Scholarships, Assistantships, & Awards
The application for Undergraduate Admission and Scholarships serves as the general application for all scholarships available at LSU for entering freshmen, including college awards.
For more information about the General Application for LSU Scholarships:
- LSU application for Financial Aid and Scholarships
- LSU College of Agriculture Scholarships and Award information
For full scholarship consideration at the University and College of Agriculture level, scholarship applications should be submitted by November 15th of your high school senior year. All scholarship awards are based on academic merit and financial need.
The School of Renewable Natural Resources has a number of scholarships and awards available. All students officially designated as enrolled in an RNR degree path are automatically considered for any scholarships for which they may qualify.
**All scholarships and awards are for full-time students and are competitive**
May be awarded to full-time students enrolled in the School of Renewable Natural Resources. Recipients will be chosen based on academic performance consistent with scholarship criteria used by the School of Renewable Natural Resources and will be selected by the School of Renewable Natural Resources Scholarship Committee.
A student may only receive this award once during his/her academic career in the School of Renewable Natural Resources.
Recipients of this scholarship must be full-time students at LSU enrolled in the College of Agriculture, School of Renewable Natural Resources. Recipients are chosen based on academic performance criteria used by School of Renewable Natural Resources. Financial need shall be a consideration.
May be awarded to Junior or senior student in RNR with minimum of 3.0 GPA.
May be awarded to any full-time student majoring in forestry with 2.75 GPA and complete a personal interview. The award is given by the Louisiana Forestry Foundation.
May be awarded to student majoring in forestry with 2.75 GPA and complete a personal interview. The award is given by the Louisiana Forestry Foundation.
May be awarded to an entering freshman at LSU majoring in forestry, wildlife or fisheries with a minimum ACT score of 28. May be awarded to other qualified students on a semester-by-semester basis.
The Lehman Forestry Scholarship was established from funds which he contributed to the School of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Alumni Scholarship Fund. This may be awarded to an entering freshman at LSU majoring in forestry, wildlife or fisheries with a minimum ACT score of 28. May be awarded to other qualified students on a semester-by-semester basis.
May be awarded to an entering freshman at LSU majoring in forestry with a minimum ACT score of 25. May be awarded to other qualified students on a semester-by-semester basis.
May be awarded to a junior or senior in forestry, wildlife or fisheries.
May be awarded to an undergraduate majoring in wildlife; order of selection—graduate of Marksville High School, other Avoyelles Parish high school or any other Louisiana high school.
Traditionally awarded to an undergraduate student in wood utilization.
Awarded to a sophomore student majoring in forestry, wildlife, and fisheries.
Awarded to outstanding student in Spring Forestry Camp.
One-time award to an outstanding student in forestry, wildlife, or fisheries.
May be awarded to a sophomore, junior, or senior majoring in forestry.
May be awarded to students majoring in Forestry, through the School of Renewable Natural Resources. Endowed to the Louisiana Forestry Foundation by friends, family and colleagues of Reed Huckabay.
Presented annually in the amount of $1,000 per semester, up to $2,000, to recognize a senior who has demonstrated leadership in the School of Renewable Natural Resources. The recipient of this award shall be a full-time student in good standing. Eligible students should have completed at least 96 hours of coursework and be scheduled to graduate in the following three semesters, including summer, but no later than one year following selection. A minimum GPA of 3.25 in all college coursework is required. The scholarship selection committee shall prioritize and give preference to students with demonstrated leadership in student organizations and activities associated or affiliated with the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources. Additional consideration may be given for leadership in student organizations recognized by the LSU College of Agriculture, as well as service to the broader campus or general community. The scholarship is announced each Spring and eligible students are invited to complete an application.
May be awarded to a full time undergraduate student enrolled in at LSU in the College of Agriculture, School of Renewable Natural Resources. Recipients are selected based on competitive academic performance and service activity criteria.
May be awarded to a full time undergraduate student enrolled in at LSU in the College of Agriculture, School of Renewable Natural Resources. Recipients are selected based on competitive academic performance and forest-related research criteria.
May be awarded to a full time undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in at LSU in the College of Agriculture, School of Renewable Natural Resources. Recipients are selected based on competitive academic performance criteria.
May be awarded to a full time undergraduate student enrolled in at LSU in the College of Agriculture, School of Renewable Natural Resources. Recipients are selected based on competitive academic performance and high school and community service, leadership, awards, and honors.
