Presidential Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions for Current Recipients

Are there requirements I must meet to keep the scholarship while enrolled at Lake Land College?

Yes. As a Presidential Scholar, you must fulfill certain requirements to remain eligible to continue to receive the award, including 1) successfully completing a minimum of 12 semester hours each semester and 2) obtaining either a 3.25 semester or cumulative GPA every semester or term.

Does my GPA from dual-enrollment/dual-credit courses affect my scholarship?

If you completed dual-enrollment and/or dual-credit courses in the past, you have a cumulative GPA established. At the end of each term during the duration of your Presidential Scholarship, both your semester and cumulative GPA will be considered in ensuring you meet the continuation requirements. Since you may meet the GPA requirement each term with either your semester or cumulative GPA, your cumulative GPA, which includes your prior coursework, could help you if it is higher than your semester GPA.

Will dropping or withdrawing from a class have an impact on my Presidential Scholarship?

Possible. There is no penalty for dropping or withdrawing from a class as long as you successfully complete 12 credit hours along with the required GPA for each fall and spring semester. If you drop or withdraw from a class, resulting in your completing less than 12 credit hours for the fall or spring semester, you will lose your Presidential Scholarship for future semesters. We strongly recommend meeting with your advisor or an academic counselor if you need to withdraw from a class to weigh your options and assess the impact on your academic plan.

If you are enrolled in 6 or more credit hours during the summer term, you must complete at least 6 of those credit hours with the required GPA of 3.25 to retain your scholarship. If you enroll in fewer than 6 semester hours, you must complete all courses in which you are enrolled with the necessary GPA.

What should I do if I am struggling in a class and do not want to risk losing my Presidential Scholarship?

If you find yourself struggling in a class, it is important to be proactive. Meet with an academic counselor. Ask your instructor for assistance and seek free tutoring at the Tutoring & Testing Center located in Webb Hall. An academic counselor can also help you calculate different GPA scenarios and determine the impact of your cumulative GPA. Withdrawing from a class may be another option if you are able to still successfully complete 12 credit hours at the end of the semester.

Does the Presidential Scholarship cover summer courses?

Yes, with the exception of the summer term immediately following your high school graduation. The scholarship begins with the fall semester and continues for two consecutive calendar years. Therefore, the summer terms following a student’s first and second year of enrollment are included (i.e., Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring, Summer).

Do I have to enroll in summer courses?

Enrolling in classes during the summer is optional. If you do choose to enroll in summer courses, the scholarship will automatically be applied to your account for the amount of your tuition, just like the fall and spring semesters.

Are the requirements to keep the scholarship during the summer term the same as fall and spring?

If you choose to take classes during the summer term, you do not have to enroll full-time, which is 6 semester hours. If you enroll in fewer than 6 semester hours, you must complete all courses in which you are enrolled with the necessary semester or cumulative GPA. Otherwise, if you are enrolled in 6 or more credit hours, you must complete at least 6 of those credit hours with the necessary GPA.

I plan to graduate in May but want to take additional summer courses. Will the summer courses be included in the Presidential Scholarship if I have already completed my degree?

Yes, summer courses during the allotted timeframe will be included in your Presidential Scholarship as long as you continue to meet the continuation requirements. Completion of your academic program has no effect on the continuation of your Presidential Scholarship.

Is there a maximum number of credit hours the Presidential Scholarship covers?

No, there is not a maximum number of credit hours covered by the Presidential Scholarship, only a maximum number of terms.

What if my program of study is longer than two years? Will the scholarship continue?

The Presidential Scholarship is available for a maximum of two consecutive calendar years. If you continue enrollment beyond the two years, you will need to plan to cover the costs through other means.

Why is my Presidential Scholarship not showing up on my account online?

Your Presidential Scholarship may not be showing on your account due to the timing of your class registration. Presidential Scholarships are loaded onto students’ accounts on the following timeline: Fall Semester – beginning of July, Spring Semester – beginning of December, and Summer Term – beginning of May. If you are within this timeline and do not see your scholarship on your account, please contact us at the information below.

Why is my Presidential Scholarship noted as “ineligible” on my account online?

Because the amount of the scholarship changes according to changes in your registration, applying Presidential Scholarships to students’ tuition is a two-part process. First, we apply an estimated scholarship amount to your account. As an estimate, the scholarship amount appears in the “Currently Ineligible” column on your account. Closer to the start of the term, we apply the scholarship to the actual amount of your tuition. When that occurs, the amount of your tuition moves to the “Disbursed” column. The difference between the estimated and actual amount of your scholarship will remain in the “Currently Ineligible” column.

Why is my Presidential Scholarship noted as a “restricted award” on my account online?

“Restricted Award” simply means that a scholarship applies only to certain costs. In this case, the Presidential Scholarship applies only to tuition.

Why is the amount of my Presidential Scholarship not covering my tuition on my account online?

Because the scholarship is adjusted based on your enrollment, your account may temporarily show that your scholarship does not cover the full tuition amount. If the amount of your Presidential Scholarship does not cover the amount of your tuition, please contact us.

How do other scholarships work with my Presidential Scholarship on my account?

Scholarships designated to cover tuition only will be applied to your account first. Such scholarships are noted as “restricted awards”. The Presidential Scholarship will then be applied to your account to cover the remaining tuition. If you have additional financial aid or scholarships that are not restricted, they will be applied to your fees. If the amount of your financial aid or scholarships is greater than the cost of your fees, you will be issued a refund approximately 4-6 weeks after the start of the semester.

Will I get a refund from the amount of my Presidential Scholarship I don’t use?

No. Since the Presidential Scholarship is a tuition waiver, it is only applied towards your tuition and is non-refundable.

Will I have to pay back my Presidential Scholarship if I lose it?

No. You will not be required to reimburse any amount of your scholarship. However, you will no longer receive the scholarship in future semesters. If you register for future semesters, you will be required to pay all tuition and fees unless they are being paid by some other source of financial aid and/or scholarship.

Is there any way to get my Presidential Scholarship back if I lose it?

If you do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the Presidential Scholarship at the end of a semester or term, your scholarship will be discontinued. However, you may be eligible to have the scholarship reinstated for future semesters. To request reinstatement, you must submit a Request for Presidential Scholarship Reinstatement immediately after receiving notification that your scholarship was discontinued. To be considered for reinstatement, the following conditions will apply:

1. Complete and submit a Request for Presidential Scholarship Reinstatement after receiving notification that the scholarship was discontinued.
2. Enroll full-time in the next semester and successfully complete at least 12 semester hours of credit. Students enrolling during the summer term must successfully complete at least 6 semester hours of credit.
3. Repeated courses in which a grade of A, B, or C was previously earned cannot count towards the 12 (or 6) semester hours.
4. Achieve a 3.25 semester or cumulative GPA.
5. Pay all costs associated with enrollment for the term. These costs will not be refunded if the scholarship is reinstated.
6. At the end of the semester, your Request for Presidential Scholarship Reinstatement will be reviewed, and you will be notified regarding reinstatement of the scholarship.

For more information, contact: