Scholarship Renewal Information

What scholarships renew with the Scholarship Renewal Proposal Form?

A Plus, Boy's State, Bulldog Legacy, Combined Ability, Comm./Junior College Transfer, Fee Waiver, Girl's State, International Baccalaureate, International President's Honorary, Missouri Scholars Academy, National Honor Society/Beta Club, Neighboring States, Non-Resident Award, Non-Resident Tuition, Out-of-State, Pershing, Phi Theta Kappa, Phi Theta Kappa Competitive, President's Honorary, President's Leadership, President's Recognition, President's Service Award, Truman Achievement Award, Truman Leadership, Truman Promise, Youth for Understanding, Transfer Bulldog Legacy, Transfer Neighboring States, Transfer President's Honorary, Transfer Recognition, Transfer Truman Promise. 

What criteria must I meet to renew my scholarship?

Scholarships are normally reviewed for renewal after spring semester grades are posted.  The Truman GPA computed at this time determines the renewal award for the following academic year.  Subsequent summer and fall grades are not reviewed for renewal unless you increase your GPA and request that we review your award. You must pass at least 24 credit hours during the academic year and not have used eight semesters of scholarship or the pro-rated number of semesters if you are a transfer student. Only Truman hours and GPA are used to calculate renewal.  Scholarship renewal values will be calculated according to the following scale.

All scholarships are renewed for the academic year with this scale.

3.25 and above Full renewal

3.20 - 3.24 90% of original value

3.10 - 3.19 80% of original value

3.00 - 3.09 70% of original value

What is "Schl. Renew – No Service Required?"

After your first two semesters at Truman, your scholarships will no longer be listed individually (i.e. A+, Combined Ability, etc).  If the value of all of your Truman academic scholarships is less than $2,500/year, they will appear as “Sch. Renew – No Service Required.”

What is “Truman Service Sch. Renewal” and Truman Service Sch. – Taxable?”

After your first two semesters at Truman, your scholarships will no longer be listed individually (i.e. A+, Combined Ability, etc).  If the value of all of your Truman academic scholarships is more than $2,500/year, they will appear as “Truman Service Sch. Renewal” and “Truman Service Sch. – Taxable.”  The “taxable” portion of your scholarship is the value we have assigned to the 60 service hours you are required to perform.  To calculate the full value of your scholarship you must add the “renewal” and “taxable” portion together.

Is any portion of my scholarship taxable?

If your scholarship is renewed with the service option, $475 of each semester’s total amount will be reflected on a W-2 form at the end of the calendar year.

Questions regarding tax reporting requirements for any scholarships or fellowships should be answered by the IRS or a qualified tax preparer.

What if my first semester of enrollment and scholarship was a spring semester?

Students who initially enroll and receive scholarships in the spring semester are off schedule - spring/fall awards instead of fall/spring. Renewal for these students is not reviewed until after the second semester of the scholarship award which would be fall semester. Students who meet the renewal criteria for the subsequent spring semester are reviewed again after that semester to be on the normal yearly cycle of renewal.

What if my Truman GPA allows me to renew my scholarship for fall, but my GPA lowers after fall semester grades are posted?  Will the value be reduced?

No.  You can only increase your scholarship value after fall grades are posted.  We will not decrease the value unless you had appealed for renewal and the committee required you to maintain a certain GPA for spring renewal. 

How many semesters may I use my scholarship?

Unless otherwise stated, scholarships awarded to beginning freshmen can be used for up to eight continuous semesters.  Length of potential scholarship eligibility for transfer students is as follows:

If I leave Truman and return will my scholarships be reinstated?

If you are transferring from Truman, withdraw, or stop out for any term other than summer, you must appeal if you wish to have your scholarship reinstated upon your return. 

How do I renew my scholarship?

You need to complete the Scholarship Renewal Proposal Form that is available by accessing your TruView account under the "Student" tab.  Click on the "Renew Scholarship Online" link under "Student Finances".  If you need to locate a scholarship position, please check out Tru-Positions.  

If your scholarship requires the service option and you elect to take full renewal, you need to locate a department that agrees to have you perform the service hours in their area.  You will enter departmental information in the on-line process and your information will be transmitted to the supervisor for approval then forwarded to the Financial Aid Office automatically.  This process must be completed before scholarships are applied to your student account.  You must enter the e-mail address of your supervisor when completing the on-line process.

If you have not worked on campus either doing scholarship service, Federal Work-Study or Institutional Payroll, then you will need to also complete the I-9 and W-4 forms in the Payroll Office. This requires two forms of identification.

When do I need to complete the scholarship renewal process?

If the value of your award requires scholarship service hours the scholarship renewal process should be completed annually beginning with the third semester of the award. You should complete the renewal process as soon as you know you qualify for renewal. The on-line renewal process can be completed prior to leaving campus in the spring if you anticipate that you will meet the criteria for renewal. If you wait until the beginning of the fall semester to begin the process it may take several weeks to finalize your scholarship. This will affect the amount of fees due to the University.  Your scholarship will not apply to your student account in a timely manner and you will need to make payment arrangements with the Student Accounts Supervisor, pay the amount due and be reimbursed when the scholarship is credited to your account, and/or incur interest charges on your balance due.  

How many service hours are required for each semester?

All scholarship awards that total more than $1250 per semester require 60 service hours for each semester of renewal. Failure to complete the 60 hours will result in a charge to your student account. This charge is a prorated amount of your scholarship based on the percentage of hours not completed. The service requirement is the same if you live on or off campus. Because the value of your scholarship could increase after fall semester, it is possible to not need to perform the service hours for one semester then have the value increase for spring and be required to do the hours for that term.   

What if my scholarship requires the service hours for full renewal and I don't want to perform the service requirement?

