UB Awarded Grants, Scholarships, Tuition Waivers, Assistantships, and Fellowship Programs

UB Awarded Grants, Scholarships, Tuition Waivers, Assistantships, and Fellowship Programs This lesson will covering UB awarded scholarships, tuition waivers, grants and fellowships. We will look at the awarding philosophy and the eligibility criteria for each program. This lesson will introduce the process by which the funds are distributed to the students accounts and the financial aid implications of receiving these funds. This course is important because it provides the learner with basic information regarding the available funding that the University offers. Objectives Define specific financial aid terms Distinguish between grants and scholarships Determine UB Institutional Scholarships Distinguish between the different types of Tuition Waivers Determine a UB Fellowship Program Identify the implications for receiving an institutional award Determine how institutional awards are processed Financial Aid Terms There are several terms that will be used in this training that you need to be aware of. They are: Assistantship An award given that covers the cost of tuition. The award does not need to be repaid; however, the student is required to work within the department. Grant An award which does not have to be repaid. Fellowship An award and stipend given to cover the cost of tuition as well as to offset their cost of living expenses NCAA: The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a regulatory body which establishes rules governing eligibility, recruiting and competition for over 800 member colleges and universities which offer a wide range of men s and women s collegiate sports. Scholarship: Usually a merit based award that does not have to be repaid, but the student must maintain a good academic record. Tuition Waiver: Money given to cover the cost of tuition only. Fees are not included in a tuition waiver award. A tuition waiver does not need to be repaid. Last Updated: April 3, 2015 1

UB Funded and Awarded Programs A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, the University at Buffalo is the state s largest and most comprehensive public university. Out combined enrollment is approximately 29,850 students. The student body is composed of 19,831 undergraduates and 10,019 graduates & professional students. Many of the students attending UB are athletes, academic scholars, researchers, teacher assistants and graduate assistants. The University at Buffalo extends financial assistance/compensation to many of these students in the form of athletic grants, academic scholarships, graduate tuition waivers, assistantships, and fellowships. These are funds that come directly from the University to the student. The source of the funding varies, ranging from individual departments, private donors, and endowments. Unfortunately, these funds are limited in quality. The University at Buffalo offers student support in the form of: UB Awarded Grants UB Awarded Merit Scholarships UB Awarded Tuition Waivers UB Awarded Assistantships UB Awarded Fellowships UB Scholarships Scholarships are monies awarded by UB or by private donors based on a variety of criteria established by the scholarship donor. Scholarship recipients are chosen by a variety methods by on and off campus entities. Once selected monies are disbursed by the Office of Financial Aid. Scholarship awards may vary year to year, based on available funding. Many scholarship awards are renewable, but some are awarded as a one-time occurrence as specified by the donor. For most scholarships, students are required to maintain full-time enrollment, which is defined as 12 credits/semester for undergraduate students and 9 credits/semester for graduate students. Many external scholarships require a minimum enrollment, which UB enforces. The student is notified when a scholarship has been added to the students account via an emailed Financial Aid Notification Letter. There are several types of Scholarships at the University at Buffalo. They include, Admissions Scholarships Provost Scholarship Each year consideration is given to high-achieving freshmen for Provost Scholarships. Selection for the Provost Scholarship is based on academic achievement and cost of attendance. There are two types of scholarships which include a 2-year scholarship for $2,500 and a 4-year scholarship that can range from $2,500 - $12,000. Daniel Acker Scholarship Acker Scholarships are four year scholarships awarded to competitive incoming freshmen students selected to participate in the Daniel Acker Scholars Program. The Daniel Acker Program is an individualized program for academically talented students who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education. Students selected to participate in the program receive a substantial scholarship renewable for up to four years of full-time undergraduate study at UB. Students must be citizens of the United States or permanent residents of New York State. A limited number of out-of-state students may also qualify. Athletic Scholarships Students who are recruited based on athletic ability are only offered athletic scholarships at the NCAA has allotted to a specific sport. The scholarships are either full Last Updated: April 3, 2015 2

