UMN Graduate School: Diversity of Views & Experience Fellowship (DOVE) Grant

UMN Graduate School: Diversity of Views & Experience Fellowship (DOVE) Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: University of Minnesota
Amount: US $25,000
Last Updated: October 02, 2025

Summary

The UMN Graduate School's Diversity of Views & Experience Fellowship (DOVE) aims to enhance research excellence by supporting academically outstanding graduate students promoting equity and social justice. Offering a $25,000 stipend, tuition for up to 14 credits, and health insurance, the fellowship encourages diverse perspectives in academia. Eligible candidates include incoming Master's and PhD students in research-based programs who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Overview

Diversity of Views & Experience Fellowship (DOVE) What is the DOVE Fellowship? The DOVE Fellowship seeks to assist graduate programs to promote a diversity of views, experiences, and ideas in the pursuit of research, scholarship, and creative excellence. This diversity is promoted through the recruitment and support of academically excellent students who are looking to advance equity, diversity, and social justice through scholarly, volunteer, or community activism experiences that required a long-term commitment. The DOVE Fellowship Program is administered jointly by the Graduate School Fellowship Office (GSFO) and the Graduate School Diversity Office (GSDO). WHAT is the award? The DOVE fellowship is a $25,000 stipend, academic year tuition at the general graduate rate for up to 14 credits per semester, subsidized health insurance through the Graduate Assistant Health Plan for up to one calendar year. DOVE Fellows will also have the opportunity to participate in the GSDO’s First-Year Institute. What additional support is provided by the graduate program? A DOVE Fellow may also elect to participate in the Graduate School Diversity Office (GSDO) First Year Institute experience. Details about the FYI experience will be provided in the DOVE terms & conditions. Programs are required to commit to a $1,000 stipend to the DOVE Fellow upon completion of the FYI experience and another $1,000 to support the professional development of the DOVE Fellow's FYI Faculty Mentor. Graduate programs will also commit a minimum of $1,000 to support the participation of the DOVE fellow in research/conference travel during their degree program (can be used outside of the DOVE Fellowship year).

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Who is eligible to apply?The DOVE fellowship is for incoming/prospective Master's and PhD students in research-based programs.Eligible graduate programs include master’s or doctoral research-based programs.Applicants to a Professional Program should apply to the Provost’s Professional DOVE Fellowship.U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, prospective students lawfully in the U.S. on a non-temporary basis, MN Dream Act students, and prospective Indigenous Canadian students who are eligible under the Jay Treaty.Applicants entering a University of Minnesota graduate program in the 2024-25 academic year. Graduate students who are transferring from another institution and who have not already earned a terminal degree are also eligible. Exception: current UMN master’s students are eligible if they were not previously a DOVE recipient and are applying as a new applicant to a UMN PhD program.Applicant is eligible if the PhD program requires a terminal master’s degree for admission.If selected, the recipient must be admitted to the nominating graduate research program as a degree-seeking student by Fall semester 2025.At least two (2) DOVE Fellowships will be awarded to McNair Scholars.Who nominates prospective students to the DOVE Fellowship?The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in the prospective graduate program.Applicants may contact the graduate program directly and request to be considered for the DOVE Fellowship.Yes, a student may be nominated by ALL graduate programs to which they apply.However, if an applicant is selected to receive a DOVE Fellowship with their nomination from one program then the applicant must enroll in that program in order to receive the DOVE. The DOVE Fellowship is for both the applicant and the program.Graduate programs can have more than one DOVE Fellowship recipient. Each program can nominate up to only two (2) students.If you are applying to a research-based PhD program at UMN and admission to the PhD requires a terminal master’s degree then, yes, you are eligible to be nominated for the DOVE as long as you meet all other eligibility requirements.You are eligible only if the PhD program requires (or prefers) the terminal master’s degree you have earned for admission (and as long as you meet all other eligibility criteria).Yes, you are eligible to be nominated as long as you were not already a DOVE or CIC fellowship recipient, you submitted a new application to a research-based PhD program, and as long as you meet all other eligibility requirements.

Ineligibility

Deadline extensions will not be granted; late submissions will not be accepted.Applicants who are entering a graduate program for a credential they have already earned are NOT eligible. Example: those who are applying for a second master’s degree, even if in a different field, are not eligible.Applicants who have already earned a terminal degree are NOT eligible.Applicants who have already received a DOVE or Creating Inclusive Cohorts (CIC) fellowship in the past are NOT eligible.Applicants may NOT self-nominate or apply directly. International students are NOT eligible to be nominated for the DOVE. Only students who are lawfully in the United States on a non-temporary basis can be nominated.Nominations that simply name the student's race/ethnicity [or: marginalized identities] without further rationale as to the diverse view, experience, and/or idea that this nominee will contribute to the program, will not be considered. If you have a master’s degree from another institution and you are applying to a master’s degree at UMN in a different field then you are not eligible because you already have a graduate degree at the master’s level.You are not eligible if you are applying to a master’s degree program in another field.