First Generation Scholarship

First Generation Scholarship 

I. General Criteria

1. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as the application for the First Generation Scholarship.
2. New awards will be made in order of receipt of valid FAFSA and acceptance for admission, whichever is later. Because there is a limited number of these awards, meeting minimum eligibility standards does not result in automatic award.
3. Scholarship disbursements are applied to the Fort Lewis College tuition bill by the Accounting Office.
4. Scholarships will be disbursed at 50% of the annual award amount for each Fall and Spring semester. Under no circumstances will the scholarship be disbursed in one payment for the full annual award.
5. Students must enroll in a minimum of 12 credits each Fall and Spring semester by Census date to be eligible for disbursement.
6. Scholarship funds can be used for education expenses.

III. Scholarship Amounts

1. $2000/academic year. $1000/Fall and Spring semester.
   

V. Scholarship Cancellation

1. Students who do not meet the renewal criteria set forth in Section IV will have their scholarship cancelled.

2. Students who do not meet the disbursement criteria set forth in Section IV will have their scholarship cancelled.

3. Students who fail to attend continuous Fall and Spring semesters after award of the scholarship will have their scholarship cancelled.

   1. Enrollment in but subsequent official withdrawal from the semester is considered failure to attend continuously.

   2. Enrollment in a summer semester cannot substitute for failure to enroll in a Fall and Spring semester for purposes of meeting continuous enrollment standard.

VII. Scholarship Appeal Process

Appeal of Scholarship Cancellation

1. Students who do not meet the criteria set forth in Section V are eligible to appeal the decision.
2. Students appealing to receive their scholarship must prepare an appeals package.  Required documents are:
   1. Completed and signed Scholarship Cancellation & Award Amount Appeal Form
   2. Personal Statement
   3. Documentation materially relevant to verify their claim in personal statement.
3. A complete appeals package must be received by the deadline published on the financial aid website.
   1. Appeal packages should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office by Fax, Email, Mail or hand delivered.
4. In addition to the completed appeals package, the Scholarship Appeals Committee may consider academic and disciplinary history and standing in making its decision. Funding availability will also be considered.
5. The Scholarship Appeals Committee may make the following determinations  after a review of an appeal:
   

   1. Deferred

   2. Denied, without option for further appeal

   3. Denied, with option to re-appeal after meeting cumulative grade point average and credit completion requirements

   4. Approved for immediate reinstatement of full scholarship, with or without conditions

   5. Approved for immediate reinstatement of partial scholarship amount, with or without conditions.

IX. Reason for Policy

This policy provides a framework for the management of the First Generation Scholarship program.

XI. Definitions

First-time Freshman: A student who is enrolling in college for the first time since graduating from high school.

First Generation: defined as neither parent receiving a Bachelor’s Degree or higher.

Parent: Parent is defined as biological or adoptive. For purposes of determining First Generation status stepparent, legal guardian, or foster parent are not considered parent.

Valid FAFSA: a valid FAFSA is defined as a FAFSA record that is not rejected for processing by the Central Processing Service.