Presidential “E3” Scholars Program

[Exposed. Engaged. Experienced.]

Who We Are

The CSU Presidential E3 Scholars are a distinguished cohort of students who contribute to the fabric of CSUs student population and demonstrate a commitment to our shared values, commitment and goals of the institution.

How to Apply

Qualified fall freshman will be given automatic consideration for this scholarship based on academic and social merit. This scholarship is valued at up to $12,000 for up to four years if renewal eligibility is maintained. The value is awarded on a competitive basis, while funding is available.

Eligibility Criteria and Award Levels

$3,000/year

As part of the  Presidential “E3” Scholars program, you will receive an annual amount of $3,000 ($1,500 Fall and $1,500 Spring), intended to cover your tuition and fees for each academic year.

Here's how it works: The $1,500 will be allocated towards the direct cost of your tuition and fees per term. This means that this amount will contribute to your education expenses for each term you are enrolled in.

If your term tuition and fees, including housing and meal plan costs, are fully paid for using the $1,500, and there is still money left over, you will have the opportunity to use the excess for purchasing books and essential course materials. This excess amount can be allocated for book expenses, up to a maximum of $1,000.

$1,500/year

As part of the  Presidential “E3” Scholars program, you will receive an annual amount of $1,500 ($750 Fall and $750 Spring), intended to cover your tuition and fees for each academic year.

Here's how it works: The $750 will be allocated towards the direct cost of your tuition and fees per term. This means that this amount will contribute to your education expenses for each term you are enrolled in.

If your term tuition and fees, including housing and meal plan costs, are fully paid for using the $750, and there is still money left over, you will have the opportunity to use the excess for purchasing books and essential course materials. This excess amount can be allocated for book expenses, up to a maximum of $400.

Acceptance Process

Presidential E3 Scholars demonstrate their commitment to understanding their role in society, contributing to the greater good and modeling this commitment through leadership and sustained community involvement.

Personal statement video prompts

In addition to completing a basic questionnaire, you must respond to at least (1) one of the following prompts in 10 minutes or less via video.

• A leader can be described as anyone who wants to work with others to make a difference. This type of leadership is carried out in formal or informal roles, such as with family, or in a school or social situation. Describe one experience where you were able to make a difference through your leadership.
• Injustice can be experienced on a personal and/or societal level. Please share a social justice issue that resonates with you and explain what you have done or would like to do to support this cause.
• What academic and/or personal goals would you like to achieve by the time you complete college?

Term of the Award

The Presidential E3 Scholarship is awarded for a total of eight consecutive semesters as long as the student maintains eligibility. This scholarship is split evenly between the fall and spring semesters and this disbursement schedule cannot be changed. Students cannot have a full year’s allocation disbursed in one semester nor can they combine future disbursements due to early graduation. The goal of this scholarship is to help students complete their undergraduate degree in four years and therefore students must be enrolled in undergraduate courses and be classified as an undergraduate student to have their scholarship disbursed.

Semester Criteria

Students must be enrolled as full-time undergraduate student with minimum of 12 CSU credit hours each fall and spring semester. CSU highly recommends that students complete a minimum of 15 credit hours per semester to ensure they are awarded the full amount of your scholarship for the following year.

*If enrolled in fewer than 12 credit hours students may use the summer term (immediately after each spring term) to complete the 30-credit hour academic year requirement.

Fully Renewing Your Scholarship

In order to renew 100% of the scholarship, students must successfully complete the following by the end of each academic year (fall, spring and immediately the following summer):

• Earn 30 CSU credits in one academic year
• Earn a CSU 3.0 cumulative GPA

Partial Renewal “Action” Scholarship

The “Success Action Plan” is used when the above requirements are not fully met.  For every consecutive semester you do not fully meet the renewal requirements (earn 30 CSU credits in one academic year and/or a CSU 3.0 cumulative GPA), the percentage you will be able to receive of the scholarship will be reduced. However, if at the end of any academic year you are able to fully meet the renewal requirements, the scholarship will be renewed at 100%.

The following provides the percentage of the award you will receive based on your CSU cumulative GPA and earned UTSA credit hours:

At the end of each academic year (fall, spring and summer), Financial Aid and Scholarships will review your progress on the scholarship action plan. If you meet the requirements to fully renew your scholarship, we will increase the percentage of your award accordingly.

Options for Students Not Meeting Renewal Criteria

If you do not meet or exceed the renewal criteria by the end of each spring semester, consider the following:

Enroll in CSU summer session courses. If you need to complete additional CSU credit hours or increase your CSU cumulative GPA to meet renewal criteria, you can take summer classes to make up for these deficiencies. If you do not meet renewal criteria after taking summer session courses, you may not file an appeal. It is your responsibility to work with your advisor to determine the feasibility of the CSU summer enrollment option.

Scholarship Deferments

If a student needs to have a break in enrollment, they can submit a deferment letter to keep their Presidential E3 Scholarship on hold for up to one (1) semester. Students must be in good scholarship standing to have a deferment approved. All deferment letters and supporting documentation must be submitted via email. Students must successfully complete one year at CSU to be eligible for a deferment.

Reasons for deferments include

• Internship
• Unique educational experience tied to student’s degree program.
• Medical or Family leave
• If you leave the university without a deferment on file, you forfeit your scholarship.
• If you leave CSU and attend another post-secondary institution while on deferment, your scholarship will be forfeited.

The Presidential E3 Scholarship is made possible by donations from Endowed Scholarship funding, the CSU Presidential Scholars Endowed Scholarship and other various institutional funding.