UA Little Rock was awarded a U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) grant totaling $1.25 million to prepare educational interpreters to work with Deaf and hard of hearing students. The grant began October 1, 2021 and continues through September 30, 2026. The grant’s goal is to increase the number of qualified interpreters working within the educational settings with IDEA identified children of pre-K through 12th grade through interpreter education at the Baccalaureate Level.

Eligibility Requirements

The OSEP grant funding is competitive and includes payment of tuition, fees, benchmark exams and a stipend during each semester funded. Requirements include:

  • Junior or Senior standing as a full- or part-time student majoring in the B.A. in Interpretation: ASL/English
  • Signed agreement stating acknowledging a “2 to 1 payback” requirement (e.g., for each academic year funding is received, the recipient agrees to work 2 academic years in educational settings with IDEA identified children).
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 or above
  • Two Letters of Recommendation
  • Expected completion of the UA Little Rock bachelor’s degree in Interpretation: ASL/English prior to or by September 30, 2026.

Selection Criteria

Students will be selected to receive the OSEP grant based on the following criteria:

  • Assurance that all of the above requirements are met.
  • Financial Need
  • Prior experience and coursework in interpreting or deafness related fields
  • Potential for completing the program
  • Commitment to educational interpreting and the payback agreement
  • Diversity of applicant pool
  • Overall GPA
  • Letters of Recommendation

Selection Process

Scholarship applicants are interviewed by a team of 3-5 faculty (Project Coordinator plus faculty) for each Spring and/or Fall semester. Candidates selected to receive scholarships are notified in writing with confirmation of the approximate amount of the scholarship award for the forthcoming semester.

Continuing Eligibility Requirement

Students must maintain an overall academic GPA of 3.0 or better with at least a “B” in interpreting major courses and continue to make progress in the program to remain eligible for the scholarship. Scholars will not be required to work as a prerequisite to receiving a scholarship.

Post-Graduation Requirements

Upon graduation, funded students must sign an exit agreement indicating the total amount of funds received and the total number of years of service expected to complete the “2 for 1 payback” (for each one-year of grant funding received, two years of  work with IDEA identified students from ages 0-21 years of age.) Reporting and tracking are coordinated at the federal level.

For more information, contact:

Raphael James, PI/Project Director
[email protected]

Non-discrimination policy

UA Little Rock provides equal opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, and actively encourages grant applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups. The University follows the regulations of federal laws through its Affirmative Action Plan, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.


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