Faculty and Advisors

Mentor and Refer Students

Scholars tell us they apply because a faculty or staff member encouraged them to do it. You can encourage your students to apply and guide them along the way. Professional mentorship is important for all students and they, and we, rely on your support as they navigate important decisions about their futures and prepare to pursue their dreams. 

NISO reaches out to faculty and student services staff members via email in the fifteenth week of the fall and spring semesters requesting that you refer your best and most interesting students. This process is integral to student awareness of our office and the possibility of life-changing experiences available through the various scholarships, grants, and programs for which we coordinate university nominations. Reply to our email or submit a referral through BoilerConnect. 

We accept referrals any time. Connect us with students you believe will be strong candidates for prestigious scholarships by sending an email to niso@purdue.edu with the students name, email address, and any additional information you wish to share.

Serve as a Recommender

NISO is here to help you write recommendations tailored to the scholarships we coordinate for the university. When an applicant identifies who their recommenders will be, NISO provides those recommenders with clear guidelines and tips for each specific scholarship. If you do not know a student well enough to write a detailed letter or would rather not write in support of the student’s application, decline the student’s request and offer to help discuss other possible recommenders with them. Scholarship letters of recommendation often differ from grad school or other types of letters. See our scholarship letter writing tips and “how to” video guides.