HGSE Provides Three Years of Funding for All Doctoral Students

Early last week, Dean Kathleen McCartney announced that, as part of a multi-year doctoral funding opportunity, HGSE has guaranteed to pay full tuition and health fees for all doctoral students through the end of the third year. The announcement, made at a meeting of doctoral students in Askwith Hall, left some students crying and others shaking their heads in stunned disbelief.

"It's an enormous relief," said doctoral student Adam Seldow. "It makes me feel more like a professional, that the school is taking this step to do this, and taking steps to relieve our anxiety, which is something that pulls away from our study and now frees up time so we can really focus on learning."

The new funding will begin next semester. Over the course of three years, doctoral students could save an estimated $88,000. The generosity of donors and new gifts to the school provided for this multi-year doctoral funding.

"As dean, one of my top priorities has been to secure more funding for financial aid and fellowships," said McCartney. "Last year, we initiated the Urban Scholars Fellowship program for master's students, and this year we will begin multi-year fellowships for all doctoral students. We are grateful to our donors and to the president's office for their help. The reaction to the announcement about our doctoral fellowships from students and alumni alike has been most heartening to the HGSE faculty. This is but a first step--we have ambitious financial aid goals for the future."

The new funding for doctoral students is a milestone for HGSE, according to Mohan Boodram, associate dean for enrollment and student services. For the last several years, the Ed School has managed to provide additional funding for its students through various fellowships. This new funding provides students coverage through the first three years of their doctorate. "There was a lot of anxiety around coming to HGSE particularly at the first year because students would be worrying about how to come up with future funding," Boodram said.

For many students, funding becomes the determining factor in whether to attend a school. "Harvard's price tag scared me half to death," said doctoral student Carla Shalaby. "Now that I'm here, reaping the benefits of an unbelievably talented and brilliant cohort of fellow students and faculty, I know that the education offered is, on many levels, priceless. It is an absolute gift to have its pricelessness be more than just symbolic."

The announcement alleviated anxiety for many students over future financial burdens and plans.

Doctoral student Jelena Malone was applying for fellowship for her second year. "The opportunity to focus on my studies and research without financial consequences looming over me has created a sense of peace in my daily work and planning for future semesters," Malone said. "I find this move by HGSE as a real statement of appreciation and recognition of value doctoral students provide to the school and education."

The change became possible because HGSE administrators recognized the importance of providing this funding. "Pursuing a doctorate is a big challenge on many levels. The work is demanding, the process of becoming an independent scholar is rigorous. And unlike some advanced degrees, the remuneration that awaits you at the end of this process is sometimes less than ideal (and sometimes less than you made before you started the program)," said James Stiles, associate dean for degree programs. "We want our doctoral students to focus more on what they are learning and researching and less on how they are going to pay our tuition. We still have a way to go to match what Harvard's other schools can offer, but this is a huge step for HGSE and more importantly for its students."

Nearly two weeks after the announcement, doctoral student Anjali Adukia said everyone was still talking about the funding. "This is the right step and shows that HGSE is all about learning," Adukia said. "It feels like the work you do really matters. I feel cared about and taken care of. You especially felt it that day like our learning mattered in a significant way."