How important are graduate fellowships to UNCG?

One-fifth of all students at UNCG are enrolled in graduate programs. They either seek a master's degree in one of over 60 programs or a doctoral degree in one of 15 programs.

At their stage of life and at their advanced levels of study these students face more stringent financial demands than their undergraduate counterparts. Graduate fellowships provide students with much-needed financial assistance, and they benefit departments with precious resources for recruiting the best and most promising students to UNCG. As with undergraduates, graduate students are attracted to universities where they see other strong students, and this contributes to a favorable institutional reputation. Institutional reputation and financial assistance are the most powerful factors in recruiting top students. A strong graduate student body is also a powerful magnet for attracting the best faculty at our university. Graduate students become partners in the research of their mentors even as they train to produce their own ground-breaking work. The presence of graduate programs has a very direct and positive affect on the undergraduate student population as well. Graduate students have contact with undergraduates in the classroom, library, and laboratory, and graduate level faculty often teach undergraduate classes.

Graduate students enrich not only the University community but the greater community as well. More than 70 percent choose to remain in North Carolina after completing their degrees, adding depth to the talent pool of our communities just as they have added depth to the knowledge pool of their various academic disciplines.

How can I establish a fellowship at UNCG?

1. Creating a permanent endowment through a single, lump-sum gift.
2. Creating a permanent endowment with a pledge paid over a period of years. (This is called a term endowment.)
   >> More On Endowments
3. Making an annual contribution in an amount equivalent to the income from an endowment. (This is called a current scholarship.)
   >> More On Current Gifts

Our development staff will be happy to discuss these ideas with you to help determine which might be the best fit for you.

How can I be sure my wishes will be honored?

We will work with you to craft an agreement called a "statement of establishment." It will document your intentions for the scholarship and the University's agreement to abide by your wishes. We will provide annual reports to you about your scholarship's recipients and fund balances.

What level of gift will establish a fellowship at UNCG?

The minimum level of endowment for a graduate fellowship is $125,000. The minimum level for a current fellowship is $5,000 per year, pledged over two-four years, depending on the duration of the graduate program.

What if I am interested in graduate fellowships but can't give as much as the University requires?

We still value your support and would find a place to put your gift so that you can be sure you are helping students. This might be in the University's General Fellowship Fund or in an already established scholarship in an area of specific interest to you.

Can I create a scholarship through my will?

Yes. Your will is one of many vehicles you can use to make a gift through your estate plans. We can work with you to craft a "statement of intention," an agreement documenting your intentions to make a gift in the future and the University's promise to honor your wishes when your gift is eventually received. We can also give you the precise language for your will or codicil to accomplish your goals. We urge you to contact us if you are contemplating such a gesture to help ensure that we can honor your wishes. There are many options for creating fellowships and other endowments through planned gifts, and our planned giving staff would welcome the opportunity to discuss them with you.
     >> More On Planned Giving