Moreover, it is able to commit itself to six years of full support for incoming students, so long as good progress is made and student teaching is satisfactory. The Department receives an allocation of fellowships funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and intended to decrease the time it takes to complete the degree. In the remaining terms, doctoral students receive appointments as GSI's. Beginning teaching assignments involve conducting discussions sections for a course taught by a faculty member. More advanced teaching assignments provide the opportunity to teach one s own undergraduate course in philosophy or elementary logic.
Many students receive additional fellowship support.
Philosophy students at the dissertation stage often hold one year Rackham Predoctoral Fellowships, awarded in a University-wide competition. Michigan philosophy graduate students have competed very successfully in recent years in competitions for national fellowships. For example, since 1987 eight Michigan philosophy graduate students have won Charlotte Newcombe Fellowships in ethics, administered by the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. Finally, Michigan Merit Fellowships are awarded at the time of admission to especially worthy students from historically underrepresented ethnic groups. Merit Fellows enjoy substantially reduced teaching obligations.