Scholarships

HECUA distributes three distinctive scholarships to students applying or enrolled in HECUA programs. They are:

• Scholarship for Racial Justice ($4,000)
• Scholarship for Social Justice ($1,500)
• Scholarship for Community Engagement ($750 for semester-long programs, and $333.33 for short-term programs)

2012 marks the year HECUA is distributing a brand new scholarship. The Scholarship for Racial Justice is a concrete commitment to undoing institutionalized racism in higher education. This is available to students of color who are currently enrolled at a HECUA member school. It's a $4,000 award.

The second HECUA scholarship, the Scholarship for Social Justice, has been earmarked for first generation college students, students from low-income families, and/or students of color. During the academic year, we distribute a number of $1,500 scholarships to students in the targeted groups who are enrolling in HECUA semester programs.

Finally, HECUA's Scholarship for Community Engagement award is worth $750. These are distributed each semester to students who have worked for social change and whose future goals will be strengthened by a HECUA semester program. A few smaller awards in the amount of $333.33 are awarded to students participating in January-term or summer short-term programs. The same application process applies to both scholarship quantities.

Additional Information

• Students can apply for only one HECUA scholarship per program. If a student applies to participate in two semester-long programs, s/he can apply to receive a scholarship for each program.
• The scholarship essay must be a minimum of 550 words; it must not exceed 1,700 words. Any essay outside these length parameters will be disqualified for review. Students are encouraged to have essays reviewed by a writing center or academic advisor. Writing ability is considered when selecting a recipient.
• Students who are unable to fund the experience on their own, and who apply, but do not receive the Scholarship for Racial Justice, are allowed to withdraw from the program without financial penalty before the program begins. This is the only scholarship in which withdrawal from a program--before it begins--can occur without financial consequence.
• If a school’s program application deadline precedes HECUA’s scholarship deadline, students always have until HECUA’s scholarship application deadline to submit scholarship materials. This is true even if a school’s application deadline comes earlier.
• All HECUA scholarships come from the same pool of resources, therefore the number of awards distributed per year varies on how the funds fluctuate. The more money HECUA annually fundraises means the more scholarships we distribute.
• Applicants will be notified about the award status in mid-December or mid-May, depending on the term for which they are applying.

HECUA Scholarship Application Deadlines

Looking for other ways to finance a HECUA experience? Financial aid from home institutions often apply to HECUA programs. Students should consult with their home campus financial aid office. Be sure to also ask about additional scholarship possibilities available through your school. Perhaps a specific department has available funds reserved to support student study abroad. Keep in mind that if you’re a HECUA alum that has completed a semester program and you desire to apply for another program, HECUA extends discounts for student who participate in more than one program.

More Information About HECUA's Three Unique Scholarships

HECUA's New Scholarship for Racial Justice--$4,000
A central component of HECUA’s mission is to equip students with skills and knowledge for building just communities and democratic societies. In the context of U.S. society, building just communities requires recognition of historic racial discrimination and the ways in which concepts of race continue to shape power and privilege. It also requires a concrete commitment to undoing institutionalized racism. The Scholarship for Racial Justice is one of our concrete commitments to undoing institutionalized racism in higher education.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be students of color.
• Applicants must be currently enrolled in one of HECUA’s member colleges/universities.
• Applicants must have a completed program application on file for a semester-long domestic or international HECUA program (HECUA’s short-term programs are not eligible).

Faculy and staff at member schools are encouraged to nominate students (writable PDF) for this award. A nomination is not required for students to apply, but helps to identify prospective students who are well suited for HECUA programs. Nominations should be emailed to a recruitment associate, student services associate, or to HECUA's marketing and recruitment manager. Staff at HECUA will inform students of the nomination and encourage follow through on a scholarship application.

Required materials:

1.) Scholarship for Racial Justice Cover Form

The form requests applicants to share the following information: name, college/university, expected graduation, current GPA, major/minor, ethnicity, and how s/he heard about this scholarship, along with the HECUA program the applicant is applying to.

2.) A reflective essay responding to the following questions:

• What personal, social, or political influences in your lifetime have motivated you to work on or be interested in racial justice issues?
• Why/how does your passion around these issues lead you to being interested in HECUA’s mission and/or the specific program that you are applying for?

3.) A complete program application to one of HECUA’s semester-long programs (second copies aren't required--HECUA staff will reference what has already been submitted to the office). All application materials and the scholarship essay are required to apply for a scholarship.

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Scholarship for Social Justice--$1,500
HECUA supporters—alumni, founders, current and former board and staff members--established this scholarship fund earmarked for first generation college students, students from low-income families, and students of color.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be a first generation college student, a student from a low-income family, and/or a student of color.
• Applicants must be currently enrolled in one of HECUA’s member colleges/universities.
• Applicants must have a completed program application on file for a semester-long domestic or international HECUA program (HECUA’s short-term programs are not eligible).

Required materials:

1.) Scholarship for Social Justice Cover Form

The form requests applicants to share the following information: name, college/university, expected graduation, current GPA, major/minor, ethnicity, and how s/he heard about this scholarship, along with the HECUA program the applicant is applying to.

2.) A reflective essay responding to the following:

• Drawing on your life experience and your personal and academic goals, describe how you believe you can contribute to and receive from a program with the mission to equip students with the knowledge, experiences, tools, and passion to address pressing social justice issues of our time.
• Reflect on how the HECUA program you’re applying to will benefit you and the people, issues, and communities you care about.

3.) A copy of student's FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form

This is only required if a student is eligible for this award beacuse of low-income. The term "low-income individual" means an individual whose family's taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level amount. The chart showing 150 percent threshold for different household sizes can be found here: US Department of Education's Federal TRIO Program website.

4.) A complete program application to one of HECUA’s semester-long programs (second copies aren't required--HECUA staff will reference what has already been submitted to the office). All application materials and the scholarship essay are required to apply for a scholarship.

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Scholarship for Community Engagement--$750 (semester-long), $333.33 (short-term)
HECUA programs combine a unique approach to classroom-based work with an experiential, reflective, and critical look at the important social issues of our program sites. Our classrooms combine discussion, readings, and reflection with on-going field experience through internships, field-work, and research projects. We log more hours in the community than we do inside a classroom. Therefore we believe that how we act in the world and how we understand our actions and outcomes are intricately linked in the process of social change. Thus, we must continually act, reflect, and make meaning of our learning experiences in the classroom and in the community.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must have a completed program application on file for a HECUA program (semester-long or short-term programs abroad or in the U.S. are all eligible).

Required materials:

1.) Scholarship for Community Engagement Cover Form

The form requests applicants to share the following information: name, college/university, expected graduation, current GPA, major/minor, ethnicity, and how s/he heard about this scholarship, along with the HECUA program the applicant is applying to.

2.) A reflective essay responding to the following:

• How have past experiences led you to consider yourself a person who values community engagement? (Provide specific examples of community work, advocacy, academic courses, travel, or employment.)
• How do you expect the HECUA program will enable you to further your goals and projects for social change?

3.) A complete program application to one of HECUA’s semester-long or short-term programs (second copies aren't required--HECUA staff will reference what has already been submitted to the office). All application materials and the scholarship essay are required to apply for a scholarship.