There are numerous ways for graduate students to acquire support for their graduate studies.  Working for pay outside the university and acquiring student loans are the most obvious, but they are not always the most advisable in terms of financial health and intellectual enrichment.  That is why the Department of Sociology and WMU endeavor to provide qualified graduate students with competitive awards and opportunities.   In addition to the funding opportunities discussed below, one can receive further information from the Office of Student Financial Aid.

In most years, the department has about 15 to 18 graduate students on assistantships and many more receive other forms of support.  The department's current policy is to provide assistantship support for up to two years for master’s degree students and up to another three years for doctoral degree students.  Funding from outside the department does not count against the time limits.  Although the department=s budgetary situation constrains this goal, a student making excellent progress toward the degree (as evaluated in an annual review of graduate students) is normally provided continued funding until the relevant time limit has been reached. 

There are a number of forms of support available either through the department or the Graduate College.  First, there are fellowships, which carry no service obligation, then there are assistantships, which do require some service.  There are also supplemental sources for the support of graduate student research and professional travel.  These different forms of funding to finance graduate studies are outlined below:

The Leonard and Dorotha Kercher Graduate Fellowship

The department offers this highly competitive fellowship for either M.A. or Ph.D. students once every five years.  It is named after the founder of the department and his wife, and only one is available at a time.  It is good for up to five years of full-time graduate support (including one summer session annually) at the highest level the department offers, plus full tuition remission.  It carries no service obligation.  All told, it is worth well over $100,000. 

Research and Teaching Assistantships

The College of Arts and Sciences provides funding to the department for graduate education.  This is departmental support, and the funds are distributed by the department in the form of graduate assistantships. 

Research Assistantships:  These assistantships require 15 hours of work per week on research under the supervision of a faculty member.

Teaching Assistantships:  These assistantships require work on one course per semester either as an assistant to a faculty member or as an instructor of record. 

Western Michigan University recognizes the Teaching Assistants’ Union, affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFL-CIO), as “the sole and exclusive representative for the purposes of collective bargaining in respect to wages, hours, and all other conditions of employment for all employees” considered teaching assistants (Article 1, Agreement between Western Michigan University and the Teaching Assistants’ Union).  Teaching assistants are “all graduate assistants, doctoral graduate assistants, or doctoral associates appointed by Western Michigan University with the classification of teaching” (Article 1, Agreement between Western Michigan University and the Teaching Assistants’ Union).

As an employing unit, the Department of Sociology provides the following information about teaching assistantships in compliance with language in the Teaching Assistants’ Union contract (Article 8, Agreement between Western Michigan University and the Teaching Assistants’ Union).

Courses Typically Assigned Teaching Assistants

SOC2000  Introduction to Sociology
SOC2100  Modern Social Problems
SOC2600  Introduction to Criminal Justice
SOC3040  Nonwestern World
SOC3620  Criminology

Required Qualifications

Full-time graduate student in good standing
Excellent progress on annual review

Preferred Qualifications

Evidence of superior intellectual ability
Evidence of professional engagement
Evidence of superior achievement in classes
Evidence of teaching experience

An application for a research or teaching assistantship is due on February 1.  Completed applications and inquiries about the application process should be directed to Susan Standish, academic advisor in the Department of Sociology.  The Central Graduate Committee will review applications for assistantships in conjunction with the information provided by each applicant for the department’s annual review of graduate students.  Applicants will be informed about assistantship decisions between March 15 and April 15.

Work Study

Work study is a need-based financial aid program funded by the federal government, the State of Michigan, and Western Michigan University for students who are enrolled at least half-time during the period of their employment.  Work study awards and amounts are subject to eligibility requirements and fund availability.  Early application is very important.  More details are provided by the Office of Student Financial Aid.

King/Chavez/Parks (KCP) Future Faculty Fellowships

These are available to U.S. students from historically underrepresented groups who have gained regular admission to a doctoral program and who wish to pursue a full-time teaching career in post-secondary education in Michigan or Illinois.  The KCP fellowships can pay up to $35,000 over a six year period.  No service is required in the department, but there are other requirements that must be met.  The application deadline is February 15.  More details and applications may be obtained online from the Graduate College.

Thurgood Marshall Assistantships

The Thurgood Marshall assistantships are offered to U.S. citizens from historically underrepresented groups who are beginning their first master's degree program and who have regular admission to master’s degree program.  They carry a service requirement, and cover at least partial tuition costs.  The application deadline is February 15.  More details and applications may be obtained online from the Graduate College.

Graduate College Dissertation Completion Fellowships

These fellowships are valued at approximately $18,000 and are awarded for two semesters and two summer sessions through an open competition based on superior scholarly achievement.  They are designed to aid full-time doctoral students with the completion of their dissertations.  Doctoral candidates are eligible for the award if they can establish a record of superior academic achievement and timely, steady progress toward completion of the Ph.D. degree.  Applicants must have completed all requirements for the doctoral degree save the dissertation and must have successfully defended a dissertation proposal.  Partial tuition remission is provided for non-resident students.  The application deadline is February 15.  Applications may be obtained online.  More details are provided by the Graduate College.

Graduate Student Research Fund

The Graduate College maintains a research fund that is designed to support graduate students with their independent scholarly research, scientific inquiry, inventive technology, and original artistic activity.  Awards from this fund aim to allay the extraordinary or unusual costs associated with research projects.  The amount of an award for a project will vary with the available budget, the number of applications, and the priority ranking given by the selection committee, with a maximum award of $600 possible.  Preference is given to applications submitted before a project is completed.  The application deadline is September 15, November 15, and March 15.  More details and applications may be obtained online.

Graduate Student Travel Fund

The Graduate College maintains a travel fund designed to support graduate students with their independent scholarly research, scientific inquiry, inventive technology, and original artistic activity.  Awards from this fund can cover costs associated with travel to meetings or events sponsored by professional organizations for the purpose of reporting the results of research, exhibiting or performing creative works, or otherwise disseminating results from scholarly activity.  The amount of an award for a project will vary with the available budget, the number of applications, and the priority ranking given by the selection committee, with a maximum award of $600 possible.  Preference is given to applications submitted before the travel has been completed.  The application deadline is September 15, November 15, and March 15.  More details and applications may be obtained online.

Kercher Endowment Fund

Through its Kercher Endowment Fund, the department also provides support for graduate student research and travel.  While there are annual limits, the application is simple, involving a brief description of the project/meeting, a rationale, and an estimated budget.  In addition, a parallel application to the appropriate Graduate College fund is required.  In recent years, virtually all such applications have been supported.

For more information, please contact the undergraduate and graduate academic advisor, Susan Standish.  Telephone: (269) 387-5286.