1.  General Statement of Purpose
   1. All available funds of the Chattanooga State Community College Foundation (“Foundation”) will be used for the support and benefit of Chattanooga State Community College (“College”). Pursuant to the educational purposes of the Foundation, scholarships are awarded to deserving students who meet the criteria of the specified scholarships.
2. Definitions
   1. Scholarship. The use of the words “scholarship” herein means a scholarship, which is excluded from gross income under Section 117(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
   2. Educational Institution. An educational institution as defined in Section 151(e)(4) of the Internal Revenue code, to wit: an educational institution which normally maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly organized body of students in attendance at the place where its educational activities are carried on.
   3. Cost of attendance. Scholarships may not result in a student exceeding his/her costs of attendance. Cost of attendance is an estimate of a student’s educational expenses for the period of enrollment. Cost of attendance is the cornerstone of establishing a student’s financial need, as it sets a limit on the total aid that a student may receive.
   4. Disqualified Person. The term “disqualified person” as used herein means a disqualified person as defined by Section 4946(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
3. Individual Scholarships
   1. The Foundation will make an unspecified number of scholarships to individuals during each academic year. The purpose of the Foundation can best be carried out by varying the number and amount of scholarships from year to year, depending on the number of qualified applicants for scholarships and other charitable uses to which the Foundation’s funds could be applied.
   2. If it becomes impossible or impractical to use a scholarship gift for the purposes designated in an Agreement, or if a scholarship gift is determined to be in conflict with any federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance, the Board of Directors of Foundation, in consultation with Donor (if possible) or with the President of the College, will direct the use of the scholarship gift in the best interests of the College and in a manner as close as possible to the original intent of the Donor as expressed in their Agreement.
   3. The Board shall be involved in setting policy related to scholarships.
   4. Deletion of scholarship fund accounts must be pre-approved by the Board.
   5. All new categories of scholarships must be pre-approved by the Board.
4. Purpose of Scholarships
   1. The purpose of the scholarships is to assist deserving students in furthering their education.
5. Group From Which Recipients Are Chosen
   1. Recipients of the scholarships will be chosen from among individuals who attend the College and submit a scholarship application in accordance with established guidelines. The availability of the scholarships will be made known to the general public via written and electronic communications.
6. Criteria Used in Selecting Recipients.
   1. ​The principal criteria which will be used in selecting the recipients of the scholarships are as follows, and will be further refined in a scholarship agreement with the Donor:
      1. The financial need of the applicant.
      2. The factors and conclusions which are drawn from the information in the application by members of the Scholarship Selection Committee, who will consider the applicant’s motivation and potential.
      3. The Scholarship Selection Committee shall not take into account the race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation or religion of an applicant in reaching its decision.
      4. International students (non-resident aliens) are eligible if they have unmet need and donor criteria states eligibility.
      5. Undocumented students are eligible if they have unmet need and donor criteria states eligibility.
      6. Students who hold an existing post-secondary degree are eligible if they have unmet need and donor criteria states eligibility.
      7. Foundation Scholarships are available for students receiving other types of federal, state, and institutional aid if the student has unmet need and donor criteria does not explicitly state students receiving other types of aid are not eligible for the scholarship.
      8. Based on the spending plan approved by the Foundation Board, the college will award scholarships to as many students as possible, and as much of the available scholarship funds as possible, unless donor criteria for a specific scholarship states otherwise.
      9. For Foundation Scholarships awarded to College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology Division students:
         1. The applicant’s record of prior academic performance and his/her performance on tests designed to measure scholastic ability and aptitude. GPA used for consideration will be the most current (high School or college) unless otherwise specified by scholarship criteria. ACT or SAT score used for consideration will be the highest composite score a student obtains during their high school career, unless otherwise specified by scholarship criteria. Residual ACT scores cannot be used for eligibility.
         2. The recommendations of educators and other persons who are acquainted with the applicant’s academic and non-academic background.
         3. If a student alters any qualifying criteria during the initial semester of an academic year (i.e. residency and/or major), then that student will forfeit the scholarship for the following semester within the academic year.
         4. If qualifying criteria is altered before the beginning of the initial semester of an academic year, the student will forfeit the scholarship for the entire academic year.
         5. Recipients must be enrolled for a minimum of twelve (12) full-time credit hours each semester unless the program is approved for fewer hours, or unless donor criteria states scholarship awards are available for part-time students (minimum of 6 credit hours).
7. Selection Process
   1. For Foundation Scholarships awarded to College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology Division students:
      1. The Board of Directors shall allow the Financial Aid Office and College Advancement Office to recruit and confirm a Scholarship Selection Committee of at least three members, none of whom is a member of the Board.
      2. Upon the Board’s approval of the next academic year spending plan, representatives of the Financial Aid Office will review applications to determine eligibility. The Scholarship Selection Committee will review applicants who are determined qualified and select applicants to be awarded. The Scholarship Selection Committee shall choose the recipients of the scholarship in accordance with the College’s selection policies and procedures. Those policies and procedures may change from time to time as required by law and otherwise. All scholarships awarded ty the College’s Scholarship Selection Committee will be made in accordance with the policies and procedures that are then in effect at the time of the individual awards.
