Guidelines for Using Your Morris Scholar Stipend and Prairie and Morris Scholarship Funds

In conjunction with the Morris Scholars Award, recipients are eligible to receive a $2,500 Scholarly Stipend. Prairie Scholars do not have a stipend with their scholarship award.

The $2,500 Morris Scholar Stipend can be used after you have completed two consecutive semesters and earned 30 degree-seeking credits at the University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM). To redeem this stipend you must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.50. The Morris Scholar Stipend must be used before you graduate from UMM. There will be no cash refund if the stipend is not fully utilized.

The non-stipend dollars from the Prairie and Morris Scholars awards can be used to offset tuition costs, including both regular UMM courses and other credit-bearing activities such as study abroad or internships during Fall and Spring semesters.

For further clarification:

• "Stipend" and "Scholarly Experience" refers to the $2,500 Scholarly Stipend associated with the Morris Scholar Award
• "Scholarship" refers to the tuition dollars awarded with the Prairie and Morris Scholars Awards

More details on appropriate use of your scholarship or stipend dollars follows.

1. Application Deadline Dates to request Morris Scholar Stipend disbursement:
   Fall Semester: July 15th
   Spring Semester: November 15th
   May/Summer Sessions: April 15th
2. How do I apply to use my Morris Scholar Stipend?
   Go to the Academic Center for Enrichment (ACE) or Financial Aid website and print out the Request for Morris Scholar Stipend Disbursement form. Once you have filled out the form, set up an appointment to discuss your plans with the Director of the Academic Center for Enrichment (ACE) – oloughpl@morris.umn.edu. After the Director approves your stipend application form you can take it to the Financial Aid Office for verification that you meet the GPA and credit eligibility guidelines, as well as still have available stipend funds. If you are approved in all areas your requested funding will be added to your Morris student account.
3. How do I decide how to use my Scholarly Stipend? What if I need help knowing and choosing my options?
   Spend some time thinking about the type of experiences that interest you and that could be funded by the Morris Scholars Stipend. Once you have an idea, are looking for ideas, or need help focusing your interests, schedule an appointment with the Director of ACE, who is also the person who reviews the Request for Morris Scholar Stipend Disbursement forms. She can be reached at:
   
   Paula O’Loughlin
   Director of the Academic Center for Enrichment and Professor of Political Science
   5 Student Center
   ummace@morris.umn.edu or oloughpl@morris.umn.edu
   320/589-7014
4. I have money to use for my experience but I need to work out the details. What should I do?
   Come see Paula O’Loughlin at the Academic Center for Enrichment (ACE) office.
5. How do know if the activity I want to do is an approved "scholarly experience"?
   Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:
   
   • The experience should fall under the categories of study abroad, research, artistic experiences, academic conference, National Student Exchange, or internship
   • Your experience has to be affiliated with the University of Minnesota, Morris, either through college credit, or through travel or work with a Morris faculty member
   • Internships are encouraged to be credit bearing
   • We reserve the right to verify that the experience you are choosing provides you with an academically enriching experience
6. Can I use my stipend to support other academic experiences that are not funded through the Morris Scholars Stipend?
   Yes, for example, you could use your stipend to buy books, materials, or to fund travel associated with a UROP, MAP, or the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
7. What if I want to do a study abroad experience through another university?
   First, go and see Paula in ACE to talk about your goals and the program you wish to complete. If you both agree that the program is appropriate you will do the following:
   
   • apply to the program;
   • prepare a budget for your experience;
   • once you are accepted to the program and want to use your Morris Scholar stipend to help pay for it, Paula will approve your Morris Scholar Stipend Disbursement form;
   • Sharon VanEps will then help you register for credits, including insurance, under a foreign study registration (FOST 3000) for 12 or more credits (with zero charge to your bill) so that you have proof of enrollment at Morris;
   • you will take your approved Morris Scholar Stipend Disbursement form to Financial Aid so that UMM can pay out your stipend for use to pay for the costs associated with your study abroad program.
8. Does my Prairie or Morris Scholarship cover tuition expenses for UMM Winter or Spring Break programs?
   Yes, as long as the program is listed as a fall or spring semester course, and thus falls under that semester’s tuition band. If the program falls under a semester other than fall or spring you may not use your Prairie or Morris scholarship dollars to fund your program expenses.
9. Does my Prairie or Morris Scholarship cover May Session of Summer Session tuition?
   The Prairie and Morris scholarship dollars can only be applied to Fall or Spring semester tuition charges. Note that the $2,500 Morris stipend can be used at any time of the year
10. Can I use my Prairie or Morris Scholarship to cover my tuition for National Student Exchange?
    Yes, but only for the Plan B option for National Student Exchange.
11. What do I have to do once I complete my experience?
    Although not required, we encourage you to share your experiences with the ACE office and your peers.
12. Any other questions?
    Talk to Professor Paula O’Loughlin at the ACE office.