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What type of an associate's degree fulfills scholarship requirements? Do I need to complete the degree at a specific institution?
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In order to be eligible for the scholarship, students must complete the requirements (or the equivalent) for an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science; other associate degrees, such as pre-engineering and business, are also eligible for the New Century award, or Associate of Applied Science degree at one of the following Utah System of Higher Education institutions: University of Utah, Utah State University, Weber State University, Southern Utah University, Snow College, Dixie State College of Utah, College of Eastern Utah, Utah Valley State College, or Salt Lake Community College.
(Note: Not all institutions offer all degrees.
Contact your institution of choice for degree offerings.)
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I understand there is an alternative way to qualify for the New Century Scholarship. What is it, and what are the requirements?
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The alternative is a specified math and science curriculum which has been approved by the State Board of Regents.
There are specific general education, math, and science courses that must be completed to qualify with this method.
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Will I be eligible for the scholarship if I take classes at a university that does not offer an associate's degree?
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Yes.
However, students will be required to submit official documentation from the registrar's office verifying the completion of the requirements equivalent to an associate's degree.
Contact the university regarding course requirements.
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Is completing the equivalent of an associate's degree the same thing as receiving one?
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No.
Students who choose to complete the associate's degree equivalent will not be awarded an actual Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Applied Science degree from the institution they attend.
The equivalency measure gives students greater flexibility to attend The University of Utah, Utah State University, and Southern Utah University, which do not offer associate degrees.
Students should contact the college or university of their choice to find out what programs are offered.
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When must I complete my associate's degree or the approved math and science curriculum to receive the scholarship?
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To be eligible for the scholarship, students must complete the requirements of an associate's degree or the approved math and science curriculum by September 1 of the year in which their class graduates from a Utah high school.
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Is there a grade point requirement for my associate's degree or the new math and science curriculum?
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Yes. The Utah State Legislature added a grade point requirement to the completion of the associate's degree and the new math and science curriculum. It is a cumulative 3.0 GPA.
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Where can the scholarship be used?
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The New Century Scholarship may be used at the University of Utah, Utah State University, Weber State University, Southern Utah University, Dixie State College of Utah, Utah Valley State College, Brigham Young University, or Westminster College.
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How do I apply for the scholarship, and is there an application deadline?
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Qualifying students can apply for the scholarship by downloading and completing the application form and returning it to the New Century Scholarship Program with the required documentation.
(NOTE: If all of the academic requirements for an associate's degree are completed before the September 1 deadline, but the degree has not been posted to a student's transcript, request the institution's registrar office to complete the Associate's Degree Verification Form and send it to the New Century Scholarship Program.
If the institution issues associate's degrees, the student will be required to provide an official transcript, showing the associate's degree posted, to the New Century Program before the student will receive funds for their second semester.)
The application should be completed prior to the academic term for which the recipient wishes to receive the award to ensure that scholarship funds will be sent to the institution promptly.
However, there is no application deadline.
(NOTE: Scholarship funds will not be disbursed until all documentation is received.)
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Will I be eligible for other scholarships if I receive the New Century Scholarship?
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Yes.
The New Century Scholarship will not disqualify a student from applying for or receiving aid from additional scholarships.
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What will the scholarship cover, and how do I receive the funds? Will I be required to use the New Century Scholarship for tuition?
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The New Century Scholarship may cover 75 percent of tuition costs at all Utah System of Higher Education institutions.
If the scholarship is used at Brigham Young University or Westminster College, the scholarship may cover 75 percent of the average cost of tuition at the eligible Utah System of Higher Education institutions.
Qualified recipients will be required to submit a copy of their class schedule each semester to verify the number of credit hours enrolled.
After enrollment and current grade point average are verified, the New Century Scholarship Program will issue a check to the institution on behalf of the student based on the number of credit hours enrolled.
If a recipient has other scholarships which pay for tuition, fees, etc., the institution will refund the remaining balance to the student.
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must complete the requirements of an associate's degree or the math and science curriculum by September 1 of the year in which their class graduates from high school.
The scholarship will be cancelled if the recipient fails to earn at least a B (3.0) average GPA for any two consecutive semesters.
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What are the terms of the award, and what requirements must I fulfill to keep the scholarship?
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The New Century Scholarship may be used for up to 60 credit hours or until the requirements for a bachelor's degree have been met, whichever comes first.
Scholarship recipients will have five calendar years after graduation from high school to use the award.
Scholarship recipients must make reasonable progress for each semester the award is used.
Reasonable progress means the student must successfully enroll in and complete at least six credit hours each semester the scholarship is awarded.
Recipients who fail to earn at least a B (3.0) average GPA for two consecutive semesters will lose the scholarship.
Each semester, recipients must submit to the New Century Scholarship Program a copy of their college transcript to verify they have met the required grade point average and are making reasonable progress toward the completion of a bachelor's degree at the institution in which they are enrolled.
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How will the scholarship funds be affected if I need to add or drop classes?
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If a class is added after funds have been sent to the institution for the semester, the student will be required to submit to the New Century Scholarship Program a copy of the class schedule for the added credit hours before a supplemental award is made.
If credit hours are dropped which were originally used to calculate the award, the subsequent semester award will be reduced accordingly, or the student must repay the excess award amount to the New Century Scholarship Program.
If a student drops below six credit hours, no funds will be awarded for that semester.
(NOTE: The funds for the semester, in which the student did not complete at least six hours, will not be returned to the New Century Scholarship Program.
When the student submits their schedule for the next semester, the amount of tuition for the previous semester will be deducted from the new request.
If the owed amount is larger than the requested amount, no funds will be sent.
The owed balance will be carried to the next semester for repayment.
If the requested amount is larger than the owed amount the difference will be sent to the institution.)
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May I transfer to a different institution and still receive the scholarship?
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Yes.
As long as a student transfers to one of the following eligible institutions: the University of Utah, Utah State University, Weber State University, Southern Utah University, Dixie State College of Utah, Utah Valley State College, Brigham Young University, or Westminster College.
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Will I still be eligible to use scholarship funds if I need to take a leave of absence for religious service, military service, health problems, etc.?
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Yes. However, the leave of absence will not extend the time limits of the scholarship.
The scholarship must be used in its entirety within five calendar years after the recipient's graduation from high school.
To request a leave of absence, students must contact the New Century Scholarship Program.
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Will the scholarship guarantee that I will complete a bachelor's degree within the time period of the scholarship?
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No.
The New Century Scholarship does not guarantee that recipients will complete their bachelor's degree within the 60 credit hours of available funding.
Students are responsible for their own academic progress.
The New Century Scholarship simply assists students to pay for their education for a certain number of credit hours (up to 60) within the five-year time frame.
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What if I am home schooled? Will I still be eligible for the scholarship?
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Yes.
If a student completes an associate's degree or the math and science curriculum with at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA by the time they would have graduated from high school, they will be eligible.
A home schooled student will be asked to provide a letter from their school district that they completed an approved home school program.
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