Diversity Fellowships

The diversity fellowship is designed to promote Tennessee Technological University's commitment to a more inclusive and diverse campus that enriches the educational experience, promotes personal growth and a healthy society, strengthens communities and the workplace, and enhances America 's economic competitiveness. This diversity can be developed through exposure to diverse persons, cultures, social, political, and economic ideas, and better prepares students as professionals in an increasingly diverse workforce and society. The diversity of enrollment enriches the educational experience and is a compelling interest in higher education. We learn from those whose beliefs and perspectives are different from our own, and these lessons can be best taught in the richly diverse intellectual and social environment of a heterogeneous student body.

A flexible, holistic, and individualized approach will be adopted in awarding the diversity fellowships on a competitive basis. In order to become eligible, applicants must be admitted in full standing to the TTU Graduate School , demonstrate appreciation for and commitment to diversity, and meet at least two of the following criteria.

1. Belong to an underrepresented racial/ethnic minority group (African-Americans/Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians/Alaskan Native, and Pacific Islanders)
2. Be a resident of one of the educationally underserved/underrepresented areas (refer to list below)*
3. Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and belong to an underrepresented/underserved gender in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, business, and nursing
4. Demonstrate character, motivation and ability to succeed in graduate studies based on academic record and a written essay.

An applicant is expected to have identified a graduate faculty member who has agreed to serve as his or her advisor prior to applying for an award.

Submit an application, describing your eligibility for an award and endorsed by your advisor, to the TTU Graduate School.

* List of educationally underserved/underrepresented counties are: Bledsoe, Campbell, Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Grundy, Hamilton, Jackson, Macon, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Rhea, Scott, Sequatchie, Smith, Trousdale, Van Buren, Warren, White.

Conditions for Maintaining Eligibility

• Recipient must have a term or cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0
• Recipient must submit term reports, endorsed by advisor demonstrating satisfactory progress toward the attainment of a graduate degree.
• Recipient must re-apply if not enrolled for one or more semesters, or if enrolled in another degree program.
• Recipient must comply with registration and degree requirements as provided in the Graduate School Catalog.

A recipient of a full fellowship is expected to devote 20 hours per week to research or teaching. Full fellowship pays tuition, fees and stipend at the prevailing rate in the department. A part-time fellowship pays tuition and fees, and does not require service to the department.

The courses enrolled must count toward the degree, and must be approved by the student's academic advisor.

Fees will not be paid for audit courses, repeat courses, personal enrichment courses, undergraduate courses, certification courses, or more than six hours of thesis, or 24 hours of research and dissertation.

Tennessee Tech University is under no obligation to continue the fellowship if the student transfers to another degree program or degree classification, or if funds are not available.

Page last updated: 5/2/07