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Manage PennWest Scholarships Committee FAQ

I received an email request from scholarships@pennwest.edu to complete a letter of recommendation for a student. Why am I receiving this request?
    • There are some scholarships that require supplemental forms, letters of recommendations/essays. [cite: 4] Students are sometimes prompted to enter a recommender's name/email within the application to meet the requirements of a scholarship. [cite: 5]
Am I required to complete the letter of recommendation request from a student?
    • No. [cite: 7] Please note, the student will NOT be eligible for a scholarship and will NOT pull in as a candidate if a letter of recommendation is required yet not submitted. [cite: 7] If you wish to support our students, please click here for an overview of the process. [cite: 8]
If I decline to complete the letter of recommendation, how can I notify the student?
    • Within the email, click the link and enter the PIN. [cite: 10] Select the "Click here to decline" button; this will send an email to the student notifying them the recommender has declined. [cite: 10, 11]
Why was I selected to be on a scholarship committee?
    • Committee members are selected by the Dean of their college. [cite: 14] Please contact Academic Affairs with any questions or concerns. [cite: 14]
When will I have access to review candidates for my scholarships?
    • Committee members will have access to review candidates after the deadline for the scholarship application has ended and registration begins. [cite: 17]
Is there a deadline for my committee to award our scholarships?
    • Yes. [cite: 19] The deadline can be found in your "Manage PennWest Scholarships" committee portal. [cite: 19] We recommend scholarships be awarded prior to the end of the spring semester. [cite: 20]
How do I review candidates?
    • Click here for an overview of the Scholarship Manager process and Committee Member Guide. [cite: 23]
Can I export my list of candidates to excel format?
    • Yes. [cite: 25] Under the "Candidate" tab click the "Candidate Action" dropdown box and select "Export data". [cite: 25] Please allow popups. [cite: 25]
What is a soft requirement?
    • A soft requirement is criteria that is preferred but not required by the student to be eligible for the scholarship award. [cite: 27]
How do I make an award?
    • The Chair of the committee will make the award. [cite: 29] If you are unsure of who the Chair of your committee is, please contact your college Dean. [cite: 29]
Do I have to split the award equally between the fall and spring semesters?
    • Yes. [cite: 31] The award is to be split equally between the fall and spring semesters. [cite: 31] Exceptions may include summer awards or specifications in the Donor Agreement. [cite: 32] Do NOT enter cents. [cite: 32]