Block Grants: The Department of Social Work has a limited number of Block Grant funds available. Awards are based upon academic merit and the potential to contribute to the diversity of the social work program. Only full time students (6 or more credits) are awarded Block Grants.

Will Dodge Memorial Fund Award: This award was established to support students with experience, expertise, and long-term interests in grass roots community organizing. Community organizaing activities could include locality development, social planning, or social action. Grass roots organizing refers to working directly with vulnerable or underserved populations to achieve goals identified by that community.

Awards for the 2012-2013 academic year will range from $1000 to a maximum of $1,500. Deadline date to submit application for the Will Dodge Memorial Award is April 6, 2012. Click on link for information about the application.

Child Welfare Scholarship Program: The UMD Title IV-E Child Welfare Scholars Program is available to MSW students through collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The primary goals of the stipends are to:

• Reach out to practitioners in county and tribal child welfare agencies, recruit them to return to school and obtain an MSW, and provide financial support for them to do so.
• Encourage others entering the MSW program to commit to beginning a career in public or tribal child welfare by offering financial support and excellent, relevant educational opportunities.
• Provide graduate-level educational opportunities that prepare scholars to be culturally competent child welfare practitioners.

Students receive a financial stipend that can be used to cover a protion of tuition. In return, graduates who receive this fellowship are required to seek, and if available, accept employment in public or tribal child welfare services for a period of time. Other requirements include completing field placements in county or tribal child welfare agencies, completing curriculum requirements specific to child welfare practice, and completing a final project on a child welfare topic.

More complete information abou the Child Welfare Scholars Program is available in the Child Welfare Scholar Handbook located on the Department of Social Work website.

Graduate School Awards: A limited number of fellowships and scholarships are available through the Graduate School. Please check their web site at: http://www.grad.umn.edu/fellowships/

Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE) Fellowships 2011-2012: The Graduate School Diversity Office administers the DOVE fellowship. The fellowship is awarded to approximately 10 first-year students from under-represented groups (U.S. citizens or permanent residents). The fellowship provides a $22,500 stipend, tuition at regular graduate school rates (up to 14 credits per semester), and subsidized health insurance for one academic year. Graduate programs must nominate prospective students by the deadline, usually mid-January. Students who wish to be nominated should contact Rita Ohman, Student Support Assistant, at rohman@d.umn.edu by December 1, 2011. For more information, visit the Graduate School Office of Graduate Diversity, Outreach and Retention web site at http://www.grad.umn.edu/outreach/finances/dove_faq.html

Students Loans: Graduate students are eligible to apply for the federally insured loan programs. Information on the loans may be obtained from:

Financial Aid and Registrar Office; Solon Campus Center, Room 23; 1117 University Drive; Duluth, MN 55812

Website: http://www.d.umn.edu/fareg/

UMD MSW Scholarship Information

External Sources for Scholarship Opportunities