Financial Resources

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The Garland School of Social Work has several sources of financial award based on student qualifications, financial need, and vocational goals. Scholarships are being added continuously with the growth of the program.

The Director for Enrollment, Career & Alumni Services and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, in consultation with the Scholarship Committee, decide how these scholarships will be allocated. Criteria for awards include:

  1. Admission to the program
  2. Completion of the GSSW Financial Aid Form
  3. Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Financial Aid Profile (for international student only)
  4. Preference for full-time students
  5. Financial need
  6. Documented support for the mission of the school
  7. Academic merit
  8. Documented service to the Garland School of Social Work and/or community
  9. Stated expectations of the particular scholarship funds

Students entering or enrolled in the Garland School of Social Work may apply for non-GSSW-related financial assistance through the Office of Academic Scholarships and Financial Aid. A comprehensive financial aid program is available that includes both merit-based and need-based scholarships, grants, loans, and part-time employment. Financial aid information and applications may be obtained from:

Baylor University
Baylor One Stop Student Financial Services 
One Bear Place #97028
Waco, TX 76798-7028
254-710-2611 or 1-800-Baylor-U                                                                                                                     

https://onestop.web.baylor.edu/   

Grant-Related Funding

The School periodically has stipend awards for students that are funded by grants and other sources. Information on how to apply for these opportunities will be sent out by email and/or via the VOICE, as appropriate.

Funded Practicum Education Sites

Internship students occasionally receive funding through the agency or a grant in the School. See the Practicum Education Manual for eligibility, application, and internships at place of work.

Stipends/Scholarships/Tuition Remission

The School provides:

  1. Stipends-payment based upon work provided to faculty and/or staff. Stipends are available with varying compensation levels depending upon the nature of the service and the amount of time required of students;
  2. Scholarships-payment based upon meeting eligibility criteria of the benefactor(s) with no work requirement and;
  3. Tuition remission funding credited directly to the student’s account is to offset the costs of tuition. Tuition remission covers a percentage of the tuition charge only. The student must pay the required fees with the Cashier’s Office before financial settlement deadlines.

Information on financial assistance may be obtained from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Students receiving financial assistance must maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 to avoid the discontinuation of School financial support.

Graduate Assistant Stipends

Eligible students may choose to apply for a Graduate Assistant position upon admission to the program. Please contact the Garland School of Social Work Admissions Office for deadlines and procedures. Students who receive a position will be matched with a faculty or staff member and may work up to 15 hours per week during the academic semesters. If a student is awarded a position, more details will be given on the number of hours available to work. Graduate Assistant stipends are paid biweekly based on the number of hours the student works. If students do not fulfill the requirements set out by their supervisors, they may be terminated from their graduate assistant positions. Graduate Assistants will receive mandatory training at the beginning of the academic year. Duties may include research, writing, grading, assisting professors with courses, administrative support, and other duties as assigned.

Although the specific responsibilities will vary by the stipend requirements, the number of hours of assistance required by the supervisor will typically not exceed 10-15 hours per week in order to protect graduate students from excessive commitments away from their own research, practice, and study. Graduate assistants are responsible for complying with all reporting and documenting requirements issued by the Baylor payroll office, the MSW Program Director, the MSW Program Manager, and the Associate Dean. Graduate assistant assignments should not exceed the number of hours specified by the appointment. Consultation with the supervisor and the MSW Program Director is encouraged if a graduate student has concerns regarding excessive, unexpected, or other use of time that interfere with the student’s course work.

Additional (non-GSSW) Financial Assistance Resources

Agency-Based Assistance Programs

Some social service agencies offer tuition assistance for their employees. The social service agency provides employment for the student and pays a portion or all of the employee’s tuition in exchange for

  1. the student’s current employment and/or
  2. the student’s commitment to work for the agency for a specified period of time after graduation.

Information about these programs is available from the social service agencies themselves and is not managed by the Garland School of Social Work.

Loans

Loan plans are available to graduate students. Information concerning eligibility and applying for these loans and other types of financial aid can be obtained from:

One Stop Student Financial Services 
Baylor University
One Bear Place #97028
Waco, TX  76798-7028
254.710.2611

 https://www.baylor.edu/sfs/index.php?id=966155

Policy for Financial Award Recipients

Recipients for awards and levels of financial allocation from the Garland School will be determined by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or their designee. Students who complete the GSSW Financial Aid form and receive financial awards earn the allocated funds contingent upon satisfactory academic and professional progress, class attendance, continued enrollment in the prescribed coursework, and certification of eligibility by the Student Financial Services Office. Awardees will follow the procedure of the University Development Office in expressing appreciation for awards. Eligibility to receive funding will be granted on a semester-by-semester basis. Failure to comply with the terms of the award will result in the student returning all or a portion of the award, consistent with the policies of the Student Financial Aid Office.