Presidential Scholarship and Educational Initiative for Community College Students
Inspired by a series of conversations with Chancellor Cheryl Hyman (IIT, CS 1996) of the City Colleges of Chicago and the presidents of the City Colleges of Chicago, in 2010 Illinois Institute of Technology announced a major new scholarship and educational outreach initiative — the Presidential Scholarship. Through this initiative, IIT is determined to substantially redefine the pipeline initiatives within the fields of science and psychology, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as business and architecture — hereafter referred to as STEM+ fields — and to significantly engage students at every level throughout the educational community from K-12 through the community colleges to four-year institutions. Collaborating institutions and organizations are committed to serve as a catalyst to support students toward their goals to conduct undergraduate research and earn advanced professional and academic degrees in STEM+ fields.
IIT has been recognized by Community College Times for its close partnership with the City Colleges of Chicago through the Presidential Scholarship. The October 27th, 2011 article can be found here.
Scholarship Information
Students who are granted an official nomination by their institution's President and admitted to IIT are considered by IIT's scholarship committee for the Presidential Scholarship. Recipients of the Presidential Scholarship receive:
- $23,500 annual tuition scholarship award
- $5,000 annual housing scholarship award to support on-campus residence at the university
*Presidential Scholars are asked to maintain a commitment to STEM+ community outreach each academic year that engage and bridge their home and sending communities with the communities at the university, in the IIT/Bronzeville neighborhood, and the city of Chicago. Additionally, recipients of the Presidential Scholarship must maintain full-time enrollment and make satisfactory academic progress.
How to Apply
In addition to meeting all stated deadlines and eligibility requirements (see below), students interested in applying for the Presidential Scholarship must:
- Complete an IIT application for admission
- Download and complete the Presidential Scholarship Form:
Domestic institutions
International institutions - Submit the completed Presidential Scholarship Form (with the required essay and an unofficial transcript from your nominating institution) to your college's Dean of Instruction or other designated liaison (see list below) to request an official nomination from the President or Designated Nominating Official (depending on the organizational structure) of your college
- PLEASE NOTE: Only Presidential Scholarship Forms that are signed by the President/Principal of their eligible institution and submitted to IIT will be considered for the Presidential Scholarship, unless partnership specifies otherwise. Please contact BJ Engelhardt at jengelha@iit.edu with any questions regarding exceptions.
- Submit your Presidential Scholarship application (including the Presidential Scholarship Form, with the official nominating signature from the President of your qualified institution; essay, and unofficial transcript) to:
- ATTN: BJ Engelhardt
Office of Undergraduate Admission
Illinois Institute of Technology
Perlstein Hall 101
10 West 33rd Street
Chicago, IL 60616
- ATTN: BJ Engelhardt
Deadlines
Entrance Term Fall 2012
| Application for IIT Admission Due (Recommended)* | Presidential Scholarship Application Due | Notification Begins |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Priority Deadline (Int'l Partners Deadline) | May 15, 2012 | May 15, 2012 |
| Final Deadline | June 15, 2012 | June 15, 2012 |
* Transfer applicants to the College of Architecture are strongly encouraged to complete their application for Fall 2012 admission to IIT by March 15, 2012. Please note that there is no spring admission to the College of Architecture.
Student Eligibility
Applicants are eligible to be considered for the Presidential Scholarship if they:
- Have completed (or will complete) their Associate's Degree at the eligible nominating institution from which that student is directly transferring*
- Have attained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 on an 4.0 scale at the nominating institution, or are a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and are in good academic standing at the college at time of nomination
- Have proven intellectual and academic achievement of a high standard, as well as a clear and demonstrated interest in one or more of the following academic fields of study: Science, Psychology, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Business, or Architecture
- U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents are required to complete the FAFSA no later than April 15th of each academic year that they are enrolled at the university. International students are also eligible for the Presidential Scholarship. If you are ineligible to complete the FAFSA, you are still eligible for the Presidential Scholarship but should not fill out the FAFSA. If you would like additional information on financial resources that do not require a social security number, please review this website
- PLEASE NOTE: A nominated student who does not receive a Presidential Scholarship will automatically be considered for a Transfer Scholarship (up to $9,000 annually); a Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship ($5,000 annually); and a $1,500 Housing Scholarship, if living on campus. A nominated student who receives the Presidential Scholarship is no longer eligible for the Transfer and/or PTK Scholarship. If a student earns multiple Illinois Institute of Technology merit scholarships throughout the admission process, the university will award the highest merit award for which the student is qualified, but will not combine multiple awards. Total institutional scholarships and/or tuition benefits may not exceed tuition.
