The Creative Writing Program funds all incoming MFA students with a teaching appointment. These positions are not teaching assistantships (TAs) in which students teach discussion sections of a course taught by regular faculty; students are the “instructors of record” for all of these courses. Previous teaching experience is not required for these appointments; training is provided by the program. However, applicants will need to demonstrate their probable success as a first-time teacher through their application materials and letters of recommendation.
Student instructors (aka graduate employees, or GEs) receive tuition remission, monthly stipends (approximately $24,000 for the 2024-25 academic year), some fees, and health coverage.
- First-year funding: GEs in the Creative Writing Program teach either Introduction to Fiction, Introduction to Poetry, or a section of the Kidd Workshops.
- Second-year funding: During the second year, MFA candidates typically receive an appointment teaching English composition. To qualify, students must successfully complete a training program offered by the Department of English during their first year.
Other Financial Aid
Information about additional financial aid, such as student loans, grants, and work study, is available through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Inquire early, as many national deadlines are in February.
Richard and Juliette Logsdon Fiction Scholarship
The Richard and Juliette Logsdon Fiction Scholarship is awarded to a first-year MFA fiction student for work of exceptional merit.
Richard Logsdon had himself won a writing award in 1971, the Sarah Harkness Kirby Award from the UO English Department for the best graduate student essay, and that validation boosted his self-esteem and confidence. The Logsdons want to do something similar for other students.
Richard Logsdon was Senior Editor for Red Rock Review, a literary journal published by the College of Southern Nevada that features works by poets and short story writers—both new and established. In that position, he met then UO professors Ehud Havazelet (fiction), Dorianne Laux (poetry), and visiting poet Joe Millar. Inspired by them, he decided to sponsor a scholarship for the Creative Writing Program. Since there was already a poetry prize (the Miriam McFall Starlin Poetry Prize) but no existing prizes in fiction, he chose to designate the Logsdon Scholarship as a fiction prize
Eligibility
Only current first-year students in the MFA program are eligible. Specific guidelines and submission portal are located on the program’s intranet.
The Miriam McFall Starlin Poetry Prize
The Miriam McFall Starlin Poetry Prize offers a promising poet the freedom to pursue writing in the summer between their first and second years in the MFA program.
The Miriam McFall Starlin Poetry Prize was established in 1997 by the late Glenn Starlin. It was created as a gift to his wife, Miriam, who has been reading and writing poetry her entire life, beginning as a girl after her bedtime, using a flashlight under the covers. Wait a Minute was her first volume of poems and was published in 2006.
This prize offers a promising poet the freedom to pursue writing in the summer between their first and second years in the MFA program.
Eligibility
Only current MFA program students are eligible. Specific guidelines and submission portal are located on the program’s intranet.
Funding FAQs
What type of financial support or fellowships do you offer?
The Creative Writing program admits 10 MFA students each year. Each incoming student is offered a teaching appointment with a .49 full-time equivalency (FTE) and is considered a graduate employee (GE). Each GE receives a full tuition waiver (covering resident or non-resident tuition, whichever is applicable), a monthly stipend, and health coverage. (See also: Division of Graduate Studies: Salary and Benefits.)
What does the teaching appointment involve?
Students are considered the “instructors of record” for the courses and training is provided by the program. Previous teaching experience is not required for these appointments, but application materials and letters of recommendation should indicate why you would probably be successful as a full-time teacher.
During the first year, each GE will teach one course per 11-week term (including finals) for a total of three courses. The assigned course will be either Introduction to Fiction, Introduction to Poetry, or one of the Kidd Workshops. No previous teaching experience is required; training is provided by the MFA program.
During the second year, MFA candidates typically receive an appointment to teach English Composition in the English department and will teach one course per 11-week term (including finals) for a total of three courses. Teaching English Composition in the English department is also possible and is dependent on the MFA student successfully completing the English department’s pedagogical courses during the first year.
What does the stipend cover?
The stipend is generally enough for the average single person to reasonably live in the Eugene/Springfield area. The annual stipend for the GE is approximately $24,000. For more information, refer to How Much Will It Cost? and Graduate Student Cost of Attendance
Is there any additional support to cover costs to enter contests, residencies/retreats, or travel?
While the Creative Writing program does not cover submission fees, we offer internal awards for MFA students that may be used to cover such expenses.
What other sorts of financial aid are available?
A limited number of fellowships, scholarships, and awards are available through the Division of Graduate Studies. Information about additional financial aid, such as student loans, grants, and work study, is available through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Inquire early, as many national deadlines are in February.
Does the program have any community outreach programs for MFA students?
Although community outreach opportunities are sometimes available within the Eugene/Springfield community, the CRWR department is not offering any outreach programs or volunteer opportunities at this time.
Are there any local literary festivals, a local art community, etc.?
Yes, there are a variety of local festivals (some of which are literary) in the Eugene/Springfield area, and you can volunteer to get involved in the local art community.
Are there study or teach abroad opportunities for MFA students?
We do not offer opportunities to teach abroad, but other UO departments may have some.