A new scholarship at Ball State University’s Teachers College will help offset the cost of a graduate-level degree in special education for students from marginalized populations.

The Inclusive Excellence in Graduate Special Education Scholarship was made possible through the generosity of the Avis Foundation, Inc., a strong supporter of Teachers College that is committed to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Inclusive Excellence Scholarship provides financial support to a new or current student in one of the master’s or doctoral degree programs in the Department of Special Education.

Applicants must represent a historically or currently marginalized population and should have a GPA of 3.25 or higher. The purpose the scholarship is to provide financial support to offset the costs of graduate study for marginalized populations as a means of increasing diverse leadership in Special Education in schools, service agencies, government, and universities.

The scholarship aligns with the University’s approach to Inclusive Excellence as identified in the 2019-2024 Strategic Plan and 2019-2024 Inclusive Excellence Plan. In our strategic plan, we define inclusiveness as a commitment to “respect and embrace equity, inclusion, and diversity in people, ideas, and opinions.”

Avis Foundation Executive Director Marty Songer said the organization was pleased to partner with Ball State to establish the scholarship.

“A large part of our mission is to support organizations devoted to improving quality of life in communities through education.” Songer said. “It is our hope that this new scholarship fund will encourage graduate students to use their education to improve communities, especially those who have been marginalized."

For more information on this scholarship, or for anyone interested in applying for the award, please contact the Department of Special Education at spce@bsu.edu or 765-285-5700.

The college seeks ongoing contributions from individuals or agencies that are similarly committed to inclusive excellence. If you are interested in making a difference by contributing to this new fund, contact Will Cooper, senior director of development for principal gifts at the Ball State University Foundation, at wpcooper@bsu.edu or 765-285-7052.