Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards opens

The Graduate School at The Florida State University has announced the opening of the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards, a new resource designed to assist graduate students in identifying external funding opportunities.

Nancy Marcus

At a time when financial concerns are prevalent at work and home, the office's mission to counsel and support graduate students affirms Florida State's dedication to graduate studies.

"The new office is one way to ensure that graduate students become aware of the resources that are available for their areas of study," said Graduate School Dean Nancy Marcus. "The establishment of this office ties into one of FSU's top objectives — the support of graduate education."

The new director, Anne Marie West, said she looks forward to advising students. A recent alumna of FSU's Department of Modern Languages, West experienced the award application process firsthand and seeks to connect graduate students with potential resources.

"Dr. West's energy, initiative, and dedication to assisting graduate students should create a strong foundation for a program that promotes graduate inquiry and excellence," Marcus said.

OGFA offers an array of services that help students meet the financial challenges of graduate research and study. Through consultation, graduate students can receive recommendations about their fellowship and award eligibility based on their field of study or level of graduate work. OGFA assists students in forming a plan of action and mentors them throughout the course of the application process.

Students, faculty and advisers can browse OGFA's online resources, from its Web site to its Blackboard organization site. The Web site offers general information about the office's services and a way to make an appointment. The Blackboard site offers an inventory of graduate fellowships and awards.

OGFA is planning to hold workshops this fall that respond to a range of graduate funding needs. One focuses on Fellowships for Dissertation Research, which includes resources such as the prestigious Fulbright-Hays Dissertation Research Abroad Award for doctoral research in area and language studies. Additional workshops include Fellowships and Awards for Dissertation Completion and Graduate Fellowships in the Humanities.

"One of my main goals is to help graduate students find resources to realize their particular project or vision," West said. "Many graduate students adapt to the late hours of studying and the rhythm of graduate school, becoming accustomed to what I recall as the Path of Long Study," making a reference to one of her favorite books. "However, not all know of the opportunities just within sight or further along the path."