FAQs

What is the Staff Council Scholarship Program?

The Staff Council Scholarship Program was established to help staff members realize the benefits of a WVU education. Staff Council is proud to offer this program in partnership with University administration to help eligible employees with the cost of undergraduate classes.

Who is eligible to apply for the scholarship?

Classified and non-classified benefits-eligible employees employed by WVU, including those at WVU Beckley and WVU Keyser, as well as non-commissioned officers serving as staff with the WVU Army and Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs, are eligible to apply.

How much is the scholarship?

*Exact scholarship amount is dependent on the bill received by the scholarship recipient for each semester, which may vary based on campus enrollment, residency status and course selection.

What is covered by this scholarship and how will funds be paid?

The scholarship may be used to cover the costs of tuition and fees at any WVU campus and is not eligible for refund. The scholarship cannot be applied to room and board, books or other related costs. The award will be paid in your student account at the beginning of each semester.

Why does my student account have a “pending” status on the scholarship?

Scholarship recipients must have a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in the last semester, which will be verified by WVU Student Financial Services. The “pending” status will be removed once the required GPA for the last semester is confirmed.

What is the selection process?

Scholarships are based on the availability of funds for each semester. If the program has more applicants than available funds, scholarships will be awarded using the following criteria, in priority order:

1. Degree status – Preference will be given to applicants working on a degree in the following order: first undergraduate degree, second undergraduate degree, then non-degree.

2. Student rank – Preference will be given to applicants based on their academic rank (i.e., senior, junior, sophomore, then freshman).

3. Application date – Preference will be given to applicants based on the completion date of the application in order of submission.

Any eligible employee who is not selected for a scholarship will be placed on a wait list for that semester and will be contacted via email if a scholarship becomes available.

Can I use the scholarship to take graduate courses?

No. The scholarship does not cover graduate courses. Please review Employee Graduate Tuition Waivers for additional information on waivers for graduate courses.

How do I apply for the scholarship?

View all details on the Application page.

Do I need my supervisor’s approval to attend classes during my normal work schedule?

Employees must have prior written approval from their immediate supervisor to take a class that occurs during their normal work hours.

For more information on educational work release, please review the Work Release procedure. Flexible work arrangements and the use of annual leave or compensatory time off (CTO) may also be options, if approved by your supervisor. 

I am a probationary employee. Can I apply for the scholarship?

Employees must successfully complete their six-month probationary period for their current position prior to applying.

May the scholarship be used to attend a summer semester?

Yes. The program does consider applications for the summer semester, pending available program funds.

What is the deadline to apply for the scholarship?

Program deadlines can be viewed on the Application page.

How many credits do students have to take to be eligible?

Employees must be enrolled at a West Virginia University campus and registered for at least (1) class. Scholarship recipients will receive up to $1,335* per semester.

The employee is responsible for any tuition, fees or other charges not covered by the scholarship.

Are there any academic requirements to qualify or remain eligible for the scholarship?

Scholarship recipients must have a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in the last semester, which will be verified by WVU Student Financial Services. First-time University enrollees are encouraged to apply.

What happens if I withdraw from or fail my class?

If a scholarship recipient withdraws from or fails a class that was paid using funds from this scholarship, they may be ineligible to participate in the program during the next semester.

What happens if I leave employment while continuing to take a class paid with scholarship funds?

If you leave employment with WVU, you will be able to continue your course work and your scholarship does not have to be refunded. However, you will not be eligible for this scholarship unless you return to employment at WVU and meet other eligibility requirements.

What should I do if I change my mind and do not want to take a class?

Scholarship recipients who decide not to take a class must notify the program of their intention not to use the award at least ten (10) days before the start of classes for that semester. Scholarship recipients who fail to notify the program, as outlined above, may be ineligible to participate in the program during the next semester.

If I am a scholarship recipient and do not register for a class, what will happen to my award?

If a scholarship recipient has not registered for a class at least five (5) business days before the first day of classes, the award will be rescinded for that semester. Late registration or late payment fees will not be covered by the scholarship and are the sole responsibility of the employee.

Can I defer my scholarship to another semester?

No. The scholarship may not be deferred to another semester.

Do I need to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible?

Although a FAFSA is not required to be eligible for this scholarship, it is still recommended to ensure maximum consideration of federal and state aid. The FAFSA may be completed at fafsa.gov.

How will I know if I’ve been awarded the scholarship?

All applicants will be notified via email regarding the results of the selection process prior to the start of the upcoming semester and the scholarship will be reflected on the student’s bill.

Does the scholarship apply to classes taken at any WVU campus? 

Yes. This scholarship applies to the entire WVU system, including classes held on the Morgantown, Keyser and Beckley campuses, as well as WVU Online. 

Are employees of WVU Research Corp. and WVU Innovation Corporation eligible for this scholarship?

No. Employees of WVU Research Corp. and University Innovation Corporation are not eligible for this scholarship.

How will other financial aid impact the scholarship?

Federal and state financial aid regulations limit a student’s financial aid up to their cost of attendance. Dependent on other financial aid, the Staff Council Scholarship may be reduced to comply with these regulations.

Is employer provided educational assistance, including scholarship and waivers, subject to taxation?

Employer provided educational assistance given to benefit eligible employees and which includes all forms of non-merit gift aid is considered additional taxable income for amounts received above $5,250 per calendar year. Amounts received in excess of the $5,250 calendar year allowance will be added to the employee's pay and the appropriate income taxes withheld.

If you have questions about the tax treatment of benefits provided, please contact Tax Services at at tax@mail.wvu.edu. It is also recommended that you contact your personal tax consultant to determine the impact to your personal tax situation. Additional information about educational assistance programs in general is available in IRS Publication 970.

If I do not receive a scholarship, is there an appeal process?

The decisions of the Staff Council Scholarship Committee are final.

Where can I find additional information?

For more information, refer to the Resources page. Questions may also be directed to Staff Council Scholarship Program at staffcouncil@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-5965.