Deadline: 11/01/2024

• Samuel L. Becker Award for Outstanding Graduate Scholarship in Media History and Culture
• John Waite Bowers Award for Outstanding Graduate Scholarship in Interpersonal Communication and Relationships
• Donald C. Bryant Award for Outstanding Graduate Scholarship in Rhetoric, Culture, Engagement 

The annual Becker, Bowers, and Bryant Awards are granted, respectively, for outstanding graduate scholarship in media history and culture, interpersonal communication and relationships, and rhetoric, culture, engagement.  Applicants may only submit papers written while in the graduate program in Communication Studies at the University of Iowa. Work that integrates elements of any of the three areas of inquiry are welcome, regardless of the student's declared area of interest, but the award being sought must be specified at the time of application.  A paper may be submitted for only one of the awards, and only one paper may be submitted per person.  Co-authored papers are welcome, so long as the co-author(s) are fellow UI graduate students in Communication Studies.  Papers must be written in the style appropriate to work in your tradition (e.g., APA, Chicago, MLA).  Paper length should not exceed 30 double-spaced pages (excluding references, endnotes, tables, figures, etc.).  Papers should not contain any author identifiers, except on the title page. As a reminder, submitted papers are not required to have collected/analyzed data. For example, study proposals and conceptual pieces are also acceptable. This award no longer comes with a monetary prize.

Submit your paper in electronic form to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu) as a word document with the name of the award you are applying for (Becker, Bowers, or Bryant) in the subject line.

Winners will be determined based on evaluations made by Communication Studies alumni reviewers and announced in the fall semester.

Deadline: 11/01/2024

The Gronbeck Collegiality Award provides two annual $1,000 travel awards to graduate students who best contribute to collegiality and a positive department culture. The award would be in addition to the conference travel funds that the Department of Communication Studies provides, and should be used in the same manner.

This award recognizes graduate students who believe in and demonstrate the collegial qualities Bruce Gronbeck was known for, namely:

• Respect and civility
• Encouragement and guidance, both personally and professionally
• Appreciation of diverse opinions
• Supporting the vigorous defense of one’s ideas
• A short memory and bountiful second chances
• Inclusivity
• Acknowledgement and recognition
• Mentoring and challenging
• Optimism and giving benefit of doubt
• Direct communication, face to face
• Supporting the widest participation
• Nourishing a pleasant work atmosphere

Nominations may be sent via e-mail to the Director of Graduate Studies for Communication Studies.

The Department of Communication Studies has set aside an annual allocation of $3,000 to support research by graduate students in good standing. Dissertation Research Awards are intended to assist students with dissertation-related work including, but not limited to, a dissertation chapter, a pilot study, or data collection to support a dissertation. Award funds may be used for travel to archives or to interview informants, for the payment of research participants, or for the purchase of equipment or services necessary for one’s research.

A proposal of two-pages maximum must include the signature of the sponsoring faculty advisor for the project. The proposal should include an itemized budget and disclose funding already allocated by the department for the project.  

Funding will be disbursed in two funding cycles, one in the fall and one in the spring semester. Applicants should note that funds are limited, and the committee will need to exercise discretion to support as many research projects as feasible; thus, large requests are unlikely to be funded in full in the fall cycle.  A given student may apply a second time during the spring cycle to support a given project.

Awards will be announced in both the fall and spring.

Submit materials to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu).

• Submit materials to cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu by the departmental deadline of 10/25/2024 for Summer/Fall 2024 Award Nominations
• Students must ensure all letters of recommendation (eg. from faculty members) are also to cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu by the internal deadline to be considered for nomination to the graduate college.
• In the case of more than one application from the same PhD program, the DGS ranks the applications from that program and describes the formal process by which the ranking was determined. 
• For fellowship description, qualifications, and submission materials visit the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website. 

• Submit materials to cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu by the departmental deadline of 9/9/2024 for Spring 2024 Award Nominations
• Students must ensure all letters of recommendation (eg. from faculty members) are also to cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu by the internal deadline to be considered for nomination to the graduate college.
• Departments may nominate (in rank order) up to four students who completed their comprehensive exams between the specified times, per deadline.  
• For fellowship description, qualifications, and submission materials visit the Grad College website.