May be awarded to a full time undergraduate student enrolled in at LSU in the College of Agriculture, School of Renewable Natural Resources. Recipients are selected based on competitive academic performance with preference given to students studying forest and wildlife biology related concentrations.
May be awarded to a full time undergraduate student enrolled in at LSU in the College of Agriculture, School of Renewable Natural Resources. Recipients are selected based on competitive academic performance. Recipient must be a resident of the State of Louisiana and U.S. citizen.
The undergraduate scholarship will be awarded primarily based on the degree of financial need, with preferential consideration to students concentrating in fisheries and aquaculture or wetland science.
Scholarships
Ducks Unlimited, Inc. has received a gift from Diane Sustendal Labouisse to for the purpose of endowing an annual graduate-level scholarship at the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources, to be known as the John Peter Labouisse, III/Ducks Unlimited, Inc. Scholarship.
John Peter Labouisse, III was the longest serving volunteer of the New Orleans Ducks Unlimited Committee. Mr. Labouisse served as a valued member of the DU General Membership, Sponsor and Major Donor committees, and at the time of his death, was recognized as a Life Sponsor of DU with over 40 years of service and contributions to wetlands and waterfowl conservation efforts.
The amount of the scholarship shall be a minimum of $2,000 per semester, or $4,000 per year. The recipient(s) of this award shall be at least one full-time graduate student in good standing in the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources. Preference shall be given to students who have volunteered for DU through a collegiate, general membership, or sponsor chapter, and who are pursuing a course of study focused on waterfowl, wetland management, or wetland ecology. Recipients of the scholarship shall be selected by the School of Renewable Natural Resources Scholarship Committee, with approval of the VP of Agriculture.
Recipients of the graduate scholarship must be full-time graduate students studying fisheries and aquaculture in the School and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Consideration will be given to students pursuing a master’s degree, with financial need as a consideration for selection.
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation established the John Barton Sr. College of Agriculture Wildlife Scholarship in honor of Mr. John W. Barton Sr., who was a 1939 graduate of LSU and a founding member of the National Wild Turkey Federation and very active in the Quality Deer Management Association.
Eligibility – The recipient of this award shall be a full time graduate student at Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College enrolled in the School of Renewable Natural Resources studying in the fields of wildlife management or wildlife ecology. Preference shall be given to students who have demonstrated active participation or are actively participating in Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, or the Quality Deer Management Association.
The award shall be $2500. The committee reserves the right to not award, if no qualified students apply. The application deadline is 30 September of each year. Application packet shall be a letter of interest outlining qualifications and career from the applicant, a CV emphasizing academic, scholarly, research, and service achievements*, and a single page letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the School. All materials should be sent to Dr. Mike Kaller, mkalle1@lsu.edu.
* CV shall contain name, contact information, date of enrollment in current degree program, degree program, major professor, current LSU GPA, professional experience, professional meetings and conferences attended, publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, service activities to the School, LSU, and community, and leadership and participation in student clubs, professional organizations, or other relevant organizations.
Eligibility – The recipient of this award shall be a full time graduate student at Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College enrolled in the School of Renewable Natural Resources studying migratory, hunted waterfowl. A minimum GPA of 3.25 in all college coursework at time of application is required. The scholarship will recognize demonstrated leadership in student organizations and activities associated or affiliated with the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources, as well as academic achievement as a RNR undergraduate. Additional consideration may be given for leadership in other student organizations recognized by the LSU College of Agriculture, as well as service to the broader campus or general community.
The award shall be $1000. The committee reserves the right to not award, if no qualified students apply. The application deadline is 30 September of each year. Application packet shall be a letter of interest outlining qualifications and career from the applicant, a CV emphasizing academic, scholarly, research, and service achievements*, and a single page letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the School. All materials should be sent to Dr. Mike Kaller, mkalle1@lsu.edu.
* CV shall contain name, contact information, date of enrollment in current degree program, degree program, major professor, current LSU GPA, professional experience, professional meetings and conferences attended, publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, service activities to the School, LSU, and community, and leadership and participation in student clubs, professional organizations, or other relevant organizations.
This is a half-time assistantship and is awarded by a faculty member who is selected by the Louisiana Wildlife Biologists Association (LWBA) based on competitive proposals. The recipient must be a full-time student working toward a graduate degree in either wildlife or fisheries, or both, and must maintain a 3.0 GPA. Any publications by the recipient will acknowledge that the work was supported by this scholarship. The LWBA sends a request for proposals to the School when funds are available, selects the proposal for funding, and the successful faculty member selects the scholarship recipient.
The Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship is a competitive scholarship that awards $2000 annually for an undergraduate student and $3,000 annually to a graduate student pursuing a degree in forestry, wildlife or marine science at a Louisiana Public College or University. The cumulative maximum award is $12,000 for up to three years of undergraduate study and two years of graduate study.
Information on eligibility, scholarship requirements, deadlines, and how to apply, are available from the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOFSA). Application deadline is 1 July. A FAFSA is also required.
The Ben and Pauline Stanley Graduate Student Excellence Award recognizes doctoral and master’s students who have made outstanding contributions to research, service or teaching in the School of Renewable Natural Resources (SRNR). This award symbolizes the School’s commitment to excellence in graduate education. If deserving candidates are identified, these annual awards will be presented to a doctoral student and a master’s student from the SRNR who will use this award to advance his/her graduate education. A student may only receive this award once during his/her academic career in the School of Renewable Natural Resources.
Eligibility – To be eligible, applicants must be currently enrolled in a graduate degree program in the SRNR. Ph.D. students are eligible to apply after successful completion of their general examinations. Master’s students are eligible for the award after the completion of 75% (18 hours) of their coursework. Only currently enrolled students are eligible. Students may not receive the Ben and Pauline Stanley Graduate Student Excellence Award and the Clark M. Hoffpauer Memorial Fund simultaneously in an academic year.
The award shall be $500 to one MS and $500 one PhD student, if qualified students apply and are selected. The committee reserves the right to not award, if no qualified students apply. The application deadline is 30 September of each year. Application packet shall be a letter of interest outlining qualifications and career from the applicant, a CV emphasizing academic, scholarly, research, and service achievements*, and a single page letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the School. All materials should be sent to Dr. Mike Kaller (mkalle1@lsu.edu).
* CV shall contain name, contact information, date of enrollment in current degree program, degree program, major professor, current LSU GPA, professional experience, professional meetings and conferences attended, publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, service activities to the School, LSU, and community, and leadership and participation in student clubs, professional organizations, or other relevant organizations.
The Clark M. Hoffpauer Memorial Fund has been established to benefit students enrolled in the graduate program in the School of Renewable Natural Resources. The gift honors the memory of Clark M. Hoffpauer who received his Masters of Science in Wildlife Management from Louisiana State University in the 1960's. He was a lifelong pilot, adventurer and avid sportsman. During his distinguished career he served as director of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, where he began his career as a biologist in 1950. During his tenure as LDWF director he was responsible for the acquisition of five game management areas in Louisiana. He served as president for the Southeastern Game and Fish Commissioners Association and was instrumental in the return of the endangered brown pelican, changing legislation for alligator management and many other innovative studies and practices that are in place today. After he left public service he started an environmental consulting firm that help develop spill emergency plans for many Louisiana refineries. In 1972 he received the Louisiana Conservation of the Year Award.
Eligibility - The recipient of this award must be a full time graduate student at Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College enrolled in the School of Renewable Natural Resources. The recipient must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0. Financial need may be a consideration. Only currently enrolled students are eligible. Students may not receive the Ben and Pauline Stanley Graduate Student Excellence Award and the Clark M. Hoffpauer Memorial Fund simultaneously in an academic year.
The award shall be $1000. The committee reserves the right to not award, if no qualified students apply. The application deadline is 30 September of each year. Application packet shall be a letter of interest outlining qualifications and career from the applicant, a CV emphasizing academic, scholarly, research, and service achievements*, and a single page letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the School. All materials should be sent to Dr. Mike Kaller (mkalle1@lsu.edu)
* CV shall contain name, contact information, date of enrollment in current degree program, degree program, major professor, current LSU GPA, professional experience, professional meetings and conferences attended, publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, service activities to the School, LSU, and community, and leadership and participation in student clubs, professional organizations, or other relevant organizations.
Eligibility – The recipient of this award must be a full time graduate student at Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College enrolled in the School of Renewable Natural Resources. The student must be conducting silvicultural or other research on bottomland hardwood and/or cypress-tupelo forests in Louisiana with a preference to coastal forests of Louisiana. The recipient must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0. Only currently enrolled students are eligible. A student may only receive this award once during his/her academic career in the School of Renewable Natural Resources. Students may not receive the Ben and Pauline Stanley Graduate Student Excellence Award and the Barbara S. Edisen Memorial Scholarship simultaneously in an academic year.
