PSU Laurels Graduate Tuition Remission ProgramThe PSU Laurels Graduate Tuition Remission Program was instituted to provide recognition and financial support to the best and brightest students and to enhance enrollment diversity. The program provides partial tuition remission to competitively selected, academically meritorious graduate degree students in all fields. This program includes financial need as a consideration for the selection of some of these awards. The tuition remissions are available to admitted graduate degree students at Portland State University and to students entering a Portland State University graduate degree program in Fall term 2008. For the 2008-09 academic year, we anticipate that these awards will grant tuition remission equal to instructional fees only at in-state rates for up to 16 credits per term for Fall '08, Winter '09, and Spring '09; credit hours must be required for the student's graduate degree, and no amount of this remission may be applied to any charge of any kind except instructional fees; no amount of this remission may be refunded to the student. Approximately 80 full and part-time students were recipients of 2006-2007 awards; the number of awards will vary from year to year due to state-wide budget appropriations. EligibilityYou are eligible to apply for a PSU Laurels Graduate Tuition Remission if you meet these requirements:
Preference will be given to Oregon Residents. The 2008-09 PSU Laurels Graduate Tuition Remission Program has two categories. In the first category (approximately one-half of the total awards), selection will be based primarily on academic performance including GPA, with additional consideration given to institutional goals for achieving student diversity, the applicant statement, and faculty recommendations. In the second category (approximately one-half of the total awards), selection will be based on a combination of financial need, institutional goals for achieving student diversity, the applicant statement, faculty recommendations, and academic performance including GPA. Students applying for awards based on financial need are required to file a 2008-09 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (available in the Financial Aid Office and on the Web at studentaid.ed.gov) naming PSU as a recipient of application data AND to provide a separate statement regarding her/his specific financial circumstances. For awards made in recent years, new recipients had a mean cumulative PSU graduate GPA of 3.90 and an overall PSU undergraduate GPA at admission of 3.70. It is anticipated that similar performance will be necessary for 2008-09 recipients, especially in the merit category. Tuition remission will be available to both full-time (9 or more hours per term) and part-time students. For continuation, academic performance will be reviewed each term. Recipients must remain in good academic standing and make appropriate progress toward their degrees. All recipients must successfully complete the coursework for which they received tuition remission and must use the Laurels award during at least two terms with a minimum enrollment of 1 graduate credit each term. Students enrolled in master's degree programs may be eligible for renewal of tuition remission for one additional year if full time and up to two additional years if part-time, while completing the master's degree (total equivalent to six terms of award). A doctoral student may receive tuition remission renewal for up to two additional years (three years total or nine terms of award) while completing the doctoral degree. The PSU Laurels Graduate Tuition Remission is a tuition remission and not a cash payment and will be applied to the reduction of instructional fees only, for credits required for the student's graduate degree only. All recipients must pay the difference between the award and their total charges each term. If students receive graduate assistantships or scholarships that cover tuition, Laurels awards may not be beneficial to them. Courses from OCATE or other institutions and most Self Support and Summer Session courses are not eligible for tuition remission under this program. In certain circumstances, Summer courses may be covered; such coverage would be part of, not in addition to, the regular number of award terms. For students receiving financial aid, this award will impact the financial aid package. On-line Application ProcessYou will be able to apply for OGS (Office of Graduate Studies) scholarships and awards beginning on November 16, 2007. Access the on-line application for OGS scholarships and awards at the ScholarX website (http://portlandstate.scholarships.nelnet.net/). You will need to first create an account by clicking on "First Time User." Once your account is created, you will click on "Returning User" to access the application form. To apply for OGS scholarships and awards, you must complete the PSU Graduate Scholarship Application on the ScholarX website. The deadline for this application is April 21, 2008 at 11:59PM (Pacific Daylight Time). This includes your letters of recommendation. DO NOT USE OLD PAPER FORMS TO APPLY FOR 2008-2009 AWARDS. TranscriptsIf you are applying to the PSU Laurels Graduate Tuition Remission Program, you must mail a copy of your transcripts (official or unofficial) from all previous colleges, including PSU, to the Office of Graduate Studies. TRANSCRIPTS CANNOT BE COPIED FROM THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE FILES. Mail to: Hand-deliver to: DeadlinesThe deadline for the OGS scholarships and awards is Monday, April 21, 2008. The following items are due on this date:
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