Spaulding-Smith Fellowship

The Spaulding-Smith Fellowship is designed to promote excellence by broadening perspectives and enhancing participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Our goal is to attract students of high academic caliber who bring varied and diverse perspectives, achievements, and experiences to their discipline that will contribute to research innovation.

Named for two UMass Amherst alumni — Major Franklin Spaulding (the first African American to receive a doctorate) and Elizabeth Hight Smith (the first woman to receive a graduate degree) — this fellowship provides financial support during the first and final year of graduate school. Fellows receive a 12-month living stipend for their first and 4th year of their PhD program, along with a tuition waiver, health benefits, and access to travel funds.

The Graduate Program Director or Admission Chair nominates incoming students who have applied for admission to a UMass Amherst doctoral program for this fellowship. Nominations are completed in SLATE. Awardees are selected by the Spaulding-Smith selection committee selects awardees. In addition to the financial support, Spaulding-Smith Fellows are included in a variety of programs, including mentoring, informal gatherings, customized professional development workshops, and other activities designed to support their success and facilitate a cohesive community of young scholars. They are part of a vibrant and supportive community of graduate students, faculty, and staff who are all committed to the success of graduate students here at UMass Amherst. Currently, there are over 130 students in the Spaulding-Smith Fellowship Program.

Eligibility is limited to students entering PhD programs in STEM fields.  Please note that students cannot simultaneously receive a Spaulding-Smith fellowship and the Research Enhancement and Leadership (REAL) fellowship.

Program Guidelines as a Spaulding-Smith Fellow:

• Maintain continuous enrollment as a full-time student in your program and make satisfactory progress towards your degree.
• Second installment of Spaulding-Smith Funding – To be awarded the second installment of Spaulding-Smith funding, you MUST complete your comprehensive exam by the end of your Spring semester of their 3rd year, or plan to complete it during your 4th year in your program. 
• During your Spaulding-Smith funding years (1st and 4th year), you are not allowed to have other sources of funding on campus (research assistantships, teaching assistantships, nonworking fellowships, or hourly appointments). During the Spaulding-Smith funding years (1st and 4th year), holding another assistantship or source of funding will cancel the Spaulding-Smith funding for that year. 
• Summer before you start UMass Amherst - Complete a survey to help us match you with a peer mentor. We will also ask you to submit a photo of yourself for use during the Fall Welcome Reception.
• Attend an orientation event approximately 1 week before you start UMass Amherst in the Fall. This orientation will explain how your fellowship funds are disbursed, introduce you to key individuals in the Office of Inclusion and Engagement and other Graduate School offices, and provide guidance on who to contact in different situations.
• Attend the Fall Welcome Reception for Spaulding-Smith Fellows.
• Attend at least one Fellows lunch or dinner per semester (or two per year) during the first two years of your fellowship (in addition to the Welcome Reception). Please keep in mind that even when you are not financially supported by the Spaulding-Smith Fellowship, you remain part of the fellowship community and are welcome to join us at our community-building events. 
• Attend at least two professional development training workshops held by the Graduate School's Office of Professional Development (OPD) each year of your two fellowship years. The workshops organized by OPD offer a wealth of resources and training to support graduate student success. We encourage you to attend as many of these workshops as possible.
• Attend an Individual Development Plan (IDP) workshop held by OPD in order to create an IDP (this is due before the end of your 1st year).
• Submit a yearly progress report so that we may track your academic progress.

During your 2nd year as a Fellow, you are required to serve as a peer mentor to an incoming Fellow. 

Spaulding-Smith Fellows are eligible (but not guaranteed) to earn one Fellows Travel Grant (up to $600) per academic year. Please submit your Travel Report .

Questions?

Please contact the oie [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (Office of Inclusion & Engagement).

If you are a Graduate Program Director or Admission Chair and Interested in nominating an accepted student for a Spaulding-Smith Fellowship — this can be done in Slate.