Merit Scholarship Standards

Students receiving a merit scholarship, including the Tsongas, Trustees, and Artward Bound Scholarships, will have their continuing eligibility to retain their award reviewed at the end of every term. Students on Academic Probation or Subject to Dismissal (2 or more concurrent terms earning less than two-thirds of attempted credits) will lose their scholarship.

The Academic Resource Center provides the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) with a list of students on Academic Probation and Subject to Dismissal at the conclusion of each term. OSFA will review it for students receiving merit scholarships and take action. OSFA will notify affected students by MassArt email.

If a student loses their merit scholarship, but has experienced an extenuating circumstance, they may appeal to the Institutional Scholarship Committee for reinstatement. The committee will convene on an ad hoc basis to make these decisions. The following are commonly accepted grounds for appeal based on extenuating circumstances:

• Serious ill health
• Personal accident or injury of a significant nature
• Bereavement due to the loss of a close family member (parent, grandparent, guardian, sibling, child, close personal friend, etc.)
• Victim of crime
• Unforeseen circumstance out of your control

If a student loses their merit scholarship, submits an appeal, and the scholarship is not  reinstated, OSFA may replace scholarship aid with need-based grant assistance on a case-by-case-basis, in order to advance a student’s degree completion.

Students may receive their scholarship for up to 8 terms of enrollment. Scholarships may be extended for a 9th term in order for a student majoring in Art Education to complete their teaching credential. Scholarships will not be extended beyond 8 terms for students choosing to double-major, minor, or in any other way lengthen their time enrolled.

Students must enroll in at least 12 credits in order to receive their scholarship. If a student enrolls in 6 credits or less, their scholarship will be pro-rated to 50% of the award for that term.