A student may elect to receive one-half the value of the scholarship (or $1250 per semester, whichever is greater) without performing the service hours.  Complete the Scholarship Renewal Process in TruView by clicking on "Original Renewal for the Term" and answer the appropriate questions.   

Do I need to complete a renewal form if my scholarship does not require work?

You do not have to submit a scholarship renewal form if your scholarship is $1250 or less per semester and does not require service hours.  The Financial Aid Office will automatically renew your scholarship as long as you meet all requirements.

Can I perform the service hours in more than one department?

Yes. If your first choice of a position does not have sufficient work for you to complete 60 hours in one semester, you are responsible for finding other positions to fulfill the requirement. Please complete the scholarship renewal process for each position.  Indicate "Original Renewal" for the first position and then click on "2^nd Job" for each additional position.

Can I change my scholarship service position?

Yes. You can change departments at any time. Please go to the renewal process in TruView and complete the process indicating "Job Change" as the option. 

Can I perform my service hours off campus?

Yes, in certain areas of the community but you cannot be paid by the organization for the service hours. Currently approved sites are listed below.  If you wish to do service hours at one of these organizations you should contact them for available positions prior to completing the scholarship renewal process.  Call the Financial Aid Office if you need contact information.   

You may perform your scholarship service hours at religiously affiliated organizations only to do tutoring or mentoring.  Any activity related to a religious service or activity is not allowed.

I-9 and W-4 Paperwork

If you have never worked for the University (Federal Work-Study, Institutional Payroll, or scholarship), you must complete I-9 and W-4 forms.  These forms can be located under the Student tab in TruView.  Once complete they must be turned in to the Payroll office, McClain Hall 106. These forms must be completed prior to beginning the on-line Scholarship Renewal Process in TruView.  You will need two forms of identification in order to complete these forms

If I complete extra service hours, do they count toward another semester?

No. Hours may not be accumulated during a semester to apply to future terms. However, you may work in the summer to make up hours for the previous spring semester or to apply to the immediate fall semester if the appeals committee grants you special permission. Fall service hours must be completed between May graduation and December 31, and spring hours should be completed between January 1 and May 31. An appeal should be submitted if you find it necessary to complete your hours outside this time frame.  Hours can never overlap calendar years.

If I lose my scholarship, can I get it back?

Yes. If after any term you raise your Truman cumulative GPA within range of the renewal scale and/or make up any deficient hours, contact the Financial Aid Office. Hours taken at Truman the summer following the academic year may count toward the deficient hours and/or GPA. However, credit hours taken at other institutions will not be counted toward renewal.

Are my Truman academic scholarships refundable?

No.  Truman academic scholarships will apply to tuition, on-campus room and board, and approved special course fees only.  Any scholarship funds in excess of those two items will be returned to the University scholarship fund.  More information regarding approved special course fees can be found on the Registrar's website at http://registrar.truman.edu/registration/new%20course%20fees.asp. 

What options do I have if I have excess scholarship funds and live on-campus?

On-campus students with a meal plan cannot use excess Truman scholarship funds for more meals and/or Bonus Bucks.  However, purchases in the C-Stores can be made with the meal plan. 

If I live in Campbell Apartments, Randolph Apartments, or Patterson House can I use my excess scholarships funds to purchase a meal plan?   

Yes.  Campbell and Randolph Apartments are considered on-campus housing and you are allowed to use your scholarship to purchase a meal plan.  You will need to purchase the “off-campus” meal plan through TruView and contact the Students Accounts office to have the excess funds applied to the meal plan charge.

What options do I have if I have excess scholarship funds and live off-campus?

Starting Fall 2011, students will no longer be allowed to use excess scholarship funds towards an off-campus meal or bonus bucks.  Truman Leadership Scholars and Pershing Scholars will no longer be allowed to claim the off-campus living allowance.  University scholarship funds cannot be used to pay for off-campus living expenses.

Do I have to be a full-time student to receive my scholarship?

Yes.  In order to receive your scholarship you have to be enrolled as a full-time student.  Full-time status is 12 hours for an undergraduate student and 9 hours for a graduate student.

Do I have to be a full-time student to receive my scholarship if I am graduating?

No.  If you are graduating during the term that you are receiving the scholarship (i.e. December for Fall scholarship dollars; May for Spring scholarship dollars) and do not need to be a full-time student to graduate, your scholarship amount may be pro-rated for the number of hours you are enrolled in.  You will need to contact the Financial Aid office if this situation applies to you.

Can I use my scholarship for summer?

Yes.  The on-line renewal process will let you select 'summer' as a term and then direct you to a form to complete and submit to the Financial Aid Office.  Excess scholarship from a semester will not be carried over to use for summer or another term.  Using your scholarship during the summer term does count as one of your semesters of eligibility.

Can I use my scholarship for a study abroad program?

In most cases you can use scholarship funds for a study abroad program.   You should see the Financial Aid Office to determine if your program qualifies.  Scholarship service hours are not required for the term you are studying abroad.   However, you must complete the on-line scholarship renewal process and select 'Study Abroad' for the term of your trip.  This will direct you to a form to complete and submit to the Financial Aid Office.  You should also review the study abroad information found at http://admissions.truman.edu/studyabroad.asp

Can I use my scholarship for graduate courses?

Yes, but the value of the scholarship will not be increased to cover the additional tuition costs.  

Do I have to complete service hours if I am completing an internship?

If you are receiving Truman credit for an off-campus internship then you are not required to complete scholarship service hours. This includes the Governmental Internship at the state capitol.  If the internship location is on-campus you are required to complete the scholarship service hours.

For further information regarding the renewal of scholarships, contact the Financial Aid Office by phone at 660-785-4130, e-mail finaid@truman.edu or in person at McClain Hall 103.