The award shall be $1000. The committee reserves the right to not award, if no qualified students apply. The application deadline is 30 September of each year. Application packet shall be a letter of interest outlining qualifications and career from the applicant, a CV emphasizing academic, scholarly, research, and service achievements*, and a single page letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the School. All materials should be sent to Dr. Mike Kaller, mkalle1@lsu.edu.
* CV shall contain name, contact information, date of enrollment in current degree program, degree program, major professor, current LSU GPA, professional experience, professional meetings and conferences attended, publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, service activities to the School, LSU, and community, and leadership and participation in student clubs, professional organizations, or other relevant organizations.
Travel Grants
Graduate students in forestry who are scheduled to present a paper or poster at a professional meeting may apply for reimbursement from the Gilbert Foundation Travel Fund. Application is made to the Gilbert Foundation Oversight Committee. Contact your major professor for more information
Graduate students in Wildlife and/or Fisheries may apply for Glasgow travel grants to attend a professional conference during the academic year. Grants will vary from $150-$250, depending on the number that apply, and may be used to pay for travel, lodging, meals, and registration fees. Students previously awarded a Glasgow Travel Grant or students with less than 2 semesters of graduate study (including summer) are not eligible.
Students interested in applying should contact:
Dr. William Kelso
118 Renewable Natural Resources Bldg.
(225) 578-4176
wkelso@lsu.edu
Other Awards
Information about other Awards (travel and otherwise) are available from the Graduate School.
Financial assistance is available to graduate students through assistantships, fellowships, awards, and scholarships awarded by the School and the University, and through programs administered by the LSU Office of Financial Aid. A limited number of assistantships are available on a competitive basis through the School each year. The deadlines for applications and supporting credentials for all financial aid, unless specifically noted otherwise, are 30 September and 25 January for the following spring and fall semester, respectively. To be eligible for financial aid you must be a full-time student and in good academic standing.
Types of Graduate Assistantships
LSU classifies Graduate Assistantships (GAs). The following are categories used in the School of RNR
Teaching Assistant 1 (TA1): This category does not include contact with students in scheduled meetings of classes and laboratories. Graduate assistants working under this category work in support of instructional programs, including such tasks as preparing examinations, grading papers, assisting in preparation of lectures, maintaining class records, and tutoring students outside of formal class and laboratory settings.
Teaching Assistant 2 (TA2): This category comprises all the duties for a Teaching Assistant 1 but also may include such assignments as making presentations in laboratories or classrooms, conducting lectures, and leading discussion groups provided that the GA is neither the instructor of record nor has primary responsibility for assigning grades.
Research Assistant (RA): Graduate assistants working under this category assist faculty members in conducting research.
Service Assistant (SA): These graduate assistants are responsible for academic assignments such as data analysis, literature searches, and report writing.
Sources of Assistantships
Gilbert Foundation Research Assistantships
The School of Renewable Natural Resources is seeking M.S. and Ph.D. applicants for Gilbert Foundation Graduate Research Assistantships. These assistantships are available to students concentrating in the study of forestry or forestry-related areas. Research areas could include forest management and economics, wood science and technology, forest biometrics, silviculture, forest hydrology, wetland forests, hardwood regeneration, ecophysiology, forest genetics, and forestry-related wildlife and fisheries management and conservation.
Annual stipends are generous and include a full waiver of tuition and student fees.
To be eligible, M.S. degree applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall and 3.25 for last two years. Ph.D. applicants must a have a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.6. Applicants must submit GRE scores. Verbal and quantitative scores of the GRE should be at least 310 with at least 153 and 144 on the verbal and quantitative sections, respectively. The ideal writing score is 4.0 or above. Selection criteria also include evidence of the applicant’s potential success in pursuing a graduate degree and representation of the Gilbert Foundation ideals, as detailed in a letter of application (see below).
For more information about graduate studies in the School of Renewable Natural Resources you are encouraged to visit the School’s web page, and the Graduate School web page. Interested applicants should apply online.
The School of Renewable Natural Resources has a teaching, research, and extension faculty of 30, which includes adjunct professors of the US Geological Survey’s Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. The faculty in the School is committed to innovative teaching, state-of-the-art research, and quality extension programs designed to train well-rounded natural resource professionals. Graduates of the School are employed in private industry, and state and federal natural resource agencies, but many choose to continue their graduate education
Louisiana State University is a comprehensive Research I institution enrolling more than 28,000 students. The campus is located in south Louisiana, 60 minutes from New Orleans, close to Louisiana’s Cajun country, and in the heart of the state’s abundant forestry, wildlife, and fisheries resources.