      3. The Financial Aid Office will be responsible for administering scholarships after they are approved, notifying students (recipients and non-recipients), any follow-up action required, awarding funds on student accounts, and ensuring continuous eligibility throughout the academic year as set forth in the criteria of each individual scholarship. All communications with students having to do with Foundation scholarships will identify the scholarships as those from the Foundation.
   2. For Foundation Scholarships awarded to dual enrollment students:
      1. Upon the Board’s approval of the next academic year spending plan, the Early College office will work with high school guidance counselors to identify and recruit qualified students as recipients of dual enrollment scholarships in accordance with the College’s selection policies and procedures for dual enrollment students. Those policies and procedures may change from time to time as required by law and otherwise. All scholarships awarded by the College’s Early College office will be made in accordance with the policies and procedures that are in effect at the time of the individual awards.
      2. The Early College office will be responsible for administering scholarships after they are approved, notifying students (recipients and non-recipients), any follow-up action required, and ensuring continuous eligibility throughout the term as set forth in the criteria of each individual scholarship. All communications with students having to do with Foundation scholarships will identify the scholarships as those from the Foundation.
   3. For Foundation Scholarships awarded to non-credit students:
      1. Upon the Board’s approval of the next academic year spending plan, the College will identify a Scholarship Selection Committee of at least three members, none of whom is a member of the Board, to choose the recipients of non-credit scholarships in accordance with the College’s selection policies and procedures for non-credit students. Those policies and procedures may change from time to time as required by law and otherwise. All scholarships awarded by the Scholarship Selection Committee will be made in accordance with the policies and procedures that are then in effect at the time of the individual awards.
      2. The Division of Economic and Workforce Development will be responsible for administering scholarships after they are approved, notifying students (recipients and non-recipients), any follow-up action required, and ensuring continuous eligibility throughout the term as set forth in the criteria of each individual scholarship. All communications with students having to do with Foundation scholarships will identify the scholarships as those from the Foundation.
8. Supervision of Scholarships
   1. The scholarships will be awarded on an academic year basis unless specified by the criteria for a lesser period. Summer scholarships may be made available if budgeted funds are remaining for the fiscal year, thus, allowing for a reallocation of budgeted funds. Current recipients are to receive priority in awarding summer scholarships.
9. Payment of Scholarship Funds
   1. For Foundation Scholarships awarded to College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology Division students:
      1. The Financial Aid Office will award and process all foundation scholarship funds to the student’s account. In order to promote effective and efficient use of scholarships funds, all scholarships must be awarded, within reason, prior to the beginning of the academic year.
      2. Award amount is based on mandatory tuition and fees for students enrolled full-time (a minimum of twelve credit hours), unless program is approved for less; and will be pro-rated for less than full-time enrollment, unless the scholarship criteria indicates a specific award amount for part-time students enrolled a minimum of six credit hours.
   2. For Foundation Scholarships awarded to dual enrollment students:
      1. The Financial Aid Office will apply the individual awards to student accounts.
      2. Award amount is based on the cost per course, unless the scholarship criteria indicates a specific award amount.
   3. For Foundation Scholarships awarded to non-credit students:
      1. The Business & Finance Office will process the payments as journal entries between the Foundation and the College. Scholarship awards are not paid directly to the students.
      2. Award amount is based on cost per course, unless the scholarship criteria indicates a specific award amount.
10. Renewals
    1. For Foundation Scholarships awarded to College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology Division students:
       1. Scholarships awarded on an academic year basis will be automatically renewed for the spring semester if the recipient remains eligible based on the specific scholarship criteria. Scholarships are not renewed for the next academic year following the initial award, unless the individual scholarship specifies it is a renewal scholarship.
       2. There is no appeals process for a student who fails to maintain criteria for an awarded scholarship during an academic year. A student may re-apply for scholarships for the following academic year.
       3. Programs will determine the number of semesters a recipient may receive a Scholarship. Faculty and staff will make recommendations for the number of semesters required to complete their specific program and take into consideration the prerequisites and difficulty of acceptance into the program.
11. Records
    1. For Foundation Scholarship awarded to College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology Division students:
       1. The Financial Aid Office will maintain a file of each scholarship awarded. The file will include the scholarship application, criteria for the scholarship, committee recommendations and amount of each scholarship awarded. The list of scholarships awarded and recipients receiving the award will be provided to a Foundation Representative in the Advancement Office. The Financial Aid office will maintain a general file of applications received but not selected by the committee to receive scholarships.
    2. For Foundation Scholarships awarded to dual enrollment students:
       1. The Early College Office will maintain a file of each scholarship awarded. The file will include the scholarship application, criteria for the scholarship, committee recommendations and amount of each scholarship awarded. The list of scholarships awarded and recipients receiving the award will be provided to a Foundation Representative in the Advancement Office. The Early College Office will maintain a general file of applications received but not selected by the committee to receive scholarships.
    3. For Foundation Scholarships awarded to non-credit students:
       1. The Division of Economic and Workforce Development Office will maintain a file of each scholarship awarded. The file will include the scholarship application, criteria for the scholarship, committee recommendations and amount of each scholarship awarded. The list of scholarships awarded and recipients receiving the award will be provided to a Foundation Representative in the Advancement Office. The Division of Economic and Workforce Development Office will maintain a general file of applications received but not selected by the committee to receive scholarships.

Approved by Foundation Board April 2008,

Revision approved by Foundation Board June 2015

Revision approved by Foundation Board on July 29, 2019

Revision approved by Foundation Board on April 26, 2021