Temporary changes to scholarship process

Plans are underway for a major process improvement that will make it easier for students to apply for MCC Foundation scholarships – a process that in the past has been difficult for students to navigate. The system enhancement will be implemented in 2012.

In the meantime, the scholarship process is temporarily being scaled back.

Temporary changes: For the 2011-12 academic year, the MCC Foundation will award the Bloch Scholars and the Fran and Wally Good scholarships and will grant renewals to students who remain eligible for scholarships they currently receive. Also, the process for requesting support from the Student Book and Emergency Fund will remain the same. While this represents a majority of the funding currently distributed by the MCC Foundation, some scholarships that have historically been managed by the foundation will not be awarded during this period. In a few specific cases, other scholarships deemed necessary by a campus will be administered by campus officials directly.

Permanent improvements: The streamlined scholarship-application process, which will be available for students enrolling for fall 2012, is designed to make the application process easier for both students and staff with the ultimate goal of awarding more scholarships. Further, the MCC Foundation has established a $250 minimum for awardable scholarships, another change designed to provide additional support for deserving students who need financial assistance. Currently, approximately one percent of MCC students receive MCC Foundation scholarships.

Foundation Makes Scholarships Easier to Find, Pursue

Throughout the year, the MCC Foundation works hard to manage scholarships, both by raising money to create and grow scholarships and by getting the word out about money that is available to students through these scholarships. Because dozens of scholarships go unclaimed each year, the MCC Foundation is celebrating National Scholarship Month with a campaign to raise the visibility of available scholarship money. Based on input and feedback from students and student services staff, the foundation has initiated several improvements to the scholarship-seeking process, including:

• Bettering the booklet: The online MCC scholarship booklet, which lists all of the available scholarships for any given semester, is scheduled to be available by the end of November, two months earlier than in years past. This will give students additional time to gather and submit the applications in time for the April deadline.
• Submission goes digital: In the fall of 2011, the application submission process itself will become automated so students will be able to apply online. This change will allow for earlier awarding, which will help students and their families make informed, timely enrollment decisions.

The MCC Foundation also has planned a number of activities and initiatives that celebrate MCC scholars, scholarship donors and the scholarships themselves, including:

• Thanks-a-thon: MCC scholars will gather on Friday, November 19 for the annual donor phone-a-thon, where they will spend the evening calling more than 500 scholarship donors to thank them for their contribution to MCC. The volunteer callers do not solicit donors for additional contributions during the call, and some even get to talk with the specific donor who contributed to their own scholarship, so the phone-a-thon is very rewarding for them. “We’ve received enormous amounts of praise for this activity on both sides of the phone,” said Jessica Ramirez, manager of community relations and fund raising at the MCC Foundation.
• Highlighting MCC scholars: Throughout the month of November, MCC scholarship recipients will be featured on The MCC Insider in articles that both recognize the scholars for their accomplishments and bring attention to various scholarships that are available.
• Adopt a Student: This spring, the foundation is launching the Adopt a Student program, which invites local business and civic organizations to support students in a fund-a-need format, allowing donors to choose the types of costs their contributions will cover. Using this proven fundraising technique, the foundation will help donors and prospective donors connect more closely with students in need. The foundation's scholarship committee, which includes business members, high school counselors and A+ program coordinators, has been instrumental in the development of the program.

So, be on the lookout for these and other changes that will help the MCC Foundation create opportunities for our students. If you are a student exploring scholarship opportunities, there are two ways you can get more information:

1. Click here to view the on-line scholarship booklet or follow this path on the MCC web site: Get Started --> Step 2 --> Scholarships
2. Schedule an appointment to see your campus financial aid officer

If you are an employee or community member exploring contribution opportunities, please contact Jessica Ramirez at 604.1458 or by email.

Here’s wishing you a happy and financially sound National Scholarship Month!

MCC-Penn Valley welcomes transfer advisor

MCC-Penn Valley recently welcomed a new transfer advisor. Laura Schneider is based at the campus as part of the Missouri College Advising Corps.

Schneider will help students navigate the process of transferring to four-year colleges and universities including: finding a school that best suits the student's needs, helping to fill out admission and scholarship applications, assisting with filling out and filing the FAFSA, securing financial aid, and taking campus tours.

Throughout the fall semester Laura will also host several seminars on topics such as financial aid and financial literacy.

Laura is in the student services department on the second floor of the Campus Center building and can be reached at laura.schneider@mcckc.edu or 816.604.4049.