Missouri University of Science and Technology will significantly increase funding for qualified Ph.D. and graduate students as part of a strategy to attract more students and strengthen its research programs.

The initiative, which begins with the fall 2016 semester, will cover the tuition and supplemental fees for qualified students with a 37.5 or greater full-time equivalent appointment in all Missouri S&T Ph.D. programs. The same coverage extends to similarly qualified students pursuing master’s degrees in departments where a Ph.D. is not offered.

“Our nation’s economic growth and future innovation will depend on the strength of our research universities, and an essential ingredient for any research university is a robust graduate education program,” says Dr. Cheryl B. Schrader, Missouri S&T’s chancellor. “This increased investment in our Ph.D. programs and certain master’s-level programs will position Missouri S&T to meet our state and national needs in critical research areas.”

Missouri S&T is investing more than $3 million in new funds annually for the program.

As part of this initiative, Missouri S&T is also revamping its Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellowship program for Ph.D. students. This nationally competitive program provides funding for U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or permanent residents who qualify. In addition to full coverage of tuition and fees, students eligible for the Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellowship will receive a $10,000 annual fellowship added to their appointment stipend.

Dr. Robert Marley, Missouri S&T provost, announced the initiative during the June 16 meeting of Missouri S&T’s Faculty Senate. The initiative is based on recommendations from the Faculty Senate’s Graduate Student Funding Policy Committee. Chaired by Dr. Robert Landers, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, the committee set out to develop an approach to improve the recruitment and retention of graduate students.

Other members of the committee were Dr. Daryl Beetner, chair of electrical and computer engineering; Dr. Joel Burken, interim chair of civil, architectural and environmental engineering; Dr. Mariesa Crow, the Fred W. Finley Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and vice provost for research; Dr. Richard Dawes, associate professor of chemistry; Dr. Bill Fahrenholtz, Curators’ Professor of materials science and engineering; Dr. Greg Hilmas, Curators’ Professor of materials science and engineering; and Dr. Matt Insall, associate professor of mathematics and statistics.

Marley also credits Dr. Venkat Allada, vice provost of graduate studies, and the graduate studies staff for their efforts to provide a more competitive funding model for Ph.D. and master’s students.

Missouri S&T offers Ph.D. degrees in aerospace engineering, ceramic engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, engineering management, explosives engineering, geological engineering, geology and geophysics, materials science and engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, metallurgical engineering, mining engineering, nuclear engineering, petroleum engineering, physics, and systems engineering.

Also included in the initiative are the departments of biological sciences, business and information technology, English and technical communication, and psychological science, all of which offer master’s degrees.

For more information about Missouri S&T’s graduate programs, visit grad.mst.edu.