Graduate Research Scholar Communities (GRS)

Nominees are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have a record of academic or professional excellence in their area of study. Among eligible nominees, qualified Wisconsin resident graduate students will receive priority consideration for GRS fellowships. Nominees must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

1. Demonstrates financial need through one or more of the following: Pell Grant eligibility or recipient; participation or immediate family participation in programs including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF/cash assistance), Federal Housing Assistance, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), or Medicaid.
2. Are first generation college students (i.e., parent(s)/guardian(s) did not receive a baccalaureate degree).
3. Attended a community college, a Minority Serving Institution, or Tribal college.
4. Have participated in one of the following programs: TRIO programs: Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program; Upward Bound, Talent Search, Educational Opportunities Centers, or Student Support Services; UW–Madison bachelor’s degree recipients who were in PEOPLE, Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program, POSSE, or First Wave programs.
5. Have experienced educational, economic, and/or societal disadvantages or adversity that have impacted their educational opportunities. These may include but are not limited to growing up in a rural or urban community; having experienced the foster care system; having an incarcerated parent; having responsibilities for providing financial support or primary care for other household or family members.