10 Questions to Strengthen Your Scholarship Program
We’ve been hard at work planning the re-launch of our Scholarships 101 program.
Scholarships 101 is a professional development opportunity designed specifically for new and early-career scholarship professionals.
We hosted our first cohort this winter, and it was a HUGE success:
“The most valuable aspect of the course was how applicable and relevant the topics were to what we are currently working on in our program and also what we plan to work on in the future.”
As we get ready to dive deep into best practices and innovations in the field, we thought we'd pass along some of what we're sharing with our 101 cohort.
These are suggestions that providers at any level can benefit from, not just those who are new to our corner of the universe.
You might already be doing these. If not, they're food for thought as you work toward making your program even more impactful.
Elements of "Ideal" Scholarships
Early in her career in the field, Julia did exceptional work researching scholarship providers and developing a slate of characteristics shared by "ideal" scholarships. We're big fans of all of these (not just because it was Julia who authored the study!) and encourage all providers to consider them:
Clear, well-communicated application and selection criteria are provided to all stakeholders, including students, donors, and evaluators.
User-friendly, trust-based forms and processes.
As broad eligibility as possible, given your purpose and intended recipients.
Multi-year, renewable funding.
Awards greater than the annual tuition cost at your local community college.
Coverage of any Cost of Attendance expenses.
Continuity of funding even when students' circumstances change.
Educated donors who understand students' needs and ways to support them.
Engaged donors, interested in getting to know students beyond simply announcing awards.
Be ready and open to change, as education and scholarships are constantly evolving. Lose things that don't work, and add those that do.
Quick Self-Assessment Questions
Whenever you next have a moment (soon, hopefully? Summer? This will be in your inbox to come back to whenever), you can use these questions to reflect on your own program:
How do you communicate scholarship requirements to your students, donors, and evaluators?
Could a first-generation college student easily navigate your application process?
When's the last time you reviewed your eligibility criteria for inclusivity?
Do your students know if they can count on your support beyond the first year?
What does a "meaningful award" look like for your typical student?
Can students use your awards for all their educational expenses, or are there limitations?
How does your program handle it when a student's plans change mid-year?
How connected are your donors to today's student experiences?
What's one way your donors engage with recipients beyond the check presentation?
What's one thing you've changed about your program in the last year based on feedback?
No need to send us your answers (unless you want to share a win - we love those!). These are just to spark some reflection as you continue developing your program. You got this!
