Continuing Education and Part-time Undergraduate Scholarships

There are a number of scholarships available specifically for continuing education and part-time students. Below is a listing of some scholarships available for the 2011-2012 academic year, along with eligibility and deadline information. For questions regarding these scholarships, contact the Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education.

Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarship

Deadline: April 16, 2011

The scholarship application can be found here, or in the Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education. 

Eligibility requirements:

• Completed 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of graded work at Elms College (you may not include transfer credits)
• GPA of 3.2 or higher on all coursework at Elms College
• 24 years of age or older
• Enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at Elms College
• Has financial need for assistance to complete the degree

Return all application materials to the Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education, attention: Dana Malone.

Wisdom's Way

Deadline: March 1, 2011

Wisdom's Way assists women with limited financial resources in achieving their educational goals. Women enrolled in a community college, an undergraduate college, or professional programs (such as LPN or Women's Small Business Program) may apply to the Wisdom's Way Fund for grants up to $3,000 to pay for items such as books, additional child care, transportation, meals or fees. Grants are not available for graduate study or for a second bachelor's degree.

Return all application materials to the contact listed on the application. Download the application here.

National Endowment for the Humanities Scholarship

Deadline: March 2, 2011

The scholarship is intended for students majoring in a humanities fields such as English, Foreign Languages, History, Religious Studies, or carrying an inter-departmental major consisting of at least 36 credits of upper level humanities courses are eligible to apply. Transfer students and Continuing Education students in these majors are eligible.

In order to apply, students must demonstrate a 3.2 overall QPA and a 3.2 in major courses already completed.

Students can pick up the scholarship applications in the Humanities & Fine Arts Division Office on the third floor of the Alumnae Library.

Jeanette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund

Deadline, March 11, 2011

The scholarships may be used for tuition, books, transportation, childcare and other living expenses and will be disbursed over two school terms, starting in Fall 2011. Selection is competitive, which means that meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee that you will receive a scholarship. In 2010, JRF awarded 38 new scholarships from 850 applications.

Eligibility requirements.

• Women, at least 35 years of age as of March 1, 2011, who are
• U.S. citizens
• Pursuing a technical or vocational education, an associate's degree, or a first bachelor's degree (students who have already earned a bachelor's degree and/or will be pursuing a graduate degree in fall 2011 are ineligible.)
• Enrolled in, or accepted to, a regionally or ACICS accredited college for the fall 2011 term
• Attending a college accredited by one of the following: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, Middle States Commission on Higher Education, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Contact your school's Admissions Office for this information.
• Low-income, according to the government guidelines (see website).

Download the application for fall 2011 term here.

Because you are applying for a JRF scholarship for the 2011 - 2012 school year, your eligibility will be based on your house- hold income during that time period. Compare your estimated take-home household income for the upcoming school year (8/2011 - 7/2012). To be eligible to apply, your household income must not exceed the maximum for your household size. Click here for more information. 

WISP (Women's Independence Scholarship Program)

Deadline: Two months prior to enrollment in the student's intended program

A woman who meets the following requirements is eligible to apply:

• Survived intimate partner abuse and has been separated from her abuser a minimum of one year
• Is a citizen or legal resident of the United States;
• Has applied to or is officially accepted into an accredited course of study at a United States institution
• Demonstrates a critical need for financial assistance
• Exhibits a strong desire and the ability to complete a training and/or academic program
• Has a definite plan to use the desired training to upgrade skills for career advancement, to train for a new career field, or to enter or reenter the job market
• Has sought services from a non-profit, domestic violence agency for a minimum of six consecutive months, and this agency is willing act as sponsor by mentoring and providing support to the student throughout her educational experience.

Applications should be submitted as early as possible and at least two months before the start date of the program to be attended. WISP cannot guarantee that applications received after that period will be reviewed in time for funds to be awarded by the desired date Please click here for more information and applications.

Counselor, Advocate and Support Staff Scholarship

Deadline: See list below

This program is intended to assist workers in the field of domestic violence to develop or enhance skills necessary to increase their effectiveness in serving their clients. In addition, CASS is also intended to assist the support staff of such agencies to develop business skills.

Support is available for students interested in attending community college, four-year degree or graduate studies programs. Funds for graduate studies are limited. Programs in social work, counseling, psychology, accounting, non-profit management and business management will be considered for support. This scholarship provides assistance with tuition, fees and necessary books and supplies. Paid by term/semester, these scholarships are renewable upon submission of a Renewal Application. After the first semester, a minimum 3.0 GPA is required to be considered eligible for second and subsequent terms of funding. Scholarships are limited to $3,000 per academic year.

Application information can be found here.

Applications for CASS should be submitted by the following dates:

• Fall Quarter: August 1 
• Fall Semester: August 1
• Winter Quarter: December 1
• Spring Quarter: March 1 
• Spring Semester: December 1
• Summer Quarter: May 1 
• Summer Semester: May 1

AARP SCHOLARSHIP

Deadline: March 31, 2011

This scholarship is offered to women who are enrolled full or part time in an undergraduate or technical program. The AARP Foundation will grant up to 100 scholarships. The scholarship application can be found here.

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be:

• Female
• Age 40 or over by March 31, 2011
• U.S. Citizens
• Able to demonstrate financial need
• Enrolled in an accredited school or technical program in the U.S., within 6 months of the scholarship award date

The scholarship program is made possible by a donation from AARP to the AARP Foundation, the organization's affiliated charity, with generous support from Wal-Mart and the Women's Leadership Circle Cabinet. For more information about the AARP Foundation, please log on to www.aarpfoundation.org.

Scholarships may be used for any course of study at a public or private secondary school, including community colleges, technical schools, and four-year universities. Funds are payable to the institution and may be used to pay for tuition, fees, and books.

The program seeks women who are entering two or three-year technical or skills up-grading programs or in the final stages of their college experience. Priority is given to women who are:

• Returning to the workforce after an extended absence.
• Underemployed (in a job with limited pay, limited growth opportunities and limited benefits).
• Raising another family member's child/children, such as grandparents raising grandchildren (with the ability to demonstrate significant financial responsibility for those child/children).

Scholarship awards will range from $500 to $5,000, depending on financial need and the cost of the education or training program.