Paying For School

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Credit Scholarships from the HACC Foundation

View a video of the HACC Foundation credit scholarship process.

 

Question

Answer

What are HACC Foundation scholarships?
  • HACC Foundation scholarships are FREE money to support you in reaching your educational goals. 
  • Scholarships can be used towards tuition, course fees and materials from the Bookstore.
  • Scholarships reduce your student loans and do not need to be repaid.

What kinds of scholarships does the HACC Foundation offer students?

HACC offers scholarships for both credit and noncredit program students. We offer over 200 individualized opportunities for both current and future students.

I am looking for information on (non-HACC) private scholarships.

How do I know if I am applying for credit or noncredit scholarships?
Question Answer

How do I apply for credit scholarships?
  • Please visit HACC.edu/scholarships for more information
  • First complete your FAFSA.
  • Second visit https://hacc.academicworks.com/ to complete the general application.
  • Third register for courses when open registration begins. You cannot be awarded a scholarship unless you are registered for the following term by the deadline (spring or fall).
  • Finally, please check your HAWKmail frequently. We communicate all scholarship information via HAWKmail.
  • Please note that F1 Visa students are currently not eligible for most credit scholarships. There are two scholarship opportunities for students unable to complete the FAFSA.

Where do I go to apply for credit scholarships?

When do I apply?

Why should I apply?
  • Scholarships are FREE money you can use to pay for your tuition, books or supplies.
  • Scholarships do not need to be paid back.
  • We offer many different kinds of scholarships to fit a wide-range of students.

What is the best way to search for scholarships?
  • Go to https://hacc.academicworks.com/ or click on the opportunities tab if you are logged in to AcademicWorks already.
  • Click on “Show Filters” button to the far right of the “Search by Keyword” feature.
  • Click on the scope you want.
  • Click on “Filter Opportunities” to view all scholarships that match the scope or category selected.
  • Keyword suggestions are: veterans, campus, county, student worker, GPA or program/major.

What can I use a scholarship for?

Scholarship funds are added to your HACC student account. They may be used for tuition, books and course supplies.

Will I receive every scholarship I apply for?
  • No, students will not receive every scholarship they apply for. The more scholarships you apply for the greater your chances are of being offered a scholarship.
  • Please be sure to register for the next term by the deadline. Students cannot be offered scholarships unless they are registered by the deadline. 

How do I know my application was submitted successfully?











 

The system will give you a green check mark and indicate your application is submitted.

What kind of information is needed for the general application?
  • General details including your name, HAWKmail email address, H number, military service, employment, community service and extracurricular activities. 
  • You can save your application progress and complete or change the application at a later date. Please be sure to submit the application by the deadline.
  • Additional information from your student record will be incorporated into your application.

After I completed my general application, additional scholarships are listed. Why is this?

You may apply for all the scholarship opportunities that you are qualified for.

  • We offer two types of scholarships. They are:
    • Apply-to – scholarships that require additional steps. Some steps include answering additional questions, submitting a reference or providing additional information. You must take these additional actions to be considered as a candidate for these scholarships.
    • Auto-matched – scholarships that are matched directly to the information provided in your general application
  • It is always highly recommended to apply for additional scholarship opportunities. AcademicWorks provides recommendations, and you are welcome to search through all scholarship opportunities if you choose.

Do I have to write an essay?
  • Students must write a biographical statement. It is not required to be a long essay.
  • Please provide information on your educational goals, plans after completing your education and how your financial circumstances impact your education. Please also share how you have overcome hardships to meet your educational goals.
  • Please do not include your name in your essay.

I am taking classes at several locations. How do I know my campus?
  • Please contact your advisor to determine your campus location.
  • To qualify for campus specific scholarships, please apply based on your planned campus location for the coming term.

The information that automatically imported in my general application is incorrect. What do I do?
  • Please ensure you provided the correct H number. If you did not, please contact HACCscholarships@hacc.edu before the application deadline.
  • If you have provided the correct H number, please contact the Welcome Center before the application deadline. We may have incorrect data on your student files.
The scholarship criteria mention “preference.” What is this? To be awarded a scholarship, you must meet the scholarship’s criteria. In some cases, criteria are preferred but not mandatory. We refer to this as preference criteria.

You may apply for the scholarship if you meet the other awarding criteria but not the preference.

