Effective Date
This policy will be effective for new students entering UIS beginning with the Fall 2023 and beyond. Current or continuing students will not have changes made to negatively impact their current aid packages.
Description
This policy governs the administration of undergraduate scholarship and grant programs at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS). All funds provided and selected by UIS, including scholarships donated by alumni, and private/corporate sources, are considered institutional aid. This policy is intended to maximize the use of all university resources to provide equitable aid programs for scholarship and grants, and avoid over-award situations resulting in post-notification adjustments.
UIS provides generous scholarship and grant programs available for many of its students. Most programs are available to students enrolled in on-campus programs, full-time, and generally excludes students enrolled in online-only programs. To be eligible for UIS aid, students must meet minimum enrollment requirements, demonstrate talent in academics, athletics or other specified areas, and/or have financial need.
Scope and Application
This policy pertains to all institutional aid awarded by the University of Illinois Springfield including, but not limited to:
- UIS merit admission scholarships, such as Star Scholar, Lincoln and Transfer Merit
- UIS Capital Scholars Honors (CAP) Scholarship program
- UIS Athletic Scholarships*
- University of Illinois President’s Award Program (PAP)
- Donor-based or Departmental scholarships
- Need-based grants and tuition waivers
- Any other scholarships selected and awarded by UIS staff and/or faculty
*Athletic grants-in-aid programs are administered by the financial aid office at the discretion of UIS Athletics. Student eligibility for these awards must be applied consistent with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulations, as well as any applicable federal, state and university requirements.
Tuition assistance for state university employees, dependents or retirees is also considered outside the scope of this policy, insofar as it is an institutionally-provided and defined benefit. Tuition assistance is applied in coordination with other forms of institutional aid and in relationship to employment status, which may require more nuanced treatment. Employees receiving full tuition waivers are generally not eligible for other UIS institutional aid.
Policy Details
UIS institutional aid is generally awarded for the fall/spring, and most programs are not available for the summer term, with some exceptions such as athletic aid and certain donor scholarships. UIS institutional aid may be used to cover UIS tuition and mandatory fees, with a few exceptions.
In some cases, UIS institutional aid may be used for on-campus housing and meals. However, students are responsible for additional costs of attendance, which may include remaining tuition and fees, housing and dining costs, books and personal expenses. UIS institutional aid may not be used to pay certain fees such as Student to Student Grant, student health insurance, fines such as parking tickets or late fees, or other non-educational expenses. Institutional aid is non-refundable, has no cash value, and may not be rolled to a future semester or year.
UIS Scholarship Maximum
Generally speaking, UIS institutional aid is capped at a students’ tuition and mandatory fee charges. The combination of UIS scholarships, grants and other tuition- and fee-specific aid programs may not exceed UIS tuition and mandatory fees. However, certain UIS scholarships may be designated as applicable to housing, meals, and/or books. Adjustments to student aid offers may be required to comply with all federal, state, and institutional regulations and guidelines. UIS scholarships and grants may have additional award specific restrictions and renewal criteria. Students should review the scholarship guidelines carefully.
UIS Students are only eligible to receive one of the following: Star Scholar Award, Lincoln Scholarship, Capital Scholars Honor Scholarship, Transfer Merit Scholarship, President’s Award Program, Camerata Music Scholarship, or Memorial Health Pre-Nursing Scholarship. However, the AIM HIGH Grant, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, Out of State Scholarship, and UIS Athletic scholarships may be combined with other UIS scholarships, up to the UIS scholarship maximum.
UIS Donor-based scholarships
Scholarships donated to UIS to be selected by university personnel vary widely in awarding criteria, renewability, and are generally available to be utilized for any educational-related expenses. Specific criteria are maintained by the Office of Advancement. Since these scholarships are funded by external sources, UIS donor-based scholarships may be awarded up to the cost of attendance in addition to other UIS scholarships, rather than applying to the UIS Scholarship Maximum of tuition and mandatory fees.
Coordination with Other Financial Aid
Overall, a student’s total financial aid may not exceed their overall cost of attendance, which is an estimate used by financial aid to calculate aid eligibility. In compliance with federal student aid regulations, all institutional aid to UIS students is managed through the Office of Financial Assistance (OFA). When institutional aid is coordinated with non-institutional aid, the student’s total financial aid package cannot exceed the student’s financial cost of attendance, as determined by OFA, and as allowed by federal and state regulations. Exceptions to this policy may be made only with the approval of the Director of Financial Aid.
Tuition- and fee-specific aid programs may not exceed the amount billed (and not otherwise remitted in the form of reciprocity or tuition benefits) to the student as instructional tuition and mandatory fees. Funds limited to individual billed components must specify to which component they apply (e.g., room/housing, board/meal plan, books/supplies). Certain tuition-specific and tuition and fee-specific financial aid programs a student may be eligible for must be considered and applied prior to UIS institutional aid, including, but not limited to:
- Child of Veteran tuition waiver
- Employee and Child of Employee tuition waivers
- Other State of Illinois programs, including but not limited to:
- IL Veterans’ Grant tuition and mandatory fees waiver
- IL National Guard tuition and certain fees waiver
- IL DCFS Scholarship and Tuition waiver
- Grant Program for Dependents of Police/Fire/Correctional Officers
- MIA-POW Tuition and certain fees waiver
- Military and Veteran Tuition Assistance and Educational program
- Any other tuition/fee specific aid programs from any source
Students who are eligible for the following State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant may have UIS institutional aid up to the cost of tuition, mandatory fees, on-campus housing and/or meal plans, as applicable, in addition to the MAP Grant. Generally speaking, federal Veterans’ Education benefits are not considered when determining eligibility for UIS institutional aid.
Questions related to this policy may be directed to the Office of Financial Assistance, within UIS Enrollment Management.