1. What kinds of scholarships does The College Crusade of Rhode Island offer? Where can they be used?

Cash scholarships can be used in Rhode Island at any accredited college, junior college or trade school. They can also be used for union apprenticeship and industry training programs in Rhode Island.

Donated scholarships can be used at many Rhode Island schools and certain out-of-state schools (members of the Crusade's Scholarship Collaborative) that have agreed to provide scholarships for Crusaders.

Schools, colleges and universities that are members of The College Crusade of Rhode Island Scholarship Collaborative donate some Crusade Scholarships from their own money. Some schools’ policy is to pay your donated Crusade Scholarship by adding on additional grant money (money that does not need to be paid back) to what they would normally give you. In these cases, you would receive a greater benefit than you would have had without the Crusade Scholarship. Other schools rename a grant you would normally receive as a “Crusade Scholarship.” In these cases, you would not get an additional benefit from the Crusade Scholarship.

We have advocated for schools donating scholarships to follow the same policy that we require with our cash scholarships, which is most beneficial to Crusaders. The money for these scholarships comes from the school’s financial aid budget, however. They have been administering their programs for several years and have the right to set their own practices for how the scholarship will be applied. In these cases, we need to adapt to the school’s policy.

2. Will Crusade Scholarships follow a "first" or "last" dollar model?

The College Crusade will provide its cash scholarships on a "last dollar" basis because this provides the greatest benefit to students. This means that you would go through the normal process of applying for financial aid at the school you plan to attend. The school will develop a financial aid package for you – which could have grants, aid from the school you attend, your Expected Family Contribution, loans, need-based work-study and other aid. Often this aid will be less than the total cost of attending the school. This gap is called "unmet need." Crusade cash scholarships could be used to cover this unmet need. They could also help to reduce your loans or your need-based work-study.

3. Who is eligible for Crusade Scholarships?

Scholarships can be used by Crusaders who:

• - Graduate from high school
• - Earn admission to an accredited college, university, junior college or trade school within one year of graduation or participate in a RI union apprenticeship or industry training program within one year of graduation
• - Meet The College Crusade’s membership participation requirements
• - Are full-time students
• - Are low-income at the time they apply for financial aid
• - Return a Pledge Affirmation Form to The College Crusade within stated time frame (see question #8)

4. Do I have to live in Rhode Island to get a scholarship?

You must be a RI resident while in the 3rd and 12th grades to be considered for a scholarship.

5. How is the Crusader Pledge handled?

As a Crusader, you pledged to work hard in school and to avoid alcohol, drugs and early parenthood. To be considered for a scholarship, you will need to fill out the Pledge Affirmation Form affirming that you have kept the pledge. There is a place on the form for Crusaders to admit that they have broken the pledge and request a review of their eligibility to apply for a scholarship. The College Crusade will ask you to describe what happened, and provide strong reasons why you think you should still be considered. If you plan to go to college, you should always request a review. A review board decides these cases, and since you’ve learned from your mistake, the board wants to help you.

6. What factors are considered in deciding who will receive a Crusade Scholarship?

Many factors are considered to determine if you qualify for the Crusade Scholarship or financial aid in general. The most important factors are:

• - Family income and family size
• - How many people in your family are in college
• - Family savings (and certain other assets)
• 
  

Students need to provide this kind of information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for most forms of financial aid. You can get a FAFSA online or through the guidance department at your school. You should file your FASFA as soon as possible after January 1st and, if at all possible, before March 1st of the calendar year in which you will start college. For example, file between January 1st and March 1st, 2007 if you plan to start college in the fall of 2007.

The federal government uses the FAFSA to figure out your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC tells you how much money your family is expected to pay towards your schooling. Some families will not be expected to pay anything, or to pay very little. Others will be expected to pay several thousand dollars. The federal government uses EFCs to decide who will be awarded a Pell Grant. The College Crusade will use the EFC in deciding who is eligible for a Crusade Scholarship.

7. What are the financial guidelines for Crusade Scholarships?

Scholarship eligibility will be determined by your EFC. The exact EFC cutoff is decided each spring. For 2007-2008, Crusaders with EFCs of $5,000 or less are eligible for scholarships. In determining the cutoff, our goal is to provide scholarships to as many needy Crusaders as possible. At the same time, we have to make sure that we have enough money to support future classes of Crusaders.

8. How do I apply for a scholarship?

To apply for a Crusade Scholarship you must:

- Fill out a Crusader Pledge Affirmation Form and mail it to The College Crusade office;

- Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This is the form that everyone uses to apply for federal, state and many private sources of financial aid. Do not complete it before January 1st of your senior year.

You will have up to one year after high school graduation to apply for a Crusade Scholarship. (If, for example, you graduate in June of 2007, you could apply for aid in the spring of 2008 and begin school as late as September of 2008, but no later, to be eligible to apply in future.)

9. How much money will the Crusade Scholarship provide?

The amount of a Crusade Scholarship will vary depending upon the kind of school you go to, how much money you "need" after completing the financial aid process and the school’s policies. The maximum Crusade Scholarship will be the lesser of: the current maximum Pell Grant ($4,310) or the school’s tuition. If a student does not qualify for a Crusade Scholarship according to their school’s normal policies, the scholarship will not be awarded.

10. Can a Crusade Scholarship be used for other costs besides tuition?

Yes. The Crusade Scholarships can be used for any "legitimate educational expense," after tuition and fees have been paid in full. These expenses may include fees, books, room and board, and transportation. Each school decides what the legitimate expenses are for its students.

11. If I go to CCRI and get a full Pell Grant, would I still get a Crusade Scholarship?

Currently, a full Pell Grant would cover most of the tuition and fees at CCRI. CCRI also allows expenses for books, transportation, and room and board (even though you don’t live there). Therefore, it is possible that you could still show "need" at CCRI and receive a Crusade Scholarship.

12. Once I have started at school, what do I need to do to keep getting my Crusade Scholarship?

You must remain a full-time student in good academic standing in your degree or certificate program to continue getting a scholarship. Each school has its own rules about what you need to do to stay in good standing. If you fall below these guidelines, you would not get a scholarship until you get your grades up to your school’s standards.

You must also fill out the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA each year, meet The College Crusade’s EFC guidelines and notify The College Crusade annually of your current “grade level” (freshman, sophomore, etc.) to continue receiving a Crusade Scholarship.

13. If I go to CCRI, can I transfer to a four-year school and still receive a Crusade Scholarship?

Yes. A Crusader attending CCRI can transfer to a four-year Crusade school at any time and continue to receive their Crusade Scholarship. (See #14 for details.) A Crusader cannot receive the scholarship for more than a total of eight semesters, however.

14. If I enroll in a non-Crusade school and later transfer to a Crusade school, can I still get a scholarship?

A Crusader must not wait longer than one year following high school graduation to request a Crusade Scholarship (see answer to #8). Attending a non-Crusade school will not disqualify you as long as you don’t leave school for more than a year and you apply for a scholarship to the new school within the “Maximum Time to Use the Scholarship” indicated on the chart in #15 below.

15. What if it takes me longer than the normal time period to complete my degree or earn my certificate?

The following chart indicates the number of semesters of aid Crusaders can receive at various types of schools and the length of time in which they will have to use it. A review board will consider “hardship” exceptions on an individual basis.

Note: This document simplifies The College Crusade's Scholarship policies for informational purposes and does not constitute a legal agreement.

Revised May 2007