New Mexico State University

PO Box 30001 MSC 3 G

Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001-8001

575-646-2736                    fax 575-646-7721                      

MEMORANDUM

To:        Deans, Department Heads, Faculty and Staff                                                           
From:    Linda Lacey, Dean of the Graduate School
Re:        Graduate Assistant Tuition Fellowships for New Graduate Students

The Graduate School will award tuition fellowships for the fall semester to entering graduate assistants to help departments recruit outstanding graduate students to their programs.  We will make 56 offers.  Master’s degree students will receive up to 2 years of support and doctoral degree students will receive up to three years of support.  In order for students to qualify for a second and third year of support, they must maintain their status as graduate assistants for the duration of the tuition fellowship period.  These awards are for students receiving 10 hour and 20 hour graduate assistantships.  The tuition fellowships do not include fees and are limited to entering first year students that have been awarded a graduate assistantship.  

How to apply for the Graduate Assistant Tuition Fellowships Awards:
A letter of nomination from a faculty member must be submitted to the Graduate School.  A copy of the students’ transcripts must accompany the letter of nomination.  If you wish to nominate an international student, please include the evaluation of transcripts from the Center for International Programs.  Criteria for selection include the following:

1. The candidate must be admitted to a department of NMSU.
2. They must enroll as a full time student taking at least 9 graded credit hours.
3. The candidate should have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher.
4. Departments should also discuss other positive attributes of the graduate assistant (diversity, experience, skills, academic merit and other unique attributes the student will bring to the program).
5. The candidate must be granted a graduate assistant by the department.  State supported and non-state supported graduate assistants (including research assistants) can receive the award.  
6. Departments can nominate as many admitted students that it wishes to. 

Nominations are due at the Graduate School by March 30.  Please provide a letter of nomination for each student rather than an email nomination.  We will accept faxed nominations as well (fax number of the Graduate School is 646-7721).   Please contact me if you have any questions, 646-5746, or lacey@nmsu.edu.

The Fellowship Committee of the Graduate Council will begin reviewing nominations immediately after March 31st.