Project GRAD Houston Scholarship Program

POLICY GUIDELINES

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The Project GRAD Houston Scholarship Program provides financial assistance toward a college education to eligible seniors of (Davis, Sam Houston Math, Science, Technology Center, Reagan, Wheatley, and Yates) in Houston, Texas. Each qualifying student is awarded up to $1000 annually, for a total of four years. $500 payments are made each semester to your college/university. The scholarship is intended to be used continuously over four consecutive years. Scholarship funds must be used at an institute of higher education in accordance with existing Project GRAD board policy starting within one year of graduation from high school. If you have any questions concerning the eligibility of the institution you are considering, please call the Scholarship Office 832-325-0451.

POLICY AUTHORITY AND ADMINISTRATION

Daily administration of the Project GRAD Houston Scholarship Program is the responsibility of Project GRAD Houston. Students should contact Project GRAD-Houston, 3000 Richmond, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77098 phone (832) 325-0451, fax 832-325-0314, with any questions regarding their scholarship.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY

All Project GRAD Houston affiliated High School students are eligible to earn a scholarship under this program provided they meet all of the following requirements:

The student must enter a Project GRAD Houston partnering high school as a ninth-grader.
The student and their parent/guardian must sign a Project GRAD Houston Scholarship Agreement.
During their high school years, the student must participate in two (2) College Institutes or an equivalent program pre-approved (in writing) by Project GRAD Houston.
The student must graduate from a Project GRAD Houston partnering high school in four years or less.
The student must graduate under the Recommended or Distinguished Program.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS TO ACTIVATE SCHOLARSHIP

Just prior to graduation, qualifying students will be officially notified that they have earned a scholarship under this program.
Before ACTIVATING your Project GRAD Houston Scholarship:

The student must complete a Scholar Profile online. This Profile allows the student to receive their Project GRAD Houston User ID and Password.
The student must provide the College Access Coordinator with a copy of their acceptance letter or other proof of acceptance, such as a copy of their course schedule.

To continue RECEIVING your Project GRAD Houston Scholarship:

The student must complete at least twelve (12) credit hours each semester or a total of twenty-four (24) credit hours each academic year and maintain an overall grade point average of at least 2.0. If student is unable to meet these requirements, the student is ineligible to continue to receive scholarship funds unless special consideration is granted. (See Appeal Process section).
At the end of each semester, a student must submit their grades in form of a transcript.
At the beginning of each academic year, a student must renew their scholarship via the Project GRAD Houston website.
The scholarship is intended to be used continuously over four consecutive years for a period no longer than 6 total years. However, should a student not be able to enroll continuously, please notify Project GRAD Houston immediately. Then, notify Project GRAD Houston when ready to re-activate the scholarship.
Students must enroll within 12 months of graduation from high school. If circumstances prevent timely enrollment, please notify Project GRAD Houston. If students wish to enroll in the Spring or Summer (instead of the Fall) after high school graduation, please notify Project GRAD Houston.
Should a student eligible for a scholarship under this program enlist for active duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces and begin serving in such branch within twelve (12) months from graduating High School, then the student’s eligibility for the Project GRAD Houston Scholarship may be extended for two (2) years; however, Project GRAD Houston’s obligation to provide funding under the scholarship does not extend beyond six (6) years after graduation. A student wishing to extend his or her scholarship term as a result of enlisting in the United States Armed Forces within the twelve (12) month period after high school graduation must submit documentation of the enlistment to Project GRAD-Houston, 3000 Richmond, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77098 within twelve (12) months of graduation from High School. In addition, when the student wishes to initiate his or her scholarship after leaving the military service, he or she must notify Project GRAD-Houston of such intent and provide a copy of the college or university acceptance letter per the instructions above.
The student can transfer from one college/university to another but must give prior written notification to Project GRAD-Houston. Please see Transfer section on Scholars’ Project GRAD Houston website. If the student fails to notify Project GRAD Houston that they are transferring to another college/university, there is a possibility that the student’s funds will be delayed. Scholarship funds sent to the former university must be returned to Project GRAD Houston before any future awards can be made. The student should contact the college or university financial aid office for assistance in these situations.
The student must keep Project GRAD-Houston informed of changes in the college or university he or she is attending, and his or her current mailing and email address, as well as phone number(s).
The student who is not returning to school and who wishes to postpone his or her scholarship should notify Project GRAD-Houston. However, should a student not be able to enroll continuously, please notify Project GRAD Houston immediately. Then, notify Project GRAD Houston when ready to re-activate the scholarship.
The student must adhere to the above guidelines. Failure to follow these guidelines could result in the student becoming ineligible for additional scholarship funds under this program. If student is unable to meet these requirements, please refer to the Appeal Process section below.

STUDENT REIMBURSEMENTS

Each year’s scholarship amount is sent directly to the college or university and is intended to pay tuition, fees, books and course supplies at the rate of up to $500 per semester. Typically, a scholarship balance remaining on a student’s account will not be refunded to the student but instead applied to the following semester’s costs.

If a student pays for tuition, fees, books or course supplies with his or her own money, the student will be reimbursed by the school for these out-of-pocket costs up to the amount of the scholarship for that semester. The student must provide receipts for such expenses to the school.

THE APPEAL PROCESS

If a student is unable to meet any of the scholarship requirements listed above, the student will become ineligible to continue to receive scholarship funds unless at least one of the following takes place: 1) The student’s request for an Academic Appeal is approved. 2) The conditions of ineligibility are corrected (See The Probation Process below). He or she may submit the Project GRAD Houston Scholarship Academic Appeal form found on the Project GRAD Houston website. The Scholarship Academic Appeal should be filled out in its entirety. Submit any relevant documentation. All information should be sent to Project GRAD Houston, 3000 Richmond, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77098 or faxed to 832-325-0314.

THE PROBATION PROCESS

If the student’s appeal is denied and the student is not eligible to receive the Project GRAD Houston Scholarship, he or she may be eligible for the Probation Recovery Program. A student is eligible for the Probation Recovery Program only if he or she meets the Project GRAD Scholarship requirements the semester following cancellation of their Project GRAD Scholarship. Reinstated scholarships will be paid on a semester by semester basis. Each student is allowed this Recovery option only one time.

Scholarship Office Contact Information

Project GRAD Houston Scholarship Program
3000 Richmond, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77098
If you have questions, please call the Project GRAD Houston Scholarship Department at 832.325.0344
Email: scholarship@projectgradhouston.org

The mission of Project GRAD is to ensure a quality public education for all students in economically disadvantaged communities so that high school and college graduation rates increase.