Undergraduate Awards
Fall Semester 2022
Miami Family Fund
Application Deadlines
- Priority Deadline September 15 (notified October 1), second deadline November 1 (notified November 15)
Each year, families play a critical role in supporting and enhancing the Miami Experience through the Miami Family Fund. Made possible through the private support of Miami families, this powerful fund, strengthens the University’s efforts to provide a safe, well-rounded, vibrant college experience by offering critical support in a variety of areas.
Doctoral Undergraduate Opportunity Scholarships (DUOS)
Application Deadline: October 17, 2022
The DUOS program aims to heighten the synergy between graduate and undergraduate research at Miami University. The undergraduate student and graduate student will work together on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member in a Ph.D. granting department. Either the undergraduate or graduate student may initiate the application, but the undergraduate student is to have primary authorship of the project. DUOS Program is open to any undergraduate student and any post-master’s doctoral student in good standing who agree to abide by program requirements. The selection committee MAY provide funding for up to 11 awards, which will be announced via email in late early December. Each project may receive up to $1,000 total. Awardees must budget 75% of funds to be used in direct support of the research project. The remaining 25% of the funds ($250) may be used for dissemination of research results (e.g., publication costs, conference attendance). The award amount includes $100 per awardee for participation in the required mentor/mentee training.
Patten Senior Prize in Psychology
Application Deadline: October 17, 2022
The Patten Senior Prize is awarded to an outstanding senior selected by the Department Awards Committee. This prize is awarded to an outstanding senior major in psychology, based on exceptional academic performance and engagement in scholarly activities. Typical award recipients are seniors with very high grade point averages who are also conducting senior thesis projects in a timely fashion. Faculty should nominate a student by submitting a letter of recommendation, not to exceed 2 pages, that highlights the student's lab performance and development of scientific skills, scientific communications (e.g., research presentations, published papers), professional goals, service in the department and broader communities, and independent research activity and engagement (see scoring rubric). The submission should also include the total semesters of independent study completed by the nominee. The Patten Prize recipient will be notified before the end of October to facilitate including this recognition in their graduate school applications materials during the late Fall application cycle. Nomination letter should be sent via email with the subject line "Patten Senior Prize nomination" to psychawards@miamioh.edu. Submission materials are due Monday October 5th.
Undergraduate Research Award Program (URA)
Application Deadline: October 17, 2022 (for Spring 2023 use)
The Undergraduate Research Award (URA) program encourages students to seek out a faculty-mentored experience in developing a research grant proposal. The aim and result of specific projects supported by the program may be modest as long as the work can reasonably be interpreted as research or a creative endeavor. Applications may be made for support of a research project that is also being conducted for academic credit.
Spring Semester 2023 (some deadlines not yet published)
Undergraduate Summer Scholars (USS)
Application Deadline: Friday February 24, 2023
Undergraduate Summer Scholars (USS) is a program of individual faculty mentorship for Miami University sophomores and juniors. The USS program enables Miami undergraduate students to conduct research or other creative scholarly activities in close collaboration with a faculty mentor. Students are responsible for seeking a faculty member to mentor the project, or a factually member can suggest a project to a student. Support includes tuition support for research credits taken and professional funds for both the student and the advisor. USS nominations should follow the application specified in the website listed above. Within the Department of Psychology, Awards Committee will evaluate completed submissions using the following criteria: student preparation (e.g., GPA, student lab experience, student relationship with faculty) and project qualities (e.g., significance of the proposed research, methodological rigor, evidence-based and theory-based hypotheses, project feasibility given time and resources). Although multiple submissions from a single lab will not be disadvantaged in scoring, similarly scored proposals will be recommended with a bias toward "sharing the wealth" across labs. Nominations should be sent via email with the subject line of 'Undergraduate Summer Scholars nomination' to psychawards@miamioh.edu.
President’s Distinguished Service Award
Application Deadline: TBA
The President's Distinguished Service Award is presented to a select group of students, whose service through campus life, community service, intellectual and cultural leadership, or as a university employee, demonstrates the spirit of being a citizen leader of uncommon quality. Eligible students for 2020 include December 2019 and January 2020 graduates, as well as those preparing to graduate in May and August 2020. A written letter of nomination is required for this award. Nominations are evaluated by a Reading Committee, composed of faculty and staff from Oxford, Middletown, and Hamilton campuses. Academic performance and student disciplinary records are considered during this process. The timing and significance of a violation of the Code of Student Conduct may impact eligibility to receive the award. Winners of this award are honored at a special ceremony and receive a distinctive medallion to wear with their commencement robes.
18 of the Last 9 Award
Application Window: TBA
The 18 of the Last 9 Award yearly recognizes 18 outstanding alumni who have graduated in the last nine years, brings them back to campus, and connects them with students, staff and faculty. If you know a Miamian who has started a business, been recognized in their field, or made a significant impact on a movement, then please consider nominating them for 18 of the Last 9. Nominations are typically accepted during January and February each year.
Miami Family Fund
Application Deadline: March 1, 2023 (for summer use)
Each year, families play a critical role in supporting and enhancing the Miami Experience through the Miami Family Fund. Made possible through the private support of Miami families, this powerful fund, strengthens the University’s efforts to provide a safe, well-rounded, vibrant college experience by offering critical support in a variety of areas.
Undergraduate Research Award Program (URA)
Application Deadline: March 6, 2023 (for Summer or Fall 2023 use)
The Undergraduate Research Award (URA) program encourages students to seek out a faculty-mentored experience in developing a research grant proposal. The aim and result of specific projects supported by the program may be modest as long as the work can reasonably be interpreted as research or a creative endeavor. Applications may be made for support of a research project that is also being conducted for academic credit.
Dean’s Scholars
Application Deadline: TBA
Offered by the Dean of the College of Arts and Science, this program is designed to encourage scholarly activity among Miami's best seniors. Approximately 30 students are selected in the spring of their junior year to participate as Dean's Scholars their senior year. Dean Scholars are chosen on the basis of proposals they submit in March. The project must be conducted under the direction of a faculty mentor. Students will conduct the study under the individual department's Independent Study or Departmental Honors course numbers. The number of credit hours awarded is determined by the department, usually 3-4. The student is allocated a research fund of $750 to support the study, and the mentor receives a $750 professional expense allocation. To be nominated for a Dean’s Scholars award, students will complete the CAS application via formstack, but faculty members who wish to upload their letters of recommendation privately (i.e., not provide them to the student) can upload their recommendation letters before the March 13 deadline with the subject line of "Dean's Scholars nomination for XXX" (where XXX is the student's name) to psychawards@miamioh.edu. Dean's Scholars nominations must follow the formstack structure, but within the Department of Psychology, the Awards Committee will evaluate each submission based on two criteria: student preparation (e.g., GPA, student lab experience, student relationship with faculty) and project qualities (e.g., significance of the proposed research, methodological rigor, evidence-based and theory-based hypotheses, feasibility of project given available time and resources). These qualities should be address in both the student formstack details and in the faculty member's letter of recommendation. Finally, please note that the psychology deadline is earlier than the CAS deadline (you must complete the nomination by March 1, 2021).
Provost's Student Academic Achievement Award (PSAAA)
Application Deadline:TBA due to chair of the department
The Provost's Student Academic Achievement Award (PSAAA) is given annually to students who have achieved an outstanding record of academic excellence. The selection committee reviews nominations and awards 10–15 students with a $1000 scholarship and certificate of recognition.
Faculty should send their completed nomination (please make your subject line "PSAAA nomination for Student Name" by email PsychAwards@miamioh.edu before the deadline.