Selection Committee Training Scholarship Programs Office of Student Access and Completion

Welcome! The Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) welcomes your participation in the scholarship selection process. Private scholarships are key to providing the financial assistance that makes postsecondary education and training a reality for thousands of Oregon students.

Privately Funded Awards Enhance Access to Higher Education Scholarships:  Help bridge the gap for students faced with the reality of college loans. In Oregon, the average student debt upon graduation is approximately $26,600.  Offer students educational choices, and can mean the difference between attending a two- or four-year college, or pursuing a degree or certification program.  Can award personal or academic achievements, and help students with varying academic backgrounds, income levels, or areas of personal interest.  Assist students from diverse backgrounds, such as former foster youth, single parents, and dislocated workers.

. Role of the Selection Committee  To ensure that the donor’s philanthropic and charitable wishes are carried out.  To evaluate the application materials in a fair and consistent manner.  To assess the character, motivation and potential of the applicants

OSAC Selection Committee Policy  Selection Committees should consist of three to five members who pursue the donor’s intent for the award, as outlined in the Fund Guidelines. The OSAC Internal Selection Committee works in rotating groups of two or three and consists of volunteers from the community.  Members should avoid conflict of interest: refrain from the decision-making process when a personal or business relationship could give the appearance of having undue influence.  Adhere to federal regulations concerning donor involvement. A donor or related party may not comprise a majority of the committee.

OSAC Privacy Policy Protecting the privacy of a student’s personal information is required by state and federal regulations.  Selection committee members will not discuss student financial or personal information outside of a committee meeting.  All paper and/or electronic application materials should be kept in a secure location or secure computer during selection, and destroyed, deleted, shredded or returned to OSAC after selection is completed.

Reviewing Applications OSAC requires that at least two committee members review the same applications. Members may use the following guidelines:  Members read all applications and use the Ranking Worksheet to determine top applicants by deliberation or by scores.  Divide a large number of applications into sets for each member to read, and use the Ranking Worksheet to determine top applicants. Members then exchange sets and repeat the process. Finalist are chosen from all top applicants by deliberation or by scores.

Evaluating Applications Tools for Selection Committees:  Ranking Worksheet – found at  Eligibility List  Glossary  Fund Guidelines

Tools available for Selection Committees: Ranking Worksheet: available to help the committee score applicants based on a general assessment or selection criteria.

Tools available for Selection Committees:  Eligibility List: viable scholarship applicants listed by quantifiable elements such as year in school, residency, GPA, financial need, etc.

Tools available for Selection Committees:  Glossary: contains the definitions for terms used on the Eligibility List and throughout the selection process.

Tools available for Selection Committees:  Fund Guidelines: the official agreement for administration of the scholarship. Sections 3 and 4 reflect the donor’s intent for the award with prioritized criteria.

Application Materials:  Transcripts: Applicant’s academic curriculum. Committee members verify reported GPA and course rigor.  Activities Chart: A school, community, and work history that documents student qualities, special interests, and whether they meet the donor’s intent, as outlined in Fund Guidelines.  Four Personal Statements: The statements, based on required topics, are reviewed for content, creativity, and organization.  Special Essays: Extra essays may be required for specific scholarships. Evaluate the response to the donor’s topic, question, or request for information.

Choosing Recipient(s)  Use the Ranking Worksheet to determine the highest scoring applicant(s).  Record your highest scoring applicants (s) on OSAC’s Awarding Form for processing.  Look for applicants who use their required documents to paint a whole picture of their capabilities and potential. The student whose career goal is in nursing, should demonstrate good grades in science and math courses, and have volunteer or work experience in the health occupations field. Their application should reflect overall maturity and quality of work.

 Be impartial, objective, and fair.  The integrity of the selection committee is at stake, and award decisions affect recipients, non-recipients, families, colleges, and communities. The Big Picture

Consult the OSAC or OCF Scholarship Handbook for more detailed information about the selection process and evaluating applicants.  OSAC Scholarship Handbook is available at:  OCF Scholarship Handbook is available by contacting Belle Cantor, program officer for scholarships: or (503) Additional Resources

As always, special thanks to our volunteers, for everything you do for Oregon students! Thank You! Office of Student Access and Completion