Program Description
The University of California, San Diego offers the three diversity fellowships as a means to increasing campus diversity: 1) San Diego, 2) Cota Robles, and the 3) Strategic Enhancement of Excellence through Diversity (SEED). The fellowship program is motivated by the campus's commitment to inclusive excellence, and by the belief that a diverse graduate student body enhances the quality of the educational experience for all students.
All three fellowships are recruitment and retention tools that provide fellowship support to those students who merit admission into graduate programs at UCSD and whose presence would enhance diversity to the benefit of the entire campus community.
Two of the Cota-Robles Fellowships are designated as McNair Fellowships and awarded to nominees who participated in the Ronald McNair Program as undergraduates. An American Indian recipient, if any, of the Cota-Robles Fellowship will be awarded the Irene McFarland Trust Fellowship, which will be substituted for part of the Cota-Robles Fellowship.
Although the University seeks racial, ethnic, and gender diversity, California law prohibits preferential treatment of individuals or groups on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consequently, selection of award recipients may not be based on these criteria.
Each department or program may nominate three (3) candidates for the fellowships.
Eligibility
Nominees for all three fellowships must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or AB540 qualified applicants who are recommended for admission to UCSD for the Fall quarter.
Nominees considered for the San Diego Fellowship must be recommended for admission to a program offering a Ph.D., D.M.A., Ed.D. or selected masters degrees. Eligible Master's degrees are the M.F.A., M.I.A., M.P.P., and M.A. in Latin American Studies.
Nominees considered for the Cota-Robles Fellowship must be recommended for admission to a program offering the Ph.D., D.M.A. and Ed.D. degree. In addition, nominations for the Cota Robles award must articulate outstanding academic merit for the field.
Nominees considered for the SEED Fellowship must be recommended for admission to a program offering the Ph.D., D.M.A., Ed.D, or M.F.A. degree, and must have attended a Minority Serving Institution.
Candidates for all three fellowships must have responded to at least two of the following optional prompts in the online application:
- Leadership (e.g. coordination of volunteer activities, board member in student organization, residential life, student government etc.) etc.)
- Overcoming Adversity (e.g. overcoming educational, social, cultural, economic, barriers, or barriers related to accessibility, etc.)
- Community Involvement(e.g. volunteer service, organizing, activism, teaching, mentoring, counseling, community art production etc.)
- Social Justice Experience (e.g. addressing systemic inequality through education, organizing, activism, mentorship, counseling, outreach/access, survival and development work, event planning/coordination, community building and development, etc.)
- Personal or Professional Ethics (e.g. experience with an ethical code, conduct seminars, IRB training, etc.)
- Research (e.g. undergraduate research, involvement in McNair or similar programs, independent or group study with a professor or researcher, research outside of academia, full-time research after college, etc.)
- Other (e.g. any other kind of experience or information that you feel will help add to creating a diverse spectrum of ideas, perspectives, and experiences)
Successful applicants must demonstrate at least one of the following:
Overcome barriers in prior educational experience:
- Applicant has successfully overcome significant educational, social, cultural, or economic disadvantage or barriers in a way that would enable him or her to contribute to the campus community in a manner that enhances campus diversity.
Contributions to diversity in prior educational experience
- Applicant has shown a deep commitment to working with others, through such activities as mentoring or tutoring, to promote educational access to higher education for underserved groups.
Academic pursuit aims to address issues of diversity
- Applicant has a strong interest in undertaking research that would address issues of diversity as it relates to ethnic communities, social equity and justice, or economic opportunity
Personal characteristics that would enhance diversity of the program/department
- Applicant has unique circumstances, experiences, skills, or talents that would be of benefit to others and would enhance the diversity in the discipline, program or campus.
The very strongest often demonstrate experiences more than one of these areas.
Nominations for the Cota Robles award must articulate outstanding academic merit for the field.
San Diego or Cota Robles Fellowship Award
All Ph.D., and D.M.A., students selected as shall receive two years of fellowship support (stipend plus tuition and fees) from the Graduate Division in years 1 & 4, and two years of guaranteed comparable support from the graduate department or program in years 2 & 3. Department or program support may be in the form of an Instructional Assistant appointment, a Graduate Student Researcher appointment, or fellowship.
M.F.A. and Ed.D. students selected as fellows shall receive two years of fellowship support (stipend plus tuition and fees) from the Graduate Division in years1 & 2, and one year of comparable support from the department or program in year 3. Department or program support may be in the form of an Instructional Assistant appointment, a Graduate Student Researcher appointment, or fellowship.
M.P.P., M.I.A., and M.A. students selected as fellows shall receive one year of fellowship support (stipend plus tuition and fees) from the Graduate Division and one year of comparable support from the department or program. Department or program support may be in the form of an Instructional Assistant appointment, a Graduate Student Researcher appointment, or fellowship.
SEED Fellowship Award
All Ph.D., D.M.A., SEED fellows shall receive three years of fellowship support (stipend plus tuition and fees) from the Graduate Division in years 1, 4 & 5, and two years of guaranteed comparable support from the graduate department or program in years 2 and 3. Department or program support may be in the form of an Instructional Assistant appointment, a Graduate Student Researcher appointment, or fellowship.
M.F.A. and Ed.D. SEED fellows shall receive two years of fellowship support (stipend plus tuition and fees) from the Graduate Division in years1 & 2, and one year of comparable support from the department or program in year 3. Department or program support may be in the form of an Instructional Assistant appointment, a Graduate Student Researcher appointment, or fellowship.
Funding may not be deferred. All continuing support is contingent upon the fellow remaining in good academic standing and meeting established departmental criteria for good academic progress toward the degree. All fellows shall have a faculty mentor appointed upon enrollment.
Stipend Amounts
San Diego Fellowship $22,000
SEED Fellowship $25,000
Cota Robles Fellowship $27,000