Financial Support Letter Guidance

This guidance is provided to programs to assist in developing letters of financial support to newly admitted applicants. The guidance document linked below contains sample letters that may be useful.

Timing of Program Specific Financial Support Letters: Department/program financial support letters for admitted PhD and MFA applicants are best sent out shortly after the Graduate Division offer of admission and general description of financial support for doctoral and MFA students.

However, knowing that during the busiest time for admissions there may be a delay between department nomination and the official GEPA offer of admission from the Dean, it is possible to send out the department/program letters of financial support to applicants who have been nominated for admission and are currently under review by Graduate Admissions as delegated by the GEPA Dean. It is important to review the guidance below for creating program specific financial support letters.

Here is guidance for creating program specific financial support letters.

General Parameters of Financial Support for PhD and MFA students: In addition, with graduate funding reform we would also like to be transparent with admitted PhD and MFA applicants about the general parameters of financial support. To that end, a follow up General Parameters of Financial Support letter will be sent via Slate to admitted PhD and MFA applicants. It will be sent after the admitted applicant opens and reads the Offer of Admission.

The general parameters document is here for your review

Order of communication: Below please find the order of communication:

0) (Optional) Department nomination letter is sent out by department.

1) Offer of Admission from the GEPA Dean - issued from Slate

2) General Parameters of Financial Support – for PhD and MFA students only issued from Slate once applicant has received their admit decision.

3) Program Specific Financial Support Letter – PhD and MFA students only issued from program