Employee Doctoral Scholarship Program

Employee Doctoral Scholarship Program

Launched for summer 2025, Muskingum University is offering a pilot program to award up to three 50% tuition scholarships to eligible, full-time employees who enroll in the Doctor of Organizational Leadership program.

Program Overview

Scholarship Amount: 50% tuition
Scholarship Availability: Up to three scholarships per fiscal year
Scholarship Distribution: The selection committee will award one scholarship to each of the following divisional units:

• Faculty and administrators and support staff from the Academic Affairs Division
• Administrators and support staff from the following divisions: Student Experience, Finance & Operations, Strategic Marketing & Communications, Institutional Advancement, and Enrollment
• Athletic Division
• If there are no applicants from one of the units above, or if no applicants are selected from a division, remaining scholarships may be awarded to qualified applicants from another division.

Scholarship Limitations: The scholarship will cover up to four years of coursework and a maximum of 15 credit hours per fiscal year (total of 60 credit hours). Any coursework beyond four years is not covered and must be paid by the employee.

Application Requirements

To ensure full consideration for the 2026 fiscal year (which begins July 1, 2025), applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all required materials by August 1, 2025. Priority will be given to applications received by this date.

To apply, employees must:

• Have completed a master's degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Submit the for both the Doctorate of Organizational Leadership program and scholarship.
• Submit a letter of support from their supervisor via email to [email protected] confirming:
  • Approval of participation
  • Understanding of the time commitment involved
• Agree that they will make satisfactory academic progress in the DOL program.
• Agree to continue their employment with Muskingum University for two years following completion of the degree. Scholarship recipients who leave employment at Muskingum before the 2-year service commitment is complete will be subject to repaying 50% of the scholarship value to the University.
• Agree that the amount of the scholarship will be reported as taxable income. The employee will agree to a temporary increase in gross salary while they complete the program and maintain the scholarship.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of the Provost, the Executive Director of Graduate Business and Organizational Leadership, and the Associate Vice President for Human Relations and Risk Management.

In addition to submitting a completed application and letter of support from one’s supervisor, the committee will consider the applications based on:

• Demonstrated readiness and motivation for doctoral-level study
• Proven academic and professional potential, including:
  • Solid academic history
  • Clear professional development goals aligned with their role
• Likelihood of have a positive institutional impact by:
  • Contributing to their division or unit
  • Strengthening leadership at Muskingum
  • Advancing the University's strategic objectives