BLVS
Financial Aid
For many years, the WMU Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies has received federal and other grants to provide student financial support. A number of scholarships and graduate assistantships are also available through other sources. Some type of financial support is available at most times to students. However, specific levels of support vary depending on grant cycles and other factors. Most financial support requires students to become employed after graduation in the field of vision rehabilitation for 2 years for every year that support is provided. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available. These assistantships provide financial assistance to students who work 10 to 20 hours a week for the department.
Prospective students should contact program coordinators to verify the actual support available under specific circumstances. As of January 2001, support has been available for the following programs:
Rehabilitation Teaching: The Rehabilitation Teaching Program administers a federal grant that provides tuition and a stipend to eligible students. This grant also provides tuition to students in the distance education program.
Financial assistance is available for TCVI/OMC students through a federal grant and through scholarships provided by the Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund (MBTF). The federal grant provides all of part of in-state tuition for students in both the campus and distance education components who sign an agreement to pay back the assistance through two years of teaching children with disabilities for each year of funding received. All program applicants are considered for assistance through the federal grant without any additional application.
Rehabilitation Counseling and Teaching: Tuition and stipend assistance is available through a federal grant that provides full resident tuition funding as well as a stipend each semester.
Orientation and Mobility for Working Age Adults: The Orientation and Mobility for Working Age Adults Program administers a federal grant that provides tuition and a stipend to eligible students.
Additional Financial Aid Links:
WMU Financial Aid
WMU Graduate College
WMU Departmental Scholarships