UHD Unveils New Gator Scholarship Center to Transform Scholarship Application Process

 

UHD is proud to announce the launch of the Gator Scholarship Center (GSC), a groundbreaking initiative that centralizes all scholarship resources into a single, accessible hub for both prospective and current students. Developed through a collaborative effort between the Division of Enrollment Management and the Division of University Advancement, the GSC is designed to streamline the scholarship search and application experience.

By allowing students to complete a single application, the center matches them with all scholarships for which they qualify, thereby eliminating the cumbersome process of searching and applying for multiple scholarships in a previously decentralized system.

The official launch workshop will take place from 3-6 p.m., Monday, April 22, in the Welcome Center. During the Scholars and Cents launch party, prospective and current students, along with their families, will have the opportunity to receive personalized assistance with the scholarship application, the 2024-2025 FAFSA, and visit colleges and departments that offer scholarships. UHD’s Writing Center will also be on hand to assist students with developing a personal statement to complete the scholarship application.

President Blanchard expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, "The Gator Scholarship Center is a testament to UHD's unwavering commitment to student success and our ongoing efforts to advance access to education through scholarships. We are dedicated to removing barriers to higher education and supporting our students in their academic and professional journeys."

The initiative has been brought to fruition with invaluable input from all academic colleges and current students, which participated in focus groups to help design the center. Their contributions have been instrumental in ensuring the center meets the diverse needs of the UHD student body.

The GSC is now live and accepting applications for the 2024-2025 academic year. The new application process is remarkably streamlined, utilizing UHD's single sign-on access to retrieve student information directly from the student information system. This reduces the amount of information students need to provide and further simplifies the application process.

Dr. Daniel Villanueva, Vice President of Enrollment Management, highlighted the efficiency of the new system, saying, "The streamlined process introduced by the Gator Scholarship Center is a game-changer for our students. It makes applying for scholarships easier than ever before, ensuring that more students have the opportunity to secure the financial support they need to succeed."

Jay Zambrano,  Vice President for University Advancement, also emphasized the center's role in connecting donors with students, "The Gator Scholarship Center not only supports our students but also enhances our relationship with donors. Students will be able to directly upload thank you letters and videos. It's a powerful tool for showing the impact of donor’s contributions."