******NOTICE******
Date: Application Deadline July 31st, 2010
The downloadable PDF link is available below.
Private Donor Awards (PDA) are given to provide financial assistance to students who have demonstrated academic achievement and financial need. Private Donor Awards are provided by gifts given on behalf of the University to the Coppin State University Development Foundation. The Private Donor Award Program’s main priorities are to increase student enrollment, retention and graduation rates.
When awarding private donor scholarships, the Foundation must comply with the donors’ intent as outlined in Memorandums of Understanding or other documentation forwarded when the gift is made. The Foundation also adheres to guidelines that ensure fairness, equity and responsiveness to individual students. The PDA Program will work with the Financial Aid Office to properly package and effectively use the various types of student assistance (federal, state, institutional, private, etc.) and also to ensure that a student's financial aid package does not exceed his or her need.
Students must submit an online application during the application period. Application packets consist of an application form, a 100 word personal statement and a current unofficial transcript. Application packets are due by March 1st. Each applicant must complete a FASFA in order to be eligible to receive funds from the PDA Program unless that student is not eligible to receive Federal Financial Aid.
The Foundation’s Private Donor Award Coordinator will forward applications to the appropriate academic department coordinator. The Scholarship Review Committee will review applications and choose those students who will be awarded.
Award decisions must be made based on the scholarship memorandum of understanding criteria and/or some general program criteria including grade point average, matriculation rate, the student’s profile, extracurricular activities, volunteer and community involvement and any other compelling information.
Award amounts should not exceed $2,000 per student. Award amounts also depend on availability of funding.
Only those students who are currently enrolled at the University, have submitted all required scholarship application forms, and documents, and meet the minimum scholastic and other requirements specified in the Private Donor Award Program policy will be considered eligible.
Freshmen Students
Freshmen students are not eligible to apply for fund from the PDA Program. Freshmen may receive awards from the PDA Program through the Office of Admissions. Incoming freshmen who receive funds from the PDA Program through the Office of Admissions will not be automatically renewed. They will have to apply for funds during the application process in following academic year.Graduate Student Applicants
Graduate students are eligible to apply for funds from the Private Donor Award Program. The maximum amount for that graduate student may receive per semester is $1,000.Part Time Students
Students who are taking less than 12 credits per semester are eligible to receive a maximum award amount of $1,000 per semester.State Employees and Family Members
State employees and their family members who are eligible to receive tuition remission through the State of Maryland are not eligible to receive an award from the Private Donor Award Program.Students who maintain their academic progress and continue to adhere to the award guidelines will be renewed each semester until degree completion. Awardees must submit a recertification packet by March 1st in order to be renewed. An Award Recommendation Form must be submitted for renewal students as well.
Award Probation
Scholarship Review Committees have the option of placing a student on probation if the student’s grade point average falls below the standard as per the award criteria. Probation will last for one semester and that student must bring their current grade point average back up by the end of that semester. If the student’s grades do not improve, the award will be cancelled.
Award Extensions & Expiration
Students who receive extensions to submit documentation or to complete applications will have 5 days to do so. This grace period shall be granted at the discretion of the SRC. Students who believe that they should have been awarded during a particular semester but did not receive their award may request a review of his or her application packet up to 30 days after the awards were posted for that semester.
Once the recommendation forms have been received and approved by the Foundation, they will be forward to the Financial Aid Office. Financial Aid will develop the student’s award packet and determine the unmet need. Once the unmet need is determined, the Foundation will post the final approved award amount to the student’s account. If a student is in a position to receive a refund of more than $3,000, the Private Donor award will be revoked.
Students may request that any used portion their award be used for them to purchase books.
Students may use a portion of their award to purchase books. In order to do this, the student must do the following:
Once the Foundation signs off on the book invoice, the student will take it back to the bookstore and retrieve their books. Book Awards are only given for books and supplies. The Foundation will not pay for food items or paraphernalia.
The Private Donor Award Program will provide emergency financial assistance to students who are not currently receiving aid from the PDA Program. Students needing emergency financial assistance must do the following:
Emergency assistance will not exceed $1,500. The student’s matriculation rate and grade point average will be taken into consideration when the committee convenes to make the decision.
All awarded students must draft a letter of appreciation to the donor that funded their award. This letter must be grammatically correct and follow the standard letter format. This acknowledgement letter is due after the student’s award letters is received.
If you have any questions about the Private Donor Award Program, please call 410-951-3812 or email tturner@coppin.edu. Consultations are by appointment only. Walk ins are not permitted.
Click on links below to access downloadable forms (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)