Frequently Asked Questions
Last revised 3 September 2010
1. What is the Kalamazoo Promise?
2. What is The Detroit College Promise?
3. How will my donation be used?
4. Who is eligible for The Detroit College Promise Scholarships?
5. What is the application process?
7. Do I need to fill out the FAFSA application?
8. Are there any academic requirements?
9. How much will I receive from the scholarship?
10. Will scholarships be paid for transfer students to Cody?
12. How will this award work with other financial opportunities?
13. What is The Detroit Compact?
14. What are the eligible universities and/or colleges?
15. Are vocational schools eligible?
16. Can the scholarship be transferred to a private college or out-of-state vocational training program?
17. Are there additional requirements that must be met after the initial award?
18. What happens if the student fails to meet the requirements?
20. What are the mandatory fees that The Detroit College Promise pays for?
21. Are application fees covered?
22. Does The Detroit College Promise pay for deposits that colleges require to secure enrollment?
23. Can I wait before attending college?
24. How long do students have to use The Detroit College Promise?
26. How long will The Detroit College Promise be available?
27. How is The Detroit College Promise funded?
28. Who started The Detroit College Promise?
29. What is PathologyOutlines.com?
30. What is the relationship between PathologyOutlines.com, Inc. and The Detroit College Promise?
What is the Kalamazoo Promise?
The Kalamazoo Promise is a widely publicized scholarship program which began in November 2005. It provides scholarships to Michigan public colleges and universities for all students who graduate from Kalamazoo Public Schools, reside in the district, and have been Kalamazoo Public School students for at least four years. There are no income or academic restrictions. The scholarships range from 65% to 100% of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees, based on the number of years of continuous public school attendance and residency (65% for 4 years to 100% for 13 years, nothing if less than 4 years). The Kalamazoo Promise was entirely funded by anonymous donors. It has had a dramatic impact on Kalamazoo, causing an increase in public school enrollment after years of decline, and creating a minor economic boom.
What is The Detroit College Promise?
The Detroit College Promise is a scholarship program for Detroit Public School students that is modeled on the Kalamazoo Promise, but with some differences based on our need to raise the money ourselves and different characteristics of Detroit students.
Currently, 100% of donations are allocated for scholarships or (if requested) for our endowment. All of our organizational expenses (salaries, rent, office expenses, fundraising expenses, etc.) are paid by our sponsor, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc. (see below) or other donors. Scholarship funds are paid directly to Michigan public colleges and universities. No money is paid directly to students, parents or the Detroit Public Schools. Any excess scholarship funds (i.e. if the student has excess scholarship money or drops classes) will be returned to The Detroit College Promise.
Who is eligible for The Detroit College Promise Scholarships?
Beginning with the graduating class of 2011, these scholarships are available to all students who (a) apply by December 1, 2010 or by December 1 of their 9th grade year, and (b) live in Detroit and are enrolled in a DPS high school continuously from the date of application through graduation.
For the class of 2009, the scholarship was offered only to seniors at Cody High School who applied by December 1, 2008.
For the class of 2010, the scholarship was offered to all seniors at Cass Tech, Central, Cody, Douglass, Pershing and Trombly High Schools. The application deadline was January 15, 2010.
What is the application process?
Students apply by clicking on the Student Login button on the Home Page, and filling in the form. Instructions are available by clicking here. There is also a paper application (click here).
We recommend that every DPS high school and middle school student complete our simple application. Our scholarship is good for 10 years from graduation, so even students who do not plan to use it immediately may use it in the future. However, they must apply by 12/1/2010 or December 1 of their 9th grade year, or they will NOT be eligible.
Do I need to fill out the FAFSA application?
Yes. Completion of the FAFSA form (www.fafsa.ed.gov) is required to receive money from our scholarship program, because it allows us to stretch our scholarship dollars and help more students. It should be completed online by February 28, if possible. Some colleges award generous grants, but only if the FAFSA is completed on time. After March 1, less scholarship money is available. Seniors should start preparing to fill it out in September (by reviewing the previous year’s form), then start filling out the online form on January 1 when it becomes available. It may take 2-3 hours to complete, and additional time may be needed to get the required documents. More information about financial aid is available from the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association, http://www.msfaa.org/resources/links.php and Edu-Guide (www.eduguide.org).
Are there any academic requirements?
No. However, we recommend that students obtain an overall 3.0 GPA or better from 9th to 12th grade, an ACT score of 21 or higher, and have 95% attendance. These achievements will help ensure that the student will be successful in college. These are also the requirements for the Detroit Compact scholarship (see below).
How much will I receive from the scholarship?
Our scholarship pays towards the balance due, if any, for undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees after application of FAFSA related federal, state and college grants. For the high school graduating class of 2010, the maximum award was $500 per student ($250 per semester). We anticipate that this award will increase each year. For Cody graduates, the award is for four years, but it is for one year at other DPS high schools.
