Space Grant Scholar FAQs
Funds Disbursement
Funds will be disbursed first to your University student account to pay your tuition, U-PASS, late change, and other university fees. Please refer to the University of Washington Office of Student Financial Aid Disbursement Guidelines for timing and conditions.
Help! I didn’t get my money!
Check for any holds on your account and contact your adviser.
Graduate Mid-year
Funds are divided evenly between quarters. If you are expected to graduate mid-year, then your aid will stop that quarter.
Other Scholarships/Funding
Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for any concerns or questions regarding award distribution if you have other scholarships or funding (GET).
FAFSA
FAFSA must be completed if selected for Olsen, Donnegard, etc. awards
Awardee Expectations
GPA
Maintain Quarterly and Cumulative GPA of at least 2.9. As an award recipient, you are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.9 both quarterly and cumulatively. Should your GPA drop below this threshold, you will be expected to wrok with Space Grant staff to create a plan, such as participating in tutoring, study skills workshops, or other support services to ensure your continued success.
Major
Space Grant scholars must be enrolled in a STEM Major. Check here to see if your major qualifies.
Performance Improvement Requirement
If your GPA falls below 2.5 in any quarter, you must attend mandatory tutoring sessions and create a study plan. Additionally, you will be required to meet with your department advisor AND attend weekly check-ins with Space Grant staff until you maintain a 2.9 GPA. It is imperative that you actively work to improve your academic performance. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the discontinuation of the award for the following quarter.
Orientation and Quarterly Cohort Meetings
We are hosting an orientation before the start of the academic year and a cohort meeting each quarter that you are required to attend. The meeting schedule is:
- Orientation Meeting- September
- Fall Quarter Cohort Meeting- December
- Winter Quarter Cohort Meeting- March
- Spring Quarter Cohort Meeting- May
NOTE: Multiple session options will be available for each meeting.
In addition to the orientation and cohort meetings, Technical Trainees are required to attend a minimum of five (5) professional development workshops provided by the Space Grant during the academic year.
Monthly Reporting
Each month, you are required to submit a brief summary of how your studies, research, and other activities you are engaged in contribute or relate to NASA Mission Directorates. They are:
- Aeronautics Research: Every U.S. commercial aircraft and air traffic control facility incorporates NASA-developed technology. The efforts to safely and sustainably transform aviation for the 21st century is managed by the agency’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD).
- Exploration Systems Development: The Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate defines and manages systems development for programs critical to NASA’s Artemis program and planning for NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration approach in an integrated manner.
- Science: The Science Mission Directorate is an organization where discoveries in one scientific discipline have a direct route to other areas of study. This flow is something extremely valuable and is rare in the scientific world.
- Space Operations: NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate is responsible for enabling sustained human exploration missions and operations in our solar system.
- Space Technology: NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) aims to transform future missions while ensuring American leadership in aerospace. STMD develops, demonstrates, and transfers new space technologies that benefit NASA, commercial, and other government missions.
This is not meant to be stressful or time consuming. We are looking for a 3-5 sentence summary.
We also want to know if you have any achievements or recognition that month you’d like to share!
Student Profile in STEM Gateway
Awardee Benefits
Building Access
All Space Grant recipients can use Guggenheim Hall (GUG) and the Aerospace Engineering Research Building (AERB) on the UW-Seattle campus! You always have access to the external doors and the following spaces with your Husky Card:
- GUG 212 (Computer lab)
- GUG 305 (Seminar room)*
- GUG 309 (Kitchen)
- AERB 120G (Kitchen)
- AERB 130 (Conference room)*
- AERB 241 (Meeting and study space)*
*NOTE: GUG 305 and AERB 130 must be reserved ahead of time. You may access AERB 241 at any time; however, if the main conference table is reserved, that meeting has priority.
For more information on access to department spaces, visit the UW Aero & Astro policies on student facilities and meeting room access.
S.P.A.C.E. Student Organization
You are part of a strong community! All Space Grant awardees are automatically enrolled in the “SPACE” registered student organization (RSO). It is a great way to stay connected with your peers.
Additionally, you can build community with other UW student clubs!
The Washington Space Grant Consortium funds the High-Altitude Balloon (HAB) Research Program, the Supersonic Rocketry Research Program, and the CubeSat Technology Development Program. Check out these programs.
There are also research opportunities available through the UW Office of Undergraduate Research. Check them out!
Summer STEM Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)
SURP offers undergraduate students the opportunity to work in research positions that will complement their studies. Student researchers work under the guidance of a faculty member, postdoctoral scholar or research scientist at the University of Washington. Applications open in February 2024. Selection will prioritize students with minimal lab research experience.
Space Grant Poster Symposium
If you participate in research any time during the academic year, you are invited to present at the summer poster session. Join in to build on your presentation skills.
Career Launch
We will be hosting a series of professional development workshops throughout the year. Interested in networking? Building experience on your resume? Applying for internships? Let us know what you would like to see in this series.