Mission, Vision & Values

Mission

The Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards (OMSFA) helps University of Washington undergraduates and alumni develop the skills and personal insights necessary to pursue scholarships appropriate to their goals. OMSFA has the recognition and support of the campus community and contributes to UW’s mission and national reputation.

Our office:

• Provides information and resources to increase student awareness of and access to the scholarship search and application process. We support students through workshops, events, online tools, and individual advising.
• Mentors students through an intense process by offering resources, advising, and individual feedback which result in competitive applications for local, national and international scholarships.
• Collaborates with faculty and staff to encourage and support applicants.

Vision

We have an impact on the academic experiences of our students, helping them connect with transformative opportunities and resources. These experiences expand their perspective of themselves and the world.  Through our campus partnerships and collaborations, faculty, students, and staff become active ambassadors of student scholarships at the UW.

Values

• Students. We value students’ voices, lives, dreams, hopes and aspirations as individuals.
• Learning. We value scholarship application as a learning process which helps students clarify goals, define resources, and develop tools applicable to all aspects of their lives.
• Resilience. We value the ability of students to move through challenges, disappointments, and successes and support them as they build resilience.
• Collaboration. We value our partnerships with faculty, staff, individual students and student groups to develop strong undergraduate candidates for local, national and international scholarships.
• Inclusion. We value an inclusive scholarship community fostered through information sharing, transparent processes, and diverse participation.
• Experience. We value the rich and diverse learning environment at UW—both in and out of the classroom—which provides students with resources and opportunities to engage and demonstrate commitment to their work.