Scholarships, Awards, Fellowships, & Assistantships
The School of Information Sciences is pleased to offer the following scholarships, awards, fellowships, & assistantships to SIS undergraduate and graduate students. These awards, which are funded through the generosity of alumni, friends, foundations, and corporations, are offered to SIS students who demonstrate academic accomplishments and leadership skills.
Please review the financial assistance page for your program of study to learn more about eligibility, limitations, and deadlines for application. Additional questions should be sent to Wesley Lipschultz, Director of Student Services.
ALL DEGREE PROGRAMS (EXTERNAL SOURCES)
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Nationality Rooms Summer Study Abroad Scholarships: The purpose of the Nationality Rooms Summer Study Abroad Scholarships is to enable Pitt undergraduate and graduate students to have an in-depth immersion in another culture for at least five weeks. It is important that applicants choose a program that will maximize their contact with the populace abroad and be accepted by the University for credit.
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Office of Research funding sources: The University of Pittsburgh Office of Research have identified a variety of funding sources for students in both undergraduate and graduate programs. Please visit their Information Science funding sources page for more information.
UNDERGRADUATE INFORMATION SCIENCE PROGRAM (BSIS)
Awards
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Anthony Debons Scholarship: The Anthony Debons Scholarship award is presented annually to an undergraduate student for outstanding contributions to the BSIS program. Dr. Debons was a professor in SIS’ Information Science & Technology Program and a leader in the information science field for more than forty years. Awardees are selected by an undergraduate faculty committee.
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Barbara E. King Scholarship Award: The Barbara E. King Scholarship Award supports outstanding undergraduate students. Preference is given to students who will improve the diversity of the SIS undergraduate population. Awardees are nominated by an undergraduate faculty committee.
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Eli Lilly IT Award: The Eli Lily IT Scholarship provides a book award to outstanding undergraduate sophomore and junior students. Awardees are selected by undergraduate faculty committee.
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George R. Morgan Legacy Fund: The George R. Morgan Legacy Fund supports undergraduate students working full-time jobs. Awardees are selected by an undergraduate faculty committee.
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Ida M. Flynn Memorial Award: The Ida M. Flynn Memorial Award is given to students in recognition of excellence and outstanding contributions to the BSIS Program. Awardees are selected by an undergraduate faculty committee.
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Jennifer and Eric Spiegel Book Endowment Fund: The Jennifer and Eric Spiegel Book Endowment Fund supports a full-time student in the BSIS Program. Students in INFSCI 1044 are invited to submit a 500-1000 word essay about technology and communications. Awardees must have a 3.00 or higher GPA and are selected by Jennifer and Eric Spiegel.
Scholarships
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Eli Lilly IT Scholarship: Eli Lily IT Scholarship provides support to outstanding undergraduate junior and senior students. Awardees are nominated by an undergraduate faculty committee.
- PPG Industries Student Awards Program: Thanks to the annual generosity of PPG Industries, two $5,000 scholarships will support undergraduate students who improve the diversity of the School of Information Sciences’ student population. Candidates must:
- Be entering SIS their junior year; and
- Have a GPA of 3.0 or above; and
- Be eligible to work in the United States as a Permanent Resident of U.S. Citizen; and
- Possess strong communication skills, be self-motivated, and have a desire to learn new technologies and act as part of a team; and
- Be aware that the PPG IT program will review eligible student scholarship recipients that are looking for a summer internship the summer before their senior year.
Candidate will be nominated by faculty committee, and funds will be disbursed prior to the start of each fall term.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS AT SIS (ALL PROGRAMS)
Awards
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Catherine Ofiesh and Gerald Orner Award: This award established by Dr. Gerald Orner in memory of his wife Catherine Ofiesh, an alumna of SIS, recognizes SIS students who write original and innovative papers in the field of information science. Travel awards will be granted to students whose papers are accepted for presentation at the annual iConference.
Scholarships
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Beta Phi Mu Pi Chapter (BPM-Pi) Award for Scholarly Achievement: Each year, BPM-Pi makes available a scholarship for up to three graduate students currently enrolled at SIS. This scholarship recognizes a student from SIS’ Library & Information Science Program, Information Science & Technology Program, and/or Telecommunications & Networking Program whose achievement in their selected area of study is judged outstanding by the BPM-Pi Chapter officers and/or faculty recommendation. More information about the scholarship and this honor society are available here.