The most successful applicants have arranged for a faculty advisor and a research topic prior to submitting their application. Such arrangements should be included in the letter of interest.
Applications are currently being accepted for the Gilbert Foundation Research Assistantship for the Fall Semester 2023. The deadline to apply is 15 February 2023. For complete information download: 2023 Gilbert Foundation Research Assistantship Information.
If you need more information concerning graduate studies, and the Gilbert Foundation Research Assistantship in the School of Renewable Natural Resources, please contact:
Dr. Thomas Dean
Professor and Gilbert Committee Chair
210 Renewable Natural Resources Building
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
fwdean@lsu.edu (225) 578-4216
School of Renewable Natural Resources
The number of graduate assistantships through the School is extremely limited and vary by program. Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis according to criteria established by the individual programs. Check with your major professor for the criteria that have been established in your discipline. Stipends for these assistantships are $16,500 and $20,000 per year for M.S. and Ph.D. students, respectively.
Research Grants
Faculty typically obtain extramural funding for their research and often this funding provides money for assistantships. Faculty who receive these grants are responsible for awarding these assistantships according to their own criteria. Stipends funded by extramural funding are set by the faculty member in charge of the project.
Tuition Obligation
All students on a full-time assistantship receive a full tuition waiver. However students are responsible for all university fees. More information about Assistantships can be obtained from the Graduate School.
Appointment
As soon as the assistantship appointment begins, the graduate assistant must report to the main office (Room 227, RNR) to fill out the various personnel and withholding forms. Appointments are normally for 12 months and do not provide paid vacation or sick leave. The salary of the graduate assistant is subject to both state and federal income taxes.
If you were offered any of these assistantships before you arrived at LSU, you should have already signed a letter of appointment and a copy of the job description of the position to which you are appointed. If you have not signed these documents, contact your major professor.
Duties of Graduate Assistants
Your job duties will be specified in an official job description. Your signature on this document signifies that you have read the job description and that you are aware of what is expected of you. Half-time graduate assistants are expected to work 20 hours per week and to be available for duty on all University work days (including those between semesters). Your performance in relation to your graduate assistant duties will be evaluated by your supervisor on at least an annual basis. You will be asked to sign the evaluation and include your comments concerning the evaluation.
As a graduate assistant, you are a salaried employee of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. This position is not entitled to benefits such as group medical coverage or retirement contributions. Although you are not subject to leave tracking (i.e., filling out papers to request leave), you must obtain permission to take leave from your major professor or faculty member funding your assistantship.
Graduate teaching assistants (TA's) will be required to understand and comply with University policies covering such issues as sexual harassment and the Code of Student Conduct. To meet this requirement, graduate TA's will be required to attend University-wide teaching assistant workshops at their first opportunity. The course instructor has certain responsibilities in preparing graduate TA's for their course assignments.
Time Limits
Assistantships should not pose an impediment to your progress toward a degree. Likewise, assistantships are not meant to provide semi-permanent employment. Therefore, the Graduate School imposes the following time limitations for holding an assistantship:
- Maximum of 30 months for students pursuing an M.S. in programs requiring up to 36 hours (2.5 years).
- Maximum of 72 months (6 years) for students pursuing a Ph.D.; and maximum of 78 months, including support while in the Master's program, for students pursuing a Ph.D. after earning an M.S. in the same field at LSU. The School of RNR further limits School-based Ph.D. assistantships (e.g., McIntire-Stennis, Forest Products assistantships, teaching assistantships, etc.) to 4.5 years (13 semesters).
Time limits are calculated from the initial appointment date and will not be altered. We expect you to complete your degree well before these limits become an issue. Therefore, you must petition the Graduate Committee to continue a graduate assistantship past the normal time period for completion of the M.S. or Ph.D.
Termination of Assistantships
In addition to the time limits, assistantships terminate under the following circumstances:
- the date the candidate receives his or her degree;
- the date the candidate stops working;
- academic probation; and
- failure to adhere to the Code of Student Conduct or to adequately perform assigned duties
If the dates for (1) or (2) do not coincide with the termination date of the appointment, the assistant must submit a written resignation.