School of Social Welfare Scholarships

The School of Social Welfare offers scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students. Because of the generosity of our donors – alumni and friends – the School has awarded over forty scholarships in the past year. The 2011-2012 scholarship cycle was announced in November and applications are due Friday, December 16, 2011. School of Social Welfare scholarship recipients are celebrated at a presentation ceremony in May and at an annual scholarship luncheon honoring awardees and donors.

2011 – 2012 School of Social Welfare Scholarship Cycle

We are pleased to invite all students to submit an application and faculty to submit nominations for the School of Social Welfare scholarships to be awarded for the Spring 2012 semester.

Awards are competitive, and recipients are selected based upon the specific criteria set forth for each scholarship. The selection process will be completed in December. All students will be notified of scholarship decisions by mail, so please remember to provide an accurate address on your application form. If you have any questions, please contact Dawn Knight-Thomas at dkt@albany.edu.

Students

Available online are the brief student scholarship application document which has a list of the scholarships and a link to an essay for each scholarship, and list of the history and criteria for all scholarships. Students may apply for as many scholarships for which they qualify.

• The scholarship application form and accompanying materials must be received by 4:30pm on Friday, December 16, 2011.
• Please either put a paper copy of your entire application in the mailbox of Dawn Knight-Thomas in RI 105 or email it to dkt@albany.edu
• If emailing your application, please use “Scholarship Application” in the subject line.

A complete student scholarship application must include the following:

1. The check list (page 1 of the student application document) to ensure a complete application. Incomplete applications will not be considered by the Scholarship Committee.
2. A completed application form (pages 2 and 3 of the student application document).
3. An essay form including a brief essay of no more than two pages double-spaced for each scholarship for which you are applying (a link for each scholarship is found on page 3 of the student application document). The essay must address the following:
   • Your learning goals in your academic program and your future career goals.
   • How you are specifically qualified for each scholarship for which you apply (see a link at each scholarship for the critieria).
   • How this funding will help you in continued studies.
4. Letter(s) of recommendation.
   Include letter(s) of recommendation which indicate how you are qualified for this particular scholarship.
   
   • Attach two* letters of recommendation, not from family or close friends
   • Choose appropriate people who know you and your qualifications. Faculty members, supervisors, field instructors or work colleagues are the most desirable letter writers.
     *If you have been informed that a faculty member has nominated you, you need to submit only one letter of recommendation as the faculty nomination counts as one letter of recommendation.
5. A résumé or curriculum vitae.
6. A copy of your GPA – Go to MyUAlbany. At the top of the page click on Academics, on the left side of the next page scroll down to and click on Records Services, on the next page click on My Grades. Print the page for inclusion with your application.
7. For Ph.D. applicants applying for either the William Reid Endowment or the Bonnie Carlson Scholarship: please include an approved proposal including an abstract, a budget for dissertation expenses, an expected date of completion, and the names of your doctoral committee members.

Faculty

The faculty scholarship nomination form is available online and from Dawn Knight-Thomas. Complete nomination forms must be received by 4:30pm on Friday, December 9, 2011.

Please give a paper copy to Dawn Knight-Thomas or email your nomination form to dkt@albany.edu. If emailing, please type “Faculty Scholarship Nomination” in the subject line.

Based on a faculty nomination, the Assistant Dean's Office will contact the student via email and ask him/her to complete the student application document with the required documentation. The faculty nomination and student scholarship application forms with the required documentation will be submitted to the School of Social Welfare Scholarship Committee for consideration in awarding scholarships.

School of Social Welfare Scholarship FAQs

• How do I apply for University-wide scholarships?
• How do I apply for a School of Social Welfare scholarship?
• Who is eligible?
• Do I need to apply separately for each scholarship for which I want to be considered?
• Can I receive more than one scholarship in any academic year?
• If I received a scholarship last year, will I be eligible to receive one this year?
• My financial need is not very high. Can I still apply?
• How can I get my GPA?
• What if I’m a first-year MSW student and won’t have a GPA by the application deadline?
• Who makes the decisions for scholarship awards?
• What scholarships need a separate application?
• If I am nominated for more than one scholarship by one or more faculty members, do I need more than one other letter of recommendation?
• How does the financial part work?