• Submit materials to cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu by the departmental deadline of 10/25/2024 for Summer/Fall 2024 Award Nominations
• Students must ensure all letters of recommendation (eg. from faculty members) are also to cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu by the internal deadline to be considered for nomination to the graduate college.
• In the case of more than one application from the same PhD program, the DGS ranks the applications from that program and describes the formal process by which the ranking was determined. 
• For fellowship description, qualifications, and submission materials visit the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website.

Deadline: 3/06/2025

The Department of Communication Studies has set aside an annual allocation of $3,000 to support research by graduate students in good standing. Dissertation Research Awards are intended to assist students with dissertation-related work including, but not limited to, a dissertation chapter, a pilot study, or data collection to support a dissertation. Award funds may be used for travel to archives or to interview informants, for the payment of research participants, or for the purchase of equipment or services necessary for one’s research.

A proposal of two-pages maximum must include the signature of the sponsoring faculty advisor for the project.  The proposal should include an itemized budget and disclose funding already allocated by the department for the project.  Where appropriate, applicants should specify that research protocols have or will go under IRB review.

Funding will be disbursed in two funding cycles, one in the fall and one in the spring semester. Applicants should note that funds are limited, and the committee will need to exercise discretion to support as many research projects as feasible; thus, large requests are unlikely to be funded in full in the fall cycle.  A given student may apply a second time during the spring cycle to support a given project.

Awards will be announced in both the fall and spring.

Submit materials to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu).

The total award amount is $1,500.  If there are multiple winners of the award, all winners would split the total award amount.

This award recognizes teaching excellence among graduate students. All departmental teaching assistants are eligible for the prize, including assistants who have taught in the Rhetoric program.

Please use the application format for the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (OTAA) to apply for the Ehninger Award. Submission instructions can be found here.

Self-nominations are not allowed.

Submit materials to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu) by the deadline.

***NOTE TO APPLICANT:  Funds for this award will first be applied to any outstanding balance on your U-Bill. If you are receiving financial aid from the University of Iowa’s Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA), this award could impact the aid that you have already received. If your other aid has to be reduced, you will be notified by the OSFA. Any remaining funds from your award will either be directly deposited to your bank account (if you have direct deposit set up with the University), or sent to you in the form of a check via first class mail from the Cashier’s Office, 5 Calvin Hall, 319.335.0071.

The Ramona Tomlin Mattson Fellowship is awarded to one advanced female graduate student on the basis of the dissertation plan and on previous teaching evaluations, consistent with the donor's emphasis on "doctoral candidates. . . . preparing to teach at the college level." The Award amount is $5,000.  If there are multiple winners of the award, all winners would split the total award amount.

Specific criteria for eligibility for this award are:

• Must be enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Communication Studies at Iowa
• Must have successfully defended a dissertation prospectus and successfully completed the pre-dissertation examination before the application is submitted (those whose deadlines have been extended beyond this date are not eligible)
• Must be a resident at the University of Iowa for the year following the application (i.e., for the year when the fellowship would be received)

Nominations must include:

• Dissertation prospectus
• One-page summary of ACE forms
• One-page summary of student comments on teaching
• Brief letter from the applicant indicating the basis for applying
• A letter of recommendation from the nominator

The winner may identify herself as the Ramona Tomlin Mattson Fellow during the year of the award.

Submit materials to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu).

***NOTE TO APPLICANT:  Funds for this award will first be applied to any outstanding balance on your U-Bill. If you are receiving financial aid from the University of Iowa’s Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA), this award could impact the aid that you have already received. If your other aid has to be reduced, you will be notified by the OSFA. Any remaining funds from your award will either be directly deposited to your bank account (if you have direct deposit set up with the University), or sent to you in the form of a check via first class mail from the Cashier’s Office, 5 Calvin Hall, 319.335.0071.

Deadline: 3/06/2025

The Carroll Arnold Fellowship is awarded to the most promising 2nd year scholar/teacher. The total award amount is $1,500.  If there are multiple winners of the award, all winners would split the total award amount.

