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Opportunity Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions |
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| Click on any question below for more information on that topic. When finished click on the Jackrabbit above to return to our main page. |
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Q: How long can I receive the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship?
Q: What happens if I lose my South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship due to credits?
Q: How do I contact the Executive Director of the Board of Regents?
Q: What happens if I lose my South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship due to GPA?
Q: What do I need to do in order to regain my scholarship if I lost it due to GPA?
Q: What is the difference between the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship and the Jackrabbit Guarantee?
A: Click here for a comparative explanation of both programs. You can also find more information regarding the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship at the South Dakota Board of Regents Website . The University Scholarship Coordinator monitors both these programs and can be contacted with questions or concerns.
Q: How long can I receive the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship?
A: Students are eligible for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship for a maximum of 8 semesters. The “scholarship clock” starts in a student’s first semester of eligibility, and cannot be stopped.
Q: I am planning on doing an internship, and I won’t have enough credits to meet the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship requirements. What should I do?
A: Students with special circumstances, such as students participating in the National Student Exchange (NSE) program, the Study Abroad program, or who are doing academic internships must request approval in writing from the Executive Director of the Board of Regents prior to leaving SDSU in order to remain eligible for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship. Approval is at the discretion of the Board of Regents.
Q: What happens if I lose my South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship due to credits?
A: A student must complete 15 or more credits per semester in order to retain their South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship. Summer credits hours do not count. If a student loses eligibility for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship due to lack of required credit hours, the student is unable to regain the scholarship.
Q: I couldn’t take enough credits due to extenuating circumstances. Is there any way I can regain my scholarship if I lost it due to credits?
A: In special circumstances, a student could appeal to the Executive Director of the Board of Regents in writing asking for exemption from strict compliance with this regulation. Approval is at the discretion of the Board of Regents.
Q: How do I contact the Executive Director of the Board of Regents?
A: Contact information for the South Dakota Board of Regents can be found HERE
Q: What happens if I lose my South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship due to GPA?
A: A student must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in order to retain their South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship. If a student loses eligibility for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship due to low GPA, the student could possibly regain the scholarship the semester after they have improved their cumulative GPA to 3.0 or above.
Q: What do I need to do in order to regain my scholarship if I lost it due to GPA?
A: If a student is able to improve their cumulative GPA above a 3.0, they may fill out the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship Eligibility Reinstatement Form, which can be found HERE
SDSU students should print and submit this form to the University Scholarship Coordinator. The form will be reviewed and if the student is eligible for reinstatement, they will receive their scholarship again the following semester. Note: Any student who loses eligibility a second time may not be reinstated a second time.
Q: What happens if I repeat a course? Does my repeated course count towards the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship the second time I take it?
A: No. A repeated course will serve to improve your cumulative GPA, but it will not count toward the number of required credits for the semester. Therefore, if a student repeats a 3 credit course during the fall semester, they must take 18 credits that semester to retain their scholarship instead of 15.
Q: What happens if I get an incomplete in a course? Does my incomplete course count towards the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship?
A: Each student in the scholarship program must attempt and complete 15 semester credit hours of instruction each semester. If a student completes an incomplete course, it would count towards their South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship in the semester it was completed, not the semester it was originally attempted.
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