Red Rocks Community College Procedure
Category: Students Title: Scholarships and Certificates Number: RRPR 4-20 Approved: April 9, 2012 Effective: April 9, 2012 Revised: April 2, 2012 Reference: This procedure is written as supplementary to State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education Board Policy 4-20.
Red Rocks Community College also complies with the Veterans Readjustment Act of 1973, sections 503 and 504.
Purpose: The purpose of this procedure is to provide the College with established procedures and processes related to the awarding and managing of scholarships and certificates. Scope: This procedure covers all scholarships and certificates awarded by Red Rocks Community College. Attachment: none Definitions: none PROCESS
The identification of issues and opportunities, the organizational management and the issuance of policies and procedures will be the responsibility of the College Scholarship Committee with the approval of the Cabinet. Specific daily management of scholarships will rest with those departments that either offer or coordinate such. Red Rocks Community College (RRCC), along with the Red Rocks Foundation, is authorized to offer scholarships to resident instruction students. All scholarships should be eligible for FTE funding (assuming all other FTE reporting requirements are met).
Scholarship criteria vary greatly, but may include academic achievement, program affiliation, civic involvement and/or financial aid. Financial need may be a criterion for some scholarships, but not necessarily for others. If a student receives a scholarship, it will be counted in determining his/her financial need. Other types of aid may be reduced if the scholarship, when combined with other assistance, more than meets the student’s documented need or falls outside the packaging policy parameters.
Composition
The RRCC president appoints the Scholarship Committee with members serving a
minimum of one year. The committee’s permanent representation includes the Executive
Director of College Relations (Chair), Director of Financial Aid, Controller and representatives from Recruiting and the Red Rocks Foundation. Additional membership is based on volunteerism, representation of constituencies and relevancy to the scholarship process. The Scholarship Committee will meet annually, or on an as-needed basis.
Authorization
The development of RRCC scholarships will be coordinated through the Scholarship Committee with final approval by the Cabinet and RRCC president.
I. Scholarships
The initial point of contact for all scholarship inquiries is Financial Aid. Initial inquiries should be directed to this department, which in turn will determine if a referral is appropriate to one of the other departments/offices that provide scholarships. Administering departments will be responsible for tracking academic progress and will report their findings by the end of each applicable semester to the Director of Financial Aid.
(b) Red Rocks Community College is authorized to offer scholarships to the following categories:
Academic Achievement: Scholarships for students who have achieved a specified minimum grade point average, and/or minimum ACT/SAT test scores.
Financial need: Scholarships for students who have met specified criteria and who demonstrate a clear financial need;
Community: Scholarships provided through RRCC or through joint partnerships;
High Schools: Scholarships specifically designated for RRCC service-area high schools;
Articulated 4-year: Scholarships provided with or by articulated four-year institutions;
Department: Scholarships specifically targeted for RRCC department students;
Foundation: Scholarships specifically funded through donor contributions
Colorado: Scholarships provided through the State of Colorado.
(c) To receive a Red Rocks Community College scholarship, the student must be enrolled at RRCC;
(d) All requests/nominations will follow a prescribed process as defined for each scholarship;
(e) The administering department will determine any cash remuneration;
(f) Students will be advised in writing that they are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average as determined by the administering department or donor. The disclaimer (see below) will include that RRCC interprets 12 credits hours as full-time, the definition of consecutive scholarships and the stipulation that need based financial aid could result in a reduction to a scholarship award. Any semester in which the scholarship student receives a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or lower, the administering department will make a determination whether the scholarship should be discontinued.
(g) In the case of a student appeal (non-selection, removal, etc.,) regarding RRCC scholarships, the process begins with a written appeal (including supporting documentation) to the administering department. If the appeal is denied, it will then be referred to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. If applicable, the final determining authority will be the Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management. All appeals must be submitted within the current semester and a final written response will be provided to the student within 10 working days of receipt of the appeal.
(h) A database, maintained by the administering departments, will be used to track scholarships. These departments will report updates and changes to Financial Aid by June 30th of each calendar year, which will then in turn provide a comprehensive database to the Cabinet and applicable departments.
II. Certificates
Community Good Will
Certificates are intended as a form of community good will. They may be issued primarily to or for, among others, selected not-for-profit, silent auctions, education and government organizations. Requestors must submit a letter to College Relations, which will in turn evaluate the purpose, requesting organization and value to the College. Based on this outcome, and available funding, three-credit certificates may be provided. Recipients must qualify for resident tuition. College Relations will be responsible for maintaining a comprehensive database.
College Volunteers
A scholarship certificate may be issued to a volunteer who provides service to the college if the following guidelines are met:
The volunteer must complete 100 hours of service to the college to receive a three-credit tuition certificate. The supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the hours claimed as volunteer service are documented.
Only one certificate per semester may be issued to a volunteer, regardless of the number of volunteer hours worked. No more than three certificates may be issued to a volunteer in a fiscal/school year.
Certificates are not transferable.
Certificates may be exchanged for no more than 3 credit hours of resident tuition, excluding all fees and special tuition rate courses (i.e. Physician Assistant Program).
Certificates must include an expiration date, and will be valid for no more than one calendar year.
All certificates must be coordinated through the office of College Relations.
III. Red Rocks Community College Foundation
RRCC Foundation scholarships are administered by the policies and procedures of the RRCC Foundation
DISCLAIMER: A Red Rocks Community College or Red Rocks Community College Foundation scholarship will only be valid for students enrolled at this college. Red Rocks Community College defines "full-time" enrollment as 12 credit hours per semester. Annual scholarships are defined as fall and spring semesters in the same academic year. Scholarship students who receive need-based financial aid or other additional awards may recognize a reduction to their original scholarship award.
Students receiving scholarships are expected to maintain a RRCC minimum grade point average of 2.0, or higher as determined by the type of award offered via the administering department or donor. If the scholarship student drops below the minimum grade point average during any semester, a discontinuance of the scholarship may result. Additionally the student may be required to provide reimbursement for current awards issued as determined by the administering department. The Director of Financial Aid is the initial point of contact for all scholarship questions.
Red Rocks Community College does not unlawfully discriminate in its admissions, education programs, activities or employment policies on the basis of race, age, sex, religion, color, national origin or handicap, and is subject to Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended.
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