The student must be a full-time student, taking at least 12 credit hours per semester. Summer school classes are NOT covered at this time. Four years is defined as the receipt of a bachelor’s degree or 130 credit hours towards a degree, whichever occurs first.
Will scholarships be paid for transfer students?
No, unless students also meet the eligibility criteria indicated above.
Will students who attend Detroit Public Schools and transfer out of the system (to a private school, charter school, other school district or home schooling) prior to graduation be eligible?
No.
How will this award work with other financial opportunities?
This scholarship program pays only for undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees to attend Michigan public colleges or universities. It does not pay for books, room and board, or other expenses. It does not pay anything for private schools or non-Michigan schools.
What is The Detroit Compact?
The Detroit Compact is a scholarship operated by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce since 1990, for Detroit Public School students only. We recommend this scholarship for students who qualify, because it pays for all of the undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees to designated public universities, which may be a better scholarship than we currently provide. The requirements are an ACT score of 21 or better in reading and math only, a cumulative (from 9th grade) 3.0 GPA and 95% attendance in high school. Click here or here for more information, here for the application or call Chiquita Lawler at 313/596-0318 for more information.
What are the eligible universities and/or colleges?
All 43 state-supported public universities and community colleges in the State of Michigan.
Universities:
Ferris State University / Kendall School of Art & Design
Lake Superior State University
Michigan Technological University
Saginaw Valley State University
University of Michigan Dearborn
Community
Colleges:
Alpena Community College
Grand Rapids Community College
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Mid-Michigan Community College
Monroe County Community College
North Central Michigan College
St. Clair County Community College
Wayne County Community College
Are vocational schools eligible?
All certification or degree programs in the trades at state-supported community colleges are eligible. Private apprentice programs are not eligible.
Can the scholarship be transferred to a private college or out-of-state vocational training program?
No.
Are there additional requirements that must be met after the initial award?
Yes. Applicants must demonstrate, after each semester of college, that:
● they are enrolled as a student in good standing,
● they have successfully completed 12 credit hours in the prior semester,
● they have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.
What happens if the student fails to meet the requirements?
If a student does not take 12 credit hours in the prior semester, is not in good standing, or has a cumulative GPA less than 2.0, the scholarship will end until these requirements are met. The scholarship can be reinstated if the student takes additional classes, NOT paid for by The Detroit College Promise, which cause the student to now meet these requirements. Students can also make a hardship claim.
If the award is not needed due to other academic scholarships, can the award be applied to room and board or other fees?
No.
What are the mandatory fees that The Detroit College Promise pays for?
We use the definition of mandatory fees of the Michigan Educational Trust (MET):
“Mandatory fees are those required to be paid by all students attending a particular university/college. Application fees, contact hour fees and fees which are course specific (such as lab fees for science and computer classes, etc.), or fees assessed based on the number of credit hours enrolled are not covered.”
No. However, some institutions will waive the application fee if requested because of financial hardship.
Does The Detroit College Promise pay for deposits that colleges require to secure enrollment?
No. Most college and universities want students to make deposits to ensure that they are serious about attending their institution.
Can I wait before attending college?
Yes. However, you must apply for our scholarship by the deadline to be eligible.
How long do students have to use The Detroit College Promise?
The scholarship is available for ten years following the student’s graduation from Detroit Public Schools (example - for the graduating class of 2011, we pay for college classes through June 2021).
Study abroad is covered only if the program is administered by the Michigan college or university the student is attending. The only costs that are covered are the normal undergraduate tuition costs for the credits taken abroad.
How long will The Detroit College Promise be available?
We plan to structure The Detroit College Promise so it will continue in perpetuity. However, we are not yet at that point.
How is The Detroit College Promise funded?
Our generous donors are listed on the Donor page.
Who started The Detroit College Promise?
The Detroit College Promise was founded by its Executive Director, Dr. Nat Pernick, a third generation Detroiter who himself is a product of the public school and public university system (click here for his CV).
What is PathologyOutlines.com?
PathologyOutlines.com, Inc., established in August 2001, is a for-profit business with a non-profit ideology. It provides free, regularly updated, online textbooks of pathology, laboratory medicine and dermatology to professionals worldwide. The websites (www.PathologyOutlines.com and www.DermatologyOutlines.com) are entirely supported by advertising.
What is the relationship between PathologyOutlines.com, Inc. and The Detroit College Promise?
PathologyOutlines.com covers most of the expenses of The Detroit College Promise not covered by grants. This means it is providing staff and office space, and paying other office expenses not covered by grants. PathologyOutlines.com has also pledged $30,000 towards the scholarship fund.
End of Frequently Asked Questions