Graduate Assistantships in Areas of National
Need (GAANN) Program Requirements
Assessment of Students with Special Needs at UC Davis
1.
Coursework – Each fellow must complete the required departmental and program core courses.
Please review the list of GAANN courses. If awarded a Fellowship, you will be expected to
complete all GAANN coursework.
2.
Research – Each fellow is expected to undertake PhD research on a subject related to the
GAANN award.
3.
Teaching – Each fellow must complete three one credit courses on Teaching Pedagogy. In
addition, each fellow is required to engage in some structured teaching activities as part of the
fellowship. Structured teaching activities that require a substantial and regular time commitment,
may be compensated to supplement the GAANN award.
1. Special Activities (Proseminars, Brown Bags, and other Colloquia) – Fellows are expected to
actively and consistently participate in opportunities to learn about research activities and
professional practice in the field of assessment, psychometrics, and quantitative research
methodology. Such activities broaden the training of fellows by facilitating interactions with each
other, the faculty, and other researchers. As such, participation is mandatory.
Requirements for the receipt of a GAANN Fellowship:
GAANN fellowships are awarded competitively, on the basis of both academic merit and financial
need.
GAANN fellows must:
1. Demonstrate financial need. Prospective GAANN fellows must complete a FAFSA and work
with the financial aid office at the University of California, Davis to complete all necessary
financial paperwork for the processing of the award.
2. Demonstrate strong academic promise as well as satisfactory progress toward degree
requirements. The GAANN fellowship, while need based, also is a merit based award, that is
given to students who appear most likely to successfully complete PhD level work and go onto
careers as academics, psychometricians, or quantitative methodologists.
3. Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. International students are not eligible for the GAANN
fellowship. We are currently researching whether undocumented students who have DACA
status are eligible for GAANN funding, and are hopeful that they may be eligible. If you have
DACA status please apply and we will update you on your eligibility once we have more
information.
Ph.D. GAANN Fellowships in the Assessment of Special Populations
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and
the University of California, Davis
Application Form and Instructions
Please submit the following materials to megwelsh@ucdavis.edu.
2. A resume/CV showing relevant education, work experience, research
experience, teaching experience, volunteer work, and publications.
3. A personal statement (1-2 pages) describing your:

personal background (first generation college student, educational
disadvantaged background, financial challenges in completing college,
etc.)

eventual career goals,

teaching and research interests, and

reasons for applying for the GAANN Fellowship
4. A completed Application Form (attached).
5. Two letters of recommendation
6. Students applying for the program must also complete a FAFSA
(http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/), as award amounts may not exceed demonstrated
financial need. If you submit a paper FAFSA to the processor, it takes four to
six weeks to receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). This time is reduced to about a
week if you file your FAFSA online. All of the above materials are required
from students reapplying for the GAANN program, as well as from those
students who are applying for the first time. Attach the SAR showing your EFC
to your application.
For further information, contact Megan Welsh, megwelsh@ucdavis.edu.
Application Form
Graduate Assistantships in Areas of National Need- Assessment of
Students with Special Needs
Name:
__________________
Gender (optional):
___________
E-mail:
Date:
Ethnicity (optional): __________
Daytime Phone:
Are you (check one):
_______________
a current UCD Graduate Group in Education PhD student
a current UCD Psychology PhD student
a prospective UCD Graduate Group in Education PhD student
a prospective UCD Psychology PhD student
For which academic year are you applying? (select up to two):
2015-16 (Winter and Spring 2016)
2016-17
Note: GAANN applications for the current academic year are due 12/1/15. Applications for 2016-17 are
due 12/15/15. Students applying for both years may submit one application on 12/1/15. Please note that
you will need to complete a FAFSA based on the 2015 tax year prior to receiving an award for the 201617 academic year. Until the 2015 tax year FAFSA is submitted, all awards are only estimates. Note that
financial aid law is changing. 2017-18 awards will also be based on the 2015 tax year.
Are you (check one):
a U.S. citizen or national
a permanent resident alien
Have you completed the FAFSA (financial aid) form for the current/upcoming academic year? Please
remember that FAFSA completion takes time. Please submit as soon as possible and well in advance of
the rest of the application.
Y
N
EFC ________________
Please indicate that you will allow UC Davis School of Education and Psychology Department to review your
FAFSA information and to communicate with the financial aid office to determine your financial need and to
coordinate the GAANN award: ______Yes ______ No
Is some of your current income from a GSR/TA? $_____________________
Do you have income from other off-campus employment? $_____________________
Do you certify that you are not delinquent or in default in repaying a debt?
(This is for any debt, including prior student loans.)
Y
N
Do you have income or stipends any other current or pending grants, fellowships, or scholarships? Please list,
specify the amount of the award, and explain below.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Grade point average (4.0 scale):
GRE scores:
in undergrad major
V
Q
grad
W
Start date of graduate study at UC Davis:
Intended highest degree:
Expected completion date:
By submitting this form, you certify that all information on this form is true and complete to the best of your
knowledge.
Signature: ____________________________________________ Date:
Return:
1. This form (type please)
2. A resume or curriculum vitae
3. A personal statement (see directions on the first page of this application)
4. The Student Aid Report you receive from completing your FAFSA. Please redact personal
information (like your social security number), we do need your name and EFC to appear on the
report.
5. Please have recommenders forward their letters directly to Dr. Megan Welsh,
megwelsh@ucdavis.edu. We will use the recommendation letters included in prospective students’
graduate school applications as letters in support of the GAANN application. No additional letters
are needed.
to Dr. Megan Welsh, megwelsh@ucdavis.edu by 12/1/15 (2015-16 Fellowships) or 12/15/15 (2016-17
Fellowships). If applying to both years, you only need to submit once (by 12/1/15).