SS/PPS 02.01 - LBJ Scholarship Policy

POLICY STATEMENT

1. We at Texas State University are committed to excellence in undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education, through the preservation, transmission, and generation of knowledge, through research, scholarship, and creative expression. These policy guidelines establish principles, policies, and responsibilities for coordination of the LBJ Scholarships. The following procedures contribute to the implementation of this policy.

DEFINITIONS

1. Scholarship Advisory Committee – composed of the director and assistant director of Student Diversity and Inclusion, and Top Scholars graduate assistant who are responsible for the development of general policy regarding the award of the LBJ Achievement Scholarships through the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion.

2. Title IV TRIO Participants – individuals who were enrolled in at least one of the following federal programs: Upward Bound, Rural Talent Search, Educational Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Center, and Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program.

3. First Generation Student – an applicant, of which neither parent completed a Baccalaureate degree.

4. Compensatory Education Program Student – an applicant that has participated in a free or reduced school lunch program.

GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP PROCEDURES

1. To ensure that all students are considered for the LBJ Achievement Scholarship, the general scholarship application is used, and only scholarship applicants meeting requirements for the LBJ Achievement Scholarship will be submitted to the Financial Aid and Scholarships office.

2. In the spring, after the deadline of December 1, the Financial Aid and Scholarships office will create an applicant and awardee database that corresponds to the following applications reflecting an answer of “yes” to at least one of the following:

   1. subsidized lunch program;

   2. TRIO participant, Upward Bound, Rural Talent Search, Educational Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Center, Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program;

   3. first generation; or

   4. similar college preparation programs serving similar demographics and populations as TRIO.

3. Additional applications received by the Financial Aid and Scholarships office after the deadline will be forwarded to Student Diversity and Inclusion for consideration as alternate applicants and will be so designated in the applicant and awardee data base.

4. A master list of awardees will be sent to the Financial Aid and Scholarships office via the Scholarship Recipient List. The master list will contain the student’s name, student identification number, award period, award amount, the name of the award, and the source of funds. Student Diversity and Inclusion will check for the financial need of each student to ensure eligibility. Updates to the master list will be in bold type and sent to the Financial Aid and Scholarships office as a comprehensive list of awardees.

5. Award notifications to the Financial Aid and Scholarships office will be submitted by no later than July 31, in order to be reflected on a student’s registration bill in the fall.

AWARDS

1. LBJ Scholarship – Awards will be made to 17 first year or first year transfers for $2,000 per year ($1,000 per semester).

   1. Awardees must demonstrate financial need (Student Aid Report (SAR) on file in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships).

   2. Once applications are received, the Scholarship Advisory Committee will read the application essays. Each essay will be coded to ensure anonymity. Each essay will be scored by one member of the Scholarship Advisory Committee who will receive a rubric to record an essay score. The rubric will include three sets of criteria that will consider content, style, tone, creativity, a well-developed topic, and grammar into its score. These criteria will be rated on a scale of 1-6 with: below standards (1-2), meets standards (3-4), and exceeds standards (5-6). The assistant director will be responsible for determining a separate score for two sets of criteria that will consider academic performance (classes, grade point average, and rank) and level of involvement (extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and community service). These criteria will be rated on a scale of 1-6 with: below standards (1-2), meets standards (3-4), and exceeds standards (5-6). The assistant director will then combine both scores for an overall score. Awardees will be selected beginning with the top rankings. Consideration will also be given to students who are first, TRIO participants; second, first generation students, and third, subsidized free lunch participants.

   3. After the fall semester, awardees must have a 2.5 or better grade point average and have completed 12 semester hours to receive the $1,000 scholarship in the spring. If students have not obtained at least a 2.5 grade point average and completed 12 hours in the fall semester, the assistant director of Student Diversity and Inclusion will work with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to revoke the spring scholarship awards.

   4. The scholarship is renewable for a second year if a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is maintained and the recipient has 24 or more semester hours after the spring semester.

2. LBJ Scholarship-Continuing Applications – Awards will be made to 17 currently enrolled students for $2,000 per year ($1,000 per semester).

   1. Awardees must demonstrate financial need (SAR on file in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships).

   2. Applicants must have a 3.0 grade point average at the end of the spring semester and have completed a minimum of 24 hours at Texas State.

   3. In order to be considered for or renewed for the LBJ Continuing Scholarship, awardees will be required to submit the front page of the scholarship application as a renewal eligibility application to the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion. This scholarship is non-renewable.

3. LBJ Upper Division – Awards will be made to currently enrolled students for $1,000 per year ($500 per semester).

   1. Awardees must demonstrate financial need (SAR on file in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships).

   2. Upper division awardees are eligible for a second-year award based on a 3.0 grade point average requirement at the end of the spring semester of the first-year award.

   3. In order to be considered for a second year or renewal, awardees will be required to submit the front page of the scholarship application as a renewal eligibility application.

4. MLK/Tomás Rivera Scholarship – Awards will be made to first year or first year transfer students for $2,000 per year ($1,000 per semester).

   1. Upon recognizing a significant unmet financial need for some applicants, the assistant director will verify financial need and Texas residency. The names of recipients will be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships on a separate list with notations regarding the source of funds.

   2. Awardees must demonstrate financial need (SAR on file in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships).

   3. After the fall semester, awardees must have a 2.5 or better grade point average and have completed 12 semester hours to receive the scholarship in the spring. The assistant director will collect the funds if awardee is no longer eligible. This scholarship is non-renewable.

   4. Once applications are received, the Scholarship Advisory Committee will read the application essays. Each essay will be coded to ensure anonymity. Each essay will be scored by one member of the Scholarship Advisory Committee who will receive a rubric to record an essay score. The rubric will include three sets of criteria that will consider content, style, tone, creativity, a well-developed topic, and grammar into its score. These criteria will be rated on a scale of 1-6 with: below standards (1-2), meets standards (3-4), and exceeds standards (5-6). The assistant director will be responsible for determining a separate score for two sets of criteria that will consider academic performance (classes, grade point average, and rank) and level of involvement (extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and community service). These criteria will be rated on a scale of 1-6 with: below standards (1-2), meets standards (3-4), and exceeds standards (5-6). The assistant director will then combine both scores for an overall score. Awardees will be selected beginning with the top rankings. Consideration will also be given to students who are first, TRIO participants; second, first generation students; and third, subsidized free lunch participants.

REVIEWERS OF THIS PPS

1. Reviewers of this PPS include the following:

   Position	Date
   Assistant Director, Student Diversity and Inclusion	October 1 E3Y
   Coordinator, Scholarships	October 1 E3Y

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

This PPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State Student Success policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

Assistant Director, Student Diversity and Inclusion; senior reviewer of this SS/PPS

Assistant Vice President for Student Success and Director, Student Diversity and Inclusion

Vice President for Student Success