ϲ

Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • ϲ Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • ϲ Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

Graduate School Providing One-Time Funding to Support Grad Students Facing COVID-Related Delays

Tuesday, September 28, 2021, By Ellen de Graffenreid
Share
Graduate SchoolResearch and CreativeStudents

The COVID-19 pandemic has created obstacles for many Ph.D. students working to complete their degrees before their available funding runs out. Graduate students must conduct independent research, and much of that research was disrupted.

person sitting on lawn in front of trees

ϲ is providing $1.5 million in additional funding for graduate students whose work has been directly impacted by the pandemic.

Labs were closed for some of the pandemic and their capacity was limited. Research involving human subjects was also delayed or faced logistical obstacles. With schools and childcare centers closed much of the 2020-2021 academic year, some graduate students found that their time to write became scarce. Some students expecting to travel to other countries to examine archives or work with collaborators found themselves stymied by travel bans, onerous testing and quarantine requirements or visa issues, among other challenges.

Recognizing these impacts, ϲ is providing $1.5 million in additional funding for graduate students whose work has been directly impacted by the pandemic. The funding takes several different forms, according to Peter Vanable, dean of the Graduate School.

“In talking to faculty members on the Graduate Faculty Council and through consultation with student leaders from the Graduate Student Organization, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. We developed a small number of options that should help a good number of graduate students whose degree completion has been delayed by the pandemic,” says Vanable.

This fall, the Graduate School provided full funding in the form of dissertation completion fellowships to 15 students for the 2021-22 academic year. Fellowships support doctoral students who have reached the limit of their guaranteed funding and, through no fault of their own, have been unable to complete and defend their dissertations.

“Degree completion at the Ph.D. level is a strategic priority for ϲ. By supporting outstanding graduate students who were impacted by the pandemic, we hope that they will defend their dissertations, graduate and go on to successful careers. I want to thank Chancellor Kent Syverud for his support of this important program,” says John Liu, interim provost.

Additional funding for Ph.D. students under this program will be announced soon, including small grants to offset dissertation-related expenses that can’t be covered by the student’s home college. Examples include travel or small equipment needed to complete dissertation research.

The summer dissertation fellowship program, normally awarded to 30 students who are close to completing their dissertation, will be doubled to include 60 awards in summer 2022. “We hope that more awards will help graduate students to get their dissertations over the finish line next summer,” Vanable adds.

In addition, supplemental funding will be soon made available to select faculty who funded students on grants during a time when the students couldn’t be fully engaged in research because of COVID. The funds will go to support graduate student research assistantships for the current academic year.

“For faculty who want to retain an experienced graduate student on a project that was delayed by COVID-19, this is an excellent option that helps both the student and the overall research program,” says Ramesh Raina, interim vice president for research.

  • Author

Ellen de Graffenreid

  • Recent
  • Former Orange Point Guard and Maxwell Alumna ‘Roxi’ Nurse McNabb Still Driving for an Assist
    Tuesday, July 8, 2025, By Jessica Smith
  • Empowering Learners With Personalized Microcredentials, Stackable Badges
    Thursday, July 3, 2025, By Hope Alvarez
  • Rose Tardiff ’15: Sparking Innovation With Data, Mapping and More
    Thursday, July 3, 2025, By News Staff
  • Paulo De Miranda G’00 Received ‘Much More Than a Formal Education’ From Maxwell
    Thursday, July 3, 2025, By Jessica Youngman
  • Law Professor Receives 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award
    Thursday, July 3, 2025, By Robert Conrad

More In Campus & Community

Former Orange Point Guard and Maxwell Alumna ‘Roxi’ Nurse McNabb Still Driving for an Assist

As point guard for the Orange women’s basketball team, Raquel-Ann “Roxi” Nurse McNabb ’98, G’99 was known for helping her teammates ‘make buckets’—a lot of buckets. The 1997 ϲ Athlete of the Year, two-time team MVP and three-time BIG…

Empowering Learners With Personalized Microcredentials, Stackable Badges

The University is enhancing its commitment to lifelong learning with digital badges, a tool that recognizes and authenticates the completion of microcredentials. The badges aim to support learners in their professional and personal development by showcasing achievements in short, focused…

Rose Tardiff ’15: Sparking Innovation With Data, Mapping and More

While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geography in the Maxwell School, Rose Tardiff ’15 became involved with the Salt City Harvest Farm, a community farm near ϲ where newcomers from all over the world grow food and make social connections….

Paulo De Miranda G’00 Received ‘Much More Than a Formal Education’ From Maxwell

Early in his career, Paulo De Miranda G’00 embarked on several humanitarian aid and peacekeeping assignments around the world. “When we concluded our tasks, we wrote reports about our field work, but many times felt that little insight was given…

Law Professor Receives 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award

College of Law Professor Suzette Meléndez, director of the ϲ Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic, was honored with a 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award at their 45th Annual Freedom Fund Award Dinner. Meléndez received the Maye, McKinney & Melchor Freedom…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

For the Media

Find an Expert
© 2025 ϲ. All Rights Reserved.