Renewing Merit-Based Aid
How do I renew my scholarship?
Merit Scholarships all have various requirements for renewal. If you meet these requirements your scholarship will automatically renew, you don't have to fill out any forms or applications. For specific renewal requirements, check out the specific scholarship below.
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
All Buntrock Academic Scholarships have minimum GPA requirements. They are as follows:
| Scholarship | Minimum GPA |
|---|---|
| Buntrock (Regents') Scholarship | 3.1 |
| Presidential Scholarship | 3.1 |
| St. Olaf Scholarship | 3.1 |
If a Buntrock Scholar falls below the corresponding cumulative GPA, the Scholarship will be reduced $500 for every tenth of a GPA point it falls, down to a 2.9 GPA. If a student's GPA falls below a 2.9, the merit scholarship will not be renewed. For example, a Presidential recipient who had a $7,500 scholarship and earned a GPA of 2.9 after the first year would have $6,500 of her original scholarship renewed for her sophomore year. But, if after the Fall semester of her sophomore year she raised her GPA to 3.4, we would review her academic standing upon her request.
ST. OLAF SERVICE LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
Recipients of the St. Olaf Service Leadership Scholarship are expected to participate in church or community service activities and/or organizations either on the St. Olaf Campus, in Northfield, or in a nearby community. The annual award is renewable for three years, based upon demonstrated participation in community service activities in the first year.
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS
For renewal of Music Scholarships, check with the Music Department or e-mail music@stolaf.edu.
What happens if I lose my scholarship?
St. Olaf's policy is to meet the demonstrated need of every student on campus. There are minimum requirements for scholarship renewal, however, our first priority is to meet demonstrated need. If you do not meet the requirements toward retaining one of the merit scholarships listed above, one of two scenarios will occur. First, if you are a student who demonstrates need, any merit aid will be replaced within a few hundred dollars with other need-based aid. This aid can be in many forms, including scholarships and grants. Overall, need-based students will not lose any gift dollars, just the honor of having received a merit scholarship.
If you lose your scholarship due to GPA concerns, and your grades improve, we will review your GPA and renew any scholarship that had been taken away.
How is my progress tracked?
The grade point average of students receiving merit scholarships is checked once a year in June when merit scholarships are renewed and spring grades are in.
We will check in on students awarded scholarships with volunteer requirements over the course of the year and a final determination will be made when the scholarships are renewed in June. If you are in danger of losing a volunteer-based scholarship, you will be notified well in advance of any decision to remove your scholarship.
