The Graduate Student Well-Being Mini Grant is an initiative of the Graduate School at Ohio State University. Mini grants will be award of up to $3,000 to Graduate Coordinators to develop, implement, or improve a college or department wide or program specific wellness initiative that supports graduate and professional students’ well-being. These initiatives can be new or revising existing well-being initiatives. The goal is the promotion, awareness, or enhancement of Ohio State University’s Ten Dimensions of Wellness, focusing specifically on graduate students’ health and wellness.
Value and Duration
- Graduate Coordinators can apply for up to $3,000 to support the undertaking of a new or revising existing program related to graduate and professional student wellness. Allocation amounts may vary based upon proposal request and justification.
- The maximum number of allocations provided by the Graduate School each year is 5 (awarded in January).
Application Criteria and Process
- Submit a complete online application to the Graduate School, Dr Karin Jordan at jordan.1193@osu.edu
- Attach any relevant documentation
- Applications are reviewed, and allocations determined by the Graduate School Review Committee once, annually every December, when the top 5 applications are chosen
- Five mini grants will be selected and awarded funds to be distributed in January to a department or college cost center for the Graduate Coordinator to access
- The initiative must run during the Spring term that the funding was awarded
- The applicant(s) agrees to complete a post-initiative feedback questionnaire
- A 2–3-page summarization report of the project/initiative, budget and expected outcome, including collected data and graduate and professional student impact on wellbeing, by the 1st week of Summer Term
Application Criteria and Process
Eligible Applicants
- All Graduate Coordinators working with graduate students in any academic unit
Eligible Expenses
- Supplies needed to support your initiative
- Paying instructors/facilitators for a set number of hours
- Cost associated with space rental
- Promotional material
- Cost of material development
- Equipment rental
- Training materials
Other costs will be considered. Please include a description in your application
Ineligible Expenses
- Activities/events that have already taken place
- Activities/events that are for the purposes of fundraising
- Coordinator salary or supplemental pay
Examples of Activities/Initiatives
- Workshop/activity/session
- Panel discussion
- Conference
- Reception
- Promotion campaign
- Guest lecturer
- Resource development
- Support group
- Group activity centered around one or more of the Ten Dimensions of Wellness (add link)
Selection Considerations
The selection committee will take into consideration the following:
- Potential impact of initiative:
- Clear demonstration of messaging around one or more of the Ten Dimensions of Wellness and/or enhancement for the graduate and/or professional student community.
- Innovation:
-Number of graduate students that could benefit from the program
-Length or sustainability of program. Is the project a one-time event or does it have the potential to continue to impact the graduate student community? If it is a one-time event, what efforts will be undertaken to enhance the lasting impact of the initiative (i.e., making a recording and slide deck of a panel discussion available for future graduate and/or professional students to view).
-Does the initiative demonstrate innovation and/or address a specific need around one or more of the 10 wellness dimensions that is graduate student specific?
Deadline
Applications will be accepted from October 1 to November 19. Selections will take place in early January 2027.
How to Apply
- Please complete the online application form
- Attach any relevant supporting documentation (must be submitted through the application form) and send to Dr Karin Jordan at jordan.1193@osu.edu
- A confirmation email will be sent to the applicant to confirm receipt of the application.