Formerly Executive Memorandum 78-39
Initially approved March 1, 1978
Revised: February 24, 1998
Revised: August 18, 2014
Revised: October 10, 2016
Revised: November 12, 2024
Policy Topic: Student Activities and Services, Academic Affairs
Administering Office: Financial Aid - University Scholarships
It is the policy of 蘑菇短视频 ("WCU") to: (i) establish scholarships in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies; (ii) award and administer the disbursement of funds for student scholarships and other types of financial aid in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and donor intention as reflected in donor/gift agreements; and (iii) disburse student scholarships and other types of financial aid in the most effective and efficient manner for the benefit of eligible students.
This policy applies to all scholarships, except athletic scholarships, established for the benefit of 蘑菇短视频students or its employees and their families that are administered by WCU, the Board of Trustees of the Endowment Fund of 蘑菇短视频 (the "Endowment Fund") or the 蘑菇短视频 Foundation (the "Foundation").
"award" or "recognition award" means monetary acknowledgement for recognition purposes. Awards may be paid from discretionary departmental accounts or endowed funds as defined by donor gift agreements.
"award year" or "aid year" means the time period for which financial aid is available to defray the expenses of university education. The award year follows an academic year beginning with the fall semester.
"awarding authority" means the college, academic department or other awarding unit of the university charged with the responsibility to make recommendations to the university scholarship committee concerning scholarships.
"cost of attendance" or "COA" or "cost of education" or "financial aid budget" means the university's reasonable estimate of the student's educational expenses for one (1) academic year, including tuition, fees, housing, food, transportation, personal expenses, books, supplies, computer, professional licensure, and other related costs (direct or indirect costs).
"degree credible" means courses or credits required for degree completion.
"fellowship" means a financial resource typically awarded to graduate students based on outstanding academic achievement, performance or accomplishment. Fellowships generally do not have to be repaid and are intended to defray the expenses of university education.
"financial aid" means monetary support, including grants, scholarships, loans and work study funds, available to students and families to defray the expenses of university education. Financial aid may be provided from federal, state, university, and other sources.
"financial need" or "need" means the difference between the cost of attendance, minus other financial assistance (鈥淥FA鈥�), minus the student aid index (鈥淪AI鈥�). Financial need may be synonymous with the term "financial worthiness" as reflected in certain donor agreements.
"financial resource" means any monetary support (including cash and/or cash equivalent) a student receives related to and as a result of his/her enrollment in the university.
鈥�Free Application for Federal Student Aid鈥� (鈥淔AFSA鈥�) is an application for federal student aid that helps 蘑菇短视频determine how much aid a student is eligible to receive.
"good academic standing" means that both the qualitative (i.e., GPA) and quantitative (i.e., completion percentage of credit hours) components necessary for degree completion are being met.
鈥�graduate assistantship鈥� means an educational employment opportunity for graduate students, called Graduate Assistants (GAs). Assistantships 鈥� generally for research and teaching only 鈥� provide graduate students with part-time, paid work experience in their fields of study and allow them to expand and/or apply their discipline knowledge and skills under supervision.
"merit" generally means demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, performance, professional attainment or accomplishment, and may be further defined by colleges, academic departments, donor agreements, and regulations.
"outside scholarship" means any scholarship from a source other than WCU, the Endowment Fund or the Foundation.
"satisfactory academic progress" is used to define successful completion of coursework to maintain eligibility for financial aid. 蘑菇短视频must establish, publish, and apply standards to monitor progress toward completion of a degree program, including qualitative and quantitative standards, and maximum timeframe requirements.
"scholarship" means a financial resource awarded to students based on outstanding academic achievement, performance, accomplishment or other factors established in donor/gift agreements with WCU. Scholarships generally do not have to be repaid and are intended to defray the expenses of university education.
鈥�student aid index鈥� or 鈥�SAI鈥� means an eligibility index number that the Financial Aid Office uses to determine how much federal, state, and institutional aid the student would receive if the student attended the school. This number is determined from the information that the student provides on their FAFSA form.
The Division of Administration and Finance is responsible for receiving gifts to WCU and The Endowment Fund, and the Division of Advancement is responsible for receiving gifts to the 蘑菇短视频Foundation. Both divisions are responsible for developing unit-specific procedures and guidelines consistent with and in furtherance of the policy statement in Section I above.
Monetary gifts will be accepted for endowed, recurring, annual or one-time scholarships that are awarded through a competitive application process; gifts will not be accepted for direct payments to specific students.
Individuals who wish to establish an endowed or annual scholarship must enter into a donor agreement with WCU/the Endowment Fund or the Foundation, as the case may be. The donor agreement will provide that 蘑菇短视频shall maintain ultimate control over the scholarship application and award process, among other things. The Office of Legal Counsel and Institutional Integrity, in consultation with the Division of Advancement and the Office of University Scholarships, is responsible for the interpretation of language in existing donor agreements. When the donor agreement (or funding source) is silent on programmatic, financial need, and merit requirements, the application of funds will be consistent with University policy and institutional priorities. Modifications to scholarship criteria or purposes must be made in writing by the donor and an authorized representative of the Foundation or WCU/the Endowment Fund.
