Part of the University of Delaware Graduate College’s vision is to support graduate programs in recruiting and retaining the best students. To this end, we have created the Competitive Counteroffer to help doctoral programs attract top prospective students who have received attractive funding offers from other institutions. This opportunity will provide prospective students with a one-time $2,000 award at the beginning of their first year of graduate school and a $3,000/12-month award ($2,250/academic year award) for up to three (3) years based on the duration program’s funding offer. The Graduate College expects to make up to 50 offers in the current fiscal year.
Note that, while international students may be nominated, their pre-arrival award will have taxes withheld consistent with federal tax treaties. All components of the award will be taxable income that all students, whether international or domestic, must report appropriately.
If you have a top prospective student who has informed you of an attractive offer from a competitive program and you believe this opportunity could make the difference in the student choosing UD, please consider nominating the student for a Competitive Counteroffer. Each doctoral program may submit up to three nominations, and the Graduate College will provide a decision within five business days. Submissions should come from the program director or program coordinator. In your nomination, you will need to provide the following information:
- Submitter’s name and email address
- Prospective student’s name, UD ID number, and email address in their graduate application
- Comment on the academic strengths and other qualities that this student would bring to your program. Where would you rank this student among the current students admitted to your program?
- Upload of the student’s competing offer letter
- Upload of the student’s UD funding offer letter, which should clearly indicate whether the offer is for a 12-month or 9-month period, as well as how many years the funding will be available to the student
- Comment on the relative strengths of the competing offer (university, program, research area, faculty, funding, or other considerations important to the student) and how those compare to your offer
- Why you believe a Competitive Counteroffer will increase your chances of getting this student
- Upload of the program’s mentoring plan/expectations (can be the same as what you’ve prepared for the various Graduate College fellowships/awards)
Questions about this opportunity may be directed to LaRuth McAfee (mcafee@udel.edu), Senior Assistant Dean of the Graduate College