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Casimir Borkowski Scholarship: This scholarship provides tuition support to students studying natural language processing, information retrieval, and/or linguistics in any degree program at the graduate level. The scholarship is named for Casmir Borkowski, a former SIS faculty member, who was dedicated to the field of natural language processing and linguistics.
Assistantships
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Commonwealth Scholars Assistantship: Each year, SIS receives Commonwealth Funds, which are earmarked to support graduate students from underrepresented groups who are U.S. citizens or U.S. immigrants/permanent residents. This program offers both tuition and stipend support, as part of this 10-15 hour/week assistantship. Commonwealth-supported students will assist with student recruiting, community-building events, and SIS’ diversity programs. If interested, please select "Commonwealth Funds" when completing the financial assistance portion of your application for admission.
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Graduate Student Assistant (GSA) / Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) [doctoral students only]: GSAs and GSRs receive remission of half or full tuition plus a stipend for a 10 or 20-hour weekly assignment in the school. GSAs may be assigned to work with one or more faculty members or to work in the iSchool at Pitt Labs. GSRs are assigned to work on research projects. Stipend rates are established by the University and are available here.
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Teaching Assistant (TA) / Teaching Fellow (TF) [doctoral students only]: TAs receive full or partial tuition remission plus a stipend for assisting faculty with their teaching and/or research. TFs receive full tuition remission plus a stipend for teaching one course under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Stipend rates are established by the University and are available here.
GRADUATE INFORMATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
Awards
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Allen Kent Scholarship Endowment: The Allen Kent Scholarship Endowment award is presented annually to a graduate student who makes an outstanding contribution to SIS’ Information Science & Technology Program. Allen Kent is a distinguished service professor emeritus at SIS. Awardees are selected by faculty committee.
Scholarships
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James G. Williams Scholarship Fund: The James G. Williams Scholarship Fund was created to honor Distinguished Professor Emeritus James G. Williams. The scholarship supports an outstanding student enrolled in the MSIS Program. Recipients are nominated by the faculty.
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Scholarship for Service (SFS): This scholarship opportunity is available only to U.S. citizens and is intended to train information professionals who will design, build, and secure the nation’s information systems. The SFS program supports students who are earning an MSIS or MST in the Security Assured Information Systems specialization at SIS. SFS provides full tuition, a stipend, conference travel support, and a paid summer internship to qualified applicants. Graduates will work for a U.S. governmental agency for up to two years after successfully completing this program of study.
GRADUATE LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE PROGRAM
Pitt Partners Program
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Partners Program placements provide monetary compensation that is earned, not awarded. The Pitt Partners program is unique in that it’s a paid (through hourly wage or stipend) experiential learning opportunity that students must apply for separately from all other financial assistance options.
Awards
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Lancour, Immroth, Brewster Endowment Fund: This award recognizes a LIS student whose achievement in the field of international and comparative studies is judged outstanding by the dean and/or faculty committee. Awards may cover supplies, travel, and books.
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Margaret Mary Corbett Memorial Award: This award is offered to the student presenting the best LIS dissertation proposal. The Fund was established by friends, graduates, colleagues, and relatives in memory of Margaret “Peg” Corbett.
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Sarah C. Cohen Endowment for School Library Practicum Experience: In honor of his late wife, Sara Cohen (MLIS ’95), Ed Cohen established this endowment to provide awards to outstanding students in the School Library Certification Program (SLCP). Awards are granted to students who complete the School Library Practicum Experience (LIS 2922), and who are selected by a SLCP committee.
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School Library Certification Program (SLCP) Award: The SLCP Award is given to students nominated by LIS SLCP faculty who exemplify academic excellence and professional promise as school librarians. Awardees are selected by a faculty committee.
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Tung-Li and Hui-Hsi Yuan Family Scholarship: This scholarship provides support for students in the MLIS and LIS PhD programs, and is awarded by the LIS program chair. The intent of this scholarship is to advance leadership in the field of library and information science in China.
Scholarships
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Alumni Anniversary Fellowship of the Carnegie Library School Fund: This fund was established in 1927 from the alumni of Carnegie Library School. This fund provides scholarship grants to the students in the Library and Information Science Program.