The scholarship I am applying for requires a reference. How do I do that?
  • AcademicWorks will ask for the email address for your reference. AcademicWorks will then automatically email your reference to request the documentation.
  • We strongly suggest applying for these types of scholarships in advance of the application deadline. Your reference must be received by the application deadline.
  • We recommend contacting your proposed reference in advance so that they expect the email. The email will come from haccscholarships@hacc.edu.
  • Please be sure the reference contact you are providing knows you personally.

I’m an employee/spouse of an employee/dependent of an employee. Can I apply for HACC Foundation scholarships?
  • Employees, their spouses and dependents are not eligible for HACC Foundation scholarships.
  • Student workers are not considered employees for the purpose of applying for HACC Foundation scholarships.

What can I do to increase my chances of being awarded a scholarship?
  • Please be sure to register for the next term. Students cannot be awarded scholarships unless they are registered by the deadline.
  • Please ensure you provide correct information on your general application, including your H number.
  • Reviewers will evaluate your essay, GPA, your work history and community service involvement. Provide complete information that highlights your accomplishments.
  • When applying for a scholarship, please ensure you meet the criteria for the award.
  • If the scholarship requires a reference, please be sure to allow your reference time to provide the information.

I have applied. Now what?
  • Please check your HAWKmail frequently for information on scholarships and be sure to check your spam email.
  • Please be sure to register for the next semester. Students cannot be awarded scholarships unless they are registered by the deadline.
  • You may log into AcademicWorks to check the status of your application.
Question Answer

How are scholarships reviewed?

 

 

There is a blind review process in place for scholarship applications to ensure fairness. Each reviewer scores applications blindly based off of scholarship eligibility criteria. Reviewers also take students’ work experience, community service involvement, extracurricular activities, honors, awards and/or scholarships into consideration.

 

When will I be made aware if I receive a scholarship offer?
  • A deadline timeline can be found here
  • Please check your HAWKmail frequently for information on scholarships.
  • Please remember to register for the next term once registration begins.

 
Question Answer

I see a message in MyHACC under the Financial Aid Awards section mentioning a scholarship. How do I accept this scholarship offer?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  • The message (PEND or OFFER) is letting you know that you are a finalist for a scholarship. You have not yet been awarded a scholarship. Please continue to check your HAWKmail (including spam) and AcademicWorks for an official scholarship offer.
  • Please be sure to register for the next term. Students cannot be awarded scholarships unless they are registered by the deadline.

Awards

How will I be made aware if I am offered a scholarship?

 

 
  • You will receive an offer message to your HAWKmail. The message will include a link to your offer and instructions for completing the process. Please be sure to check your spam folder regularly.
  • You may also log on to AcademicWorks and check the status of your application.
  • Please refer to the timeline for offer dates.

I have been offered a scholarship. Now what?

 

 

 

 
  • Please read and follow the directions in your offer email and at AcademicWorks.
  • You must accept your scholarship offer and answer the questions listed. If you decline any of the questions, you will forfeit your scholarship. 
  • You will need to upload a thank-you letter to the scholarship donor. Please provide the letter in Word or PDF format.
    • Click the submit button.
    • You MUST complete these steps by the deadline.

How do I write a thank-you letter?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  • Information and examples can be found in your offer email and at AcademicWorks.
  • Your letter should express your gratitude for the donor and scholarship.
  • For the greeting, please use “Dear HACC Foundation Donor.” In the body of the letter, please reference the scholarship name and ensure it is spelled correctly. 
  • You do not need to provide the donor’s address or physically sign the letter.
  • Please submit your letter in a Word or PDF file.
  • Name your file with your last name followed by first name (example: Smith Jane). Do not include any special characters or numbers.
  • If you have more than one scholarship offer, please add the partial scholarship name to each file.
  • Please complete these steps by the deadline.   
  • You may log into AcademicWorks (before the deadline) to ensure you have completed the process.
  • Failure to complete this process correctly will cause you to forfeit the scholarship.
  • Deadline extensions will not be granted.

