THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS POLICY MANUAL
SUBJECT: Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants and Awards
POLICY NO.: 1:2E:03:01 DATE: February 1, 1990
SUPERSEDES POLICY NO.: 1:2E:03:01 DATE: December 1, 1982
The University administers a number of programs for the purpose
of making financial assistance available to deserving and
qualified students. This policy applies to University-administered
scholarships, fellowships, grants, awards and other similar
programs. This policy does not apply to programs which involve
employment or the performance of significant services by
the recipient.
1. A scholarship award is an award to a student for the
purpose of assisting a student financially to attend the
University. A scholarship may be determined based on
enrollment, grade point average, service requirements,
financial need, academic performance, field of study,
geographical location of domicile or high school, or
similar criteria.
2. A fellowship is similar to a scholarship except that
fellowships are awarded only to students above the
undergraduate level. A fellowship may be awarded to
assist the recipient in studies or research.
3. A grant is an award to assist a student financially.
Grants are based on pre-established criteria such as
need or enrollment in a particular program of study.
4. A University-administered student financial aid program
is one for which the University has control of the
process of selecting individual recipients and has
financial responsibility for the program, or the
responsibility for administration of the program pursuant
to an established student financial aid program or
scholarship term of agreement.
5. All scholarships, fellowships, grants, and similar
student financial aid awards subject to this policy will
be coordinated through the offices as specified below.
The coordinating office will be responsible for the
following:
a. Each program will be administered pursuant to a
written program description. The description will
include the application process, selection criteria,
appeals procedure, conditions, committee for
selection, funding source and amounts, renewal/
continuation conditions, and similar provisions.
The written description must be in place and
approved by the Director of Student Aid prior to
any awards being made. (Graduate Dean for Fellowship)
b. All award programs should be included in the
appropriate University Bulletin and in other listings
of possible financial aid.
c. Each coordinating office will record all awards and
report the number of students receiving assistance
from the University.
d. Each coordinating office will ensure that all
University, Tennessee Board of Regents, State, federal,
and funding source requirements, terms and
guidelines, policies and procedures are met.
e. Each coordinating office will provide the final
program approval to disburse or otherwise make
available to a student any award. All repayments or
refunds will become the property of the University
and will be credited to the respective scholarship
account.
6. The following responsibilities for administering this
policy have been established.
a. The Vice Provost for Student Educational Services
through the Student Aid Office will be the
coordinating office for all awards to undergraduate
students.
b. The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs through the
Graduate School and Law School Offices will be the
coordinating office for all awards to graduate and
law students.
c. The Director of Bands will be the coordinating office
for all awards to band students.
d. Each coordinating office will develop and issue
appropriate guidelines and procedures for awards
which they coordinate.
e. Each coordinating office will ensure that all
requirements, terms and guidelines, policies and
procedures of the funding source are met.
f. There are special provisions for nonresident alien
students. Nonresident aliens are individuals who
are neither United States citizens nor resident
aliens. The nonresident alien is classified
according to the type of visa issued to them.
Scholarships, grants, and awards paid to nonresident
alien individuals are subject to special IRS
reporting requirements. The coordinating office
should contact the General Accounting Section of the
Accounting Office for IRS forms which are required to
be completed by the nonresident alien.