Guidelines on Implementing Incentive Scholarship Programs for Certain Constituent Institutions

Effective July 1, 1999. The 1991-92 General Assembly appropriated an initial $400,000 to establish incentive scholarship programs at Fayetteville State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, UNC Pembroke, and Winston-Salem State University. The appropriation provided for 40 scholarships in 1991-92 at each of the participating institutions. An allocation of $80,000 to each institution is based on an estimated average cost of $2,000 per student in program funds. The program was phased in over a four-year period. At the end of the four-years, each institution has 160 scholarships.

The incentive scholarship programs are intended to give needed aid to well-prepared, in-state students who want to attend one of the identified UNC constituent universities on a full-time basis. The cost for tuition, fees, room and board, and books to attend will be calculated as the maximum financial aid package. Special appropriated incentive scholarship funds (maximum $3,000 per recipient per academic year) will be used after all other need-based funds for which a student is also eligible have been included in the student’s financial aid package. The awards are available to entering first-time freshmen and entering first-time transfer students, and will be renewable semester-by-semester as long as the recipient meets all applicable criteria listed below:

1. To be eligible for an incentive scholarship as an entering freshman, a student must meet the following requirements:

a. be a graduate of a North Carolina high school (students from all counties are eligible for this scholarship program);

b. rank in the top half of his or her class upon high school graduation, and meet all other University admission requirements;

c. apply for need-based student financial aid. The total scholarship award under the program shall carry a maximum value equal to the cost of tuition, fees, room and board, and books. Incentive scholarship funds will be used after all other need-based funds for which the student is also eligible have been included in the student’s financial aid package. In the awarding of financial aid for the program, the special appropriated funds for the incentive scholarship will not exceed $3,000;

d. agree to perform public service hours, at the University or in the community based on the following special appropriated incentive scholarship award (excluding need-based funds) schedule:

e. carry at least 15 semester hours each regular semester; and

f. earn a Grade Point Average (GPA) in coursework taken at the University according to the following schedule:

· by the end of the freshman year: cumulative 2.00 or higher;

· by the end of the sophomore year: academic year 2.50 or higher or cumulative 2.50 or higher;

· by the end of the junior year: academic year 3.00 or higher or cumulative 3.00 or higher;

· by the end of the senior year: academic year 3.00 or higher or cumulative 3.00 or higher.

2. If the student enters from a certificate program from the community college, he/she must meet the following eligibility requirements:

a. reflect in personal and scholastic behavior high moral and ethical standards;

b. carry at least 15 semester hours each regular semester;

c. earn a Grade Point Average (GPA) in coursework taken at the University according to the following schedule:

· by the end of the freshman year: cumulative 2.00 or higher;

· by the end of the sophomore year: academic year 2.50 or higher or cumulative 2.50 or higher;

· by the end of the junior year: academic year 3.00 or higher or cumulative 3.00 or higher;

· by the end of the senior year: academic year 3.00 or higher or cumulative 3.00 or higher.

d. agree to perform public service at the University or in the community based on the special incentive scholarship award (excluding need-based funds) which appears above in Item 1.d., the schedule for public service hours;

e. apply for need-based student financial aid. The total scholarship award under the program shall carry a maximum value equal to the cost of tuition, fees, room and board, and books. Incentive scholarship funds will be used after all other need-based funds for which the student is also eligible have been included in the student’s financial aid package. In the awarding of financial aid for the program, the special appropriated funds for the incentive scholarship will not exceed $3,000.

3. To be eligible for an incentive scholarship, a transfer student must meet the following requirements:

a. be a resident of North Carolina and possess the Associate of Arts (AA), the Associate of Science (AS), the Associate of Fine Arts (AFA), or a certificate or degree in a program that articulates directly with an academic degree program offered by Fayetteville State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and Winston-Salem State University from a North Carolina community college and meet all University admission requirements;

b. have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 if the student enters with an associate degree, or a 2.00 if the student enters after completion of a certificate program;

d. agree to perform public service, at the University or in the community based on the special appropriated incentive scholarship award (excluding need-based funds) which appears above in Item 1.d., the schedule for public service hours;

e. carry at least 15 semester hours each regular semester;

f. maintain a 3.00 grade point average at the University if the student enters with an associate degree;

g. reflect in personal and scholastic behavior high moral and ethical standards.

[This is a rewrite of Administrative Memorandum #389.]