Scholarships

Cooper Scholars must be full-time, residential, degree-seeking students. A minimum of nine credit hours must be taken every session. International Cooper Scholars must take 12-15 credits per session in order to graduate in the 2/3 years the award is available (M.A./M.Div, respectively). If a student takes less than nine credits in any session, their scholarship may be suspended. If/when the student returns to full-time, they must request re-instatement of their scholarship from the Business Manager.

In addition, Cooper Scholar recipients will meet the following criteria:

Each prospective Cooper Scholar applicant must provide two additional letters of recommendation. For Quaker students, these should ideally be from the Student’s monthly and yearly meetings. The monthly meeting nomination is of primary importance. Normally a small group of two or three persons appointed by monthly meeting Ministry and Counsel (or its equivalent) will meet with the student to discern his or her leading and call to ministry and to study at ESR.

For applicants of other traditions, these two letters should come from comparable bodies: one from their local congregation and one from the larger denominational structure. Students without these formal connections will not be excluded from consideration, but should contact the Director of Recruitment and Admissions for guidance on identifying appropriate letter writers.

Letter of recommendation should be sent to:
Director of Recruitment and Admissions
Earlham School of Religion
228 College Avenue
Richmond, IN 47374

You must be an individual currently employed at least half time by a Quaker organization (e.g. Friends’ schools, colleges, yearly meetings, Quaker service organizations, etc.) and intend to continue that service. Admitted applicants who are not selected for the annual Quaker Professional Scholarship may choose to either enroll as ESR Access students or defer their application for up to two years. In the latter case they will be eligible for the Quaker Professional Scholarship in each of those two subsequent years without re-applying.

To apply for the Quaker Professional Scholarship, prospective students should:

1) complete a standard application for any of ESR’s degree programs
2) submit an additional essay response to the following question: “How do you see your current and future work contributing to the growth and development of Quaker organizations, and how do you anticipate completing a degree program at ESR will contribute to this work?”
3) submit an additional letter of recommendation from your supervisor addressing the same question as above regarding your work

Deadline for application is May 1 (admission application and scholarship)

There are two categories of the Leadership and Service Program Scholarship.

1) Residential or Access students who, within the past 3 years, are recommended by and have participated in a service or leadership program including: a Quaker College Leadership program, Quaker Voluntary Service or another “Service Programs that Change the World” program, or a year-long internship with Friends Committee on National Legislation, QuEST Seattle, Quaker United Nations Office, or other approved service organization

2) Residential or Access students who, within the past 3 years, are recommended by and have participated in a Bonner Scholar or Bonner Leader program.

Up to 2 scholarships will be awarded each year.

1. Recipients will sign a Scholarship Agreement, committing to remain in good academic standing, participate in Community Life, and heed the advices and requests of ESR on personal and moral concerns. M.Div. students can choose to complete their volunteer hours in the first two years of the program in order to leave their final year free for their Supervised Ministry placement.

Students must have, within the past 3 years, participated in and be recommended by a service or leadership program including: a Quaker College Leadership program; Quaker Voluntary Service or another “Service Programs that Change the World” program, or a year-long internship with Friends Committee on National Legislation, QuEST Seattle, Quaker United Nations Office, or other approved service organization, or a Bonner Scholar or Bonner Leader program.

Each prospective Leadership & Service Program nominee must be recommended by their college program or service organization. ESR’s Director of Recruitment and Admissions can provide guidance and details on the process.

Nomination should be sent to:
Director of Recruitment and Admissions
Earlham School of Religion
228 College Avenue

The criteria for the scholarship are based on the following composite characteristics embodied by Nancy Mullen. Students who exemplify these characteristics are eligible to apply.

• Courage of conviction
• Open to new insights
• Love for people in general
• Compassion for those with particular needs
• Hunger for learning
• Called by God to use spiritual gifts in serving humanity
• A joyful spirit to encourage and inspire others

A Call for Applications is issued each January; the deadline is late March (varies each year).

There is no formal application form. Those interested in applying should write a letter explaining in what ways you embody the above characteristics. Submit the letter to Jonelle Ellis, Director of Business and Student Services, [email protected], (email only please, do not mail a hard copy). Be sure to include your address, phone number and email. Click here for details.

Applicants need not be current students, but they are required to attend a Ministry of Writing course on campus.

A Call for Applications is issued each August; the deadline is early October (varies each year). Applicants should complete the application and submit a description of the publishable writing project on which you will work while at ESR, including a brief chapter outline and a sample of your writing.

Download the application here.

For members of the Religious Society of Friends who are residents of California.

Contact the Business Office.