Independent Living

College Scholarships

The University of Alaska in partnership with the Office of Children's Services provide five full scholarships a year to young people who have aged out of foster care in Alaska.

Download Information will lead you to where you can get a printable version of the information about the scholarship.

Download Application will lead you to where you can print the application form for the scholarship.

Background will give you the background information about the development of the college scholarship project (just in case you want to know).

Eligibility describes what the requirements are to be awarded a scholarship.

Additional Assistance will tell you about the different types of scholarship assistance available.

Other Financial Aid will tell you about the the requirements for researching at least two other sources of funding for this scholarship, and give you some links to go to to research financial aid.

Download Information

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Download Application

	Application.pdf Download the College Scholarship Application in Adobe Acrobat:	Application.doc Download the College Scholarship Application in Microsoft Word:
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Background

The University of Alaska College Scholarship provides young people who were in Alaska OCS custody on or after their 16th birthday a chance to have a university education. The Scholarship consists of two parts: a Presidential Tuition Waiver from the University of Alaska, and Additional Assistance from the Office of Children's Services. Eligibility for Tuition Waiver and the Additional Assistance are slightly different.

There are five tuition waivers offered per year. These waivers are available to students whom the Office of Children's Services awards based upon eligibility criteria, need, and scholarship. Each waiver is effective for four years, (eight semesters) of full-time attendance at any campus of the University of Alaska. Waivers will not be used for less than full-time attendance. University criteria will apply (i.e.: good academic standing, financial requirements met, and student code of conduct standing) to continue the waiver.

Students who receive the tuition waiver may also be eligible for Additional Assistance through the Office of Children's Services Independent Living program. Additional Assistance is available to off set the cost of required books and materials, and payment of University fees during the period that they receive the tuition waiver. Housing and meal plan assistance is available to students who are still in OCS custody and to those who were in OCS custody on their 18th birthday. If receiving housing assistance, the first two years (four semesters) of housing assistance must be in University housing or with former foster care providers. Additional Assistance is offered only to students receiving the Tuition Waiver and only to students who are under 21 years of age. For more information, see ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE below.

If more than five (5) applications are receive for the Presidential Tuition Waiver, a committee comprised of OCS staff and University staff will review all applications and determine awards.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the University of Alaska Foster Youth Tuition Waiver program, you must:

Be a resident of Alaska,
Have been in custody on or after your 16th birthday
Be accepted for full-time enrollment into the University of Alaska,
Have a demonstrated financial need for financial assistance,
Have applied for at least two other scholarships.

If you are awarded a tuition waiver, you do not need to reapply for i<span class="style2">t so long as you:

Are a full-time student,
Maintain a minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average
Maintain good academic standing, student code of conduct standing, and meet University financial requirements.

Additional Assistance

The University of Alaska Presidential Tuition Waiver does not include payment of University Fees, student housing, costs for books and other materials, or the meal plan. The Office of Children's Services offers limited assistance for fees, housing, and the meal plan for students who are awarded a Presidential Tuition Waiver. You may request Additional Assistance for housing, the meal plan, and University fees on your College Scholarship application.

To be eligible for assistance with fees, books and other materials assistance, you must:

Have been in OCS custody on or after your 16th birthday but not attained 21 years of age,
Be receiving the University of Alaska Presidential Tuition Waiver in good standing.

To be eligible for assistance with housing and meal plan costs, you must:

Be in OCS custody or have turned 18 while in OCS custody,
Complete your first two years at the University in University Housing (if available) or with your former foster care providers,
Be receiving the University of Alaska Presidential Tuition Waiver in good standing.

Just like the Tuition Waiver, you do not need to reapply for this assistance so long as you remain a full-time student in good standing and are within the age limits for additional assistance. You must, however, live in University housing (if available) or with your former foster care providers for the first two-years of school attendance. After two years, you can choose to remain in University housing or receive housing assistance up to the amount that a dormitory-style room would cost at your campus.

While you must be receiving the Tuition Waiver to receive Housing, Fee, Room and Board assistance, you are not required to receive the additional assistance to be awarded the waiver. Additionally, you may request or be awarded partial assistance depending upon your need.

Other Financial Assistance

Because there are only a limited number of University of Alaska College Scholarships to award each year, applicants are encouraged to research other scholarship opportunities in addition to this program. The application format for this program is very similar to the University of Alaska Foundation Scholarships application, so applying for additional opportunities is easy. Two applications for other scholarships are required in order to be eligible for the Foster Youth Tuition Waiver.

Here are some useful links to research other financial aid:

Cook Inlet Tribal Council Educational Center If you are an Alaskan Native, Cook Inlet Tribal Council Educational Center can help you find a scholarship. Contact them at (907) 561-1469.

University of Alaska Financial Aid and Scholarships:
University of Alaska
UA Foundation
Scholars Program
UAA - Chugiak-Eagle River - Kenai Peninsula - Prince William Sound
UAF - Northwest UAS - Ketchikan

The Casey Scholars Program A national program funded by Casey Family Programs and administered by the Orphan Foundation of America. http://www.orphan.org/scholarships.html