VPGE-Sponsored Programs

VPGE is actively collaborating with others on campus to improve Stanford's already excellent graduate programs.  These are highlights of our efforts germane to faculty and staff.

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Expanding Graduate Fellowship Programs

From its first award in 1997, the Stanford Graduate Fellowships (SGF) Program has provided generous financial support to hundreds of Ph.D. students in the sciences and engineering. Approximately 1150 students in 40 departments have been supported, and more than 430 Ph.D.s have been granted to SGF Fellows. Plans are underway for a new program, Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowships (SIGF), to begin in 2008.

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Interdisciplinary Opportunities

Today’s intellectual and social problems require the minds and talents of students from many fields. Stanford's graduate students—tomorrow’s problem-solvers and leaders—are be able to roam freely, gathering and sharing ideas across disciplines.

VPGE works to expand cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary educational opportunities for students. We encourage students to enroll in classes across the university, outside of their home discipline. We foster opportunities for students from diverse fields to interact with one another, expanding their professional and personal networks.

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Supporting Innovation in Graduate Degree Programs

Continued investment in students, faculty, and academic departments is essential to maintain and extend our outstanding graduate degree programs in light of increased competitiveness, new global challenges, and new opportunities for disciplinary expertise to inform multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary problem-solving.

  • Competitive grants for departments (coming in Fall 2007)
  • Competitive grants for graduate student initiatives to create and sustain intellectual community (coming in Fall 2007)

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Diversity in Graduate Education

At the graduate level, Stanford believes a student body that is both highly qualified and diverse in terms of culture, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, gender, work and life experiences is essential to educational excellence. A diverse community of scholars asks unexpected questions and has divergent insights, and so pushes the forefront of knowledge further, faster. The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education works collaboratively with others to broaden the participation and promote the success of students from a variety of backgrounds under-represented within research universities. As a result, the next generation of leaders will be better prepared, and all members of the Stanford community can reap the educational benefits of diversity.

Funding for Departmental Programs

VPGE has funding available to support projects and events sponsored by Stanford departments and administrative offices that will advance graduate student diversity by serving the academic interests of current students and enhancing the quality of their educational experiences.

Recruitment Travel Support Funds

Faculty members may request up to $500 to defray the cost of bringing prospective graduate students for campus visits. Applicants may include students of an ethnicity that is underrepresented in an academic field; women who are underrepresented in a field; or people who would be the first members of their family to attend graduate school. Contact Rebecca Jantzen in VPGE.

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Leadership and Professional Development Opportunities

Stanford’s graduate students will be leaders in numerous organizational, intellectual, and social communities throughout their lives. This will requires more than disciplinary expertise. Students will need skills and abilities in leadership, communications, and management.

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