* Requirement for the Associate's Degree can be waived by the nominating institution.
Participating Colleges and Organizations
Selected institutions are eligible to make nominations for the Presidential Scholars Program. Students interested in this scholarship opportunity must attend a participating institution. (The list of participating schools is reviewed and revised from time to time. Please contact Jerry Doyle, Vice Provost for Student Access, Success and Diversity Initiatives, at doyle@iit.edu or 773.505.5473, or Dr. L. Pettis Patton at lpatton@iit.edu or 312.590.0521, if you would like to discuss possible partnerships.)
| City Colleges of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois)
| For the Fall 2011 entry term, we also enrolled Presidential Scholars from the following schools:
|
Chicago State University* (Chicago, Illinois)
*Office of Engineering Studies only
Director, Office of Engineering Studies: Terri Jones Young
College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, Illinois)
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs: Glenda Gallisath, Ph.D.
College of Lake County (Grayslake, Illinois)
Vice President of Student Development: Karen Hlavin
Elgin Community College (Elgin, Illinois)
Scholarship Coordinator, Job Locator and Developer: Chris Lawrence
Illinois Central College (East Peoria, Illinois)
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs: Margaret A. Swanson, PhD
Kankakee Community College (Kankakee, Illinois)
Vice President of Instructional and Student Success: Dennis Sorensen
Miami Dade College (Miami, Florida)
Dean, The Honors College: Dr. Alexandria Holloway
Morton College (Cicero, Illinois)
Coordinator of Cohort Programming, Transfer Services Office: Marlena Avalos-Thompson
New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, New Mexico)
Student Success Program Manager: Louise Blazquez
Oakton Community College (Des Plaines, Illinois)
Coordinator Center for Promoting STEM: Gloria Liu
Prairie State College (Chicago Heights, Illinois)
Veterans and Scholarship Advisor: Carissa Davis
South Suburban College (South Holland, Illinois)
Vice President — Student Development: Songie Milhouse
Tidewater Community College (Norfolk, Virginia)
Registrar: Kellie Sorey, PhD
Triton College (River Grove, Illinois)
Coordinator, Architecture Program: JoBeth Halpin
Coordinator, Engineering Technology: Antigone Sharris
Waubonsee Community College (Sugar Grove, Illinois)
Counselor: David Barreto
Western Illinois University* (Macomb, Illinois)
*Physics program only
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs: Ronald Williams
Professor of Physics: James Rabchuk
William R. Harper College (Palatine, Illinois)
Dean of Mathematics and Sciences: Jim Rosnowski
International Partners
INTI Nilai University College (Nilai, Malaysia)
Dr. Ang Aik Hooi
INTI University College, Subang Jaya campus (Nilai, Malaysia)
Ms. Terrie Teoh
Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (Castries, St. Lucia)
Principal: Dr. Beverley Anne Lansiquot
Sunway University College (Malaysia)
Ms. Joanne Chu
Dr. Ravi
T.A. Marryshow Community College (Grenada, West Indies)
Principal, Senior Management Team: Dr. Jeffrey Britton
Taylor's University College (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Ms. Kelly L. Ng
STEM+ Community Outreach Component
Recipients of the Presidential Scholarship are asked to participate in civic and outreach activities which engage and bridge their home and sending communities with the communities at the university, in the IIT/Bronzeville neighborhood, and throughout the city of Chicago.
- As an example, a recipient of this award might explore ways in which to share her story with her former elementary school, high school, community college, and other organizations to serve as a role-model for others. Students often serve as tutors/mentors or help to develop STEM+ academic programming at a school or community-based organization.
- Recipients of the Presidential Scholarship frequently will visit their sending community college to provide talks/workshops on the transition to a four-year university.
- In addition, recipients of this award are encouraged to visit their secondary and elementary schools 2-3 times per year to provide age-appropriate talks to students and teachers about STEM+ fields at the university.