Awards, Scholarships, & Financial Assistance

Thanks to the generosity of donors, the College of Education, Health & Human Sciences (CEHHS) and Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies are able to provide a number of assistantships, scholarships, and other assistance to qualified students!

ELPS Graduate Research Assistantships

ELPS sponsors three Graduate Research Assistantships generally reserved for full-time graduate students for two to three years, which carry a tuition waiver, monthly stipend, and health insurance. If you are interested in applying for one of the ELPS Graduate Research Assistantships, contact Department Head, Robert Kel c hen, at 865.974.6150 or rkelchen@utk.edu.

Other UT Assistantships

The Graduate School regularly posts notices of open assistantships from across the institution. While these assistantships are not necessarily affiliated with the department, the tuition waiver can be applied toward ELPS programs, and the diverse roles offered provide students the opportunity to gain a variety of experience that may complement their focus of study within the department. The Graduate School list of assistantships can be viewed here.

Scholarships & Financial Assistance

The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies sponsors a limited number of scholarships and modest levels of assistance grants to provide to students in its programs. Students are encouraged to also check for university-level scholarship opportunities at the university level.

William J. & Lucille H. Field Award for Excellence in Tennessee Secondary School Leadership

The Field Award, administered by the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, recognizes a Tennessee secondary school principal whose life and work are characterized by leadership excellence.

Billie Cannon DeMont Graduate Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a full-time masters or doctoral student in Educational Administration who possesses excellence in scholarship, sensitivity to current social problems, and a high degree of leadership potential.

Orin Graff Scholarship

This substantial monetary award is available to doctoral students in Educational Administration and Supervision (major in Education with a concentration in Leadership Studies in Education) who displays excellence in scholarship, sensitivity to current social problems, and a high degree of leadership potential. Recipients must be in full-time residency at UT while they pursue the terminal degree, and the award can be granted for up to two years.

Erma G. Graff Scholarship

This monetary award for students pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Administration and Supervision (Major in Education with a concentration in Leadership Studies in Education) is awarded to a recipient who displays excellence in scholarship, sensitivity to current social problems, and a high degree of leadership potential. Recipients must be in full-time residency at the University of Tennessee while they pursue the terminal degree, and a recipient may receive the award for up to two years.

William Coffield Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a student specializing in the area of Higher Education Administration or Educational Administration (K-12 schools).

Dr. Gary Ubben Scholarship

Given to a master’s student in Education Administration who demonstrates excellence in potential to become a school leader. The award is given to offset tuition or to support travel to a professional conference.

If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, or are in need of modest financial assistance, contact Department Head, Dr. Robert Kelchen, at 865-9746150, or email him at rkelchen@utk.edu