2009-2010 Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program - Application Deadline is Nov. 17

Scholarship help is available for City employees who want to pursue a graduate degree, but you must apply soon!

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) is accepting applications for
the 2009-10 Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program (MGSP). This is a competitive program – a limited number of scholarships are available.

City employees must apply through their Agency Personnel Office by Monday, November 17, 2008. (Some agencies may have an earlier submission date.)

To compete for a scholarship, you must:

• be a full-time City employee (children are not eligible)
• have a bachelor’s degree by the start of the fall 2009 semester
• be willing to pursue a graduate degree on your own time
• meet other requirements, as explained under Eligibility Requirements

Full or partial scholarships will be offered for classes that begin in the fall of 2009. Last year, nearly 400 applications were received, and over 35 scholarships were awarded.

For more information about participating schools and eligible degree programs, see the Scholarship Offering Guide or read below. For general information or assistance view our PowerPoint presentation, email MGSP@dcas.nyc.gov or call (212) 669-4163.

Scholarships for Employees of New York City Government

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) administers the Mayor's Graduate Scholarship Program (MGSP), an opportunity for full-time New York City government employees (employed by a City agency) with undergraduate degrees to study
at accredited colleges/universities in the metropolitan area.

Schools fund full or partial graduate scholarships for City government employees through the Mayor's Graduate Scholarship Program. The scholarships are for employees' study, on their own, in areas such as business and public administration, policy analysis, law, education, engineering, nursing, public health, computer science, and social work.

Application Filing Period

The filing period for the 2009/10 academic year is now open. The deadline for submitting your request for scholarship to your Agency Personnel Office is Monday, November 17, 2008.  Please be advised that award decisions are made for the academic year beginning with the fall 2009 semester. The majority of the schools award scholarships for entire course of study. If you have questions, please contact the scholarship program at 212-669-4163.

All applicants will receive a letter of confirmation from MGSP by February 6, 2009, if their Agency approved and forwarded their application(s) to our office. The staff of MGSP will review all applications and submit to the appropriate school(s) if the minimal requirements are met and presented in a professional manner.

Completed applications are forwarded to the schools in the late spring of 2009. The majority of schools make the award decisions during July and August. If you are awarded a scholarship, you will be notified by the school.

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INFORMATION SESSIONS:
Registration is closed for the 2009/10 MGSP information sessions.  Please be advised that attendance to a session is not a prerequisite to the application process.  For assistance, send your questions to the MGSP@dcas.nyc.gov mailbox or call 212-669-4163.

Eligibility Requirements

You must:

• be a Full-time City government employee
• have obtained an undergraduate degree from an accredited college/university or have completed your undergraduate degree by the Fall of the academic year for which you are applying (applicants already possessing a master’s degree are eligible)
• remain a full-time City government employee throughout your course of study
• meet the minimum scholarship requirements listed in the Scholarship Offering guide (e.g., The school may require that you be a new entrant to the institution.)

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List of Participating Schools (see Guide for details)

For questions regarding the admission requirements and program curriculum contact the college/university. MGSP staff will answer inquires relating to scholarship offerings. Please check our website for possible update on additional participating schools.

Correction:  CUNY and Columbia University are not offering a joint scholarship through the Institute of Social and Economic Research and Policy: Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences.  The scholarship is exclusively offered by Columbia. 

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The following tips will help you to determine which school(s) to apply to and how to increase your chances for receiving an award:

• Read all instructions and review the Scholarship Offering Guide for a school(s) which matches your interest and personal needs before completing materials.
  
• Attend an Open House at a participating school(s).
  
• Talk with a guidance counselor about the curriculum requirement and your goals to determine whether you meet the basic school requirements.
  
• Request a copy of your transcript (official copy not required) and any other pertinent documentation for your application. Check for accuracy and maintain for your records.
  
• TYPE clearly and succinctly the MGSP essays and school personal statement: check grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and continuity of thoughts and ideas.
  
• Have an impartial person with good writing skills review your application.

The quality of your application will be an important consideration in the selection process.

For further information, please contact:

Cheryl Rafra, Director
Mayor's Graduate Scholarship Program
NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services
One Centre Street, Room 1340
New York, New York 10007
212-669-4163
MGSP@dcas.nyc.gov

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