Award amounts for endowed scholarships will be determined annually in accordance with the WCU/the Endowment Fund or Foundation spending policies.
Reports verifying fund value and scholarship recipient names will be provided to donors on an annual basis following the end of the university fiscal year.
A. Director of University Scholarships
The Director of University Scholarships is responsible for overseeing the administration
of university scholarships. In discharging these responsibilities, the Director of
University Scholarships shall work closely with the groups and individuals listed
in this Section V and work within the procedural framework prescribed by this policy.
Detailed procedures pertaining to the administration of scholarships shall be developed
by the Director of University Scholarships and published in the University Scholarship
Office Policies and Procedures (鈥淧rocedures鈥�). Procedures include, but are not limited
to, application procedures, selection/award procedures, award guidelines for colleges
and departments, and financial and student account procedures.
B. Scholarship Advisory Council
The Scholarship Advisory Council (the "SAC") is hereby established as a standing body
with policy-making and advisory responsibilities delegated by the Chancellor. The
SAC shall have the authority and responsibility for the development of policies and
procedures related to the application and selection process for university scholarships.
In discharging this responsibility, the SAC shall assist the Director of University
Scholarships with the development and oversight of the administration of policies
and procedures that: (i) ensure 蘑菇短视频scholarships are awarded consistent with fair
and equitable processes open to all eligible students; and (ii) ensure maximum utilization
of available scholarship funds necessary to recruit and retain students by aligning
the award process with the formation of financial aid packages.
The SAC is comprised of the following members:
Director of University Scholarships, who shall serve as chair;
Provost or designee;
Vice Chancellor for Advancement or designee;
Controller;
Dean of the Graduate School;
Dean of the Brinson Honors College;
Director of Financial Aid;
Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Enrollment; and
General Counsel
C. Resource Allocation Committee
The Resource Allocation Committee (the "RAC") is established as a standing body with
decision-making authority regarding the allocation of resources within the Academic
Scholarship Fund (Fund #221000) and any other university supported general scholarship
fund. Proceeds from the Foundation, the Endowment Fund, and University auxiliary services
and other operations provide primary support for Brinson Honors College scholarships,
transfer student scholarships, several of the Graduate School assistance programs,
and partial support for the Catamount Commitment program.
The RAC is comprised of the following members:
Chancellor, who shall serve as chair;
Provost;
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs;
Vice Chancellor for Advancement;
Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Enrollment;
Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance; and
Director of University Scholarships
D. University Scholarship Committee
The University Scholarship Committee ("USC") is established to review university scholarship
applications and select award recipients. This committee shall also review recommendations
for scholarship recipients from colleges, academic departments, and external recommendation
committees and select those recipients.
The Director of University Scholarships shall serve as the chair, without vote, and shall appoint staff representatives from any of the following offices: Financial Aid, University Scholarships, Undergraduate Admissions, the Graduate School, Brinson Honors College, Student Leadership and Involvement, Campus Activities, Greek Student Engagement and Development, Advancement, Academic Advising, Career and Professional Development, Student Conduct, Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, Mentoring and Persistence to Student Success, Accessibility Resources, and the Cherokee Center.
The Dean of each of the following Colleges shall appoint a faculty representative to serve on the Committee: Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Allied Professions, Fine and Performing Arts, Health and Human Sciences, and Engineering and Technology.
Additional members may be appointed by the Director of University Scholarships and/or the deans as may be necessary to ensure full and timely review of all applications in any given review cycle.
E. College and Department Committees
Every college, academic department, and other awarding unit of the university that
is responsible for making recommendations pertaining to endowed scholarships and recognition
awards shall establish a scholarship committee in accordance with college, department
or unit procedures.
Additionally, colleges/departments that opt to use approved discretionary funds in support of student scholarships shall follow this policy in the administration and awarding of scholarships, and shall maintain documentation of selection processes in accordance with the UNC General Records Retention and Disposition Schedule.
F. Conflict of Interest
All members of the University community involved in the selection or award of institutional
funds must evaluate the eligibility of all applicants without bias and make selection
recommendations based on the established objective criteria for the scholarship. University
Policy 54 requires members of the University community to avoid all conflicts of interest
or even the appearance of a conflict of interest. University/selection committee members
should avoid any situation where personal and business relationships could have, or
give the appearance of having, influence on the member鈥檚 judgment in matters under
consideration.
No award committee may make a grant or award or distribute a scholarship or institutional aid to a family member, dependent, or other relative of anyone serving on a selection committee or involved in the awarding process. Further, a donor (or representative of the donor, including a family member) who has established a University scholarship may not participate in the selection process for that scholarship.
