Posted By: Career Enrichment Network
Summer is typically the time of year we see the most Liberal Arts students participating in internships and study abroad experiences. In the Career Enrichment Network, we love to see the types of enrichment activities in which our students participate, almost as much as we enjoy providing funding to help make those experiences more affordable.
We have a general list of enrichment funding FAQs on our website to assist applicants. But because the summer semester is often unique compared to the fall and spring, we wanted to clarify some specific questions we tend to see in the summer.
Here are some important summer FAQs you need to know:
Q: Are there application deadlines for the summer?
A: Yes! We have 2 application deadlines this summer. Our priority application deadline is May 1, 2016. Full consideration will be given to applications received by the priority deadline. Applications received after will be considered on a funds-available basis. The FINAL summer application deadline is June 1, 2016. Applications received after the June 1 deadline will NOT be considered for funding.
Q: Does it matter how many credits I am registered for in the summer?
A: Yes, it absolutely does! This part is really important: all our awards are processed through your student bursar account, SO the number of credits for which you are registered in the summer may impact the disbursement of your award ā even if the Penn State courses you are taking have nothing to do with your enrichment experience!
You can still receive enrichment funds in the summer if you are registered for fewer than 12 credits, or even if you are not taking any courses! But there may be things you need to do to help facilitate the disbursement of your award. Here are a few things you should do:
- If you will be in part-time status in the summer, you need to declare your part-time status indicator in eLion in order to receive your award.
- If you decide to drop a class in the summer, even if the class is not related to your enrichment experience, you should contact the Career Enrichment Network (lanetwork@psu.edu or 814-865-1070) immediately. Changing your number of credits (e.g. from 6 to 3 credits) may impact the disbursement of your award.
- If you decide to withdraw from your summer classes, you need to contact the Career Enrichment Network immediately (lanetwork@psu.edu or 814-865-1070)! You might have realized those on-line classes you thought you could take in addition to your internship are just too much. But withdrawing from your summer courses will most definitely impact your summer award. Contact our office immediately and we will see what options we have to disburse your award.
Q: Why has my award not been disbursed?
A: This is where things can get complicated! Here are a few scenarios:
- Are you registered for Penn State credits in multiple summer sessions? If so, your summer award will disburse on the first day of the last summer session for which you are registered (unless your award is posted after this date) ā even if the course for which you are registered does not relate to your enrichment experience.
- Have you changed the number of credits for which you are registered in the summer? Read through the previous Q&A to see the details on this one.
- Did we ask you to write a thank you letter? If you were asked to write a thank you letter to the donors responsible for your award, you need to submit the letter by the deadline indicated in your initial email notification.
Please make sure to view our website for other important enrichment funding information and FAQs. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.