SCHOLARSHIPS

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University of Nebraska at Kearney Scholarship Guidelines

The philosophy of the Scholarship Committee is to assist students at UNK by providing supplemental financial resources based on academic performance. With the exception of endowed funds, which are awarded according to donor intent, the scholarship committee will have the sole responsibility of establishing regulations governing scholarships.

In administering the UNK scholarship program, determination of eligibility must first be established. To be eligible to receive a scholarship, the following must be met:

  1. The student must be admitted to, and remain in good standing, at UNK.
  2. Unless specifically indicated by the guidelines of the individual scholarship, the student must currently be an undergraduate student at UNK. Consideration for a scholarship shall cease upon the completion of the 8th undergraduate semester or the awarding of the bachelor’s degree, which ever comes first.
  3. Scholarships are to be awarded according to the student’s enrollment at the time the scholarship will be utilized.
  4. The student must be enrolled full-time each semester the scholarship is received, unless specified otherwise.
  5. Scholarship awards are made on a yearly basis with half of the award given each semester. Students attending only one semester of the award period will be eligible for only half of the value of the scholarship.
  6. No member of the applicant’s immediate family (to include parent, sibling, or spouse) will be permitted to serve on the scholarship committee or in any way be associated with the internal workings of the selection process.
  7. Scholarship awards are subject to review by the scholarship committee upon student petition.

Federal income tax laws require that income from grants, scholarships and fellowships be considered as income and reported on federal income tax returns in the following situations:

  1. Students who are seeking a degree must report grant, scholarship and fellowship awards as taxable income to the extent such awards exceed "course-related expenses." Course-related expenses include tuition, mandatory fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for the course.
  2. Individuals who are not seeking a degree, such as faculty fellowships and post-doctoral research associates, are taxed on the full amount of any scholarship or fellowship award.
  3. Any portion of a scholarship or fellowship that is awarded for services performed by the individual, including teaching or research assistantships, is subject to taxation. These awards are considered "compensation," even if the teaching or research services are required for the student’s degree.

Employers are not required to report scholarship or fellowship payments to the Internal Revenue Service. Since there are no reporting requirements, the University of Nebraska does not issue a Form 1099 Miscellaneous Income, or a Form W-2 for these payments. It is the responsibility of the individual to report their scholarship and fellowship income to the IRS.


Athletic Grants:

Scholarships for men and women athletes are available at the discretion of the Athletic Director and the coaching staff. An individual coach may, if he/she desires, offer a total or partial scholarship to a prospective student athlete. To be eligible, the recipient must meet the transfer and/or entrance requirements of this institution, as well as the standards of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).


Cooperating School Honor Scholarship:

The Cooperating School Honor Scholarship is awarded to graduating high school seniors of school systems serving as a cooperating school in the student teacher program at UNK. The cooperating school recommends scholarship recipients and alternates equal to the number of scholarships available for that particular school by submitting a list to the UNK Office of Financial Aid. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must have a score of 24 or above on the ACT or 1100 or above on the SAT and rank in the top 25% of their graduating class. High school counselors of cooperating schools can be contacted for more information and application materials.

A recipient of the Cooperating School Honor Scholarship must be a full-time student each semester. The scholarship is lost if it is not used for two consecutive semesters. The scholarship may not be used during summer sessions. For renewal for the next academic year, the recipient must complete 24 or more semester hours during the current academic year and maintain a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA. The Cooperating School Honor Scholarship will be terminated if the recipient attends another university or college. Recipients who become University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) - College of Nursing-Kearney Division students are not considered UNK students and thus lose the scholarship.


Freshman Scholarship Program:

New freshmen admitted by February 1 will be considered for Board of Regents and Chancellors Scholarships. No additional application is required.

The minimum criteria for consideration for a Board of Regents or Chancellors Scholarship are a 24 composite score on the ACT (1100 for the SAT) and the student must rank in the top 25% of his/her graduating class.

The Board of Regents Scholarship is a full tuition waiver for up to 135 undergraduate credits or upon the recipient's completion of a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first. This program is for graduates of Nebraska high schools only. The scholarship requires the student to be full-time. It is lost if not used for two consecutive semesters. The scholarship may be used during summer sessions. For renewal for the next academic year the student must complete 24 or more semester hours during the academic year and maintain a 3.25 minimum cumulative GPA. The Board of Regents Scholarship will be terminated if the recipient attends another college or university.

The Chancellors Scholarship is a $1000 tuition waiver per academic year. It is available for up to eight semesters or through the student's graduation with a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first. This program is for in-state and out-of-state students. The scholarship requires the student to be full-time. It is lost if not used for two consecutive semesters. The scholarship may NOT be used during a summer session. For renewal, the student must complete 24 or more semester hours during the academic year and must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.25. The Chancellors Scholarship is terminated if the recipient attends another college or university.

The Non-Resident Scholarship, for out-of-state students, is at least a $1000 tuition waiver per academic year if the student has an ACT score of at least "24" or higher OR ranks in the upper 25% of his/her graduating class OR has at least a 3.50 grade point average (on a 4.00 scale). Students with special talents or circumstances should apply by submitting a cover letter and attach three letters of recommendation from high school officials. A portfolio may also be included.


Minority Student Grants:

These scholarships are awarded to students who are a member of recognized ethnic minority groups. For more information students should contact of the Office of Multicultural Affairs or call 1-800-KEARNEY.


Honors Scholarship:

Full-time undergraduate students (freshmen or sophomores) may receive room waivers for double occupancy rooms in the University Honors residence halls. These waivers are awarded to a limited number of students. The Honors Program also offers a variety of other scholarships to members of the program. Acceptance into the Honors Program is required. Contact the director of the Honors Program for more information and application materials. The application deadline is March 1.


Transfer Student Scholarship:

These scholarships are awarded to transfer students (12 or more transferable credit hours) for one year. Students receive a tuition waiver up to 16 hours per semester. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information and applications.


Annual and Permanently Endowed Scholarships

An annual scholarship is one where a donor has made a commitment to the university to award a scholarship each academic year. A permanently endowed scholarship is one whose funds have been raised from private sources and invested by the University of Nebraska Foundation. The income derived from the investment pays the scholarship. To apply for these scholarships, incoming freshmen students must apply and be admitted by February 1. Upper-class students must submit an Annual and Endowed Scholarship application, which is available from the UNK Office of Financial Aid each February 1 and must be submitted by March 1. Along with the application, an Annual and Endowed Scholarship book may be obtained. The book lists all annual and endowed scholarships that are available along with criteria a student must meet to be eligible for the scholarships.

The Annual and Endowed Scholarship book is divided into six sections consisting of one for each college (Education, Business & Technology, Fine Arts & Humanities, and Natural & Social Sciences), athletics, and miscellaneous. Students majoring in a specific field should refer to the corresponding college section, while the miscellaneous section lists scholarships available to the general student population regardless of major. Those students participating in intercollegiate athletics may be considered for scholarships listed in the athletics section.

Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional information on the application process or with any other scholarship questions.


UNMC College of Nursing-Kearney Division Scholarships

Once students are fully admitted into the College of Nursing-Kearney Division, they are no longer considered UNK students and are ineligible to apply for UNK Annual and Endowed scholarships. However, UNMC does offer scholarships for Kearney Division nursing students. Contact the College of Nursing-Kearney Division or the UNMC Office of Financial Aid for more information on these scholarships.

16 May 2005

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