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The Chancellor’s Achievement Scholarship FAQs For students entering fall 2009 through fall 2010

How much is the award?

The Chancellor’s Achievement Scholarship is a total of $15,000, paid over 4 years ($5,000 each for the freshman and sophomore years and $2,500 each for the junior and senior years).

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How do I receive the funds?

The funds for each year will be equally divided between the fall and spring semesters and will be credited to your CU-Boulder tuition and fees bill.

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What are the eligibility and renewal criteria?*

To be eligible to receive the award in a given semester, you must:

  • enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester at CU-Boulder;
  • remain a non-resident for tuition purposes;
  • meet the Office of Financial Aid’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.

To renew the award in subsequent years, you must:

  • maintain a minimum cumulative CU grade point average at the end of the designated academic year. At the end of the freshman year (after the 2nd semester at CU), the requirement is a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA. At the end of the sophomore and junior years (after the 4th and 6th semesters at CU), the requirement is a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA.
  • successfully complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester at CU-Boulder;
  • remain a non-resident for tuition purposes;
  • meet the Office of Financial Aid’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.

*These apply to students admitted fall 2009 or later.

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If I graduate from CU-Boulder in fewer than four years, can I still get the full amount of the scholarship?

Since the scholarship is provided on a semester by semester basis, you are limited to receiving a single semester’s award amount at a time. If you graduate in fewer than four years, the remainder of the benefit is forfeited. However, if you continue to be enrolled at CU-Boulder in a graduate program, the scholarship will be extended until you have graduated or until you’ve utilized the maximum 8 semesters of the award.

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If I attend summer school at CU-Boulder, can I get the scholarship?

Summer school is not typically funded. However, if you will be enrolled in summer school at CU-Boulder in a minimum of 12 credit hours and meet the renewal criteria as of the end of the previous spring semester, you may request to receive a semester’s scholarship award in the summer in lieu of receiving it in the fall or spring. You must contact Scholarship Services to make the request. You will not be automatically credited with the scholarship.

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If I change to an in-state resident, how does that affect the scholarship?

The Chancellor’s Achievement Scholarship is only awarded to non-resident students. Therefore, if you become an in-state resident, the remainder of the award is forfeited effective with the semester that your residency is changed.

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Can I receive the funds if I go on Study Abroad?

Yes, if you are participating in a CU-Boulder sponsored Study Abroad program of at least 12 credits per semester, you are eligible to receive the funds (please see the question above regarding summer school, if applicable). If you will be participating in a non-CU sponsored Study Abroad program, you must sign up in Stay Connected to be eligible for reinstatement of your scholarship upon your return.

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If I am not enrolled full-time at the start of the semester, what happens? Can I get the scholarship back the next semester when I am full-time?

If you are not enrolled in at least 12 credit hours at CU-Boulder at the start of a semester, as of the university’s census date (the third Friday of the semester), the scholarship will be cancelled effective with that semester and the remainder of the scholarship will be forfeited. The cancellation is permanent and the scholarship cannot be reinstated. Courses taken for no-credit through Continuing Education and Professional Studies do not count toward the minimum credit hours.

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If I am not meeting the academic terms of the scholarship, when will the award be cancelled?

Your academic progress and enrollment will be reviewed at the beginning of and at the completion of each fall and spring semester:

  • At the beginning of each fall and spring semester, you must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours at CU-Boulder by no later than the university’s census date (the third Friday of the semester). Courses taken for no-credit through Continuing Education and Professional Studies do not count toward the minimum credit hours.
  • At the end of the fall semester, you must be meeting the Office of Financial Aid’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy or your scholarship will be cancelled effective with the spring semester and the remainder of the scholarship will be forfeited. You will be responsible for the full amount of non-resident undergraduate tuition beginning in the spring semester.
  • At the end of the spring semester, you must have successfully completed at least 12 credits in each the fall and spring semesters at CU-Boulder, have achieved a minimum cumulative grade point average based on your grade level (see the question above on renewal criteria) , and must be meeting the Office of Financial Aid’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.

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    If the award is cancelled due to failure to meet the renewal conditions, can it be reinstated in the future (i.e. if the student’s grade point average is 2.75 or higher after a future semester)?

    No, unfortunately the cancellation is permanent and the award will not be reinstated.

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    Are classes taken at CU-Boulder in the summer counted in determining if a student is eligible for renewal the next year (i.e. meeting the minimum 24 credit hour and cumulative GPA requirements)?

    No, a student must meet the renewal conditions for the next year based on credit hours earned in the previous fall and spring semesters and on the cumulative GPA at the end of the spring semester. Summer course work at CU-Boulder does not count toward meeting the renewal standards. However, given that the grades from summer courses taken at CU are included in your cumulative GPA, the grades will impact your eligibility at the end of the following spring semester.

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    If a student goes on the Stay Connected Program (formerly the Time Out Program), how does that affect the scholarship?

    The scholarship will be available upon your return to CU-Boulder, assuming that the renewal conditions have been met. You will have the same number of semesters and dollars remaining as if you had not participated in the Stay Connected Program.

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    If a student withdraws without going on the Stay Connected Program, how does that affect the scholarship?

    A student who withdraws from the university without going on the Stay Connected Program will forfeit the remainder of the scholarship.

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    I am receiving other scholarships and/or financial aid. How does that affect the scholarship?

    The cost of attendance (COA), also known as the cost of education or "budget", is the total amount it should cost a student to go to school. This amount includes tuition and fees, room and board, and allowances for books and supplies, transportation, and personal and incidental expenses. Any financial aid that you receive, including the Chancellor’s Achievement Scholarship, cannot exceed your Cost of Attendance. If it does, you may have aid adjusted and/or cancelled, depending on your individual circumstances.

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    Who may I contact with additional questions?

    You may contact Scholarship Services at 303-492-4533 or schlp@colorado.edu.

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