New Mexico Tech Graduate Studies

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Financial Aid for Graduate Students

NMT Graduate Assistantships

Most graduate programs have assistantship support available for qualified applicants. Some departments have particular needs that are featured on the list of NMIMT Graduate Assistantships. Check to see if there are support needs listed by the department where you would apply.

Financial Aid for Graduate Students - General Information

A majority of regular full time graduate students at New Mexico Tech receive financial aid in the form of assistantships, fellowships, study grants, or part-time employment. Requests for financial support should be made on the Application-for-Admission form or in writing to the department if the student is already registered. To qualify for these aids, the student must first be admitted as a regular full-time student. Continuation of the award is contingent upon the student maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Fellowships are grants-in-aid for full-time study and research leading to an advanced degree. Assistantships require half-time service in teaching or research. Quarter-time appointments may be made in some cases. All students holding assistantships and most students awarded fellowships qualify for resident tuition.

Assistantships and fellowships are awarded to qualified U.S. citizens and international students to support them in their educational objectives. All U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens who are awarded financial aid are required to complete a financial aid form. Detailed information related to the administration of graduate assistantships is available in the Graduate Student Handbook.

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching assistants are appointed for nine months at competitive stipend levels. Additional teaching duties or research opportunities during the summer are sometimes available. Selection of students receiving these assistantships is made by the department. Teaching assistants will have from six to ten contact hours per week plus preparation and grading if assigned recitation, laboratory, or tutorial duties. The maximum for regular instructional duties is six credit hours.

Research Assistantships

Many graduate students are supported on grants, contracts, or division research funds under the supervision of a faculty member. Research done under the assistantship is generally applicable to thesis or dissertation requirements and at competitive stipend levels. Research assistants commonly receive summer appointments as well as nine-month academic year appointments. As is the case for teaching assistantships selection of students receiving these research assistantships is made by the department.

Fellowships

Fellowships for the support of graduate students are available from departments, professional and industrial organizations and certain federal agencies. These are commonly known to, administered and awarded by the individual graduate departments and programs. Amounts range from those covering tuition and fees to full support through monthly stipends. Fellows must devote full time to studies and research.

New Mexico Graduate Scholarship Program

The goal of this program is to increase graduate enrollment in the state's public universities by students from groups underrepresented in graduate education. These scholarships are limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Recipients are expected to serve in an unpaid internship or assistantship at the Institute, a government agency or private industry approved by their major department for ten hours per week during the academic year. In addition to the unpaid internship or assistantship, the institution must award to the recipient a paid internship or assistantship in her or his major department for ten hours per week during the academic year and summer sessions.

Currently the scholarship provides a stipend of up to $7,200 per year. This amount is augmented by departments to provide the equivalent of a ¼-time assistantship. All eligible applicants identified as members of underrepresented groups will be considered for this scholarship. To be considered, nominees must have an up to date FAFSA form on file with the Financial Aid Office.

Graduate departments may nominate candidates with a memo directed to the Graduate Dean. The memo should indicate why the applicant should be considered for the award. Selection of qualified minorities is competitive and based on

academic preparation;
academic potential; as well as
need.

Preference is given to:

New Mexico residents;
students who are applying for graduate study at Tech

Competitive Graduate Scholarship Program for International Students

This New Mexico Tech scholarship program is designed to attract and retain international graduate students who demonstrate high academic achievement. These scholarships are very limited and requests for the Competitive Graduate Scholarship should be made as early as possible to maximize chances for an award. The scholarship includes a reduction in tuition to in-state rates plus $1,000 per semester ($2,000 per year), to be applied to the student's account. Continuation of the award requires that students maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better. Recipients are responsible for the remainder of their educational and living expenses.

Consideration for a Competitive Graduate Scholarship may be initiated by the department, by individual applicants or by registered graduate students in a written request directed to the Graduate Office. The request must list the:

circumstances necessitating the need for the scholarship;
documentation of academic achievement; and for students who are already registered at NMT;
a plan (calendar) for completion of the degree.

Need-Based Financial Aid for Graduate Students

Graduate students are eligible to apply for the following programs: Federal and New Mexico Work-Study (teaching assistantships only), Stafford Student Loans, and Perkins Loans. Students interested in these sources of funding should contact the . You may do so by calling (575) 835-5333.

Work-Study

Federal Work-Study (for permanent residents and U.S. citizens) and New Mexico Work-Study (for New Mexico residents) allotments are similar. Both are need-based, meaning you qualify based on your resources and expenses. Both programs work by granting "matching funds" to the school to make you more attractive to a department or other campus entity who is considering you for employment. Once you are employed, work-study funds are used to subsidize your earnings. If you do not find a job, you do not receive any money from the allotment. The amount of your allotment limits the number of hours you may work per week. To establish your eligibility and allotment limit, you should contact the . You may do so by calling (575) 835-5333.

5/13/08

Graduate Studies

202-207 Fitch Hall

New Mexico Tech
(New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology)
801 Leroy Place
Socorro, NM 87801 USA

email:

Phone - 1-800-428-TECH (8324) or 1-575-835-5513
FAX - 1-575-835-5476