Nominations must be made by the student's committee (students, let your committee know you wish to be nominated!) and will consist of:

• Evidence of strong development as a teacher
• Notable growth as a scholar (as evidenced in letters of commentary on graduate work from at least two committee members)
• A statement from the candidate laying out a self-development plan.

The winner may identify him/herself as The Carroll Arnold Graduate Fellow during the year of the award.

Submit materials to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu).

***NOTE TO APPLICANT:  Funds for this award will first be applied to any outstanding balance on your U-Bill. If you are receiving financial aid from the University of Iowa’s Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA), this award could impact the aid that you have already received. If your other aid has to be reduced, you will be notified by the OSFA. Any remaining funds from your award will either be directly deposited to your bank account (if you have direct deposit set up with the University), or sent to you in the form of a check via first class mail from the Cashier’s Office, 5 Calvin Hall, 319.335.0071.

Deadline: 3/06/2025

The Carol Schrage Prize will be awarded each spring to the graduate student or faculty or staff member who has done the most to build a sense of community either among the graduate students in the department or among all students, staff, and faculty in the department. The total award amount is $1,500.  If there are multiple winners of the award, all winners would split the total award amount.

Please submit your nominations and a brief statement as to why this person deserves the award.

Submit materials to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu).

***NOTE TO APPLICANT:  Funds for this award will first be applied to any outstanding balance on your U-Bill. If you are receiving financial aid from the University of Iowa’s Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA), this award could impact the aid that you have already received. If your other aid has to be reduced, you will be notified by the OSFA. Any remaining funds from your award will either be directly deposited to your bank account (if you have direct deposit set up with the University), or sent to you in the form of a check via first class mail from the Cashier’s Office, 5 Calvin Hall, 319.335.0071.

Dept. Deadline 2/12/25 for Nominations to the Graduate College by 2/26/2025

A teaching assistant who won an award in the past may not be nominated again.

Nominations may be initiated by students, faculty, colleagues, departmental executive officers (DEOs) or deans. Self-nominations are not allowed. Nominations must follow the guidelines specified in the directions. All materials must be submitted to the nominee’s teaching department for the DEO’s signature. The DEO will forward nominations to the Iowa Council on Teaching in care of the Office of the Provost.

Website with more info: https://uiowa.edu/cot/outstanding-teaching-awards

• Submit materials to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu) by the departmental deadline: 2/12/25 for Fall 2025 Award Nominations.
• Students must ensure all letters of recommendation (eg. from faculty members) are also to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu). by the internal deadline to be considered for nomination to the graduate college.
• Departments may nominate one student for every eight Ph.D. students admitted to candidacy, up to a maximum of four students. Nominations are to be rank ordered.
• For fellowship description, qualifications, and submission materials click HERE. 

• Submit materials to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu) by the departmental deadline: 2/12/25 for Fall 2025 Award Nominations.
• Students must ensure all letters of recommendation (eg. from faculty members) are also to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu) by the internal deadline to be considered for nomination to the graduate college.
• Departments may nominate (in rank order) up to four students who completed their comprehensive exams between the specified times, per deadline.  
• For fellowship description, qualifications, and submission materials click HERE. 

• Submit materials to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu) by the departmental deadline: 2/26/25 for Summer 2025 Award Nominations 
• Students must ensure all letters of recommendation (eg. from faculty members) are also to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu) by the internal deadline to be considered for nomination to the graduate college.
• For fellowship description, qualifications, and submission materials click HERE. 

• Submit materials to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu) by the departmental deadline: 1/22/25 for Summer 2025 Award Nominations 
• Students must ensure all letters of recommendation (eg. from faculty members) are also to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu) by the internal deadline to be considered for nomination to the graduate college.
• For fellowship description, qualifications, and submission materials click HERE.

• Application deadline: TBD
• For fellowship description, qualifications, and submission materials click HERE. 

• Submit materials to Cassie Moeller (cassie-moeller@uiowa.edu) by the departmental deadline: rolling deadline
• The application deadline is rolling. Applications will be reviewed as they come in. Once all money is allocated for a given year, applications will no longer be accepted. Check the website for updates. All applications must be submitted at least 10 weeks before travel would begin. 
• For fellowship description, qualifications, and submission materials click HERE.