Financial Aid and Scholarships

The University of Arkansas annually awards over $50 million of financial aid and scholarships to its students. Financial aid is divided into the categories of grants, work, loans, and scholarships. Unless otherwise specified, a student needs to complete only three forms to apply for all these basic types of assistance: a financial need analysis form which analyzes the ability of the student's family to pay for college; the University's Financial Aid Questionnaire; and the University's Application for Admission. These forms collect information used by the Office of Student Financial Services and the scholarship committees of the colleges in determining awards. In some cases, copies of the parents' and/or student's tax returns are needed. Since many scholarship awards are determined by multiple criteria, scholarship applicants are urged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, for 1996-97 this will be required of all scholarship applicants and recipients.

DETERMINING FINANCIAL NEED

To determine financial need a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All students must release their information to the University of Arkansas and the financial aid agency within the State. To do so, you MUST fill in the college release section, with the Title IV Code 001108 for the University of Arkansas.

A student should submit the need analysis form for processing so that the results will reach the Office of Student Financial Services on or before the April 1 priority deadline. All federally-funded financial aid will be awarded on the basis of need as reflected by one of these reports

The Student Aid Report (consisting of several pages) will be sent directly to the student by the processing agency. The student must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment before application for financial aid can be considered. To receive financial aid, the student must make satisfactory progress toward a degree, as defined by the University of Arkansas.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

1. Apply for admission to the University, if not currently enrolled or admitted.

2. Complete the appropriate financial aid form(s) and submit to the Office of Student Financial Services according to the deadlines listed below.

All scholarship applicants must be admitted to the University by March 1. However, please check with your department for earlier deadlines and additional forms.

All financial aid applicants must complete the University's Financial Aid Questionnaire. Financial aid applicants must also submit a need analysis form. (See "Determining Financial Need.")

To receive priority consideration for financial aid, all forms and applications must be received by the Office of Student Financial Services by April 1. Students are encouraged to apply even if they miss the April 1 priority deadline since limited funds are often available after the priority date.

Since the need analysis forms must be sent to a processor, we suggest that they be mailed by February 15 in order for the results to reach the Office of Student Financial Services by April 1. (The processing time for the need analysis form is approximately four to six weeks.)

SCHOLARSHIPS

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, awards over 5,000 scholarships totaling more than $9 million for its students each year. This total does not include funds which support such external scholarships held by U of A students as Governor's Scholarships or Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship. Scholarships funded by the University fall into two broad categories: academic scholarships and special skill and interest scholarships.

Academic scholarships are either general University scholarships or those awarded by a specific academic area (college, department, or program). The general scholarships are awarded to new students. More specific scholarships are awarded to upper-class students whose scholastic performance at the University serves as a criterion for the awards.

Special skill and interest scholarships are awarded to new or continuing students on the basis of skills and performance in music (including band) and athletics, or on the basis of an interest in a military career (Army and Air Force scholarships).

Information about scholarship opportunities at the University is available from the Office of Admissions or the Office of Student Financial Services. Students may also obtain specific information about scholarship opportunities from the University departments which award them. The following listing of scholarship programs is provided to demonstrate the scope of scholarship opportunities at the University of Arkansas. Space in this catalog does not permit an all-inclusive listing.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NEW STUDENTS

General University Scholarships

A limited number of academic scholarships are awarded to entering freshmen and transfer students. Selection criteria include national test scores (ACT or SAT), grade-point average, National Merit or National Achievement recognition, quality and quantity of courses taken, and other pertinent factors.

The following regulations govern the general University scholarships described below:

1. March 1 is the scholarship deadline for entering freshmen and March 15 for entering transfer students. The applicant must be admitted to the University by the above mentioned deadline to be considered for these scholarships.

2. An "entering freshman" is defined as a student who has not enrolled in another post-secondary institution in a fall or spring semester following graduation from high school.

3. Eligibility for renewal of general University scholarships is determined at the end of the spring semester each "year." For this purpose, a "year" is defined as an academic year composed of summer sessions, fall semester, and spring semester.

4. These scholarships are generally awarded per academic year to cover the fall and spring terms, up to an eight semester maximum. Renewal criteria is evaluated every two fall or spring semesters.

