Committed Scholars Program

The Committed Scholars Program (CSP) seeks to address inequities in education by supporting graduate students throughout and after completion of their MS in Educational Psychology – Learning Analytics program. The CSP will build Scholar-leaders who are committed to working with diverse populations and tackling education achievement gaps. These types of challenges include the persistent disparity in academic performance or educational attainment between different groups of students, such as white students and minoritized students, or students from higher-income and lower-income households. These Scholars will engage in capacity-building activities that contribute to their own, and their graduate student cohort’s, educational and occupational development and success. The CSP aims to attract Scholars with high potential who aspire to become culturally responsive leaders in their chosen learning analytics-related field. As such, the program is open to Scholars from various professional backgrounds who are committed to increasing the representation and success of underserved and historically underrepresented populations in education. Up to 2 scholarships will be awarded within each cohort.

Components

The CSP scholarship is intended to not only alleviate the financial burden of enrolling and completing the Learning Analytics program, but to also increase the impact of the program’s Commitment to Equity by encouraging Scholars to be leaders within their Learning Analytics program student cohort and participate in the Department of Educational Psychology’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. CSP benefits include:

• A 1-year, renewable scholarship that covers 3 credits each in the fall and spring (up to $12,000 over two years)
• A community of academic support, including mentorship from a School of Education faculty member who is actively pursuing an equity-based research agenda

In order to retain the scholarship and be eligible for CSP renewal, honorees must:

• Maintain program requirements (enroll in required courses; maintain >3.0 GPA)
• Participate in regular student cohort meetings and co-plan one equity workshop for Learning Analytics program students per academic year
• Serve as a student liaison to the program director, engaging in one check-in meeting per semester

Qualifications

The CSP will consider students with demonstrated interest in working towards bridging achievement gaps in education. Both Wisconsin residents and non-residents are eligible. Scholarships are renewable for Scholars who maintain good academic standing and effectively matriculate through their Learning Analytics program curriculum.

Application

Using the APPLICATION LINK, students should submit a Statement of Intent of approximately 500 words that:

1. describes their interest in equity issues within learning analytics, including related prior work and/or volunteer experience, and
2. describes how they foresee using their knowledge and skills from the Learning Analytics program in their future professional endeavors.

Applications will be reviewed, a selection will be virtually interviewed, and then two will be selected by the program’s Faculty Admissions Committee. The CSP will be granted in partnership with staff from UW Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid.