshop participant), nor to present the findings of another’s scholarly work.

To be eligible for a grant from the Graduate Student Travel Fund, an applicant must be regularly admitted to a graduate degree program, in good academic standing, enrolled for at least six hours in the semester or for at least three hours in the session that the research or travel takes place (students on “continuous enrollment” status are exempt from this requirement), and the sole or principal investigator and the invited presenter.

Applicants whose research involves human subjects, animals, and/or bio-safety requirements must provide documentation of prior approval of the research proposal by the appropriate University review body.

Grants will range up to $600.00 for those applicants selected for funding. The amount will depend, in part, on the number of applications received and the budget available and, in part, on the priority given the application by the selection committee. Normally, preference is given to applications submitted before the travel has been completed. However, applicants should be aware that not all applications may be selected for funding and that not all applicants may receive the amount of funding requested. Applications are available at The Graduate College or at www.wmich.edu/grad/funding. Application deadline: September 15, November 1, and March 15.

University Dames Endowed Scholarship Grant
University Dames Endowed Scholarship grants are available for candidates who are admitted to a graduate degree program, who have successfully completed at least 15 credit hours of graduate work, and who are in good academic standing.  Preference is given to female candidates. The award amount is credited to the student’s University account and applied toward tuition, fees, and books. Nominations from department chairs or graduate advisors must include the nominee’s vita and a letter of support from either the department chair or graduate advisor. The scholarship is awarded on an annual basis each spring. Application deadline: March 31.

George and Beatrice Fisher Gerontology Dissertation Prize

Definitions and Classifications

1. A graduate appointee is a student enrolled in a program leading to a graduate degree or to a graduate certificate who receives a University-administered salary. Amounts may vary by program.
2. To be eligible for a graduate appointment a student must be regularly admitted, in good academic standing, and enrolled in a program leading to a graduate degree or a graduate certificate. In most cases graduate appointees are required to be enrolled as full-time students. A student admitted to a graduate degree program or concurrently to a graduate degree program and a graduate certificate program is eligible for an appointment in any unit in the University.  A student admitted only to a graduate certificate program is eligible for an appointment only within the academic unit offering the graduate certificate.
3. Although graduate appointments differ in many important ways, each can be classified as either an assistantship/associateship or a fellowship.  Assistants/Associates provide service to the University which is part of the learning experience in their disciplines. As apprentices they perform part of the functions of their academic units. In contrast, Fellows have no formal service obligation to the University, although they are expected to participate in the normal activities of their academic units which is considered training for participants within the program. 
4. More than one fractional appointment may be held simultaneously. However, in no case shall one person hold more than the equivalent of one full appointment.
5. A student may be awarded an appointment for only one program at the master’s level and one program at the doctoral level.
6. A master’s level student may receive funding for up to two years. At the academic dean’s discretion, a third year of funding may be provided.
7. A doctoral level student may receive funding for up to five years.

Types of Appointments

Assistantship

1. Assistantships are awarded to graduate students with the expectation of appropriate professional service. Graduate assistants are apprentices in the profession, and while the service aspect is emphasized in the definition in order to make a distinction, Graduate Assistants, first and foremost, are students and valued members of the community of scholars. They are chosen for their scholarship and manifest interest in the discipline as well as for their ability to perform the needed service.
2. The service of a Graduate Teaching Assistant (T.A.) consists of activities directly related to teaching, while the service of a Graduate Research Assistant (R.A.) consists of research activity under the supervision of a faculty member or administrator, and the service of a Graduate Non-Teaching Assistant (N.T.A.) includes all other professional work in the unit accepted as appropriate and germane to the student’s educational goal.

Associateship

Associateships are assistantships awarded to outstanding students in doctoral programs. Service may involve teaching, research, or other appropriate activity.

Fellowship

Fellowships are awarded to students who have distinguished themselves by outstanding academic achievement or special abilities. Fellowships are provided by the University or by another donor with the approval of the University. The fellowship grant (stipend) is a gift to help the Fellow achieve an educational goal.

Service Requirement

The kinds of service required of Graduate Assistants/Associates may vary among departments, each of which determines its own range of appropriate possibilities subject to administrative review. Whatever kind of service is expected, however, a full assistantship in any department consists of twenty hours of service per week or its equivalent. Equivalency is calculated on the basis of the value assigned by a department to the performance of each particular service.

No service is required of students holding Fellowships; the fellowship grant (stipend) is a gift to help the Fellow achieve an educational goal, rather than a payment for services.