How do I upload my thank-you letter?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  • Please submit your letter in a Word or PDF file.
  • Name your file with your last name followed by first name (example: Smith Jane). Do not include any special characters or numbers.
  • If you have more than one scholarship offer, please add the partial scholarship name to each file.
  • Click Add a New File.
  • Please locate where you have stored your thank-you letter file and click upload. Please double-check to be sure you have uploadedd the correct file.
  • Once you have answered the additional questions, please be sure to click finish.
  • Please complete these steps by the deadline. You may find the deadlines at: https://www.hacc.edu/HACCFoundation/Donate/FundraisingCampaign/scholarship-timeline.cfm. 
  • You may log into AcademicWorks (before the deadline) to ensure you have completed the process. 
  • Failure to complete this process correctly will cause you to forfeit the scholarship.
  • Deadline extensions will not be granted.

Upload Thank You

How can I be sure these steps are complete?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The scholarship system will confirm that your letter has been successfully submitted. You will no longer have “Needs Attention” tasks.

Steps Completed

Why must I provide a thank-you letter? Why are you asking for my photo?

 

 
  • We provide the thank-you letter and photo to our generous donors. Without the donors, we will not have scholarships to offer our students.
  • We also sometimes use your information in other materials.
  • A photo is not required to be awarded a scholarship, but a thank you letter is required.

What kind of photo are you looking for?

If you provide a photo, please ask someone to take an appropriate headshot.Please do not include family or friends in your photo.

Why did I complete the award accepting (post-acceptance) process but my scholarship is not showing as accepted on my financial aid tab?
  • It can take several days until the information is reflected on the financial aid tab.
  • To confirm, please log on to AcademicWorks (before the deadline). The scholarship system will confirm that your letter has been successfully submitted. You will no longer have “Needs Attention” tasks.
  • Please review the timeline for the award dates.
  • If you have additional questions, please contact Financial Aid.

 

How is my scholarship awarded?

 
  • The funds will be applied to your student account.
  • Scholarship funds may be applied to students’ HACC accounts over two terms.

I am changing my (major, courses, number of credits). Will this impact my scholarship?
  • Please be aware that if you make changes to your student status, the changes may impact your scholarship award.
  • To review your scholarship criteria, please log on to AcademicWorks and review your awarded scholarships.

I want to decline my scholarship offer. How do I do that?

When you receive the offer, feel free to decline the scholarship award and click submit.

 

Will I be notified if I did not receive any scholarships?

 

 
  • You will not be personally notified if you are offered a scholarship. However, you will receive a general message via HAWKmail.
  • You may also log on to AcademicWorks to review your application.
Question Answer

My scholarship from last cycle is not showing on my account.
 

 
  • Look at the scholarship criteria. If you no longer meet the awarding criteria, you will not be provided the funds.
  • Are you registered for the next term? If you are not registered, you will forfeit the award.
  • Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional assistance.

I am transferring next term. What happens to the second half of my scholarship?
  • You will forfeit the second half of your scholarship.
  • We are not able to award the funds in one term or after you leave HACC.

Can my scholarship transfer to another school or student?

We are not able to transfer HACC Foundation scholarships from one student to another or to another institution.

Are there HACC Foundation scholarships for summer or winter courses?

Scholarships are offered twice per year. HACC Foundation scholarships are for the spring and fall terms only.

I don’t agree with the Opportunity Specific Questions (post-acceptance).
 
  • Unfortunately, if you do not agree to the scholarship terms, the award will be forfeit.
  • The exception is the photo request. You may decline to allow us to use your materials for marketing and promotion.

 

Why do scholarships have different criteria?

Donors provide us the criteria for each scholarship. Donors may want their scholarship to support a particular major, county or GPA.

I met the criteria for a scholarship. Why wasn’t I offered the scholarship?

 
  • We are only able to award scholarships if the scholarship has funding to allow awarding.
  • Please note, we often have many applicants for particular scholarships.
  • Some scholarships are only open for awarding at specific times.
  • Please be sure to apply during the next application cycle.

I am the parent/spouse of a student. Why are you not able to provide me with any information?


 

 

 

 
  • HACC follows all government guidelines in regards to student privacy. These guidelines fall under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). FERPA is also extended to minor students.
  • The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) protects the privacy of student records. FERPA protects students and ensures their educational records are accurate and secure. FERPA applies to institutions that receive federal aid by the Secretary of Education.
  • More information on FERPA can be found at: http://www.hacc.edu/Students/RegisterOnlineGuide/student-rights-to-records-and-privacy.cfm?cssearch=642438_1
  • Please have the student contact us.

I have additional questions not found in the FAQ. Who do I contact?

You are welcome to contact HACCscholarships@hacc.edu.

 
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