9.4 - Scholarships

Last updated on May 30, 2023

POLICY: Spoon River College offers scholarships that are designed to encourage students with exceptional academic, athletic, or performing skills to attend and succeed at Spoon River College.

SCOPE:

This policy applies to eligible Spoon River College students.

DETAILS:

  1. Criteria and Responsibility:
    1. Criteria: Certain scholarships require that the applicant meet specific criteria in order to be considered for this scholarship.  Specific criteria are stated on the Spoon River College Scholarship webpage and are also noted in policy for each type of scholarship.
    2. Responsibility:
      1. Spoon River College reserves the right to rescind scholarship awards to students if they engage in misconduct;
        • that violates the College’s student code of conduct; or
        • while participating in an on-campus or off-campus college sanctioned or sponsored activity; or
        • where a victim of a conduct violation is someone who is a member of the college community; or
        • that adversely affects the educational or service functions of the College.
      2. Scholarship awardees that are placed on academic or financial aid suspension per the College’s satisfactory academic progress policy will not be awarded scholarship funds for the semester that the suspension occurs.
  2. Scholarship Committee: The Scholarship Committee is a sub-committee of the Student and Academic Affairs committee.
    1. The scholarship committee is composed of the Dean of Student Services, the Foundation Director, the Director of Financial Aid, the chair of the Student and Academic Affairs Committee, and two faculty members, preferably serving as members of the Student and Academic Affairs Committee, appointed by the Student and Academic Affairs chair. The committee may call on other staff to participate in discussions.
    2. The committee is responsible for receiving and finalizing the recommendations of the Dean of Student Services for the scholarships. In addition, the committee is responsible for receiving and finalizing the recommendations of the Director of Athletics and Intramurals and sponsors of skill performing scholarships.
    3. Upon confirmation from the Student and Academic Affairs Committee, the Dean of Student Services is responsible for notifying the students of all awards. The Dean prepares a list of all award recipients for distribution to the Financial Aid Office, Foundation Office, and the Office of Public Information.
    4. The awards approved by the scholarship committee are considered final. Appeals of the decisions are made through the student appeal procedure for non-academic matters.
  3. Types of Scholarships: There are six types of scholarships awarded by Spoon River College.
  1. Academic Performing Scholarships: Academic Performing Scholarships are awarded each year based on academic achievement.
  2. Eligibility: The applicant must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for a scholarship:

    NOTE:  The total budget amount for each type of scholarship is approved through the annual budget process.  Each year, the Vice President of Administrative Services communicates the budgeted amounts to the Scholarship Committee.

