The University of Illinois System has adopted a System-wide Financial Aid Policy that affirms compliance with the System’s legal obligations. This policy clarifies that all financial aid will be awarded in a nondiscriminatory manner, consistent with all applicable laws. Specifically, race, color, national origin, and sex may not be considered in determining eligibility for or awarding financial aid.
Undergraduate Scholarship & Waiver Policy
These policies apply to funds administered centrally through the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) and those administered by colleges, departments and administrative units.
Student recruitment, retention, and graduation are key components of the university’s strategic plan. Scholarship and waiver funds must be better coordinated to attract high-ability students and to remove financial barriers to maintain access for all qualified students. In addition, centralized coordination of scholarships and waivers will assist in meeting in federal, state, institutional, and donor compliance requirements. Scholarships, grants, and waivers will be awarded in a nondiscriminatory manner in accordance with applicable laws, including the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Race, color, national origin, or sex are not considered in determining eligibility for or awarding scholarships, grants, and waivers.
Scholarship & Waiver Policies
The following scholarship and waiver policies have been established:
- Financial aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance budgets as established by OSFA. Scholarship and waiver awards may be reduced or canceled if it’s determined that the student is over-awarded or over budget. Some outside agencies (NCAA, National Science Foundation, etc.) may allow for an exception to this policy, but any exception must be reviewed and approved by OSFA.
- OSFA will be the campus authority on determining the definition of financial need, as well as identifying students with financial need. The current definition is cost of attendance minus student aid index (as determined by the current federal methodology formula) equals financial need. (Financial Need is reduced by other financial aid awards the student is receiving.)
- Full-time enrollment (a minimum of 12 hours per semester) in a regular degree program is required to receive a scholarship or waiver unless a donor agreement states otherwise. (Exceptions may be requested for graduating seniors or other special situations.)
- All donor requirements as stated in fund agreements will be followed, provided they are consistent with applicable federal and state laws, including nondiscrimination provisions outlined in the System-wide Financial Aid Policy.
Scholarship & Waiver Priorities
Scholarship and waiver priorities should be reviewed at least every 5 years to ensure that the priorities are consistent with campus goals, enrollment targets, and the strategic plan. The following scholarship and waiver priorities should be considered when making scholarship and waiver decisions:
- Address unmet financial need—In recent years, costs have increased at a significantly higher rate than financial aid, resulting in increased levels of unmet need. Individual students may be both academically meritorious and financially needy, so providing more need-based scholarships and waivers can help meet multiple goals.
- Serve recruitment goals—Strengthen funding for the highest achieving and most talented students. To the extent possible, provide 4-year recruitment awards. Award amounts should generally be at sufficient levels to be effective recruiting tools. This amount is currently determined to be $6,000, although there is recognition that the majority of current University of Illinois scholarship awards are less than this amount.
Scholarship & Waiver Procedures
The following scholarship and waiver procedures have been established:
- All scholarship and waiver funds should be disbursed centrally through established university procedures (i.e., through OSFA or University Bursar). Scholarship and waiver funds should not be paid directly to the student
- Scholarships and waivers should be awarded by March 1 preceding the academic year unless the fund agreement states otherwise.
- Scholarship renewal criteria will be evaluated annually at the end of spring semester unless the fund agreement states otherwise.
- Students may appeal a scholarship awarding decision to the awarding department or OSFA. The decision of OSFA is final
- Scholarship and waiver letters and communications should include the following cost of attendance statement: “Please be aware that the combination of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance. If the total amount of financial aid exceeds the cost of attendance, awards (including scholarships) may be reduced so that the total financial aid no longer exceeds the cost of attendance.”
- Scholarship letters and communications may encourage, but not require, students to express their appreciation for the scholarship by writing a thank-you note to the donor.
- The University of Illinois Foundation is responsible for interpreting donor requirements outlined in fund agreements.
- OSFA coordinates all financial aid awards, including scholarships, grants, prizes, awards and waivers. This coordination includes monitoring that aid is capped at the cost of attendance.