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Handbook of Graduate Studies

II.       GUIDELINES FOR FINANCIAL AID

 

The Department of Economics offers three types of merit-based aid for students enrolled in the Ph.D. program:
1) Graduate Assistantships
2) Fellowships
3) Awards and Scholarships

In addition, there are other types of financial aid available from various internal and external sources. For example, U.S. citizens and permanent residents are also eligible for need-based financial aid. For details, see www.grad.uconn.edu/funding_resources.html.

 

             II.1. FUNDING CRITERIA

 

A.   The Department awards financial aid to new students based on all of the information in the admissions applications, including personal statements, previous grades, GRE scores, and letters of recommendation.

 

B.   For continuing students, financial aid is contingent upon three factors:  (1) eligibility for support,  (2) the total amount of funds available for graduate student support, and (3) the funding priority for each eligible student.  In making financial aid awards to continuing students, the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) will typically first determine the population of eligible students (see details below) and then determine funding priorities based on all available information about a student, including performance in courses and on the preliminary and field exams, seminar attendance and presentations, and progress on the Ph.D. Dissertation.  Performance in previously assigned GA duties (see below) is also a factor in determining awards.  Teaching proficiency is central to selecting students who will teach their own courses.  Funding decisions can also reflect specific departmental needs.

C. The standard level of financial assistance provided by the department is 75% (15 hours per week) for Ph.D. students. 

 

D.   To allow sufficient time devoted to studies, total hours of employment (of all types) cannot exceed 20 hrs. per week.  If a student accepts employment from other institutions (for example: to teach a course), the level of funding from the Department would be reduced to at most 10 hrs. per week. 

E. Stipend rates for GAs are graduated in terms of progress toward the advanced degree and experience, according to the following level structure:

Level I: GAs with at least the baccalaurate,

Level II: experienced GAs with at least the M.A. degree or its equivalent,

Level III: those with experience as GAs who have at least the M.A. degree or its equivalent and who have passed the doctoral general examination

 

 

            II.2. ELIGIBILITY

 

A.   The Department places a high priority on continuing to support students who have been receiving support, provided they make normal progress (as defined below).  However, students who enter the graduate program without financial aid may later apply for and become eligible to receive support from the Department. 

 

B.   Students receiving financial aid who do not make normal progress or whose GPA falls below 3.0 are at risk of losing that aid.  The Director of Graduate Studies may continue to award aid to a student who has fallen behind, but such aid will be given low priority and will usually not continue for more than two semesters, unless the student’s performance improves.  In addition, even if financial aid is continued, it may be at a reduced level.

 

C.   Students who fail the preliminary exams risk reduction or suspension of their financial aid.  The Department may reinstate aid for these students if they subsequently pass the prelims.

 

D.   Ordinarily Ph.D. students will be eligible for financial aid beyond their eighth semester in the Ph.D. program only if their dissertation proposals have been approved and their major advisor provides a letter stating that the student is likely to complete all degree requirements within two semesters.

 

E.   Ordinarily Ph.D. students will not be eligible for financial aid beyond their tenth semester in the Ph.D. program.

 

F.   Depending on departmental needs, Summer teaching opportunities may be available, but only to Ph.D. students who have passed the prelims.

 

G.   The University requires international students to pass an English proficiency test (administered by the International Teaching Assistant Program) for them to be eligible to serve as teaching assistants.  The Department considers teaching an important component of the training of all Ph.D. students.  International students who do not take the proficiency tests or fail to pass it one year after joining the Department risk reduction or suspension of their financial aid.

 

H.  Except under very unusual circumstances, the Graduate School will only process graduate assistantship employment authorizations for students whose grade point average is at least 3.0, and only for students who have no more than three incompletes.

 

             II.2. GA DUTIES

 

  1. All GAs should contact their supervising faculty at least one week before classes start.
  1. All GAs are expected to carry out their responsibilities in a timely and diligent manner for the hours specified in their GA offer.
  1. Teaching Assistants must hold regular office hours (at least two hours per week), and should be sure that the supervising faculty member and their students know when and where.  Office hours must be kept faithfully. Failure to keep office hours will be viewed as inadequate performance in carrying out duties.
  1. Teaching Assistants may not cancel classes unless it is absolutely necessary.  If at all possible, arrangements should be made for another Teaching Assistant (or the supervising faculty member) to cover a class you have to miss.  The faculty member supervising the course must be consulted before any class may be cancelled.

