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- Do you know of any other scholarship opportunities for prisoners?
No, as far as we know the Fund is the only program specifically designed
for incarcerated students. However, some scholarship opportunities may be available through
your institution of study. For instance, the University of Colorado has a scholarship that
inmates can apply for.
- I was just released from prison, can the Fund help me with college
tuition expenses?
Unfortunately, the Fund only provides funding for students
currently behind prison walls. However, now that you are free, you can apply for and will
likely receive many federal financial aid programs, such as the Pell Grant. What's more, you
now have the ability to more easily research other scholarship programs available to the general
public. You can always ask your school's financial aid staff for details.
- Is there a minimum amount of time I must sentenced to?
No. However, if you have less than one year to serve or are
currently on work release, for instance, you will most likely not receive funding. The
college courses usually take a few months to complete, and we try to assist those who
will be incarcerated long enough to complete the course.
- Why do you need a copy of my court documents?
The court documents are needed to verify that you are in prison
and how long your sentence is. Further, at some point in the future the Fund will evaluate
the efficacy of prisoner scholarship assistance and we will need to compare matched sets of
individuals to show that education indeed lowers recidivism rates. Thus, we will compare
similar individuals who have similar criminal histories. Also remember that we are requesting
public information, which is freely available from the courts to all who request it; however,
we do not have the time to research each and every candidate.
- Will declined applications be kept on file?
Yes. The Fund keeps a hard copy of all submitted applications.
- If I am not chosen for funding will the Fund review my application
and award me funding later?
No. However, we encouraged you to reapply for scholarship assistance as
many times as you want. Indeed, the applicant who refuses to let an initial “no” slow them down and
who shows persistence is exactly the kind of applicant we like to award funding to.
- Will the Fund return my application on request, or if I am not
chosen for funding?
No. Due to the volume of requests, submitted documents will not
be returned. Because application packets will not be returned, be sure only to send copies
of important documents. However, the only documents that will be returned are court documents if the
applicant is unable to make copies at his or her institution.
- Do previous awardees enjoy priority status for future funding?
Yes. The Fund intends to provide a complete funding solution to
those who maintain academic performance standards (minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA on courses
taken through the Fund’s assistance). However, the ability to fund applicants in not certain
and is subject to the amount of money we have available.
- Do applicants who are able to pay for a portion of their education
enjoy priority consideration for funding?
Maybe. Often we have trouble choosing an applicant for funding.
And the decision to award funding is sometimes an economic one. Further, if an inmate is
able to pay for his or her own textbooks, for instance, not only does the Fund have to spend
less money on the individual, but it shows an investment on the part of the applicant.
This shows how serious a student is in pursuing an education, and may tip the scales in
their favor.
- What is an ideal candidate?
We really like to see applicants who have a well-formulated plan
for the scholarship funding. This means the candidate knows where they want to go, how much
it will cost, and is able to provide as much contact information for the school as possible.
Further, the applicant who can best argue about how the Fund will assist them, now and in
the future, may enjoy scholarship assistance.
- How much is an average award?
The amounts of the scholarships awarded ranges widely; some
applicants need less than $100, while others may need over $500. However, as previously
mentioned, often the decision to award a scholarship is an economic one. With a firm grasp
of how expensive college tuition is these days, we would like to provide assistance no
matter the cost. However, economic realities are something the Fund must face as well.
- Are awards made course by course?
Yes. Typically, the Fund will only pay for one course at a
time until the applicant proves that they are able to complete the course and meet academic
performance standards. Once a track record has been established, the applicant will be
considered a Prison Scholar and provided latitude to enroll in more than one course at a time.
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