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Application for Financial Aid

Administered by the Pi Lambda Sigma Chapter of Beta Phi Mu

Please complete and submit the following application for the Dosa Scholarship, Van Hoesen Award, or both. Use the personal statement section to tell us about yourself, highlight your financial need, describe your short and long term career plans, and explain why you believe Beta Phi Mu should award you the requested financial aid. Be sure to include two academic and one personal/employer references.


Important Dates

  • Applications will be accepted until April 5, 2024 at 11:59 PM (PT)
  • Award recipients will be contacted after May 1, 2024

General Information

Award funds are intended to be used for tuition and other educational expenses at Syracuse University in completion of a library and information science degree with the SU iSchool.  Award funds are credited to the student’s SU Bursar’s Office account and will be used to cover tuition costs, fees, and other expenses.

Joseph and Marta Dosa Scholarship Details

  • Scholarship amounts typically cover 3 to 6 graduate credit hours.
  • Applicants must be matriculated graduate MS/LIS students at the Syracuse University School of Information Studiesand have successfully completed at least 18 graduate credits.
  • Awarded annually depending on available funds.
Professor Emeritus, Marta L. Dosa, Ph.D. (1923-2015)  spent nearly four decades contributing to the growth of knowledge in library and information science, and Dosa’s late husband served as librarian at Syracuse University from 1958 to 1965. Marta Dosa retired from Syracuse after 34 years of teaching, research, and service. Dr Dosa’s amazing professional contributions can be viewed more fully at the ALA Women of Library History website.

Florence R. Van Hoesen Award Details

  • Award amounts typically cover 3 to 6 graduate credit hours.
  • Applicants must be matriculated graduate MS/LIS students at the Syracuse University School of Information Studies and have successfully completed at least 18 graduate credits with a GPA of 3.75 or above.
  • Awarded annually depending on available funds.
  • Please note:Unlike standard educational loan programs, awards from the Florence R. Van Hoesen Beta Phi Mu Loan Fund have no legally binding documents, no interest accrual, and no payback schedules. However, award recipients are expected to begin contributing back to the Fund once they are established in their careers.  And, as recipients’ careers progress and flourish, contributions should continue until the award amount is met or exceeded.
Dr. Florence R. Van Hoesen (1898-1979) was an Associate Professor Emeritus of Library Science at Syracuse University. Upon her death, she bequeathed an endowment to support deserving library science students at Syracuse University. Dr. Van Hoesen’s generosity has helped librarians to complete their degrees since 1980. Professor Van Hoesen’s vision for her fund was that it would be a continuing resource available to SU library science students in perpetuity.  Funds are available to students in a time of need, and are “paid back” by that student (with no interest or penalties) for the benefit of future students.  She was advocating the “pay it forward” philosophy 40 years ago, before it came into vogue!  Dr. Van Hoesen’s papers are held by the Syracuse University Archives.
Check all that apply.
Personal Statement
Tell us about yourself, highlight your financial need, describe your short and long term career plans, and explain why you believe Beta Phi Mu should award you the requested financial aid. Use as much space as you need to communicate your situation. Drag the bottom right of the text box to expand the area.
Academic References
Please provide contact information for two academic references.
Personal or Employer Reference
Please provide contact information for one personal or employer reference.
Signature is required.