Minority graduate students can earn up to $12,500 through a program designed to increase the representation of under-represented students in graduate degree programs.

Eastern has participated in the Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity Program for four years, helping three students earn graduate-level degrees. This year candidates can earn $12,500 for full-time study or $6,250 for part-time study during one academic year.

A student must be in graduate school and must be considered a member of an under-represented group. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Asian Americans are considered under-represented groups, according to the ICEOP Web site.

Applicants must also meet the residency requirement, which stipulates that interested individuals must have received a high school or post-secondary degree in Illinois or must be a registered voter with three or more years of residency in the state.

The ICEOP was established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1985. Bob Augustine, Graduate School dean, said the program is intended to increase minority involvement in higher education.

“The hope is that they would go into disciplines that would lead to careers in higher education,” Augustine said of students who receive the ICEOP grant. “There are a variety of disciplines they may study.”

The program has helped one Eastern student receive a specialized degree in education administration. Another student earned a master’s degree in education administration and yet another earned a master’s degree in English.

Interested students can obtain applications and eligibility specifics at the ICEOP’s Web site, www.imgip.siu.edu. However, applications must be submitted to Eastern’s institutional representative, Ann Shafer, by Feb. 15 2002.

For more information contact Shafer at 581-7489 or [email protected].