awards or partial awards and the student must meet the minimum NCAA and MAC Conference eligibility criteria in order to receive and keep the scholarship, as well as meet the University at Buffalo standards of satisfactory academic progress towards a degree. Scholarships offered through Financial Aid There are a host of Scholarships that are administered through the Office of Financial Aid. Students should always complete the FAFSA to be eligible for these scholarships. They also should talk with a Financial Aid Advisor, as well as their Academic Advisor so that they can be properly matched to existing scholarships based on the students need or merit. Organizational Scholarships Different UB organizations may also offer scholarships. Such organizations include the Thunder of the East Marching Band (http://www.studentaffairs.buffalo.edu/studentlife/band/faq.php#scholarship) and the UB Alumni Association (https://alumni.buffalo.edu/ubsaa/scholarships). Students are encouraged to organizations and get involved. Honors College Scholarships The Honors College attracts the brightest students. It currently offers two scholarships: Presidential Scholarship The Presidential Scholarship covers full tuition, fees, housing and books for four years of undergraduate study. Students selected for Presidential Scholarships will participate in the Honors College. Millonzi Distinguished Honors Scholarship This one four-year scholarship covering all resident tuition and fees, minus any other air received, is available to an incoming freshman Honors student in the creative or performing arts. To be considered, students must have an unweighted high school average of at least 90 and a combined SAT critical reading and math score of at least 1230 or an ACT score of at least 27. An audition or portfolio review (as appropriate), a personal interview and a separate scholarship application are required. Fellowships & Scholarships Office Students must be nominated by UB to apply for these awards. Morris K. Udall Scholarship The Foundation awards approximately 75 scholarships to outstanding students on the basis of merit to two groups of students; Students who are college sophomores or juniors in the current academic year have outstanding potential and who study the environment and related fields; Native American and Alaska Native students who are college sophomores or juniors in the current academic year have outstanding potential, and are in fields related to health care or tribal public policy. Each scholar receives up to $5,000, or the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board, whichever is less. Scholarship recipients are eligible for one year of scholarship support per application year. Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship This scholarship is awarded to sophomores and juniors who have outstanding potential and intend to pursue advanced degrees in mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering. Students who plan to study medicine are eligible only if they plan a research career rather than a career in private practice (MD). This scholarship covers expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to $7,500 annually. Sophomore level recipients receive two years of support, and junior level recipients receive one. Candidates must have mathematics/science/engineering research experience. Up to 4 candidates may be nominated by the University at Buffalo and may not apply directly. Last Updated: April 3, 2015 3

Harry S. Truman Scholarship These scholarships are awarded to junior-level college students preparing for careers in public service. Truman Scholars are eligible to receive up to $30,000 for graduate study. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens or nationals. Resident aliens are not eligible. Applicants should have a GPA of 3.7 or higher and have public service related experiences and goals. National Security Education Program: David L. Boren Scholarships NSEP supports undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate high levels of academic performance and strong motivation to internationalize their education by developing expertise in the languages, cultures, and world regions less commonly studied by Americans. NSEP fellowship and scholarship recipients incur a service agreement. Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellow Program The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program provides undergraduate and graduate funding to participants as they are prepared academically and professionally to enter the United States Department of State Foreign Service. Fellowships fund up to two years of college and a year of graduate school, including tuition, room, board, books and fees. Fellows must commit to pursuing a graduate degree in international studies at an approved institution. Second-year college students who are US citizens with minimum grade point averages of 3.2 are eligible to apply. Fourth-year students may be interested in the Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship also sponsored by the Department of State. UB Specific College Scholarships Many of UB s colleges have many scholarships, fellowships and other funding opportunities available to students. To find out these opportunities, students should engage with their academic advisor and faculty members. Some resources include: Civil, structural and Environmental Engineering, Undergraduate Scholarships - http://engineering.buffalo.edu/civil-structural-environmental/undergraduate/scholarshipsand-awards.html Electrical Engineering Undergraduate Scholarships - http://engineering.buffalo.edu/electrical/academics/scholarships-and-fellowships.html Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Undergraduate Scholarships - http://www.mae.buffalo.edu/admissions/scholarships.php Chemical and Biological Engineering - http://www.cbe.buffalo.edu/shared/ug_scholarships.php?undergrad School of Management - http://mgt.buffalo.edu/programs/undergrad/scholarships School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - http://medicine.buffalo.edu/education/awards.html School of Public Health and Health professions - http://sphhp.buffalo.edu/home/scholarships.html Last Updated: April 3, 2015 4