In the event of a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest, the committee member shall declare the conflict to the Chair of the committee and the Director of University Scholarships and not review the application and/or leave the meeting until deliberations on the applicant are complete. In some circumstances, the committee member may not be permitted to continue serving on the committee for as long as the conflict or potential conflict exists. The member shall not influence the discussion or decision-making process where there is a potential conflict of interest.
A. Awarding Scholarships
1. Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity
蘑菇短视频does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, and National Guard or veteran status in its education programs or activities, including the establishment or awarding of scholarships. Institutional scholarship funds are open to all, based on objective eligibility criteria, and may not be established or distributed based on protected class status. Potential donors who wish to establish a scholarship that is closed to some students based upon protected class status will be advised that 蘑菇短视频is prohibited from establishing that scholarship in accordance with federal laws pertaining to non-discrimination (e.g., Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972).
Scholarships are awarded through a competitive application process. More information pertaining to the application process and a comprehensive list of available scholarships, including specific award criteria, may be found at: /apply/scholarships/.
2. Eligibility and Prerequisites
Students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program to be eligible for consideration for any 蘑菇短视频scholarship, except cases where donors may elect to establish scholarships supporting students in certificate or other credentialing programs. All enrolled students and students who have applied for admission to the university are eligible to apply for scholarships; however, only students who have been offered admission to the university prior to the scholarship application deadline are eligible for consideration. Students must be enrolled in at least three (3) hours of 蘑菇短视频degree credible coursework to receive scholarship funds for that period of enrollment. Enrollment requirement exceptions may be considered for students in the final semester of coursework prior to graduation.
Students must submit the FAFSA by the priority filing deadline to be considered for need-based scholarships. The student鈥檚 SAI and full academic year cost of attendance (original need) will be used to determine whether a student has financial need. More information may be found at: .
3. Selection of Recipients
Final decisions regarding scholarship awards are made by the USC in accordance with the Procedures. The USC may receive recommendations from an awarding authority; provided however, in the event that the awarding authority does not recommend awarding all available scholarship funds, the USC or the Director of University Scholarships has the authority, in their sole discretion, to award all available funds.
As student recruitment and retention are key components of the university's strategic plan, all students should be notified of scholarship awards prior to the fall semester billing period. Unless otherwise specified in the donor gift agreement, awarding authorities should submit recommendations to the USC prior to June 30 for undergraduate student awards and August 1 for graduate student awards. In the event that recommendations are not received by these dates, the USC or the Director of University Scholarships has the authority, in their sole discretion to select recipients. In cases where awarding authorities fail to submit recommendations by the specified dates for three consecutive years, future selection for the impacted scholarships will be made by the USC in accordance with their selection process.
B. Disbursement of Scholarship Funds and Recognition Awards
All awarded scholarships must be reported to the University Scholarships Office. Scholarship funds are disbursed in accordance with the Financial Aid Office policies and procedures.
Students may not receive institutional scholarship funds in excess of the cost of attendance. Every student's financial award package (including all grants, loans, scholarships, and work study) is subject to audit with the final determination of eligibility to be made by the 蘑菇短视频Financial Aid Office. 蘑菇短视频reserves the right to adjust individual scholarship awards, even after a student has accepted them, to ensure compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements, as well as effective use of University dollars.
Recognition awards that include a cash prize made by colleges and/or academic departments must be reported to the University Scholarships Office for purposes of compliance with federal financial aid regulations. Any funds received by the student as a result of post-secondary enrollment, including recognition awards, are considered to be a "financial resource" and are required to be accounted for under federal financial aid regulations (funds received as compensation for any type of employment resulting in the generation of a W-2 are excluded).
C. Terminating Scholarships and Appeals
The records of scholarship recipients will be reviewed each semester to confirm that the recipient meets the requirements for enrollment and the qualitative and quantitative components necessary for degree completion. Scholarships may be terminated based upon a recipient's failure to meet any one (1) or more of these requirements.
The University Scholarships Office shall provide written notice of termination to an affected student, which shall be delivered to the student via his/her official university email address. The notice of termination shall specify the reasons for termination, which may include the cause(s) specified above.
Upon receipt of the notice of termination, the student may request an appeal of the university's decision. All appeals must be in writing, and the written appeal shall include the following information:
Written appeals, along with substantiating documentation, must be submitted via the University鈥檚 scholarship appeal form. A direct link to the form will be provided to the student in the termination notice. The deadlines to submit appeals are as follows:
Members of the SAC shall promptly review written appeals, and decisions shall be communicated to the student by email within five (5) business days of the scholarship appeal deadline. The decision of SAC shall be final.
This Policy shall be reviewed and revised as necessary at least every four (4) years.
Financial Aid Office:
105 Cordelia Camp
(828) 227-7290
(828) 227-7042 (fax)
University Scholarships Office:
105 Cordelia Camp
(828) 227-7290
(828) 227-7042 (fax)
Division of Advancement:
201 HF Robinson Administration Building
(828)-227-7201