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; and must 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.