The College of Engineering is pleased to announce that nominations for the General Electric (GE) Graduate Fellowship are now being accepted for the 2024/2025 academic year.

The goal of the GE Fellowship program is:

• to recruit outstanding PhD students from diverse backgrounds to UConn;
• to reward exceptional service and leadership; and
• to enable graduate students facing adverse circumstances to complete the PhD.

To expand our outreach for talented prospective students and to recognize contributions of our existing students, there are three categories of GE Fellowships.

Category	Eligibility	Fellowship Terms	Nomination By
Next Gen Scholar	New (incoming) PhD Students with 100% GA	Service-free $7500 “topping-up” award	Faculty (Prospective Major Advisor)
Inclusion and Equity	New (incoming) PhD Students with 50% GA	Service-free fellowship equivalent to 50% GA for 1 academic year	Faculty (Prospective Major Advisor)
Excellence	Existing PhD Students with 50% GA (RA or TA)	Service-free fellowship equivalent to 50% GA for 1 semester	Student (Self-nomination)

GE Fellowship for Next Gen Scholars: for new (incoming) PhD Students, a $7500 “topping-up” award; nomination is completed by faculty (usually the student’s prospective major advisor).

Overview: This one-time $7500 service-free fellowship award is designed to help attract exceptional graduate students to pursue PhD study at UConn. To receive the fellowship, the student must be fully supported at 100% (20 hrs/week). Faculty may only nominate one student per category per award cycle.

Eligibility: Prospective Ph.D. students with 100% funding (i.e., 20 hrs/week as RA and/or TA); limit of one nomination per faculty per category.

Nomination Process: Nominations are submitted by faculty advisor for direct-admit programs (or graduate director on behalf of future major advisors for cohort-admit programs).

Nomination Period: January 15 – March 1, 2024 (Rolling Basis)

It is recommended that faculty should submit nominations at their earliest convenience.

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominator Information
• Nominee Information
• Certification of Full Funding (A .pdf of an email from your advisor saying you have 50% funding is all that is needed!)
• Brief Supporting Statement [“Please upload a document that explains why the student qualifies for the fellowship, what is exceptional about the student, and the benefits for attracting this particular student to UConn (500 words max).”]
• Copy of the Student’s Slate Application Package, including:

• • Resume
  • Transcripts
  • Personal Statement
  • Recommendation Letters

Selection Process: The GE Fellowship Award Committee will review applications and make recommendations on a rolling basis.

Notification: Awards will be announced about two weeks after nomination received.

Faculty Nomination Form

GE Fellowship for Inclusion and Equity: for new (incoming) PhD Students, a service-free fellowship equivalent to 50% GA for one academic year; nomination is completed by faculty (usually the student’s prospective major advisor).

Overview: The GE Fellowship for Inclusion and Equity provides service-free fellowship funding equivalent to that of a 50% GA for one academic year to outstanding prospective PhD students with diversified backgrounds. This award is intended to serve as a service free “match” for students who have committed funding for the other 50% GA for each semester that they receive the fellowship. There is a limit of one faculty nomination per category. GE Fellowship for Inclusion and Equity funds may not be used to exceed 100% (20 hrs/week) funding equivalent. Faculty may only nominate one student per category per award cycle.

Eligibility: Prospective Ph.D. students with 50% funding (i.e., 10 hrs/week as RA or TA); limit of one nomination per faculty per category.

“Diversified Backgrounds” include:

• Students who have demonstrated strong personal leadership in advancing opportunity for members of marginalized groups in engineering, e.g., women, under-represented minorities, LGBTQIA++, neurodiverse, etc.
• Students who have an academic background outside engineering but want to transition into engineering.
• Students who have been away from academia for more than one year but want to transition into a COE Ph.D. program.

Nomination Process: Nominations are submitted by faculty advisor for direct-admit programs (or graduate director on behalf of future major advisors for cohort-admit programs). Faculty should submit nominations at their earliest convenience.

Nomination Period: January 15 – March 1, 2024 (Rolling Basis)

It is recommended that faculty should submit nominations at their earliest convenience.

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominator Information
• Nominee Information
• Certification of 50% Funding (A .pdf of an email from your advisor saying you have 50% funding is all that is needed!)
• Brief Supporting Statement [“Please upload a document that explains why the student qualifies for the fellowship, what is exceptional about the student, and the benefits for attracting this particular student to UConn (500 words max).”]
• Copy of the Student’s Slate Application Package, including:

• • Resume
  • Transcripts
  • Personal Statement
  • Recommendation Letters

Selection Process: The GE Fellowship Award Committee will review applications and make recommendations on a rolling basis.

Notification: Awards will be announced about two weeks after nomination received.

GE Fellowship for Excellence: for existing PhD students in the UConn College of Engineering, a service-free fellowship equivalent to 50% GA for one semester; a self-nomination is completed by the student recipient.

Overview: The GE Fellowship for Excellence is established to recognize excellence of current graduate students and to facilitate their completion of the Ph.D. program. The award is particularly intended to support students who have made outstanding contributions to the UConn College of Engineering through leadership and service to their departments, the college, and to other communities. This service-free fellowship provides funding equivalent to that of a 50% GA for one semester. GE Fellowship for Excellence funds may not be used to exceed 100% (20 hrs/week) funding equivalent.

Eligibility: Current Ph.D. students in the UConn College of Engineering with outstanding achievement in research and/or leadership and service who have 50% funding (i.e., 10 hrs/week as RA or TA).

Nomination Process: A self-nomination is competed by the student recipient.

Nomination Period: January 15 – February 15 for Fall awards or September 15 – October 15 for Spring awards or any time for emergency situations.

Nomination Requirements:

• Applicant Information
• Certification of 50% Funding ( A .pdf of an email from your advisor saying you have 50% funding is all that is needed!)
• Brief Supporting Statement [“Please upload a document that explains why the applicant qualifies for the fellowship, and the impact of this student’s research and/or leadership & service on the UConn College of Engineering (500 words max).”]
• Applicant’s Academic and Professional Record, including

• • Resume
  • Unofficial UConn Transcript
  • Prior institution transcripts (optional)

Selection Process: The GE Fellowship Award Committee will review applications and make recommendations on a rolling basis.

Notification: Awards will be announced about two weeks after application is received.

Student Application Form