Students enroll in summer courses for a variety of reasons, but when a class is canceled due to low enrollment, the question on any student’s mind with an academic scholarship is how to meet their renewal requirements. 

Academic scholarships are awarded to University of Central Arkansas students, including incoming freshmen and current and transfer students, based on academic performance. 

A UCA academic scholarship can help alleviate the need for borrowing excessive financial aid. Each academic scholarship policy has renewal requirements that students must meet, e.g., being enrolled in 15 credit hours each fall and spring semester and staying in good academic standing for the scholarship to renew. 

UCA summer term hours are considered in the scholarship renewal process. However, UCA does not have a policy that waives academic requirements for scholarship renewal if a course is canceled. 

Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor and a financial aid advisor as soon as they realize they might be at risk of losing their scholarship due to falling below academic requirements, according to Dr. Patricia Poulter, provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs. 

“The two offices work with students to try and find an appropriate course or courses, and also to help students understand their options with regard to financial aid. While not uncommon, it is not a prevalent issue for students,” Dr. Poulter said.

Students have the option to enroll in another class if a summer class is canceled to maintain their scholarship eligibility. Students need to keep in mind that academic scholarships do not pay for summer courses. 

Academic scholarship recipients who do not meet renewal requirements receive notifications at the end of each spring semester informing them if they are at risk of losing their scholarship, according to Christy Garrett-Jones, assistant director of Financial Aid. 

If a student falls below renewal requirements they will be notified of their academic scholarship status following Summer One term if they have met renewal requirements. If scholarship requirements have not been met, a student will be notified of their academic scholarship status following the Summer Two term.

A student may enroll in any UCA summer term in an effort to meet scholarship renewal requirements regardless of the academic scholarship policy under which they were awarded. 

“Students are not required to take courses that relate to their major or minor during the summer session. Summer terms are offered as an opportunity for students to get back in good standing with the scholarship requirements so they can maintain it for future semesters,” Garrett-Jones said.

According to Garrett-Jones, students should review the exception policy before applying, which lists the different circumstances in which students may file for an exception. 

“I encourage all faculty and staff who speak with students with concerns about their scholarships or other financial aid to direct them to our office,” Garrett-Jones said. “There may be other options we can discuss with the student regarding enrollment in other classes or filing for an exception to the scholarship requirements – if they meet all of the criteria of the exception policy.”

Students may file for an exception by completing an exception form that provides a type-written personal statement explaining their reason for the request and providing the additional documentation required. The exception form and documentation must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office, where it will be reviewed then forwarded to the Scholarship Committee, who decides to approve or deny the request. 

It should be noted that the exception policy does not list a canceled class as a reason for an exception to academic scholarship requirements.