Carson Carr Graduate Diversity Fellowship

The University at Albany offers the competitive, merit-based, Carson Carr Graduate Diversity Fellowship Program to full-time graduate students who will contribute to the diversity of the student body in the graduate or professional program in which they will be enrolled. The award is named for Dr. Carson Carr, former director of UAlbany’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), in recognition of his stellar achievements in support of the recruitment, retention, and graduation of underrepresented students.

Eligibility Criteria:

A. To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status, and
• Demonstrate how they will contribute to the diversity of the student body in the program for which they are applying, including having overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Economic disadvantage, although not a requirement, may be the basis for eligibility under this category.

Membership in a racial/ethnic group that is underrepresented in the graduate or professional program involved may serve as a plus factor in making awards, but may not form the sole basis of such an award and every student applicant shall be evaluated on his or her own merits.

B. Priorities

1. New graduate students who are being recruited but who have not yet accepted admission to a University graduate program. This first priority aims to recruit students who will contribute to the diversity of the student body and who otherwise would not come to the University, especially New York State residents.
2. Graduate Opportunity Program students who can be awarded a stipend to supplement their waiver to tuition.
3. Currently enrolled doctoral candidates who have completed all degree requirements but the dissertation ("ABD").
4. Graduate Assistants and Teaching Assistants who can receive a supplement to their current stipends to enhance their retention in graduate studies.

Apply: Applicants submit (via the Graduate Education Application portal for new students or email for current students [with Albany ID number]) an essay (maximum of 500 words) stating how they will:

• Contribute to the diversity of the student body in their graduate or professional program,
• Commit/are committed to increasing opportunities for underrepresented populations, and
• Participate fully in all aspects of the fellowship program, including acting as a mentor and teacher for a wide variety of students.

Applicants who are historically underrepresented minorities (American Indian or Alaskan Native, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and/or Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander), first-generation college students and/or have a history of overcoming disadvantage are strongly encouraged to apply.

Carr Fellows receive a tuition scholarship, an academic-year stipend, and a Teaching or Research Assistantship. All awards are subject to University-wide policies concerning the limitation on state-allocated funding.

Deadline: January 15th for Summer/Fall and October 15th for Spring.

Questions: Please email all questions to [email protected].

Carson Carr Graduate Diversity Fellowship brochure