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The ARL/Music Library Association Diversity and Inclusion Initiative Scholarship Program [master's students only]: This scholarship program, funded by a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and ARL member libraries, offers candidates from underrepresented groups an opportunity to pursue the MLIS degree while gaining valuable, hands-on experience in a large academic music library environment. SIS and the University Library System are proud to be partners in this endeavor. For more information about the program and for a link to the application form, please visit ARL's Web site.
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Bertha G. Louik Endowed Scholarship: This scholarship supports students enrolled in the LIS program. Awardees are selected by faculty committee.
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The Dr. Joan Brest Friedberg Scholarship: The Dr. Joan Brest Friedberg Scholarship provides support to a part-time, in-state student enrolled in the MLIS program. The scholarship was established to honor Dr. Joan Brest Friedberg, co-founder of Beginning with Books.
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E. Blanche Woolls Endowed Scholarship for Library Scholars: This fund supports a full or partial scholarship for students enrolled in the doctoral program. Awardees are selected by faculty committee.
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E. J. Josey Scholarship for Minorities in Library Science: In memory of E. J. Josey, professor emeritus at SIS, this scholarship supports an MLIS student who shows potential for academic excellence and leadership in the profession. Dr. Josey was a pioneer in the field of library and information science, working tirelessly to integrate libraries and the library workforce.
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Elva S. Smith Endowed Scholarship: The Elva S. Smith Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship that covers three terms of study leading to the MLIS degree. It is awarded to an individual who exhibits potential for contributing to children & young adult services in a public library.
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Elva S. Smith Scholarship in Children's Library Services: SIS may award either a partial or full scholarship to students interested in the Children & Youth Services specialization. Awardees are selected by faculty committee.
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Frank B. and Anne J. Sessa Scholarship: This endowed scholarship supports MLIS students who are interested in working in public libraries, and is awarded by a faculty committee.
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H.W. Wilson Scholarship: This scholarship supports students enrolled in the LIS program. Awardees are selected by faculty committee.
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K. Subramanyam Scholarship for Library and Information Sciences: This scholarship is offered to a LIS student as a reward for academic excellence. Awardees are selected by faculty committee.
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Margaret Hodges Quasi-Endowed Scholarship: In honor of the late Margaret Hodges, professor emeritus at SIS, this fund provides a one-time scholarship for a MLIS student who is pursuing a career in children’s librarianship.
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Martha P. and Joseph Lang Jr. Fund: This scholarship supports students enrolled in the LIS program. Awardees are selected by faculty committee.
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Nina C. Brotherton Scholarship: The Brotherton Scholarship was established by the Carnegie Library School Class of 1925 to provide financial assistance to students in the LIS program. Awardees are selected by faculty committee.
Preckel-McAuley Scholarship Fund: This fund provides scholarships to students pursuing a master's degree in Archives and Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Information Science.
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Robert Erwin MLIS Fund: The Robert Erwin MLIS Fund supports a student in the Master of Library & Information Science Program of the School of Information Sciences. The student shall be awarded for four years at $2500 per year. Preference is given to a western PA student who maintains a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Qualified candidates will be invited to apply via e-mail.
Fellowships
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Diversity Librarian Fellowship and Residency Program [master's students only]: This program offers minority candidates an opportunity to pursue the Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree while gaining valuable, hands-on experience in a large academic library system. The goal of this two-year program is to increase the number of underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities within academic librarianship by providing the graduate education and the practical experience critical for successful entrance into the profession.
GRADUATE TELECOMMUNICATIONS & NETWORKING PROGRAM
Scholarships
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Fritz Froehlich Scholarship: The Fritz Froehlich Award is presented to a student for outstanding contributions to the graduate Telecommunications & Networking Program. Recipients are nominated by the faculty. The award is presented annually at spring graduation.
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K. Leon Montgomery Assistantship in Telecommunications: This scholarship provides support to a full-time student enrolled in the MST program. Preference is given to students who achieve academic excellence through coursework, research, international focus, and leadership.
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Scholarship for Service (SFS): This scholarship opportunity is available only to U.S. citizens and is intended to train information professionals who will design, build, and secure the nation’s information systems. The SFS program supports students who are earning an MSIS or MST in the Security Assured Information Systems specialization at SIS. SFS provides full tuition, a stipend, conference travel support, and a paid summer internship to qualified applicants. Graduates will work for a U.S. governmental agency for up to two years after successfully completing this program of study.