  2. In large lecture courses, all substantive matters regarding a Teaching Assistant’s duties (e.g., the manner in which classes are to be conducted, the number, form, and content of quizzes, grading, record-keeping, attendance at lectures, etc.) are to be decided by the instructor in consultation with the assistants.

  3. Faculty members should consult with their GAs when scheduling work expected of them, taking into account the GAs own course work.  Graduate students are not expected to grade quizzes or exams the night before their own exams.
  4. Students must arrive in a timely manner before the beginning of the semester and cannot depart until all their GA duties are completed with their supervising faculty member.   Students should review their offer letters, which state the beginning and end dates of employment.

  

            II.3. FELLOWSHIPS AND RESEARCH SUPPORT

 

A.    Graduate School Fellowships:

Each year, the Graduate School makes available to the Department a limited amount of fellowships funds, which the Department disperses according to the following criteria:

 

1.    Predoctoral Fellowships are normally given to incoming Ph.D. students with outstanding credentials and current students who have demonstrated outstanding performance.  The allocation of available funds depends on academic merit only, considering all information regarding student performance in the program.  In early years, it is based primarily on GPA and prelim performance, while in later years it considers other measures of performance including (but not limited to) excellent dissertation work, publication of research papers in professional journals, working papers, and presentation at professional meetings.  The allocation is usually made in March.

2.    Summer Fellowships are normally given to first and second year Ph.D. students who are making normal progress.

 

B  .Internal Funding by the UConn Research Foundation:

In addition to GA and departmental fellowship funds, the following funds are available to support the research and travel of Ph.D. students.  For further information and application forms, visit the Research Foundation website: http://research.uconn.edu/ips.

 

1.    Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships: This program is designed to assist advanced Ph.D. students in completing their dissertations. Minimum eligibility requirements include having passed the doctoral general exam, having a fully approved dissertation proposal on file with the Graduate School, and not exceeding certain annual income limits.  The fellowship is awarded via two competitions held in December and June of each year.

 

2.    Doctoral Dissertation Extraordinary Expense Award: Ph.D. students who have passed the general exam and whose dissertation proposal has been approved by the Graduate School may apply for reimbursement of a limited amount of non-routine expenses directly related to collecting/analyzing data for the dissertation, such as: printing and mailing of questionnaires; fees paid to subjects involved in the research project; fees paid for the transcription of research material from tapes; travel necessary to administer questionnaires, to interview subjects, or to do research at libraries and sites away from the campus; and unusual items of equipment or supplies which the department does not routinely supply for students.  Eligible students may apply at any time.

 

3.    Doctoral Student Travel Awards: These awards are intended to support travel to domestic or international scholarly meetings at which students are presenting a research paper or poster session directly tied to their research..  They are available to Ph.D. students who have passed the general exam.

    II.4. ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

    A.   The Audrey P. Beck Scholarship is shared between Economics and Political Science. A stipend of $500 (or more, depending on endowment return) is awarded to a student with an interest in a career in public policy. Criteria for the award include career potential, academic achievement, character, breadth of interests, and need.

    B.   The W. Harrison Carter Award is given each year to a graduate student judged to be an outstanding teaching assistant in the Department of Economics. The award was established in memory of W. Harrison Carter, Professor of Economics from 1931 to 1966 and former Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

    C.   The Abraham Ribicoff Graduate Fellowship for the Study of Economic Policy is awarded to an outstanding graduate student in Economics. The student must be a Connecticut resident with a strong academic record and must have a primary interest in the application of economic analysis to the formulation and implementation of state and national economic policies.

    D. The Albert E. Waugh Scholarship in Economics provides an annual award to a graduate student interested in pursuing a career in teaching economics. This award was established in memory of a former professor of economics, Dean and Provost at the University from 1924 to 1965.

    E. The Timothy A. and Beverly C. Holt Economics Fellowship provides fellowship support for graduate students enrolled full-time in the University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The awards are based on demonstrated acadeimic achievement and financial need.

     

    II.5. COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES FELLOWSHIPS

    In addition, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences periodically awards the Ross MacKinnon Fellowship and/or the CLAS Dean's Fund Fellowship to continuing Ph.D. students.