Dean’s Fellowship Nomination Guidelines

The Dean’s Fellowship provides financial support for students during their program.  The Dean’s Fellowship is funded by generous donations to the Graduate College and is administered by the University of Nebraska Foundation.  

Fellowship Award

  • $5,000 fellowship stipend
  • $500 travel allowance

Student Eligibility

  • Must be a full-time doctoral or master’s student.
  • Have completed at least one full semester of coursework in their degree program.

Nomination Process

  • Departments may nominate graduate students who meet the eligibility criteria.
  • A student who was previously nominated for the Dean’s fellowship, but was not awarded, can be nominated again provided they still meet the student eligibility criteria specified above.
  • The selection committee will not review nominations that do not meet the eligibility criteria or follow the procedures.
  • Required Nomination Materials include the following:
    • Nominee’s Personal Statement
      • Please describe your academic and professional experiences and accomplishments, and career goals (500 words).
    • Nomination Letter
      Please review the nominees’ personal statement and comment on the following (500 words):
      • Strength of academic and professional experiences and accomplishments.
      • Describe their potential impact on the field, society, and/or N2025 strategic plan.

Evaluation Process

Nominations will be evaluated by a selection committee; the committee will consider all the required information submitted in support of an individual nomination.  Evaluations will focus on the following:

  • Overall accomplishments to date given years in graduate school (accomplishments meaning the metric appropriate to the discipline – publications, patents, chapters, works of art, classroom innovation, etc.) (50 pts.)  
  • Overall potential and future impact on the field and society. (50 pts.)

Fellowship Requirements

  • Fellows must be admitted into a graduate major, with a specific degree objective.
  • Fellows must be registered full-time or eligible for full-time certification during the award period.
  • Fellowships awarded must begin the subsequent fall semester.
  • If a fellow leaves the University prior to the Dean Fellowship expiration date, the fellowship will terminate immediately.

Dean fellows may accept remunerative employment.