About the Program

The application deadline for the 2008-2009 academic year has passed.

In 1990, the Southern Regional Education Board was challenged with the question: “Why are there so few minority faculty on college campuses in America?” The two key answers were that there were not enough minority students seeking Ph.D.s and that hiring policies and practices did not focus on institutional diversity initiatives.

SREB states recognized this problem, as well as the national scope of the issue, and took action. In 1993, the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program welcomed its first class of 13 scholars in pursuit of its goal to increase the number of minority students who earn a doctoral degree and seek to become college and university faculty members.

The program has produced over 385 graduates to date and currently assists more than 300 scholars who are actively pursuing doctoral degrees.

The SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program offers two awards to students pursuing a Ph.D. with plans to become faculty members in a postsecondary institution:

DOCTORAL SCHOLARS AWARD
Five-Year Package

The Doctoral Scholars Award offers three years of direct program support and two years of institutional support. This award is for scholars who are just beginning (within the first year) their doctoral program or are expecting admission before the academic year begins. Each recipient also is awarded up to five years of tuition and fees (in-state and out-of-state, unless an institution prohibits a fee waiver), an annual stipend of up to $15,000, professional development, and expenses associated with attending the Compact for Faculty Diversity's Annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring.

DISSERTATION YEAR AWARD
One-Year Package

The Dissertation Year Award offers a one-year package of direct program support. This award is for scholars who have completed all course work comprehensive/preliminary exams and defended their dissertation prospectus, or will before the academic year begins. Each recipient is awarded one year of tuition and fees, a $15,000 stipend, a $500 research allowance, and expenses associated with attending the Compact for Faculty Diversity's Annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring. Awardees are also eligible for support to present original research through the Professional Development Fund.

Eligibility Requirements

Doctoral Scholars Award and Dissertation Year Award

In order to be considered, applicants must meet these eligibility requirements.

Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.

Must be a racial/ethnic minority (including Native Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, Asian-Americans and African-Americans).

Must hold (or will receive) a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university by the end of the spring term of the year of application. The program particularly encourages applicants who seek a Ph.D. in a field with low minority representation (science, mathematics, engineering, and science or math education).

Must be enrolled in a full-time, campus-based doctoral program.

Must plan to become a full-time faculty member in a postsecondary institution upon completion of the doctorate.

May not be employed outside the discipline/department.

Please note that our program does not support students pursuing professional degrees (M.D., D.B.A., D.D.S., J.D. and D.V.M), graduate work leading to the Ed.D. or online distance learning, executive, or other practitioner-oriented programs or non-residential degree programs.

For more information, call (404) 875-9211 or e-mail doctoral.scholars@sreb.org.