Susan R. Meisinger was the president and chief executive officer of SHRM from March 2002 until her retirement in July 2008, when this scholarship was created in her honor. Sue Meisinger has a passion for HR and strongly believes HR professionals must prepare for an HR career by not only gaining experience but also by pursuing a solid, meaningful and stringent education in the field of human resources. The award is for a $10,000 scholarship, renewable for a second year; up to $20,000 total.
Eligibility
- SHRM member OR holds a SHRM Certification (SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP)
- Minimum three years experience in HR
- Minimum five years of total professional work experience (including HR experience)
- Accepted or enrolled in a degree-seeking master’s program at an accredited university. Universities in the United States must be regionally accredited; universities outside of the United States must be accredited by an accrediting body widely recognized within the country or by the government body that oversees higher education within the country
- Must have at least 50% of the degree requirements remaining
- Degree program is HR-related (e.g. psychology, organizational development, MBA)
- GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate program or 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in graduate program (if enrolled)
- Has not received another Master’s degree in an HR-related program
How to Apply
Online application including:
- Contact information
- Questions about work experience and career aspirations
- Current resume or CV
- Undergraduate college transcript or graduate transcript-if already enrolled (official or unofficial)*
- Copy of acceptance letter to Master’s degree program (if not currently enrolled)
- One letter of reference**
*Transcripts must be in English. The SHRM Foundation may request an applicant with an international transcript to provide a transcript evaluation (at the applicant’s expense), from World Education Services or another reputable service, prior to reviewing an application.
**Applicants must request all recommendation letters through our application system. Letters may be written by work or volunteer colleagues, coaches, professors, etc. but should not come directly from applicant or applicant's family members. We encourage applicants to request recommendation letters early in the application process. Please know, your application is not complete until your letter of recommendation is submitted and you "mark as complete", then select "submit."
Please print your application for your records before you submit it. Once you submit your application, the SHRM Foundation will not be able to return it to you, in whole or in part, for any reason.
Scholarship Distribution
Applications are evaluated and scored by a special select group of SHRM volunteers and are reviewed by staff. All decisions are final. If selected to receive the Susan R. Meisinger Scholarship, recipients will be required to provide proof of enrollment and college/university payment instructions. The SHRM Foundation will issue a check not to exceed $10,000 directly to the institution for payment of tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at the educational institution, or for fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses at the educational institution.
Special Considerations
Each scholarship is a one-time award, renewable for a second year; up to $20,000 total. Previous applicants may reapply, but past scholarship recipients are ineligible.
- Full-time, part-time, online, and distance learning programs are acceptable.
- Scholarships are for college-degree programs only and may not be used to attend professional development seminars.
- Recipients should intend on submitting proof of enrollment no later than July for the institution to receive timely payment.
Expectations of Awardees:
To accept the scholarship, recipients must commit to working in the HR field for a minimum of one year for every year of funding received. They must maintain their HR certification and/or SHRM membership during the scholarship. They must maintain a 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and university enrollment in their original degree program to be eligible for a second year of funding.
Awardees who withdraw from their academic program early will be obligated to return any unused funds and will not be eligible for additional award distributions. Awardees who complete their program in good standing are not obligated to pay back the award.
Please note, the SHRM Foundation does not reimburse for any fees or any associated expenses incurred prior to award. SHRM/SHRM Foundation employees or board members and the immediate family are not eligible to apply for SHRM Foundation Scholarships, Grants, or Awards.
2024 Susan R. Meisinger Scholarship for Graduate Study in HR
Susan R. Meisinger was the president and chief executive officer of SHRM from March 2002 until her retirement in July 2008, when this scholarship was created in her honor. Sue Meisinger has a passion for HR and strongly believes HR professionals must prepare for an HR career by not only gaining experience but also by pursuing a solid, meaningful and stringent education in the field of human resources. The award is for a $10,000 scholarship, renewable for a second year; up to $20,000 total.
Eligibility
- SHRM member OR holds a SHRM Certification (SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP)
- Minimum three years experience in HR
- Minimum five years of total professional work experience (including HR experience)
- Accepted or enrolled in a degree-seeking master’s program at an accredited university. Universities in the United States must be regionally accredited; universities outside of the United States must be accredited by an accrediting body widely recognized within the country or by the government body that oversees higher education within the country
- Must have at least 50% of the degree requirements remaining
- Degree program is HR-related (e.g. psychology, organizational development, MBA)
- GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate program or 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in graduate program (if enrolled)
- Has not received another Master’s degree in an HR-related program
How to Apply
Online application including:
- Contact information
- Questions about work experience and career aspirations
- Current resume or CV
- Undergraduate college transcript or graduate transcript-if already enrolled (official or unofficial)*
- Copy of acceptance letter to Master’s degree program (if not currently enrolled)
- One letter of reference**
*Transcripts must be in English. The SHRM Foundation may request an applicant with an international transcript to provide a transcript evaluation (at the applicant’s expense), from World Education Services or another reputable service, prior to reviewing an application.
**Applicants must request all recommendation letters through our application system. Letters may be written by work or volunteer colleagues, coaches, professors, etc. but should not come directly from applicant or applicant's family members. We encourage applicants to request recommendation letters early in the application process. Please know, your application is not complete until your letter of recommendation is submitted and you "mark as complete", then select "submit."
Please print your application for your records before you submit it. Once you submit your application, the SHRM Foundation will not be able to return it to you, in whole or in part, for any reason.
Scholarship Distribution
Applications are evaluated and scored by a special select group of SHRM volunteers and are reviewed by staff. All decisions are final. If selected to receive the Susan R. Meisinger Scholarship, recipients will be required to provide proof of enrollment and college/university payment instructions. The SHRM Foundation will issue a check not to exceed $10,000 directly to the institution for payment of tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at the educational institution, or for fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses at the educational institution.
Special Considerations
Each scholarship is a one-time award, renewable for a second year; up to $20,000 total. Previous applicants may reapply, but past scholarship recipients are ineligible.
- Full-time, part-time, online, and distance learning programs are acceptable.
- Scholarships are for college-degree programs only and may not be used to attend professional development seminars.
- Recipients should intend on submitting proof of enrollment no later than July for the institution to receive timely payment.
Expectations of Awardees:
To accept the scholarship, recipients must commit to working in the HR field for a minimum of one year for every year of funding received. They must maintain their HR certification and/or SHRM membership during the scholarship. They must maintain a 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and university enrollment in their original degree program to be eligible for a second year of funding.
Awardees who withdraw from their academic program early will be obligated to return any unused funds and will not be eligible for additional award distributions. Awardees who complete their program in good standing are not obligated to pay back the award.
Please note, the SHRM Foundation does not reimburse for any fees or any associated expenses incurred prior to award. SHRM/SHRM Foundation employees or board members and the immediate family are not eligible to apply for SHRM Foundation Scholarships, Grants, or Awards.