national physical science consortium (graduate fellowships in the physical sciences)

University Commitment

NPSC member universities process and review each student applicant using their own criteria. A student who receives an NPSC Fellowship is notified by mid-March. Each new NPSC Fellow is to contact the department(s) to which the Fellow applied to advise the department of receipt of the NPSC Fellowship. In addition, the new NPSC Fellow should notify the department that the NPSC sponsoring employer will provide a allowance payment of $16,000 each year for up to six years.

If the university department accepts the student as an NPSC Fellow, the department assumes responsibility for tuition and fees. The graduate department is encouraged to augment the NPSC allowance if it is not equal to the amount other graduate students in that department receive, and many do.

It is entirely up to the university and department whether to accept a student with an NPSC Fellowship. If the new NPSC Fellow is accepted, that begins the university's commitment as a Consortium member for the student's tuition and fees for up to six years.

NPSC member universities do not pay a membership fee. The commitment of the university is to the student. Tuition and Fees are covered by the university or department and are not deducted from a fellow's allowance payments. The procedures for covering or waiving the NPSC Fellow(s) tuition and fees are an internal university or department matter. Member universities also provide year-round mentoring support for all NPSC Fellows.

NPSC Expectations for Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships

Teaching Assistantships

The National Physical Science Consortium (NPSC) recognizes that time spent as a teaching assistant has academic merit and will enhance a student's ability to reason and communicate. The NPSC also recognizes that teaching may be a degree requirement of some academic departments attended by NPSC Fellows.

NPSC wishes to make certain that all NPSC Fellows have sufficient time for their studies and research in preparation for examinations and other academic requirements. NPSC sets forth the following policy in the belief that the majority of the time of an NPSC Fellow should be spent on academic activities that directly support the successful completion of graduate studies.

During the first two years of a fellowship, NPSC strongly recommends that teaching assistantships be limited to one-quarter time for the academic year (0.25 FTE).

During years three through six, teaching assistantships should be limited to a maximum of two additional terms (i.e., one academic year) at one-half time (0.50 FTE).

The NPSC reserves the right to reduce the amount of allowance paid to any Fellow who exceeds the recommended guidelines set forth in this policy. Any such reduction is based on the pro-rata amount of the NPSC allowance minus the income derived from the teaching assistantship time that exceeds the limits of this policy.

All requests for waiver from this policy must be in writing and directed to the NPSC Executive Director. Decisions of the Executive Director are final.

Research Assistantships

The National Physical Science Consortium (NPSC) recognizes that time spent as a research assistant has academic merit and will enhance a student's ability, broaden their research background, and possibly lead to the clarification of their dissertation topic. The NPSC endorses such research.

NPSC wishes to make certain all NPSC Fellows have sufficient time for their studies and research in preparation for examinations and other academic requirements. NPSC sets forth the following policy in the belief that the majority of the time of an NPSC Fellow should be spent on academic activities that directly support the successful completion of graduate studies.

During the first two years of a fellowship NPSC recommends that research assistantships be limited to the summer. Research assistantships for the academic terms must be reported to the NPSC Executive Director.

All requests for waiver from this policy must be in writing (including e-mail) and directed to the NPSC Executive Director. Decisions of the Executive Director are final.


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Fellowship Information Unique Features Featured Fellows FAQ University Commitment Signatory Institutions Join The Consortium	University Commitment NPSC member universities process and review each student applicant using their own criteria. A student who receives an NPSC Fellowship is notified by mid-March. Each new NPSC Fellow is to contact the department(s) to which the Fellow applied to advise the department of receipt of the NPSC Fellowship. In addition, the new NPSC Fellow should notify the department that the NPSC sponsoring employer will provide a allowance payment of $16,000 each year for up to six years. If the university department accepts the student as an NPSC Fellow, the department assumes responsibility for tuition and fees. The graduate department is encouraged to augment the NPSC allowance if it is not equal to the amount other graduate students in that department receive, and many do. It is entirely up to the university and department whether to accept a student with an NPSC Fellowship. If the new NPSC Fellow is accepted, that begins the university's commitment as a Consortium member for the student's tuition and fees for up to six years. NPSC member universities do not pay a membership fee. The commitment of the university is to the student. Tuition and Fees are covered by the university or department and are not deducted from a fellow's allowance payments. The procedures for covering or waiving the NPSC Fellow(s) tuition and fees are an internal university or department matter. Member universities also provide year-round mentoring support for all NPSC Fellows. NPSC Expectations for Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships Teaching Assistantships The National Physical Science Consortium (NPSC) recognizes that time spent as a teaching assistant has academic merit and will enhance a student's ability to reason and communicate. The NPSC also recognizes that teaching may be a degree requirement of some academic departments attended by NPSC Fellows. NPSC wishes to make certain that all NPSC Fellows have sufficient time for their studies and research in preparation for examinations and other academic requirements. NPSC sets forth the following policy in the belief that the majority of the time of an NPSC Fellow should be spent on academic activities that directly support the successful completion of graduate studies. During the first two years of a fellowship, NPSC strongly recommends that teaching assistantships be limited to one-quarter time for the academic year (0.25 FTE). During years three through six, teaching assistantships should be limited to a maximum of two additional terms (i.e., one academic year) at one-half time (0.50 FTE). The NPSC reserves the right to reduce the amount of allowance paid to any Fellow who exceeds the recommended guidelines set forth in this policy. Any such reduction is based on the pro-rata amount of the NPSC allowance minus the income derived from the teaching assistantship time that exceeds the limits of this policy. All requests for waiver from this policy must be in writing and directed to the NPSC Executive Director. Decisions of the Executive Director are final. Research Assistantships The National Physical Science Consortium (NPSC) recognizes that time spent as a research assistant has academic merit and will enhance a student's ability, broaden their research background, and possibly lead to the clarification of their dissertation topic. The NPSC endorses such research. NPSC wishes to make certain all NPSC Fellows have sufficient time for their studies and research in preparation for examinations and other academic requirements. NPSC sets forth the following policy in the belief that the majority of the time of an NPSC Fellow should be spent on academic activities that directly support the successful completion of graduate studies. During the first two years of a fellowship NPSC recommends that research assistantships be limited to the summer. Research assistantships for the academic terms must be reported to the NPSC Executive Director. The NPSC reserves the right to reduce the amount of allowance paid to any Fellow who exceeds the recommended guidelines set forth in this policy. Any such reduction is based on the pro-rata amount of the NPSC allowance minus the income derived from the teaching assistantship time that exceeds this policy limits. All requests for waiver from this policy must be in writing (including e-mail) and directed to the NPSC Executive Director. Decisions of the Executive Director are final. © Copyright 2004, National Physical Science Consortium.