University of Richmond Expands Its Merit Scholarship Program to Attract More Top Students
September 27, 2005
University of Richmond will begin offering 50 four-year, full-tuition merit scholarships annually to first-year students starting fall 2006. The significantly expanded merit scholarship program is designed to help the university attract students who demonstrate extraordinary academic achievement and potential.
The new Richmond Scholars program will include a number of existing scholarships, some part-tuition scholarships upgraded to full-tuition, and several new scholarships. A simplified application process also has been created, enabling candidates to be considered for all merit-based scholarships across several interest areas without filing separate forms for each.
In addition to eight semesters of full tuition, all Richmond Scholars will receive a one-time $3,000 grant for a special scholarly experience during their undergraduate careers, be assigned a carefully selected faculty mentor, given priority course registration and housing selection, and provided complimentary tickets to selected cultural events at the Modlin Center for the Arts. Richmond Scholars also will have access to a special advisor to assist in applying for Rhodes, Truman, Goldwater, Fulbright and other prestigious graduate scholarships.
The scholarships will be awarded primarily for outstanding academic achievement, desire to be in the forefront of the creation and discovery of new knowledge and to exercise leadership in service to society, a broad world view, excitement about learning from others who are different from themselves in a diverse community of scholars, recognition of the importance of personal integrity and ethical decision-making, pursuit of self-improvement and desire to make the most of opportunities, and talent for artistic expression.
“The university’s new merit scholarship program will recognize and reward students of extraordinary academic achievement and potential for ongoing contributions to society,” said Joe Kent, associate provost. “Fifty new students a year whose values and visions align with Richmond’s will be chosen. Those selected as Richmond Scholars will come from a wide variety of backgrounds and all are encouraged to apply, including international students.”
Oldham Scholars, the university’s premier existing merit scholarship program, will continue under the Richmond Scholars program umbrella. Oldham awards include tuition, room and board. Richmond Science Scholars and Richmond Artist Scholars are special focus scholarships within the Richmond Scholars program.
In addition to offering the broad-based merit scholarship program, the university will continue its need-based financial aid program—one of the most generous in the nation. The university meets 100 percent of a domestic undergraduate student’s demonstrated financial need and places a $4,000 cap on loan and work-study funding per year. The balance of demonstrated need is met with need-based grants that do not have to be repaid.
Richmond is the only university in Virginia and one of fewer than 40 universities in the country to meet 100 percent of undergraduates’ demonstrated need and offer a “need-blind” admission policy. Applying or qualifying for need-based aid is not a factor in Richmond’s admission decisions.
Application for both the Richmond Scholars program and university admission must be made by Dec. 15 using the Common Application and the Common Application Supplement. Additional information about Richmond Scholars and other financial aid programs and application forms are available on the university’s Web site, http://www.richmond.edu/prospective/financial/.