Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship Program, Guidelines

The Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship (ESDHS) Program is a scholarship of direct aid to attract and retain undergraduate students to State University of New York (University) campuses who have demonstrated high academic achievement and have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. The program is open to all students from a broad range of backgrounds who will contribute to the diversity of the student body by demonstrating a commitment to facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in their academic programs and campus communities.

The Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship (ESDHS) Program is a scholarship of direct aid to attract and retain undergraduate students to State University of New York (University) campuses who have demonstrated high academic achievement and have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Candidates will contribute to the diversity of the student body by demonstrating a commitment to facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in their academic programs and campus communities.

Campus Participation

University state-operated and community colleges are eligible to participate in this program.
Program Funding

Participating campuses are required to match state funds received for this program on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Federal Title IV financial aid funds cannot be used as matching funds.
Student Eligibility and Selection
1. Each campus is responsible for establishing a procedure for selecting award recipients.
2. The process must include an opportunity for student applicants to indicate interest in the scholarship program and information necessary for the campus to determine eligibility.
3. The following requirements and guidelines should assist in the selection process:
  1. Academic Criteria
    
    Eligible students must be enrolled in a degree program and have demonstrated high academic achievement. It is the responsibility of each campus to define the criteria for high academic achievement for its own scholar selection process. Although it is strongly recommended that Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship recipients participate in a campus honors program, this is not a prerequisite for campus participation or student selection. They may be enrolled less than full-time providing they continue to meet the campus definition for high academic achievement.
  2. Financial Criteria
    
    Recipients are not required to demonstrate financial need. However, to determine eligibility for other state and federal financial aid, all recipients should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 3. E
  3. Eligibility Criteria
    
    Participants must be:
    1. U.S. citizens or permanent resident status and
    2. New York State residents, who have demonstrated high academic achievement and have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Candidates must also demonstrate a commitment to contributing to the diversity of the student body by facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in their academic programs and campus communities.
      
      Even though financial need is not a requirement for program eligibility, applicants may utilize economic disadvantage as a basis for eligibility.
      
      Preference will be given to candidates who are from low-income backgrounds (e.g., Pell-eligible as undergraduates), were first-generation college students (students whose parents have not earned a bachelor's degree), have overcome adversity, are AmeriCorps alumni, and/ or are veterans consistent with the Diversity, Equity, and inclusion in SUNY Admissions resolution adopted by the SUNY Board of Trustees in September 2023.
Award Amount
1. The maximum student award available under this program is one-half the student's cost of attendance or $3,000, whichever is less, to be matched in an equal amount by the campus. There is no minimum award.
2. All ESDHS program funds must be matched with at least an equal amount of campus funds.
3. Selected students who are eligible must apply for and utilize all Pell Grant and Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award before the Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship can be applied. The amount of the total ESDHS, including the campus-matching share, cannot exceed the difference between the total cost of attendance and financial aid received. It is the intent of this program that recipients continue to receive ESDHS support while enrolled at the campus granting the scholarship, provided the student meets the required academic criteria established by that college.
Allocation of Scholarship Funds to Campuses

University system administration will allocate funds to campuses. Future allocations may be dependent upon campus compliance with this requirement.
Reporting
1. Campuses are required to submit an annual summary of scholarship recipients to University system administration. The summary will include:
  1. student ethnicity and
  2. each preference category referenced within the eligibility criteria,
  3. academic information such as:
    1. high school average,
    2. standardized test scores,
    3. college GPA,
    4. amount of total scholarship and
    5. confirmation of matching funds.
2. Future allocations are dependent upon submission of this report.
3. Campus must retain supporting details and documentation of student eligibility for reporting and auditing purposes.

Participating campuses must fill out and return the Annual Reporting Verification Form to Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“ODEI”) by the end of each academic year in order to receive funding the following year. The form will be emailed to you from ODEI.

Participating campuses must follow additional scholarship requirements set forth by ODEI in accordance with these guidelines which will be reviewed and revised on an annual basis as deemed necessary and appropriate.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Pell Grants

State University of New York Board of Trustees Resolution, adopted September 12, 2023.

State University of New York Board of Trustees Resolution 06-2, adopted January 24, 2006.

State University of New York System Administration, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion made minor technical amendments to reflect current titles and references: permanent resident aliens to permanent resident status.

State University of New York Board of Trustees Resolution, adopted September 12, 2023, authorized the Chancellor to issue guidance, provide tools, gauge campus progress, and conduct campus trainings as intended to implement the resolution addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in SUNY Admission and admissions related practices and programs.

State University of New York Board of Trustees Resolution 87-115, adopted June 24, 1987 authorized the establishment of guidelines for and to plan for implementation of the State University’s Empire State Minorities Honors Scholarship Program.

State University of New York Board of Trustees Resolution 84-158, adopted June 27, 1984, regarding guidelines reaffirming affirmative action for minority students.

There are no appendices relevant to this procedure.