| POLICY NAME | POLICY NO. | APPROVING BODY | RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Division Scholarship Award Policy | AA301 | Academic Affairs | Academic Affairs |
| EFFECTIVE DATE | VERSION NO. | REVISION/REVIEW DATE | DOWNLOAD PDF |
| 01-JUL-2024 | 01 | 01-JUL-2024 | AA301_Graduate Division Scholarship Award Regulations Policy WEB |
PURPOSE:
This policy aims to address the underrepresentation within certain fields by prioritizing students from marginalized groups with the greatest need, both academically and financially.
POLICY:
The WNMU Graduate Division Scholarship is intended to increase enrollment of New Mexico students from groups underrepresented in graduate education. Special emphasis will be placed upon academic fields of high regional and national priority and fields in which under representation is most severe. Priority will be given to New Mexico students from those groups with the most severe under-representation and students with the greatest financial need.
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY:
A Graduate Division Scholarship may be awarded to an individual who:
- is a resident of New Mexico;
- is a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident alien and is a member of a group under-represented in his or her intended graduate or professional field of study;
- has met the FINAL admission requirements and is accepted for enrollment as a full-time student in a graduate or professional field of study with high priority or under-representation;
- agrees to serve in an unpaid assistantship at WNMU for ten (10) hours per week during the academic year;
- is eligible according to a standard needs analysis (FAFSA) or when a financial aid officer exercises professional judgment in accordance with WNMU’s and applicable federal financial aid standards to detem1ine that circumstances, for which documentation exists in the student’s file, warrant adjusting the cost of attendance, expected family contribution or other factors to make the program responsive to a student’s special financial circumstances.
WNMU RESPONSIBILITIES:
WNMU must award the recipient of the Graduate Division Scholarship a paid Graduate Division Assistantship for ten (10) hours per week during the academic year and summer sessions.
MAINTAINING ELIGIBILITY:
If a student is deemed eligible under New Mexico Title 5 Post Secondary Education Chapter 7 Tuition and Financial Aid, Part I 5 Graduate Scholarship Program and accepts the Graduate Division Scholarship Award, a student must:
- remain in good academic standing by maintaining a 3.0 GPA;
- be enrolled as a full-time graduate student (nine graduate credit hours during the fall or spring Semester; six graduate credit hours during the summer session);
- agree to serve in a paid assistantship for ten (10) hours per week during the academic year and summer sessions; and
- agree to serve in an unpaid assistantship at WNMU for ten (10) hours per week during the academic year.
TERMINATION OF SCHOLARSHIP:
A scholarship is terminated upon the occurrence of:
- withdrawal from the institution by the award recipient,
- failure to re-enroll for consecutive academic years,
- failure to be a full-time graduate student, or
- substantial noncompliance by the award recipient with the Graduate Scholarship Act or Its rules, regulations, or procedures.
APPLICATION DEADLINES:
Applications must be received in the Office of Academic Affairs no later than 4:30 pm on April 1 of the spring semester for fall awards or September 1 for spring awards. Students will be notified of the awards by July 1 for fall awards and December 1 for spring awards. Please send your packet to: Office of Academic Affairs, Western New Mexico University, P.O. Box 680, Silver City, New Mexico 88062. Phone: 575-538-6317, Fax: 575-538-6182.