School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences - http://pharmacy.buffalo.edu/departments-offices/our-offices/student-affairs-professionalrelations/scholarship-committee.html School of Nursing - http://nursing.buffalo.edu/academics/scholarships-and-fellowships.html Law School Scholarships - http://blogs.prelaw.buffalo.edu/advising/category/scholarships/ and http://www.law.buffalo.edu/admissions/financing/namedscholarships.html School of Architecture and Planning - http://ap.buffalo.edu/admissions/related/fellowshipsscholarships.html Epidemiology and Environmental Health - http://sphhp.buffalo.edu/epidemiology-andenvironmental-health/education/financial-assistance/scholarships-fellowships-andawards.html Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences - http://sphhp.buffalo.edu/exercise-andnutrition-sciences/education/financial-assistance/scholarships--fellowships-and-awards.html Department of Biostatistics - http://sphhp.buffalo.edu/biostatistics/education/financialassistance/scholarships-fellowships-and-awards.html Department of Community Health and Health Behavior - http://sphhp.buffalo.edu/community-health-and-health-behavior/education/financialassistance/scholarships-fellowships-and-awards.html Department of History - http://history.buffalo.edu/undergraduate/scholarships.shtml Department of Rehabilitation Science - http://sphhp.buffalo.edu/rehabilitationscience/education/financial-assistance/scholarships--fellowships-and-awards.html Department of Psychiatry - http://medicine.buffalo.edu/departments/psychiatry/education/residency/scholarships.html Graduate School of Education - http://gse.buffalo.edu/lis/scholarships The Graduate School - http://grad.buffalo.edu/financialsupport/scholarships_fellowships.html UB Study Abroad - http://www.buffalo.edu/studyabroad/services.html Office of Global Health Initiatives - http://sphhp.buffalo.edu/globalhealth/resources/scholarships-and-grants.html Institute for Strategic Enhancement of Educational Diversity - http://www.buffalo.edu/iseed/phd-students/ub-scholarships.html Confucius Institute - http://www.confuciusinstitute.buffalo.edu/programs/scholarships/ Last Updated: April 3, 2015 5

Tuition Waivers Tuition waivers are awarded by a department, Dean, unions, and even the University at Buffalo. These funds must go towards tuition charges only. The student is responsible for paying all fees and book costs. The awards are based on the actual tuition liability that appears on the student s account. The awards are distributed in the following way: Graduate Tuition Waivers Graduate tuition waivers come in two forms; Masters candidates and Doctoral candidates. For Masters candidates, they are eligible to receive as many as four semesters of tuition waiver support. For Doctoral candidates, they may receive as many as eight semesters of tuition waiver support, including any such waivers received while enrolled in a master s program. These and other institutional policies regarding the award and use of graduate tuition waivers may be examined at: Graduate Opportunity Program (GOP) provides tuition scholarship to students who graduated from one of the following programs in New York State: Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), and CUNY Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) programs. These funds must also be used for tuition charges only and only apply to New York State residents who are full-time students. B140W Tuition Waiver Applicants must be a University employee with a State, Research Foundation, or UBF affiliation working at least half time, who has a minimum of six months of service prior to the beginning of the course. 8 credit hours per semester, not to exceed 15 per year per person as long as funding lasts. The year for this program is available during summer, fall, winter, and spring terms. All courses must be a credit bearing, college course. For full-time employees 50% of the tuition routinely waived as long as funding lasts. Should the State employee have courses as part of their performance evaluation, they have 100% of the tuition waived. For part-time employees at.50 FTE or more, they can have 25% of their tuition waived. For employees who work less than.50 FTE, they are not eligible for this benefit. Union Waivers Employees belonging to a union, should check their appropriate union webpages. UB Fellowship Programs Fellowships are designed to attract and support doctoral students who have exceptional academic recrods and potential. Such support is intended to enable the student to better concentrate on coursework and/or research. Students should contact their academic department concerning nomination deadlines and criteria for these prestigious awards. The awards include: Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program - UB s Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program is sponsored by New York State and offers support for students in doctoral and master s level programs across the university who can demonstrate that they would contribute to the diversity of the student body, especially those who can demonstrate that they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Students in the program have outstanding academic credentials which contribute to an impressive graduation and retention rate of close to eighty percent. UB Presidential Fellowship Program This program is aimed at enhancing UB s competitiveness in recruiting outstanding graduate students. To be eligible, a nominee must be a new applicant to a Ph.D. program and must be appointed as a full teaching, graduate, or research assistant. Further information can be found at: Last Updated: April 3, 2015 6

http://grad.buffalo.edu/financialsupport/scholarships_fellowships/ub_presidential_fellowships.ht ml Other Fellowship may be offered by Professional Schools Implications of Title IV Federal Financial Aid and Awarding If the student has already received a financial aid package from the University and then subsequently receives notification that the student has been awarded additional university funds, the following will happen: Re-Evaluation The University is required by federal regulation to re-evaluate the students eligibility for the Title IV funds. This is a manual process. Re-Award: In some cases the UB awards have no impact on the student s original award package. In other cases, however, a new award causes the student to be over awarded. Over Awards are reviewed manually on a case-by-cases basis and the student s package is recalculated. Processing UB Awarded Funds UB awards can be processed in several ways: Posted to HUB UB awards can be posted to HUB by the administering department utilizing the Institutional Scholarships Screen. Administering departments will be able to see the amount of monies left in the source of funding, apply it to a student s account either by Aid Year or by semester, and even cancel an award if necessary. Once the award is posted, HUB will then automatically process the award allocation to be applied to the student s account. Tuition Waiver Process: I think these are processed differently pending on the waiver and who administers it. This concludes this lesson. Last Updated: April 3, 2015 7