The Future Stewards Award was created in cooperation with the Office of the Assistant Vice President and Advisor to the President on Sovereignty and Government-to-Government Relations. This cooperation will provide the University of Oregon an opportunity to work with the nine federally recognized tribes of Oregon and Native American tribes that had traditional and customary tribal boundaries in parts of the state of Oregon or that ceded or reserved lands within the state of Oregon to help to make graduate education more accessible for their members.
It is our hope that tribal members who have earned graduate degrees at the UO will be able to return home to become stewards of their communities who will support their traditional culture, foster educational opportunities, and promote economic development.
Jump to: Eligibility | Award Details | Application Requirements
Eligibility
- Incoming or current master’s, doctoral, and law students, regardless of immigration status or work eligibility, who are citizens of a federally recognized tribe, including the Chinook Nation, with priority given to citizens of tribes historically connected to Oregon as defined by Oregon Administrative Rule 010-0037.
- Students who are not offered full funding as part of their original admission offer (full funding is typically in the form of a Graduate Employee appointment).
- Must be making satisfactory academic progress toward completion of degree requirements. Review the Division of Graduate Studies' satisfactory progress requirement for details.
- Must be enrolled full time at the time of award disbursement.
- Students may not receive tuition coverage as part of the Oregon Tribal Student Grant at the time of award disbursement.
Award Details
- $20,000 in base tuition coverage distributed equally across two years (six terms or four semesters) for masters, doctoral, or law students.
- This award applies only towards base tuition; mandatory fees are not included.
- Funds are distributed equally across terms/semesters with a maximum of $3,333.33 per term or $5,000 per semester, totaling $10,000 per academic year.
- Awards cannot be deferred.
Graduate Students with Financial Aid
Receiving this award may reduce your financial aid award. Please contact the Financial Aid Office prior to applying for this (and any other type of) support.
Application Requirements
Applications for this award must be submitted through the UO Scholarship Dashboard. Only complete applications will be considered.
- One statement (500 words or less) describing your plans for your academic career -and- how you plan to use the skills and knowledge gained to steward, support, and honor your tribal community.
- Two recommendations completed through the UO Scholarship Dashboard by a member of your tribal community, mentor, teacher, or supervisor.
Deadline
Priority Deadline: March 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
Applications Accepted Through: July 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
Award Amount
$20,000 in base tuition
Scholarship Support
Email: gegradstudies@uoregon.edu