How do I apply for University-wide scholarships?

http://www.albany.edu/financialaid/scholarships_main.shtml
http://www.albany.edu/uafoundation/142.htm
http://www.albany.edu/ifw/

How do I apply for a School of Social Welfare scholarship?

http://www.albany.edu/ssw/scholarships

Who is eligible?

1. You need to be a current student at the University for the Fall 2011 semester at the time of application.
2. Applicants must be matriculated for the 2011-2012 academic year.
3. All current SSW students are eligible except those graduating in December 2011. However, December 2011 graduates may apply for the Ralph & Judith Sidman Scholarship.
4. See history and criteria for specific scholarship eligibility requirements.

Do I need to apply separately for each scholarship for which I want to be considered?

You need to submit only one application document indicating the scholarships for which you wish to be considered but you must also include an essay for each scholarship for which you apply which describes how you meet the criteria (no more than two double-spaced pages).

Can I receive more than one scholarship in any academic year?

Yes, you are eligible to receive more than one scholarship in any academic year. However, each scholarship may be awarded only once to any individual.

If I received a scholarship last year, will I be eligible to receive one this year?

Yes, you are eligible to receive a scholarship this year. However, each scholarship may be awarded only once to any individual.

My financial need is not very high. Can I still apply?

We encourage all students to apply for scholarships. Some scholarships are given based on academic achievement or other conditions.

However, many scholarships are need-based. The only authorized means by which we can confirm your financial need is if you have a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form on file with the Office of Financial Aid. The link to this form is found at http://www.albany.edu/financialaid/ or at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. Please review the Office of Financial Aid's scholarship information.

If you feel it will negatively impact your funding by receiving scholarship money, you may apply for the award for the academic recognition, and decline the monetary part.

How can I get my GPA?

Go to MyUAlbany. At the top of the page click on Academics, on the left side of the next page scroll down to and click on Records Services, on the next page click on My Grades. Print the page for inclusion with your application.

What if I’m a first-year MSW student and won’t have a GPA by the application deadline?

You may use the GPA you earned at the completion of your undergraduate degree, or the GPA you attached to your application to the School of Social Welfare, whichever is more current.

Who makes the decisions for scholarship awards?

Decisions for scholarship awards are made by the School of Social Welfare Scholarship Selection Committee**. Members of the committee include a faculty chair, three additional faculty members, one doctoral student, one master’s student, and one undergraduate in the School, all appointed by the Dean of the School of Social Welfare. The committee will review all nominations and will grant the awards for the Spring 2012 semester. You will be notified of the Selection Committee’s decision by mail.

**Important note:

The Frank J. Filippone ’41 – Hillside House Scholarship award is made by the decision of a committee comprised of representatives from the School of Social Welfare, School of Education and the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. The committee will review all nominations and will grant the award in the Spring 2012.

What scholarships need a separate application?

There is a separate application process for the U.S.- Africa Partnership Summer Study Tour scholarships and the Internships in Aging Project (IAP) scholarships. Please click on these links for more information.

If I am nominated for more than one scholarship by one or more faculty members, do I need more than one other letter of recommendation?

Your second letter of recommendation can be from one person or more as long as the letter(s) includes that you meet the criteria of each scholarship for which you have been nominated.

How does the financial part work?

Scholarships are considered financial aid for the same academic year in which they are received. The scholarship money is deposited into your student account. It may automatically be used to reduce loans. The financial aid office will make every attempt to allow the scholarship to be an additional financial aid resource in cases where the student has other financial aid awards. However, federal regulations may require other financial aid awards to be reduced. In these cases, student loans will be the first aid award to be adjusted to allow for the receipt of the scholarship.