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 last year of fellowship, 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.  
• Complete a survey (during the summer) to help the Office of Inclusion and Engagement match you with a peer-mentor. 
• Serve as a peer mentor for incoming fellows in your discipline/field after your first year. 
• Attend an orientation event approximately 1 week before the start of the Fall semester. This orientation is designed to explain how funds are disbursed, introduce key individuals within the Office of Inclusion and Engagement and other Graduate School offices, and provide information on who to contact for various situations. 
• Attend the Fall Welcome Reception for Spaulding-Smith Fellows. 
• Attend at least one Fellows lunch or dinner per semester (or two per year) (in addition to the Welcome Reception) during the first two years of your fellowship.  
• Attend at least two professional development training workshops held by the Graduate School's Office of Professional Development each year of your two fellowship years.  

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.