    1. A scholarship budget for first year students generally equates to eleven scholarships, which equals the number of in-district high schools. These scholarships are normally given to the student from each high school with the highest rank in class, grade point average, and ACT scores.  The minimum criterion for the award includes being in the upper 25% of their high school graduating class.  These awards are for tuition and fees for up to 36 semester hours in consecutive semesters (fall, spring, and summer) during the academic year. These are automatically renewed for a second year provided the student maintains a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 and full-time status throughout the academic year.
    2. A scholarship budget for second year students is available for those students who received the scholarship their first year at Spoon River College. These awards are for tuition and fees for up to 36 semester hours in consecutive semesters (fall, spring, and summer) during the academic year.
    3. A scholarship budget for roughly two academic performing scholarships is available for second-year students. The award criteria are a 3.3 cumulative grade point average and full-time status in their first year performance at Spoon River College.
    4. A scholarship budget is also established for part-time students. These tuition-only awards for up to $500 are for Spring semester, and part-time students may reapply annually.  Students must have a 3.3 cumulative college grade point average and have a declared program of study.
    5. Based on the scholarship criteria, the Dean of Student Services recommends the distribution of these awards to the Scholarship Committee and is responsible for distributing the scholarships renewed for the second year.
    6. The total funds allocated for each of the Academic Performing Scholarship categories shall be determined annually by the President, the Vice President of Administrative Services, the Vice President of Instruction and Student Services, and the chair and secretary of the Student and Academic Affairs Committee. They will meet to review how much of the Academic Performing Scholarship funds were spent and will determine if the amount of the scholarship needs to be adjusted.
  3. Performing Skill Scholarships: The College has scholarships available for participation in authorized activities to be allocated by the Scholarship Committee and distributed by the sponsor.
    1. Each authorized activity receives a designated fixed dollar amount awarded for participation in that activity. Activities currently authorized to receive scholarships are drama, livestock judging, art, speech and debate team, and Kaleidoscope editors.
    2. Students who receive Performing Skill Scholarships may use these scholarships for tuition and fees and/or books. The amount of the scholarship is credited to the student’s account making it available for use to pay for tuition or books. This amount may be used to purchase required class books and materials, throughout the semester in which the scholarship is issued until the balance reaches $0. Students may sell books back they have purchased through this account and retain the resale value.
    3. A base amount of $12,000 will be divided to provide for each of the Performing Skill Scholarship categories and will be determined annually by the President, Vice President of Administrative Services, the Vice President of Instruction and Student Services, and the faculty that manage the scholarship. The base amount of $12,000 will be reviewed every three years by (ALL PARTIES). They will meet to review how much of the Performing Skill Scholarship funds were awarded and will determine if the amount of the scholarship needs to be adjusted. Every effort will be made to maintain FY 2011 funding levels.
    4. Scholarships are normally given to full time students with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0
    5. Faculty are encouraged to make the awards by May 15th each year for the upcoming academic year but must be awarded no later than August 1st. Exceptions will be considered by the President if budget allocations permit.
    6. New Performing Skill Scholarships: An activity sponsor may request scholarship funds be budgeted through the annual budget approval process provided the following procedure is followed:
      1. Activity sponsor provides required documentation, which is submitted to the Scholarship Committee to the sponsor’s supervising administrator for consideration.Documentation includes the following:
        1. A statement of criteria for awarding the performing scholarship(s).
        2. The minimal performance level or conditions the recipient is required to meet.
        3. Any specific academic eligibility requirements.
      2. With the approval of the Scholarship Committee, the proposal will also be reviewed by the Student and Academic Affairs Committee and the Faculty Senate. Finally, the documentation is taken to the Vice President of Administrative Services and the Vice President of Instruction and Student Services prior to November 1 for final approval. If the Vice Presidents approve the request, the sponsor’s supervising administrator will take the funding request through the annual budget process to secure funding in order to award scholarships for the following academic year.
      3. Documentation for each recognized skill-performing scholarship is located with the sponsor and with the Dean of Student Services.
  4. Athletic Performing Scholarships: A scholarship budget for Athletic Performing Scholarships is approved through the annual budget process covering tuition and fees.NOTE:  The total budget amount for each Athletic Performing Scholarship is approved through the annual budget process.  Each year, the Vice President of Administrative Services communicates the budgeted amounts to the Scholarship Committee.
    1. Athletic performing scholarships are distributed among men's and women's sports equally according to the policies of Title IX.
    2. Rules of the NJCAA are followed, including no room and board payments. A minimum of fifty percent of the scholarship dollars are to be awarded to in-district students.
    3. All awards must have the approval of the Director of Athletics and Intramurals before a student is notified. Any changes in distribution are approved by the Dean of Student Services.
    4. Procedures for recognizing other athletic activities are the same as for non-academic performing scholarships. (Refer to b. 4).
    5. The Director of Athletics and Intramurals may allocate some of the scholarship funds for a team manager/statistician.
    6. The distribution of the scholarship funds between sports is determined by the Director of Athletics and Intramurals and Dean of Student Services.
    7. The total funds allocated for the Athletic Performing Scholarship are determined annually by the Vice President of Instruction and Student Services, Vice President of Administrative Services, Director of Athletics and Intramurals, and the Dean of Student Services. They will meet to review how much of the Athletic Performing Scholarship funds were spent and will determines if the amount of the scholarship needs to be adjusted.
  5. Foundation Scholarships: The Spoon River College Foundation awards scholarships according to its scholarship policies. Spoon River College Foundation scholarships are distributed according to the guidelines of the Foundation and the intentions of its donors.
  6. Honors Program Scholarships: A scholarship budget for students in the Honors Program is approved through the annual budget process and is designed to provide an annual $500 tuition scholarship to participants.
  7. All-Illinois Academic Team Scholarships: A scholarship budget for students nominated for the All-Illinois Academic Team is approved through the annual budget process. A spring scholarship is awarded annually to the Canton and Macomb campus nominees.
  8. Other Scholarships:
    1. Organizations and entities not related to the College award scholarships to Spoon River College students according to their guidelines.
    2. Scholarships are sent to the Financial Aid Office or for external scholarships the Business office for disposition to the student or for payment of outstanding tuition and fees.