5. Students who are placed on academic probation forfeit their scholarships effective the semester of probation.

College and Departmental Scholarships

The following college and departmental scholarships are available to entering freshmen at the University of Arkansas. Complete addresses and phone numbers of the colleges, schools, or departments listed below can be found in the respective college or school sections of this catalog.

School of Architecture

The Mary Pipkin Johnson Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is made each year in the memory of architect Mary Pipkin Johnson. It is made initially to a freshman entering the School of Architecture and is based on high school performance and promise of professional ability. The recipient is designated the Mary Pipkin Johnson Scholar, with the scholarship continued as long as a 3.00 grade-point average is maintained by the recipient in the architecture or landscape architecture program. Upon graduation of or forfeiture by the recipient, another scholarship is awarded. See also pages 155-161.

Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences

The Sturgis Endowment for Academic Excellence, awarded by the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, provides for undergraduate fellowships each in the amount of $43,000 over four years to exceptionally talented students with the intellectual potential to become future leaders in society. Sturgis Fellows participate in the four-year Fulbright College Scholars Program and will receive financial support for the pursuit of optimal intellectual growth. For information contact the Director of Honors Studies, Fulbright College.

The James Victor Spencer, Jr., Scholarship is awarded on a competitive basis to freshmen entering the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Recipients must be Arkansas residents at the time of high school graduation. For additional information write to: Associate Dean, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

The Dean Robbin C. Anderson Scholarships are awarded to students transferring into the Fulbright College from Arkansas junior or community colleges. To be eligible for consideration, students must be ranked in the highest ten percent of their classes. For additional information write to: Associate Dean, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

The University of Arkansas Physics Department awards scholarships in the amount of $500 to selected freshmen entering the U of A as physics majors. The awards are renewable for four years on the basis of academic achievement. Recipients are selected on the basis of both overall achievement in science/math and on demonstrated interest in physics or astrophysics. Application deadline March 1. For application forms and additional information, write to: Physics Scholarships, Department of Physics.

The Jacob and Wilma Sacks Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to freshmen entering the University with a major in chemistry. The awards are in the amount of $500 a year and are renewable for four years on the basis of academic achievement in a chemistry program. For additional information, write to: Chairman, Department of Chemistry.

The Department of History awards the Sidney Moncrief Scholarship and the David W. Edwards Scholarship. The Sidney Moncrief Scholarship is awarded to an entering history major or minor interested in the study of black history. The initial award of $300 is renewable for up to four years. The David W. Edwards Scholarship provides $3,000 for the academic year and is renewable for four years on the basis on achievement. All current history majors, incoming freshmen and transfer students intending to major in history are eligible. Applications for either of these scholarships must be submitted by March 1. For additional information write to: the Moncrief Scholarship Committee or the David W. Edwards Scholarship Committee, Department of History.

College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

The Department of Agronomy offers six $500 scholarships to entering freshmen. These include the M.S. Offutt Scholarship: a Dupont Minority Scholarship for an outstanding applicant whose racial or ethnic origin is either Black, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, American Indian, or Alaskan Native; an Agronomy-Crop Physiology Award; and Agronomy-Crop Science Award; an Agronomy-Soil Award; and an Agronomy-Weed Science Award. These awards are made to encourage and to assist students interested in agriculture and science to attend college and major in agronomy. For further information write to: The Awards Committee, Department of Agronomy.

Entering freshmen are eligible to compete for a number of scholarships offered by the Department of Poultry Science. These include four tuition scholarships by the Arkansas Feed Manufacturers Association, and a variable number of tuition scholarship awards from the BASF Corporation and the Arkansas Allied Poultry Industry. The Randal Tyson Memorial awards three scholarships annually. Other scholarships are available for transfer and upper-class students. For information on the scholarships contact the Scholarship Committee, Department of Poultry Science.

Scholarships are available through each of the ten agricultural departments and the School of Human Environmental Sciences, as well the college. For further information regarding scholarships in this college, write to the Scholarship Committee, Agriculture Building, room 206, or see page 90 in this catalog.

College of Business Administration

Scholarships are available through the departments of Accounting, Computer Information & Quantitative Analysis, Economics, Finance, Management, and Marketing & Transportation as well as through the College's general scholarship program. Scholarships are generally awarded on the basis of academic achievement, financial need, and academic promise.

