The Department of Geography, Geology, Environment, and Planning has many scholarship and research funds that provide funding to students and faculty.
Please consider a donation to support our students and department. Funds supporting each of the programs are listed below. Some have direct links to donate (click on the name of the fund) or you can reach out to the department or program chairs.
Thank you for your support!
Alan P. Mewha Memorial Fund
To award a scholarship to one undergraduate student majoring in geography and regional planning at IUP and to one graduate student accepted at IUP and following the curriculum in geography and regional planning.
The Geography and Regional Planning Scholarship Committee will take the necessary steps to select the recipients for each scholarship.
Daniel and Diane Griffith Geography and Mathematics Scholarship
The Daniel and Diane Griffith Geography and Mathematics Scholarship shall provide awards to eligible students who have a declared academic course of study in geography or regional planning major (developing geographic information systems skills) with a mathematics dual major/minor or mathematics major with a geography or regional planning dual major/minor (developing geographic systems skills).
- To be eligible, a student must be enrolled as a full-time student at the university;
- To be eligible, a student must have a declared academic course of study in geography or regional planning major (developing geographic information systems skills) with a mathematics dual major/minor or mathematics major with a geography or regional planning dual major/minor (developing geographic systems skills);
- A total of four scholarship awards of an equal amount shall be given to eligible and qualified students:
- a one-year award shall be given to an entering freshman student at the beginning of his/her freshman year, based upon recruitment credentials;
- a one-year award shall be given to a student at the beginning of his/her sophomore year (completion of at least 28 credits), based upon freshman year performance;
- a one-year award shall be given to a student at the beginning of his/her junior year (completion of at least 56 credits), based upon preceding academic performance;
- a one-year award shall be given to a student at the beginning of his/her senior year (completion of at least 90 credits), based upon preceding academic performance; and,
- in the event that any of the preceding awards is/are not made, one award may be given to a graduating senior at his/her departmental commencement/graduation ceremony upon successful completion of the declared academic program and based upon preceding academic performance; otherwise, the unawarded fund shall be reinvested in the scholarship's principal.
- Eligibility is independent of whether or not a student has received an award in a previous class standing (i.e., entering freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior) and is based upon continued maintenance of declared major(s) and minor(s)/concentration(s) and good academic progress in both of the declared disciplines. A student may not receive multiple awards of this scholarship while in a given class standing. For continuation of a scholarship award, the scholarship committees of the Department of Geography, Geography, Environment, and Planning and the Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences shall be jointly responsible for assuring that the recipients meet award requirements as defined in this agreement.
Dr. Charles E. Weber Family Scholarship Endowment
The Dr. Charles E. Weber Family Scholarship provides scholarship support to full-time students at Indiana University of Pennsylvania who are enrolled in the Department of Geography, Geology, Environment, and Planning.
- Must be enrolled in the Department of Geography, Geology, Environment, and Planning or its successor academic program or composition.
- Preference given to students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 at time of selection.
Charles E. Weber taught in the Department of Geography, Geology, Environment, and Planning at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for 27 years, formerly known as Indiana State Teachers College. Weber joined the Department of Geography in 1959 and was instrumental in establishing the Regional Planning component of the Department in the 1970s. Weber retired from the university in 1986. During his time at IUP, Weber was an award-winning teacher, and he organized numerous field trips for students across the tri-state area and abroad. In 1974–75, Weber received a Distinguished Faculty Award with Gopal Kulkarni from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Education for the study abroad program they established for IUP in India.
Selection of student recipients of the Dr. Charles E. Weber Family Scholarship shall be made by the department's scholarship committee.
Dr. Maurice Zacur Memorial Geography Scholarship
The Dr. Maurice Zacur Memorial Geography Scholarship provides scholarship support to full-time, incoming freshman students enrolled at Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a declared major in Geography.
- Must be an incoming freshman student with a declared major in geography;
- Preference given to students who graduate from Indiana Area Senior High School.
The Zacur Family (David and Kathy Zacur together with Mark and Lynn Zacur) established this endowment in memory of Maurice Zacur, who was a professor of geography at Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 1958 to 1993. The endowment will provide financial assistance for Indiana High School students who enroll at IUP as geography majors.
Geography/Regional Planning Faculty Scholarship
To provide scholarship support to students enrolled in the Geography, Geology, Environment, and Planning Department at IUP based on the established criteria. The awarding of scholarships shall be on the recommendation of a committee of three or four geography and regional planning faculty and shall be according to guidelines approved by the department.
Gopal Kulkarni Memorial Scholarship
Funds used in support of student scholarships - Geography.
The Friends of Jake Scholarship
Department of Geography, Geology, Environment, and Planning Civic Engagement Account
To provide material project support, honoraria, and recognition to students and faculty in the Department of Geography, Geology, Environment, and Planning undertaking or supporting civic engagement initiatives.
Geography and Regional Planning Department Scholarship
Geography Education Fund
To support the work of the Department of Geography, Geology, Environment, and Planning in geography education through purchase of supplies, materials, publications, A-V materials, equipment and services. Such purchases are to be related to: 1) National Council for Geographic Education; 2) Pennsylvania Geographic Alliance; 3) Selected department courses that model a variety of instructional strategies, such as, GE 252.
Joseph C. Clark Research Scholars
The Joseph C. Clark Research Scholarship shall provide scholarship awards and support for student-faculty research projects to student(s) enrolled at IUP who best meet the established criteria.
- Must be enrolled as a full-time student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a declared major in the Department of Geoscience;
- Have an outstanding academic record and the promise of continued success in pursuing his/her degree.
Dr. Joseph C. Clark was a faculty member at Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 1972-2004. Dr. Clark taught courses in Environmental Geology and Subsurface Geology and contributed significantly to our understand of California Faulty Zone geology and earthquake hazards through his work with the US Geological Survey. Dr. Clark was a role model to faculty, colleagues and students, alike, with his devotion to learning and his integrity to research science. His mentorship guided many students into graduate programs and into professional careers as geologists. This fund was established to recognize and honor Dr. Clark's distinguished career and his dedication to the Geoscience Department and its students.
Selection of recipients for the Joseph C. Clark Research Scholarship shall be made by the Chairperson of the Department of Geoscience in consultation and cooperation with the Department faculty.
Next Generation Field Geology Fund
This fund is to be used by instructors for geology field courses to cover costs associated with operations of the course. For example, participants travel, accommodations, field station usage, meals etc.
Paul A. Prince Memorial Fund
This fund will be used primarily for student support, in the form of scholarships at the Marine Science Consortium and other oceanographic institutes; or other expenses associated with oceanographic research such as shipboard cruises, visits to laboratories, professional meetings, or analytical costs. Eligibility for support will be determined by the Geoscience faculty in consultation with a student's advisor' criteria will include but not be limited to GPA, financial need and student contributions to the department.
Walter H. Granata Geologic Fund
The Walter H. Granata Geologic Fund will be used primarily for student support, in the form of scholarships for summer geology field campus or other field courses; or expenses associated with geologic research such as field trips, visits to laboratories, professional meetings or analytic costs. Eligibility for support will be determined by the Geoscience faculty in consultation with a student's advisor; criteria will include, but not be limited to GPA, financial need and student contributions to the Department.