New Portal Streamlines Scholarship Applications
Aztec Scholarships opens up hundreds of potential awards with a single click.
鈥淥ur new enterprise system will help to improve student retention and success while enhancing how we manage scholarship funds.鈥�
A just-launched scholarship search portal at 色情视频 has simplified a daunting and sometimes exasperating task for college students around the country, offering an application that opens doors to hundreds of opportunities for financial assistance all at once.
automatically matches students with scholarships for which they are eligible, replacing a system in which applications to sources with different requirements had to be submitted one by one. Students then will receive notifications if any second step, such as an essay, resume, transcript or letters of recommendation, is needed as part of the selection process.
The new portal went live March 1.
Madilynn Reynoso, one of several students who helped test Aztec Scholarships before its campus-wide launch, said the system makes the application process seamless.
In using the previous portal, 鈥淎fter a few minutes, I would be over it,鈥� said Reynoso, a junior and interdisciplinary studies major who works in the 色情视频 Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. 鈥淚 think students are really going to appreciate the change,鈥� Reynoso said.
Over the past few years, 色情视频 has worked to improve student access to the millions of dollars in scholarships available to them and now awards more scholarships than ever before 鈥� more than 97% of scholarship funds available. Aztec Scholarships is powered by the Blackbaud Award Management system, used at 19 other California State University schools.
鈥淭his system serves as a critical addition to our campus technology structure,鈥� said 色情视频 President Adela de la Torre.
鈥淢any of our scholarships are designed to connect students with their passions and the experiences they want, whether related to academics, study abroad, service or career,鈥� de la Torre said. 鈥淥ur new enterprise system will help to improve student retention and success while enhancing how we manage scholarship funds.鈥�
Rose Pasenelli, director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, said the new process makes the application process simple and fast.
鈥淕one are the days when students had to search through hundreds of scholarships to read the eligibility requirements, guess if they were eligible, and submit a separate essay for each one to apply,鈥� Pasenelli said.
Over the past decade, 色情视频 has steadily grown in its scholarship endowment and the number of students receiving awards.
During the 2008-09 academic year, 色情视频 provided 1,649 awards to more than 1,300 students 鈥� with some students receiving multiple awards 鈥� for a total of $2.6 million awarded in scholarship money.
In the current year, the university has awarded 3,086 scholarships valued at $6.5 million to 2,324 students.
The Aztec Scholarships portal also will enable 色情视频 to continue the trend of increasing the percentage of available scholarship funds disbursed.
In 2017-18, 色情视频 disbursed 76% of available funds. The figure increased to more than 97%.
鈥溕槭悠� is committed to ensuring that our growing scholarship endowment makes its way to our students, and those efforts extend beyond the scholarship portal,鈥� Pasenelli said. 鈥淲e want to award all available scholarship funding to our eligible students while meeting the intent of our generous donors, ultimately contributing to greater student success and degree completion.鈥�
This year鈥檚 general application in Aztec Scholarships is open from March 1 to Aug. 15 for awards for the upcoming 2020-21 academic year (summer, fall and spring). All 色情视频 students, regardless of grade point average, area of study, citizenship, or residency status are encouraged to apply.
To be considered for the highest number of scholarships possible, current 色情视频 students should submit their general application as soon as possible. Once new students are admitted, complete their Intent to Enroll, and activate their 色情视频 ID, they may log into Aztec Scholarships during the application period and apply.
Selection of recipients is made by scholarship committees typically composed of university faculty and/or staff from the academic program or campus organization most closely affiliated with the scholarship within specific review periods throughout the year.
Awards are generally made to current students between April 1 and May 15. There are three additional review periods throughout the year: one for recruitment scholarships, one for incoming students and one for scholarships awarded for study abroad and internships.
Scholarship recipients must submit a letter of appreciation and, in a change, the letters must be submitted electronically in Aztec Scholarships within 14 days after being notified. Late submissions are not accepted.