For further information on scholarships in this college, write to Associate Dean, Undergraduate Students, BA 328.

College of Education

As with other U of A colleges, the College of Education has competitive scholarships available to upper-class students who have demonstrated scholastic promise during enrollment at the University. Scholarships are generally awarded on the basis of academic achievement, financial need and academic promise. For detailed information, see College of Education scholarships on page 379.

College of Engineering

The College of Engineering offers scholarships on a competitive basis to upper-class students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance. Some departments have a limited number of scholarships available to entering freshmen who have an outstanding record of achievement in high school. For more information write to the various departments.

Participants in the Transition Retention Minority Engineering Program (TRMEP) may be eligible for awards in the academic year following the summer TRMEP class. Recipients must present competitive grade-point averages and national test scores. For additional information write to: Director, Minority Engineering Programs, College of Engineering.

Special Scholarships

Music and Band

The Music Department offers scholarships for talented students who sing or play instruments. Music and Band Scholarships are available to music majors and to students majoring in other areas who participate in ensembles. The largest scholarships can cover the cost of the registration fee. All music scholarships require an audition. To set up an audition, contact the Music Department at 575-4701 or the Band Office (for the Marching Band) at 575-4100.

Air Force and Army ROTC

The Air Force and Army Reserve Officer Training Corps programs offer a number of scholarship opportunities for entering freshmen and on-campus students.

Four-year Air Force ROTC scholarships pay tuition, a variable book allowance, some fees, and a stipend of $150 per academic month. Four-year scholarship winners also receive room and board in a residence hall provided by the University. The application period for these four-year scholarships is June 1 to December 1 of the year preceding enrollment in the freshman year. All Air Force ROTC scholarships will cover out-of-state tuition.

Air Force ROTC also offers scholarships ranging from 2 to 3 years for students already enrolled at the University, as well as the Professional Officers Corps Incentive (POCI) which provides $1,000 per semester for the junior and senior year. Requests for application and inquiries concerning eligibility requirements should be made to Air Force ROTC, University of Arkansas, or phone (479) 575-3651.

Four-year Army ROTC scholarships are awarded competitively on a nationwide basis to U.S. high school students. The scholarship pays up to $12,000 per year in tuition and fees, $450 per year for books, and a stipend of $150 per month to the recipient.

Application deadlines are July 15th for early-cycle consideration and November 15th for regular-cycle consideration. Students are encouraged to apply during the spring semester of their high school junior year.

Four-year Army ROTC scholarship recipients who score a minimum of 24 on the ACT (1010 SAT) will receive free room and board provided by the University. Application packets are available from the Professor of Military Science, telephone (479) 575-4251.

Other scholarships are available to enrolled college students. These range from two-year guaranteed reserve forces duty scholarships to three-year on-campus and active duty scholarships. It is not necessary to be enrolled in Army ROTC to compete for these scholarships. Application deadline is March 1st.

Scholarship recipients normally require an active duty obligation of 2-4 years following graduation and commissioning.

Contact the Professor of Military Science for information at 575-4251.

OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS

Generally, scholarships are awarded on academic standings rather than need. However, it is advisable for students applying for academic scholarships to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Beginning in 1996-97 this will be required of all scholarship applicants and recipients. This information is frequently used by the college scholarship committees when there are several students with identical records and there are limited funds available.

VETERANS BENEFITS

The University of Arkansas is approved by the Arkansas Department of Education for veterans and veterans' beneficiaries who are working toward a degree. Veterans of recent military service, service members, members of reserve units, and the dependents of certain other servicemen may be entitled to educational assistance payments under the following programs: Title 38, Chapter 30, Montgomery GI Bill for Veterans; Title 38, Chapter 32, Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP); Title 38, Chapter 35, Survivors and Dependents Education; and Title 10, Chapter 106, Montgomery GI Bill for Selective Reserves.

All students must be working toward a degree and should follow the curriculum outline for their objectives, since only specific courses may be applied toward VA certification and graduation. Persons eligible for educational benefits should contact the Office of the Registrar for information.

OTHER TYPES OF AID

For information on other sources of financial assistance such as the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, the Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students, Social Security, Vocational Rehabilita-tion, College Work-Study, other scholarships or various types of loans, contact the Director of Student Financial Services, your high school guidance counselor, or the appropriate agency or organization offering the aid.