Renewal and Update Information
This page has been developed for students who have been selected to receive Washington State Opportunity Scholarships. This includes information on scholarship renewal requirements, payments and how to update your contact information and changes in colleges. If you have more questions, please email your questions to info@waopportunityscholarship.org.
If you were selected last year, you will need to complete a renewal application which will be available June 1, 2013.
2012-13 Academic Year Enrollment and Course Requirements
2013-14 Academic Year Requirements for Scholarship Renewal
Additional Renewal Requirements
Additional Scholarship Program Information
2012-13 Academic Year Enrollment and Course Requirements
- Enroll as a full-time student at your Washington State college or university on record for the fall term 2012.
- Continue to enroll during the winter and spring terms as a full-time student at your college.
- Take courses each term that will show that you are making good progress in your eligible field of study, such as, taking at least one course each term in areas such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) or health care.
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2013-14 Academic Year Requirements for Scholarship Renewal
- Submit the 2013-14 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) [Note: you can submit this form beginning 1/1/2013].
- Apply for Federal Education tax credits (including the American Opportunity tax credits) during the 2012 tax year if your family is eligible to apply for these credits. Information on these credits is available on the WSOS web site and from the Internal Revenue Service.
- Complete the 2013-14 Washington State Opportunity Scholarship Renewal Form. CSF will contact you by June 1, 2013 via your email address. You will need to complete this form by July 15, 2013. On the form you will provide verification that you:
- Plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in an eligible high demand major (by alphabet; by category). Note: You may change from one eligible high demand major to another eligible high demand major and still be eligible for continued scholarship funding.
- Are progressing towards your goal of earning a bachelor’s degree in an eligible high demand major.
- Attended your eligible college as a full-time student for all terms during the 2012-13 academic year.
- Applied and were accepted into an approved major in college as soon as you were able, normally by the beginning of your junior year in college.
- Meet your college’s “Satisfactory Academic Progress” requirements for financial aid programs.
- Plan to enroll as a full-time student for all terms during the academic year through completion of your first bachelor’s degree.
- Will submit a copy of your college’s academic transcript.
- If you have completed enough credits to attain junior class standing (at least 90 quarter credits or 60 semester credits) and have been admitted into an approved high demand major, please submit verification of your acceptance. Verification will include a copy of your official transcript and a document from your college that shows the major you declared, the date, and the major cip code ("CIP” stands for Classification of Instructional Program. Each major has a “cip” code and that code defines the major and field of study. You will need to check with your college/university Registrar or on your registration web site to find the cip code associated with your intended or declared major). Upon review your scholarship may be increased to $5000.
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Additional Renewal Requirements:
- You understand that each year’s renewal criteria will be the same or similar to the 2013-14 year requirements.
- You understand that the Board or CSF may need or request additional information from you to assist in the management and promotion of this program.
- You know that you can go to www.waopportunityscholarship.org, the program’s official website, to learn more about scholarship recipient requirements and other important program information.
- You must update CSF with current contact information, including a valid email address, which will serve as the official way that CSF communicates with scholarship recipients.
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Additional Scholarship Program Information
- Full-Time Enrollment Each Term: You are expected to be enrolled as a full-time student during the fall, winter and spring terms each year through completion of your bachelor’s degree. Most colleges define full-time enrollment as 12 or more credits per term.
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- Enrolling in Appropriate Courses Each Term: Meet with your academic advisor each term and discuss your plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in an eligible field of study. Take courses each term that will show CSF that you are making good progress towards completing your goal in your eligible major. One way to help show this will be to take at least one course each term in areas such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) or health care.
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- Eligible major: You must remain in an eligible high demand major( (by alphabet; by category) each year.
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- Payment of Scholarship Funds: For the 2013-14 academic year, enroll as a full-time student at your Washington State college or university on record for the fall term 2013.
- If you do this, your college will receive a $1000 scholarship check on your behalf. Your college will decide if the full $1000 will be credited to your student account during the fall term; or if funds will be credited in some other way (e.g. $500 fall semester and $500 spring semester)
- If you do not enroll full-time in the fall term 2012, the scholarship will be forfeited as you will not be eligible. You would be able to reapply, however, for the scholarship for a future application period, if you at that time met all of the application eligibility requirements
- If you are eligible for the increased scholarship amount of $5000 those funds will be divided equally over the number of terms of enrollment at your college/university provided you will be enrolled full-time.
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- Exceptions for Terms of Non Enrollment: Other than the required first fall term enrollment, you can have one term during your first two academic years of scholarship payments when you do not enroll on a full-time basis. This policy allows for special circumstances (e.g. medical or family needs, scheduling of classes etc.) that may impact your full-time enrollment.
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- Number of Years of Renewal: The program allows for up to five total years of scholarship payments for students who first receive their scholarships as entering college freshmen. Based on the class status you told us you would be when you applied for the scholarship, will determine the maximum additional years of scholarship payments. If you will be a new freshman in 2012-13, for example, you could receive up to four additional renewal scholarship payments. If you will be a sophomore in 2012-2013, you could receive up to three additional renewal scholarship payments, etc.
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- Eligible Washington Colleges and Universities: Scholarship recipients may enroll at the following WA colleges and universities. Recipients, however, must also be enrolled and pursuing an eligible high demand major.
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- Filing the Federal FAFSA each year: You must complete the Federal Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.
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- Apply for Federal Education tax credits: if eligible to do so, you and your family, must apply each year. For 2013-14 year renewal, you need to do this during the 2012 tax year if your family is eligible to apply for these credits. For more information click here for the IRS web site.
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- Updating Contact Information Including Email Address: It is important CSF know of changes in your contact information so we can stay in touch with you. We will need you to provide the following information in an email to info@waopportunityscholarship.org Please notify us of changes in your contact information, such as:
- Updating Changes in Your College Enrollment: Be sure the college you are planning to transfer to is on the list of eligible Washington State colleges and universities and that it offers the high demand eligible major(s) you plan to pursue. Include in your update the term you plan to first enroll at the new college (e.g. transferring to Western Washington University, fall term 2013).
- To initiate consideration of transferring your scholarship to another eligible college, you need to provide the following information to us in an email to info@waopportunityscholarship.org
- The name of the college to which you are transferring
- The first term you will begin at the new college
- When you plan to graduate (month and year) from the new college
When updating be sure that you let us know:
- Your full name
- Name of your CSF Scholarship you are receiving
- Current college you now or last attended
- Your phone number, including area code
- Your current email address
- Anything else you think may be helpful
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- Participation in Events and Activities: You may receive requests to attend events, participate in media activities etc. If so, we hope you will participate. You can also serve as a role model or mentor to other students considering studying in areas such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) or health care.
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- If You Become Ineligible for the Opportunity Scholarship: If this happens for any reason, you will not receive continued scholarship assistance. You will not, however, be required to repay any scholarship disbursements that you received while you were in an eligible field of study or major.
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