Merit Scholarship Renewal Requirements

The University of Mary Washington will change or rescind merit scholarships in the event housing or residency status changes after awarding.

The university will credit one-half of the scholarship each semester to the student’s account (Fall/Spring).  The recipient qualifies to receive a scholarship for each of four academic years of continuous undergraduate study at the University of Mary Washington if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

• Recipients must be full-time at the University of Mary Washington and successfully complete at least 12 credit hours each semester. Students with approved reduced loads from the Office of Disabilities Resources will have their award automatically adjusted should they fall below full-time status
• Current scholars who have maintained eligibility may use a merit scholarship for pre-approved study abroad programs.  The Office of Financial Aid must receive written permission from the Center for International Education prior to the semester abroad term.  Participation will be limited to one period of study, not to exceed two semesters.  The University of Mary Washington will use study abroad credit hours equivalent to full-time enrollment transferred back to the University for consideration of scholarship eligibility for the subsequent year.  Study abroad participants must return to the University of Mary Washington as full-time residence hall students to complete their degree requirements. Students may review the process for using merit scholarships for study abroad programs here.
• Students may not use merit scholarships if participating in an internship in which the student resides off campus.
• The recipient must maintain the following yearly grade point averages to retain a merit scholarship:

Earned Credit Hours	Yearly GPA Requirement
1-29	2.5
30 – 59	2.75
60+	3.0

“Earned Credit Hours” are credit hours earned only at UMW.

• Should the recipient be placed on social or administrative probation, or be found guilty of an Honor Code violation, the scholarship will be withdrawn, and charges to the student shall be adjusted according to the University’s refund policy.
• An adjustment to the amount of the scholarship will be made according to the University’s refund policy should the recipient withdraw during the academic year.

The University of Mary Washington will change or rescind merit scholarships in the event housing or residency status changes after awarding.

The university will credit one-half of the scholarship each semester to the student’s account (Fall/Spring). The recipient qualifies to receive a scholarship for up to six regular semesters of continuous study at the University of Mary Washington if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

• Recipients must be full-time at the University of Mary Washington and successfully complete at least 12 credit hours each semester. Students with approved reduced loads from the Office of Disabilities Resources will have their award automatically adjusted should they fall below full-time status
• Current scholars who have maintained eligibility may use a merit scholarship for pre-approved study abroad programs.  The Office of Financial Aid must receive written permission from the Center for International Education prior to the semester abroad term.  Participation will be limited to one period of study, not to exceed two semesters.  The University of Mary Washington will use study abroad credit hours equivalent to full-time enrollment transferred back to the University for consideration if scholarship eligibility for the subsequent year.  Study abroad participants must return to the University of Mary Washington as full-time residence hall students to complete their degree requirements. Students may review the process for using merit scholarships for study abroad programs here.
• Students participating in an internship in which the student resides off campus may not use the scholarship.
• The recipient must maintain a yearly grade point average (not cumulative average) of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Should the recipient be placed on social or administrative probation, or be found guilty of an Honor Code violation, the scholarship will be withdrawn and charges to the student shall be adjusted according to the University’s refund policy.
• An adjustment to the amount of the scholarship will be made according to the University’s refund policy should the recipient withdraw during the academic year.

The University of Mary Washington will change or rescind merit scholarships in the event housing or residency status changes after awarding.

The recipient qualifies to receive a scholarship for each of four academic years (Fall/Spring) of continuous undergraduate study at the University of Mary Washington provided that all of the following conditions are satisfied:

• Awards will be changed in the event domicile is changed after awarding.
• Recipients must be full-time at the University of Mary Washington and successfully complete at least 12 credit hours each semester. Students with approved reduced loads from the Office of Disabilities Resources will have their award automatically adjusted should they fall below full-time status
• The scholarship may be used for pre-approved study abroad programs for current scholars who have maintained eligibility for the scholarship prior to their study abroad experience. Pre-approval requires that written permission from the Center for International Education be sent to the Office of Financial Aid.  Participation will be limited to one period of study, not to exceed two semesters.  Study abroad credit hours equivalent to full-time enrollment will be transferred back to the University of Mary Washington and used to consider scholarship eligibility for the subsequent year.  Study abroad participants must return to the University of Mary Washington as full-time residence hall students to complete their degree requirements. The process for using merit scholarships for study abroad programs can be accessed here.

• The scholarship may not be used by students participating in an internship in which the student resides off campus.
• The recipient must maintain the following yearly grade point averages to retain a merit scholarship:

Earned Credit Hours (“Earned Credit Hours” are credit hours earned only at UMW)	Yearly GPA Requirement
1-29	2.5
30-59	2.75
60+	3.0

• Should the recipient be placed on social or administrative probation, or be found guilty of an Honor Code violation, the scholarship will be withdrawn, and charges to the student shall be adjusted according to the University’s refund policy.
• Should the recipient withdraw during the academic year, an adjustment in the amount of the scholarship will be made according to the University’s refund policy.

This appeal process is for students that have not been renewed for a merit-based scholarship or curriculum award based on unmet renewal criteria.  The following awards may be affected:

Presidential, Provost, Aerie, Blue & Gray, Collegiate, Eagle, International, Presidential, Provost, Talon, Top Dollar, Transfer & Washington & Alvey Scholarships

While each of these scholarships has a unique set of renewal criteria, the most common reasons for non-renewal are not meeting GPA requirements, moving to off campus for housing, not meeting enrollment criteria, etc.

Students are permitted to appeal the loss of a merit scholarship; however, the right to appeal must be based on extraordinary, personal circumstances that contributed to the student’s inability to meet the renewal requirements. Acceptable circumstances include:

• The death of an immediate family member (i.e. mother, father, sibling, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandparent)
• A serious, documented injury or illness
• Significant, unanticipated family obligations due to medical issue or illness
• A catastrophic loss due to fire, flood, or natural disaster that affects the student’s academic attendance or performance
• Documented incident within the residence hall

Please note: Appeals for housing (moving off campus) generally will only result in the commuter equivalent of when you started at UMW.  In some cases this may result in no award.

To appeal, students may complete the Merit & Curriculum Scholarship Appeal Form through the financial aid forms page.

If reinstated, awards are not retroactive. The award will be reinstated for the current or upcoming semesters based on the determination made by the Scholarship committee. This decision is final.

Deadlines:

Fall Semester October 1st
Spring Semester February 15th