Stipends and Salaries

1. The amount of a fellowship grant (stipend) is set by the donor with the concurrence of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
2. The minimum salary for full-time Assistants and Associates in each type of appointment is established by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
3. Fractional awards are made for fractional appointments.
4. Assistantship, associateship, and fellowship awards have tax implications. Detailed records of educational expenses and check stubs from any payment received from the University should be kept for tax purposes.

Affirmative Action

The University’s Affirmative Action Policy shall apply to graduate appointments.

Professional Ethics

Graduate assistants and associates shall adhere to the same standards of professional ethics as those of the regular faculty. (See “Statement on Professional Ethics” in current Agreement between WMU and the AAUP.)

Notification of Status

1. At the time of their appointment, graduate appointees shall be informed in writing of the specific conditions of the appointment. They shall be informed that the offer of an appointment is contingent upon acceptance into a graduate degree program at the University, and continuance of the appointment depends in part on satisfactory progress in that program and satisfactory performance of assigned duties. The letter shall also state the amount of the award, whether a tuition scholarship is involved, the probable assigned activities, the length of the appointment, conditions of service, and, if appropriate, the criteria for renewal. Any other conditions peculiar to an individual appointment shall be contained in the letter of appointment.
2. Each appointee shall be provided with information prepared by The Graduate College concerning current University-wide procedures, practices, privileges, and responsibilities that relate to graduate appointees. Each department is responsible for providing any supplemental information on these matters that is necessary and special.

Professional Development

1. Assigned activities of graduate appointees shall be relevant professional experiences.
2. Graduate appointees can expect professional guidance and timely evaluation in the performance of their duties.

Enrollment Status

1. For the 2006-2007 academic year, a full appointment requires a minimum enrollment of six credits per semester or three credits per session. Individual departments may require an enrollment of more than the minimum number of credit hours. A Graduate College Fellowship requires enrollment in at least 9 credit hours per semester. Some circumstances may allow for decreased enrollment; however, departments will advise appointees.
2. It should be noted that students registered for five or more credits a semester (four or more credits a session) are assessed, as part of the enrollment fee, prepaid student health center and recreation center fees that allow access to health center services and recreation center facilities. Students enrolled for four or fewer credits a semester (three or fewer credits a session) are assessed a lesser enrollment fee which allows for only limited services at the health center and provides ten visits to the recreation center. Students in the latter example can choose to pay the difference between the two enrollment fees, enabling them to have full access to the health center services and have unlimited recreation center privileges.

Evidence of Status

1. For formal identification as a graduate appointee, students are placed on an electronic list shared with various campus offices that provide services to appointees.
2. Validation may be authorized during the summer sessions for graduate appointees on academic year appointments even if the appointee is no longer receiving a stipend.

Appointee Benefits

1. Tuition Scholarships: Graduate appointees may, at the discretion of the University, be granted partial (master’s level) or full (doctoral level) tuition scholarships. Any such tuition scholarship will be identified in the appointment letter and on the appointment form. Tuition scholarships are awarded only during the semester(s) or session(s) a graduate appointment is held. Students who are granted such partial or full tuition scholarships and subsequently withdraw from a class or from classes after the refund period will be required to repay the portion of the tuition scholarship that was granted as a benefit of the appointment.
2. University housing: Graduate appointees will be accorded priority in securing University housing in residence halls or family housing apartments (if deadlines are observed and as facilities permit).
3. Library: Graduate appointees will be accorded the same privileges and responsibilities as faculty members in the use of the library facilities. These are specified in the faculty handbook (Western Michigan University Policy Handbook). Appointees will also have access to library carrels on a space available basis after faculty requests have been filled.
4. Parking: Graduate appointees are exempt from paying the motor vehicle registration fee, but are required to register their motor vehicles. Application may be made to the Public Safety Annex for parking privileges in designated lots; the appointee will be required to present the ID and appear on the electronic validation list held at the service desk.
5. Campus Bookstore: Graduate appointees will be accorded discount privileges on purchases at the Western Michigan University Bookstore in the same manner and degree as faculty and staff members. Discount will be given for current semester or session only; the appointee will be required to present the student identification card and appear on the electronic validation list held at the service desk. 
6. University facilities: Graduate appointees will be accorded the use of University facilities (e.g., student offices, research facilities, etc.) authorized by the director of the facilities on the same basis that they are authorized for part-time faculty.
7. Health Care: Appointees may elect to enroll in a University-sponsored Health Insurance Program. [All students enrolled at Western Michigan University are eligible to participate in the Student Health Insurance Program (dependent coverage available) where each participant pays the full cost of coverage.] Graduate appointees are eligible to receive a University contribution towards the cost of coverage, provided they complete the necessary enrollment form and file it and the appropriate premium with The Graduate College during the prescribed enrollment periods. Enrollment materials and information are available at the Sindecuse Health Center and The Graduate College.

