The University Student Senate (USS) is pleased to announce their Ernesto Malave Merit,  Donald and Mary Ellen Passantino, and Graduate Peer Mentoring Scholarships competition.

One Ernesto Malave Merit Scholarship of $1500.00 will be awarded to a Graduate Center student in good academic standing with a 3.5 and above demonstrating outstanding academic and leadership performance under extraordinary circumstances.
The Donald and Mary Ellen Passantino Awards are for Graduate Center students with a disability and / or international students that have at least a 2.5 GPA.  One Donald and Mary Ellen Passantino Award of $1000.00 shall be awarded to a student with a disability and one to an international student.  This scholarship recognizes international students and students with disabilities who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship and enthusiastic leadership and service under extraordinary circumstances.
In 2013, the University Student Senate of the City University of New York established the Graduate Peer Mentoring Scholarship.  The scholarship awards $1000.00 to one student per campus, per academic year for demonstrating a tremendous effort to help other graduate students through academic support, professional development, and leadership development within their college community. Students must that have at least a 3.0 GPA.
Applicants can apply to only one scholarship per academic year (either the Ernesto Malave Merit, Graduate Peer Mentoring, or the Donald and Mary Ellen Passantino Scholarship).
All applications must be received by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs – Room 7301–  by April 21st.
Click here for scholarship application forms.
THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA MUST BE MET BY ALL APPLICANTS IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ANY USS Scholarship:

• During the current semester in which the student applies for a scholarship, applicants shall be matriculated students, in active attendance:
  • Graduate applicants must be registered for a minimum of three (3) credits.

• Applicants shall also meet the same requirements during the semester which the scholarship is awarded. Therefore, graduating students are not eligible.

• Graduate applicants must have completed a minimum of six  (6) credits at a CUNY college and no more than twenty-four (24) credits total. Students of graduate or professional programs with credits requirements of more than 30 credits must have completed a minimum of 12 credits and no more than 80% of the credits required for a degree. (For example, if 90 credits are required for a degree, the student must have no more than 72 credits completed to be eligible.)

• All applicants must be permanent residents, citizens, or NYC residents to apply for any USS scholarship (the only exception being international students).

Each Application Must Be Accompanied By:

• Two letters of recommendation indicating evidence of good character, academic achievement, and/or service to the community. At least one of the letters must be from a CUNY faculty member.
• Two original, typed, personal essays of no more than three hundred words each:
  • Three hundred (300) words stating why you would benefit from this scholarship and how do you believe you have earned it.
  • Three hundred (300) words stating your field of interest, current projects, future plans, etc.
• Resume
• An official letter verifying enrollment of the current academic year.
• An official transcript (first semester graduate students must include both graduate and undergraduate transcripts).
• Bursar receipts for the current and upcoming semesters.
• A signed Declaration Form that will enable the college Chief Student Affairs Administrator to verify the applicant’s GPA and credit/enrollment information.

   Additional Requirements for International Students:

International students must be in valid F-1 or J-1 immigration status during the semester in which they are applying for the scholarship, and during the semester in which the scholarship is awarded.
International students are required to maintain full-time credit and course-loads.
The following documents must accompany their application packet:
1)      I-20
2)      A copy of the F1 Visa
3)      A copy of the I-94 Card
4)      A letter of verification from the  International Student Advisor.
5)      Form RF 702 * (which can also be found at:    http://www.uss.cuny.edu/opportunities/rf-702.pdf )
6)      Form W-8BEN * (which can also be found at: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw8ben.pdf )
7) A ITN or Social Security Number
* Both forms can be found attached to the application or at the links posted above.

Additional Requirements for the USS Donald and Mary Ellen Passantino International Students and Students with Disabilities Scholarship:

 Only undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities and/or international students are eligible.

• Applicants to the USS Donald and Mary Ellen Passantino International Students and Students with Disabilities Scholarship must have attained a minimum grade point average of 2.5.

• For students with disabilities, applications shall be accompanied by a letter of verification from the college’s Director of Disability Services.

Additional Requirements for the Ernesto Malave Merit Scholarship:

Applicants to the Merit Scholarship must have attained a 3.5 GPA average
Additional Requirements for the Graduate Peer Mentoring Scholarship:

• Applicants to the Graduate Peer Mentoring Scholarship must have attained a 3.0 GPA average.

• One out of the two recommendation letters must be written from a staff person who oversaw activities.  Examples may include the Dean of Students, the Director of Student Life, and the Director of Career Services.

All applications must be received by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue – Room 7301– New York, New York 10016, by April 21st.                     
Potential applicants should review the material carefully.  Questions that applicants may have after reviewing the scholarship application and information may be addressed to the Student Affairs office at studentaffairs@gc.cuny.edu