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Financial Aid
The department awards various University and Departmental Scholarships to its students. Information is also provided here about other departments and research centers on campus that have employed geography students.
Graduate Assistantships
State regulations permit departmental aid in the form of teaching assistantships to be offered only one year at a time. Assuming good performance by an incoming T.A. in his or her coursework and teaching duties, however, the department is committed to continuing these awards through a second year for an M.A. student and through a second and third year for a Ph.D. student.
Additional teaching assistantships may also be available each year on a competitive basis. The procedures for awarding such financial aid are as follows. In March and April applicants ask three faculty members to fill out an evaluation form regarding the student's performance and professional promise. In addition, the student is asked to write a self-evaluation statement that addresses such issues as progress toward degree, academic plans for the near future, and status of incomplete coursework. The Graduate Studies Committee initially ranks students based on these materials plus information on transcripts and past awards of aid. These same materials are made available for faculty review. The faculty as a whole meets to discuss these rankings (traditionally on Stop Day in early May) and changes in the list may be made to reflect such discussion.
Teaching assistantship duties vary considerably with the course and supervising instructor. For courses in cartography, GIS, remote sensing, soils, and statistics, TAs hold office hours to assist students and serve as the instructor for the laboratory portion of these offerings. In contrast, teaching assistants for the introductory physical geography laboratories have charge of their own classes (although they follow an established curriculum). Senior TAs also teach introductory sections of human, physical, and regional geography on occasion. A TA holding a half-time appointment is expected to devote twenty hours per week to teaching duties.
Research assistantships are awarded by invitation through the professor holding the grant or other source of funding. Normally, a student is selected because of special research skills that integrate well with the research project.
Stipends for half-time teaching appointments currently are $12,193 for nine months. All teaching and research appointments made at 40% of full time or more carry eligibility for tuition at the reduced staff rate. This rate is set on a per-credit-hour basis, and at present is the same as the Kansas resident tuition. Teaching assistants also receive a tuition waiver based on the percentage of time they are appointed. For example, a half-time appointment currently receives 100% waiver of tuition. In addition, three hours of required campus fees are paid. The remaining campus fees must be paid by the student, however. Nonresident students appointed for less than 40% of full time pay the nonresident tuition. Teaching and research assistantships are normally available only to full-time, degree-seeking students.
Madison A. and Lila Self Honors Fellowships
These competitive, four-year fellowships are offered by the university to superior students seeking the Ph.D. The current stipend is $24,000 each year for four years plus tuition and fees. The Self program is restricted to science students.
Graduate School Honors Fellowships
The Honors Fellowships are used primarily to recruit outstanding students for graduate programs and provide a stipend of $14,000 per year plus payment of up to 9 graduate credit hours of tuition and fees for the fall and spring semesters. Awards to students will be during their first and fourth or fifth year of study. For those students who are only seeking a master's degree, the award will only be for their first year of study. Departments are expected to offer a half-time teaching or research assistantship for the two or three intervening years for the doctoral student and one year for a master's student, provided the student maintains good academic standing and satisfactory employment performance. Fellows are encouraged not to accept a teaching assistantship or research assistantship while receiving fellowship support; however, departments may appeal this to Graduate Studies on behalf of the student on a case-by-case basis.
Graduate School First Year Fellowships
Those
students nominated and not awarded an Honors Fellowship will be eligible for a First Year Graduate Fellowship. Nominees who are chosen as an alternate for the Honors Fellowship will be considered for a First Year Graduate Fellowship. This one-year award includes a stipend of $12,000 plus payment of up to 9 graduate credit hours of tuition and fees for the fall and spring semesters. The nominating department must guarantee that the recipient will be supported for at least three succeeding years by teaching or research assistantships for doctoral students and one year for master's students, provided the student makes satisfactory academic progress and employment performance. Fellows are encouraged not to accept a teaching assistantship or research assistantship while receiving fellowship support; however, departments may appeal this to Graduate Studies on behalf of the student on a case-by-case basis. Preference will be given to nominees who would profit significantly from the released time from teaching or other duties during their fellowship period.
Graduate School Melik Fellowships
These fellowships, normally offered to incoming minority students in disciplines where they are under- represented, support the first and fourth (or fifth) year of graduate work. Departments are expected to offer a half-time TA or RA for the two or three intervening years. The awards provide a stipend (currently $10,000) plus payment of up to 9 graduate credit hours of tuition and fees.
Other Employment Opportunities
Several research assistantships are normally offered through the Kansas Geological Survey, the Kansas Applied Remote Sensing Program, KU Cartographic Services, and other units. In addition, student hourly and work-study employment with the Department of Geography is available. Students should visit University Career Center in the Burge Union for a complete list of student hourly positions at the University of Kansas.
Office of Student Financial Aid
Graduate School Funding Opportunities Page
Cost of Attendance
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