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Financial Aid

• SIRLS Financial Aid
• Departmental Financial Aid
• Graduate Assistantships
• Scholarships
• Other Sources of Financial Aid

SIRLS Financial Aid Brochure (pdf)

Spring 2008 costs for attending SIRLS (including Program Fees)

• The Arizona Board of Regents has approved a fee increase for SIRLS classes effective Fall 2007. For Arizona residents, the fee will be $500 for a 3-credit course. For non-residents, the fee will be $1200 per 3-credit course. Increases in registration and non-resident tuition were also approved by the Board of Regents. Official costs for registration, tuition and fees will be posted soon on the Bursar's page http://www.bursar.arizona.edu/students/fees/index.asp.

SIRLS Financial Aid

• Application for Financial Aid
• Small and Rural Libraries Scholarship Application

Priority Deadlines

Deadlines for SIRLS financial aid applications are the same as admissions application deadlines. Financial aid applications received after the priority deadline will be considered on a funds available basis. Students and applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for financial aid even if the priority deadline has passed.

Fall Semester:	February 1
Spring Semester:	September 1
Summer:	February 1 (Small and Rural Libraries Scholarship only)

 

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Departmental Financial Aid

Financial aid, awarded for both academic achievement and financial need, is available from SIRLS. Interested applicants must complete the financial aid form, available on the school's website. Both current students and new students accepted for admission are eligible for financial aid. SIRLS financial aid is awarded in the fall for the ensuing academic year. A very few scholarships and assistantships are available for the spring semester .

General Eligibility Requirements: Students receiving financial aid are required to maintain full-time enrollment status (9 credits) and maintain satisfactory progress toward their degree, defined at a minimum as a GPA of at least 3.0. Students who have not matriculated into a SIRLS degree or certificate program are not eligible for financial aid. Students admitted provisionally may be considered for financial aid on a case-by-case basis. Students receiving financial aid must possess a valid social security number.

Special Eligibility Requirements: Individual scholarships may impose additional or other eligibility criteria.

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Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistants are students employed by SIRLS to help with teaching, research and on-going projects. Both new and continuing students are eligible for assistantships. Prospective graduate assistants must meet general eligibility requirements and request consideration for an assistantship in their financial aid application. Graduate assistants receive a salary in addition to reduced registration costs, non-resident tuition waivers, discounts at the student bookstores and individual health insurance coverage. Graduate assistants pay SIRLS program fees at the in-state level, regardless of residential status. Appointments may be for the academic year or for a semester; they may be ¼ time (10 hours of work per week) or ½ time (20 hours of work per week). All graduate assistants must complete mandatory training at both the university and departmental levels before beginning employment.

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Scholarships

SIRLS has a variety of scholarships available to students who matriculate in a SIRLS degree or certificate program. Scholarships are grants of money for use in paying the costs of a student's education. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need and/or academic achievement. In addition to the general requirements for financial aid, listed above, some  scholarships have special requirements for eligibility, application, and maintenance. The amount of financial aid varies with the scholarship.

SIRLS Scholarships for Library and Information Services in the 21 st Century - SIRLS awards a limited number of scholarships in recognition of academic achievement and/or financial need to both new and continuing students. Prospective scholarship awardees must meet general eligibility requirements. SIRLS scholarships are generally awarded in the amount of $7000, intended to cover 7 three-credit courses. In general, SIRLS scholarships are not renewable, although recipients of SIRLS scholarships are eligible for other types of financial aid, such as graduate assistantships or other scholarships. Applicants for SIRLS scholarships must complete the SIRLS financial aid application and submit an essay of no more than 200 words describing their views, of library and information services in the 21 st Century.

Knowledge River - Knowledge River recruits persons linguistically and culturally sensitive to, and knowledgeable of, Hispanic or Native American communities.  Knowledge River Scholars receive tuition and fees for one academic year, along with either a graduate assistantship or a stipend. Knowledge River offers a variety of courses presented from a multicultural perspective, academic support, and the opportunity to be part of a cohort.  For more information about Knowledge River visit:
http://knowledgeriver.arizona .edu

IMLS Small and Rural Libraries Scholarships - This scholarship supports students interested in careers in Arizona's small, rural and community libraries. It's open to all students who meet general eligibility requirements, except that full-time enrollment is not required. The scholarship pays SIRLS registration fees and non-resident tuition for classes completed prior to June 30, 2009 when grant funding ends. Students must complete the required application form and write a short essay on their interest in small and rural libraries

Helping Hands Scholarships - Students who have completed at least half the course requirements for the master's degree and who have filed their mid-program Plan of Study may apply for a one-time grant of up to $600 ($200 per course) to help defray the cost of non-resident tuition, SIRLS registration fees and books. General eligibility requirements apply.

Friends of the Green Valley Library Scholarship - This scholarship is for staff members of the Pima County Public Library seeking their Master's degrees from the University of Arizona's School of Information Resources and Library Science. All applications must be postmarked by March 31st. ( Download the application form .)

Jimmie Bevill Public Librarian Scholarship - This scholarship supports students pursuing studies in public librarianship. The amount varies. In addition to meeting general eligibility requirements, students must submit an essay on the role public libraries play in serving underserved populations, including any relevant experience. Preference is given to students with relevant experience.

The Mary Esther Treat Clark Scholarship in Library Sciences

Margaret May Caffall Memorial Scholarship - This scholarship supports SIRLS full-time students with financial need. The amount varies. General eligibility requirements apply.

E. A. Cheves Scholarship - This scholarship supports outstanding SIRLS students interested in careers in small libraries such as the library in Miami, AZ. The amount varies. In addition to meeting general eligibility requirements, the applicant must be an Arizona resident

Alice B. Good Scholarship - This scholarship supports outstanding SIRLS students interested in public libraries. The amount varies. In addition to meeting general eligibility requirements, the applicant must be an Arizona resident.

Margaret F. Maxwell Scholarship - This scholarship supports students interested in cataloging and is merit-based. The amount varies. General eligibility requirements apply

Fay and Lawrence Clark Powell Scholarship - This scholarship supports outstanding non-resident SIRLS students with a background in humanities. The amount varies. In addition to general eligibility requirements, the student must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 graduate credits during the term of the award.

Ann Berg Strickland Scholarship -This scholarship supports students interested in special libraries. Students must have a record of satisfactory academic progress and demonstrate financial need. The amount of the award is $500.00. In addition to meeting general eligibility requirements, students must write a brief statement explaining their interest in pursuing a career in a special library.

H.W. Wilson Company Scholarship - This scholarship supports students with outstanding credentials and demonstrated financial need. The amount of the award varies. General eligibility requirements apply.

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Other Sources of Financial Aid

SIRLS encourages students with unmet financial need to apply for additional support from the University of Arizona Office of Student Financial Aid. OSFA offers an array of need-based funding for graduate students including scholarships, grants, waivers, loans and work study. Call 520-621-1858, email askaid@email.arizona.edu , or visit on the web at http://financialaid.arizona.edu

Other scholarships and financial aid for students pursuing studies in library and Information Science are available from a variety of organizations, foundations, and corporations. Visit the SIRLS financial aid website for a partial listing with links to important web sites.

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