Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program

UB’s Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program is sponsored by the SUNY office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion and offers support for students in doctoral programs across the university who can demonstrate that they would contribute to the diversity of the student body, especially those who can demonstrate that they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Students in the Schomburg Fellowship Program have outstanding academic credentials that contribute to an impressive graduation and retention rate of close to eighty percent. Since its inception in 1987, over 500 academically talented students have received support through this fellowship program.

Beginning in the fall of 2017, students will be awarded a Schomburg fellowship by their college or school during the admissions process. For more information please contact your academic unit.

Academic Practicum Policy
Recipients of support through the Arthur Alfonso Schomburg Graduate Fellowship who are not appointed to a teaching, research, or graduate assistantship are required to complete an academic, research, or service practicum during the period in which they receive funding. 

The academic department that nominated the Schomburg fellow will implement this policy. All activities that fellows plan to pursue must be pre-approved by their academic department and if applicable, the outside agency that will benefit from the project. Practicum activities may include, but are not limited to, teaching courses at the pre-collegiate level; academic tutoring; career or personal counseling; theoretical or applied research; and technical assistance either on campus or in the Western New York community. When consistent with the individual fellow's academic and career objectives, teaching at the undergraduate or graduate levels (while appropriately enrolled in a "supervised teaching" or "independent study" course) is permitted with the approval of the academic department and unit as a means of fulfilling the practicum requirement. In certain instances where, for example, a fellow may already be required to teach, or perform research or service as a part of his/her degree program, this experience may fulfill the fellowship practicum requirement.

Summer Support Policy
Funding provided by the State of New York for the Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program is limited and requests from Schomburg fellows for support during a summer term are considered only if funds are available. Awards are generally limited to one summer over the period of an individual fellow's academic program, unless exceptional circumstances are presented.

If sufficient funds exist, summer support may be requested only by Schomburg fellows who meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • The fellow's academic program requires all students (whether Schomburg fellows or not) to undertake specified coursework during the initial or concluding summer term of the program consistent with the approved/registered curriculum; or
  • The fellow needs summer support in order to complete his/her degree program by the end of that summer term. The expectation is that the student will graduate at the end of the summer in question (September 1 degree conferral). Note that fellows receiving summer support under this criterion will NOT be eligible for any further Schomburg fellowship funding beyond the "concluding" summer in which such support is received; or
  • Completion of required clinical component(s) of the program during the summer will enable the student to finish the degree program a semester early.

If awarded, summer tuition scholarship support covers tuition only (not fees or other charges). Such tuition support is limited to the general graduate tuition rate in effect for that summer term.

If awarded, summer stipend support will be $250 for each week of the required summer enrollment period (e.g. a total of $1,500 for a 6-week course period; $2,500 for a 10-week course period), regardless of the number of courses taken during that period.

Requests for special summer support should be in the form of a letter from the fellow addressed to the Graduate School (408 Capen Hall) and should include information describing the specific coursework to be completed and how that coursework relates to the eligibility criteria listed above. Requests must be accompanied by a letter of support from the fellow's academic department that includes confirmation that the summer coursework in question is required of all students under the program and/or certification that the fellow will complete his/her academic program by the end of the summer term and/or that the fellow's completion of required clinical components of the program during the summer will enable the student to finish the degree program a semester early.

The deadline for receipt of written requests for summer support under the Schomburg Fellowship Program is the last day of scheduled classes during the spring semester.