Western’s Student Financial Aid Office administers a variety of student financial aid programs designed to assist graduate students who are in need of additional financial support. Four types of financial aid programs are available for graduate students: scholarships, employment opportunities, loans, and tuition plans. The federal and state governments, colleges and universities, private associations, companies, and private citizens are sources of financial assistance.

To learn the most current information about opportunities and application procedures, visit the Student Financial Aid website: www.wmich.edu/finaid. The Office telephone number is (269) 387-6000, and you may email the Office: finaid-info@wmich.edu.

Maintenance Requirements

In accordance with Federal and State regulations, the financial aid office must monitor academic progress towards graduation on an annual basis (at the end of spring semester). The Office monitors the following: 1) Minimum credit hours passed per semester, 2) maximum total semesters attempted, 3) maximum total hours attempted, and 4) minimum cumulative grade point average. Full-time master’s students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and pass at least 12 credit hours per academic year (or 6 hours per fall and/or spring semester); attempt no more than 72 hours total and attend no more than 8 fall and/or spring semesters. Full-time doctoral students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and pass at least 12 hours per academic year (or 6 hours per fall and/or spring semester); attempt no more than 135 hours total and attend no more than 14 fall and/or spring semesters. If the student is consistently enrolled less than full-time (less than 6 hours each fall and spring semester), the student should visit the financial aid website (www.wmich.edu/finaid) for details. Students who have not met the minimum criteria are not eligible for federal loans or for federal or state work study. Students who have experienced unusual circumstances may submit a written appeal with documentation to the Student Financial Aid Office to be considered by an appeal committee.

Withdrawal from All Courses, Effect on Financial Aid

Financial aid recipients contemplating a partial or complete withdrawal should discuss withdrawal plans with a Financial Services Specialist in Student Financial Aid before withdrawal.

Financial aid recipients who drop some classes during the drop/add period (or indicate having never attended some classes) may lose some or all financial aid eligibility. Financial aid recipients who drop all classes prior to the start of the semester (or having never attended any classes) are no longer eligible for financial aid for that semester. All scholarship, grant, assistantship, associateship, and loan payments (and refunds of financial aid) must be returned to Western Michigan University.

A Federal financial aid recipient who completely withdraws from all classes after the beginning of the semester will have the amount of Federal aid earned up to that point determined by a specific formula. If more Federal aid was received than earned, the excess Federal aid must be returned. The amount of Federal aid earned is determined on a pro-rata basis. That is, if 30 percent of the semester is completed, 30 percent of the Federal aid received is earned. Once having completed more than 60 percent of the semester all of the Federal aid is earned.

Receipt of Assistantship/Fellowship

A financial aid recipient who has been offered an assistantship, associateship, or fellowship by a department or by the Graduate College will not be indicated on the financial aid Award Letter until the financial aid office has been notified of the award by the Graduate College.  If a student accepts the full amount of Federal loans awarded, the loans may be reduced when the assistantship, associateship, or fellowship (or any other awards) are added to the award file. Even if the loans have been disbursed, they may be reduced at the time the Financial Aid Office receives notification of the receipt of additional assistance.

Students Admitted on Guest (GST) Status

Students who have been admitted to The Graduate College on GST status are not considered admitted to a graduate program and may not be eligible for financial aid. Students admitted on GST status to complete teacher education certification requirements to obtain permanent certification may be eligible for loans at the undergraduate level. Students who have applied for admission to a graduate program and are classified as GST to take prerequisite courses to be admitted into the graduate program may be eligible for loans at the undergraduate level for a twelve-month period. Students who are in these GST categories and are eligible for federal aid may need to have parental information listed on their FAFSA if under 24 years of age at the time of application.

International Students

International students are not eligible for Federal or State financial aid. There may be scholarships, assistantships, associateships, or fellowships available through WMU departments or the Graduate College. International students may also be eligible for an “alternative loan” if a U.S. citizen that is credit-worthy is willing to co-sign the loan. There are also scholarship search engines for international students such as www.edupass.org or www.supercollege.com online.

Career and Student Employment Services

Western Michigan University’s Career and Student Employment Services maintains a list of part-time jobs both on and off campus; work-study employment; temporary employment; seasonal/summer jobs; and internship/pre/professional/cooperative education employment opportunities. For more information, visit the office website: http://broncojobs.wmich.edu.

Programs of Assistance Available from Sources Other Than WMU

For information about financial opportunities available through programs from sources other than WMU, visit the website www.finaid.org.