Graduate Student Success Scholarship
Graduate Studies and the Office of Financial Aid jointly administer the Graduate Student Success Scholarship (GSSS) for graduate students with demonstrable financial need. Designed to help students continue or complete their degree programs, the Success Scholarship allocates funds to the colleges and schools so that they can use the scholarships strategically for their graduate programs.
Each college or school manages the process for selecting nominations. Interested students should inquire with the college dean of your graduate program for the application and/or nomination process.
Graduate Studies does not accept nominations directly from graduate units or graduate students. We ask the colleges/schools to think strategically how these funds can help students complete their degrees. While colleges/schools can use the GSSS funds at their discretion to best support the success of their students, Graduate Studies suggests that, in light of institutional data that shows high stop out rates after coursework, awards be extended to those students who lack other forms of funding, with priority consideration given to underrepresented minority students for whom the funds will facilitate degree completion.
The scholarship provides at least $1,000.00 and up to $7,500.00 per student per semester for master’s degree students that are in departments without doctoral programs and at least $1,000.00 and up to $9,000.00 per student per semester for doctoral and MFA students. Award amounts vary and are determined by the college. Recipients may hold the scholarship for a maximum of two semesters. Tuition and health insurance are not included as part of the award.
Eligibility
- Open to domestic and international graduate students currently enrolled in a masters or doctoral program at UNM.
- Note: Non-degree, UNM Staff, UNM Faculty, and students in the following professional programs are not eligible for this award: M.D., J.D., Pharm D., D.P.T, and D.N.P.
- Must be enrolled in at least six (6) graduate credit hours that apply towards their graduate degree each semester they receive the scholarship
- Must not be on probation (Type 1, Type 2 or Type 3)
- Must demonstrate financial need; 2024 - 2025 FAFSA is required; students must have submitted all required verification documents to the Financial Aid Office, as requested, and have a completed Financial Aid file.
- Must have been enrolled in their graduate program (as a degree-seeking student) at UNM for at least one year
- Demonstrate meritorious academic or creative accomplishments during their tenure in the program.
Process
Graduate Studies will allocate a specific amount to each college based on the colleges’ graduate enrollment. Each college may determine its own selection process and determine the best way to allocate funds to their graduate programs.
In the review process, colleges should weigh each nominee’s academic merit and demonstrable financial need. The total amount of the award should not exceed the total amount of the student’s need as indicated on the financial aid award overview, available on the student’s Lobo Web account.
Each college will send Graduate Studies a list of awardees indicating the student’s name, UNM ID number, amount awarded, and the semester to award.
Graduate Studies will review the nomination packets, verify the financial need, and make the awards to all eligible recipients. Recipients may hold the scholarship for up to two semesters (contingent upon the allocation to the college) as long as they remain in good academic standing and meet whatever terms and conditions their college or department may place upon their acceptance of the award.
Graduate Studies will not consider petitions for extensions of the GSSS. Graduate Studies will reallocate any unused funds after the spring deadline.
Application Packet
Application packets for each nominee must include the following; colleges may choose to ask for more information or materials
- A copy of most current Student Aid Report (SAR) - domestic students only
- International students must submit the UNM Application for State Aid (under Request and Agreements) and request a completed copy from the UNM Financial Aid Office
- A personal statement, addressed to the Graduate Student Success Scholarsahip Committee, articulating the nominee’s academic and professional goals; and highlighting academic and/or creative achievements made while enrolled as a graduate student at UNM.
- A completed Funding Disclosure Form
- A plan of study, with a schedule, for completing the requirements for their program, and
- A letter of recommendation (initiated by the student) from the department chair or faculty graduate advisor (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor). Letters of recommendation must:
- Identify the position of the letter writer, provide a statement of the relationship to the student, and indicate how long the letter writer has known the student.
- Assess the student’s academic strengths and personal qualities and provide specific examples that support those observations.
- Provide a summary that includes why the student is a good fit for this scholarship.
Deadlines for Colleges/Programs
Colleges/schools (not departments or students) must email a list of their nominees along with the application packets for each nominee to Marisa Castañeda (mcastan@unm.edu) by September 30, 2024 for Fall 2024 and by January 27, 2025 for Spring 2025. Packets are due by 5:00 PM (Mountain Time) on the deadline dates.
Each application packet should be saved in a single pdf document labeled with the student's UNMID, Last Name, and First Name (UNMID_LastName_FirstName). Incomplete application packets will not be reviewed.
Deadlines for Students
The above deadlines are for colleges to submit to Graduate Studies. Please inquire about the application process (by nomination or submission) with your college since their deadlines will be earlier than the ones posted above.
Graduate Studies does not accept nominations directly from graduate units or graduate students.
