Fellowships and graduate assistantships are available to students in the School as are a number of other scholarship opportunities. All require full-time enrollment, and competition for them is keen. 

OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS available: ALA scholarships, SLA Scholarships

Awards Available through the School

Hallie Day Blackburn Scholarship

In 1987 Hallie Day Blackburn endowed a scholarship in her name, and in the endowment agreement Mrs. Blackburn stated her purpose: "…the Donor wishes to improve public libraries in Kentucky by providing financial aid for persons interested in becoming professional public librarians…." The agreement pro-vides that "The Recipient(s) of the scholarships(s) shall be selected by a Scholarship Committee ap-pointed annually by the Dean of the College of Library and Information Science," which today is the Di-rector of the School of Library and Information Science; and it further provides that Hallie Day Blackburn Scholarships "shall be awarded to students who are college graduates, residents of the state of Kentucky, and in the opinion of the Scholarship Committee, have demonstrated potential for academic success and are preparing for careers in public libraries." Although the agreement does not limit recipients to those who are enrolling for the first time in the School, most Hallie Day Blackburn Scholarships have gone to entering students, due to the School's desire to use the Scholarship to recruit students.

Graduate Assistantships and Internships

Graduate Assistantships and Internships require the student to provide service, generally 15-20 hours per week. Most Assistantships and Internships are awarded to begin the fall semester. Due to the School's desire to use Graduate Assistantships and Internships to recruit students to the master's program, it is rare for such an award to be offered to a person already enrolled in the program. The. The application deadline is April 1, and the application form for a Graduate Assistantship and Internship is contained in the School's Bulletin, which is available at http://www.uky.edu/CommInfoStudies/SLIS/bulletin.htm
(Note for those applying for summer or fall 2004 admission: Because of uncertainty about the UK budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004, the number of Graduate Assistantships and Internships for the next academic year may not be known until late spring.)

Awards Available through the UK Graduate School

Kentucky Graduate Scholarships

The University of Kentucky Graduate School awards Kentucky Graduate Scholarships. They enable all new non-resident students (including international students) enrolled in a University of Kentucky graduate degree program, who meet the GPA requirements, to attend the University of Kentucky at the in-state tuition rate. No separate application is required. To qualify, a person must have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.25 or higher on a 4.00 scale and a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 on any prior graduate work. The scholarships apply to fall, spring, and summer. Application deadlines are June 15 for fall, November 15 for spring, March 15 for summer. A person who qualifies for in-state tui-tion through the Academic Common Market would not receive a Kentucky Graduate Scholarship. The Graduate School provides information about the Scholarships at http://www.gradschool.uky.edu/KGS.html

Lyman T. Johnson Academic Year Fellowships

Lyman T Johnson Academic Year Fellowships are available from the Graduate School to recruit students from the federally recognized ethnic minority groups (Hispanic, Black/non-Hispanic, Puerto Rican, American Indian, Asian-Pacific Islander, or Mexican American). The Fellowships match an award the student receives through the academic program. Information about the Fellowships is available by going to http://www.gradschool.uky.edu/fellowship/LTJAwards.html According to information provided by the Graduate School, "New nominations for the LTJ Academic Year Fellowship (AY 2004-2005) will be accepted by the Graduate School up to June 1. However, priority will be given to those nominations received by May 15."

Other Graduate School Fellowships

The University of Kentucky Graduate School awards numerous other fellowships. Information is available by going to the Graduate School Web site http://www.research.uky.edu/gs/ and clicking on Fellowships, Assistantships, and Support Funding or by going to http://www.research.uky.edu/gs/fellowship/fellowassist.html
Most such awards are for entering students and do not permit self-nomination, but rather require that the graduate program in which the person would enroll or is enrolled nominate the individual. The Graduate School establishes criteria in order for a person to be nominated and sets very firm nomination deadlines. Meeting the criteria does not assure nomination. The School will nominate only those who, in the School's judgment and experience, are strong candidates.

Assistance Available through the Office of Student Financial Aid

Student Loans, Etc

Neither the School of Library and Information Science nor the UK Graduate School makes available student loans. For information about student loans go the Web site of the Office of Student Financial Aid http://www.uky.edu/FinancialAid/ The site has links to other forms of assistance, e.g., federal work study.