Merit Scholarships

The name merit scholars is the term applied to those first-year and transfer students who enter the University with honors.  Within the group are the following categories:
· University Scholars
· 1856 Achievement Awards Recipients     
· Presidential Diversity Scholars   
· Augsbury North Country Scholars
· Vilas Scholars
· Community Service Scholars
· Canadian Scholars
· Sesquicentennial Scholars

Merit scholars are selected during the admission process based on academic records, including courses, grades, class rank and standardized test scores, as well as character, citizenship, leadership and participation in high school activities.  While in the program, the student’s scholar designation will be noted on the transcript each semester.

Upperclass students may be selected as Faculty Scholars on the basis of outstanding academic achievement.  Dana Scholars are selected based on leadership, character, and academic achievement.  Faculty Scholars and Dana Scholars are also considered merit scholars.

Faculty Scholars are elected to the merit scholar program from among those students who are not already merit scholars.  Faculty Scholar candidates are identified by the associate dean of the first year/director of advising.  Students may be elected at the completion of their second, third, or fourth semester at the University.

Criteria for selection are as follows:
1. A cumulative average of 3.75 (or higher) after completing 8 academic units at St. Lawrence.
2. A cumulative average of 3.70 (or higher) after completing 12 academic units at St. Lawrence.
3. A cumulative average of 3.65 (or higher) after completing 16 academic units at St. Lawrence.
4. Upon written nomination by a faculty member, students with a cumulative average between 3.50 and 3.65 who have  completed 16 academic units at St. Lawrence are also considered.

Faculty Scholars receive all of the academic privileges of other merit scholars.

Dana Scholars are elected to the merit scholar program from among the sophomore, junior and senior classes.  The selection of the Dana Scholars is made by the director of financial aid or the director’s designee. Dana Scholarships are made possible by an endowment established by the Charles A. Dana Foundation.

Criteria for election are as follows:
1. The student must have an outstanding record of campus leadership with consideration paid to both non-academic and academic achievements.
2.  The student must be in the upper half of his/her class academically.
University, Sesquicentennial, Augsbury North Country, Presidential Diversity, Canadian, and Vilas Scholars as well as 1856 Achievement Award Recipients who, after the second semester of their sophomore year, or subsequently, do not maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, are removed from the scholars program.  Their academic records are reviewed by the director of financial aid.  Students removed from the merit scholar program may reenter upon achieving a 3.0 cumulative average or a 3.0 semester average in two consecutive semesters while maintaining normal progress toward graduation.

It is important to note that a merit scholarship, when added to all outside financial resources, cannot exceed the cost of attendance as determined by the St. Lawrence University Financial Aid Office. Merit Scholarships are dispersed to student billing accounts by applying one half of the annual scholarship during each of the fall and spring semesters.  Students must be attending full time either on campus or at an approved off campus St. Lawrence University abroad program.  Annual merit scholarships are not fully awarded in one semester.  Merit scholarships are generally not available for use during St. Lawrence University summer session programs.  If the student entered St. Lawrence as a transfer from another institution, the number of semesters for merit eligibility is determined by the Director of Financial Aid and the Registrar.