Buffett Scholar FAQ’s

1.  What costs are covered with my Buffett Scholarship?
   Up to $3,750 per semester for tuition and fees and $500 a semester for books and supplies.


2. When should I apply for scholarships?
   From January 1 to the application deadline of March 1.


3. Am I required to file a FAFSA?
   Yes, with your application. Financial need is one of the criteria for the scholarship and is determined by the student filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submitting a copy of their Student Aid Report (SAR) along with the scholarship application. Please go to www.fafsa.ed.gov for more information on filing for federal student aid. Once you have been awarded the scholarship, the FAFSA is not required for subsequent years for renewal of the scholarship. However, we do encourage you to complete or update your FAFSA application annually to see your aid options. Students who receive federal financial aid should contact the UNO financial aid office regarding annual requirements.


4. Do I need to reapply each year?
   No.  Your scholarship will automatically renew each semester for up to five years for a four year college if you continue to meet the scholarship requirements or until you graduate or obtain your bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first.


5. What if I add classes after my scholarship has been paid?
   The costs of these classes are the student's responsibility. If the classes are added between the early registration period and the first week of classes for fall and spring, or the first day of each summer session, scholarship funds will pay the additional tuition and fee costs up to the maximum scholarship amount.


6. What happens if I drop classes and am assessed partial or full tuition for them?
   You will need to reimburse the Foundation for costs of the dropped classes.  Failure to do so will result in the loss of your scholarship.  Each campus notifies the Foundation of the amount owed and usually the amount of your scholarship will be reduced for the following semester by this amount.


7. What are the deadlines for submission of grades to the Foundation?
1. January 10 for the fall semester
2. June 1 for the spring semester
3. Within 3 weeks after your last summer session


8. Does my grade report need to be official?
   No. Submit your grade report using the website https://buffettscholargrades.nebraska.edu; include your term and cumulative GPA and any withdrawn and incomplete course hours for the term as listed on your student record in Mavlink. Also include your intended date of graduation and any changes to your address or e-mail address. Correspondence is handled via e-mail, so it is imperative that you advise us of any changes immediately. Be sure to also update your e-mail address on your student record through Mavlink.


9. What happens if I fail to submit my grades by the deadline?
   Failure to submit your grades by the deadline will result in the loss of your scholarship.


10. What GPA is required to maintain my scholarship?
    You need to maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 each semester.


11. What happens if my GPA drops below 2.0?
    If your GPA drops below 2.0, you will be at risk of losing your scholarship and your scholarship could be terminated.


12. What happens if I do not participate in or comply with all William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community (TLC) requirements?
    Your scholarship will be terminated.


13. Are summer school costs covered?
    The scholarship will pay up to a maximum of $3,750 for all summer sessions and $33 per credit hour for books and/or supplies up to a maximum of $500. It is the student's responsibility to submit a grade report using the website https://buffettscholargrades.nebraska.edu within 3 weeks after the end of the last summer session. If you will be attending a school other than UNO and the course is needed for your degree, it is the student's responsibility to notify the Foundation at scholarships@nebraska.edu of intent to attend summer classes at least two weeks prior to the start date, if requesting funding. If you are receiving federal financial aid during the summer, it is the student's responsibility to contact the financial aid office regarding requirements and when funds will be disbursed to your student account.


14. Does summer school count as a semester?
    The Foundation gives summer school the same weight as regular semesters, so if summer school is funded by the Foundation and your cumulative GPA drops below 2.0, your scholarship will be terminated.


15. Can my scholarship be used for study abroad?
    Possibly if credits earned go toward your degree requirements and are billed through your student account. The scholarship will cover the equivalent of tuition and fees for those credit hours earned up to the maximum of $3,750. The scholarship will not pay for airfare or other travel costs, room, board or any miscellaneous costs. It is the student's responsibility to notify the Foundation at scholarships@nebraska.edu of intent to study abroad at least two weeks prior to the start date if requesting funding or if requesting the scholarship be placed 'on hold' while participating in the study abroad program and not receiving funding. Study abroad has the same weight as a regular semester. If your GPA drops below 2.0 or you do not report grades for the term prior to your study abroad, your approved program scholarship funds may be cancelled or your scholarship may be terminated. Students placed on probation by the learning communities will be required to comply with the probationary guidelines and cannot postpone this probation by studying abroad. A grade report for your study abroad courses must be submitted by the semester due date using the website https://buffettscholargrades.nebraska.edu . If grades will not be available by the due date, notify the Foundation at scholarships@nebraska.edu .


16. May I use my scholarship at another state school even if I am a student at a University campus?
    Yes, if you have available scholarship funds, you must notify the Foundation where you will be taking classes and those classes must count toward your degree. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Foundation at scholarships@nebraska.edu at least two weeks prior to the start date if requesting funding by emailing the following information: name of the school, start date, name of the classes and number of credit hours, and how the classes apply to your major/minor.
    


17. How many credit hours must I carry each semester?
    You must carry a full time load during the fall and spring term (minimum of twelve credit hours), unless you are working. All working students must carry an academic load of at least nine credit hours and must notify the Foundation of employment status prior to the start of the semester by e-mailing scholarships@nebraska.edu the name of the employer, supervisor's name and supervisor's phone/e-mail. If you plan to withdraw from a course during the semester and your credit hours will go below the minimum requirement, if possible, you should add credit hours to meet the requirement. If you cannot add a course, it is the student's responsibility to notify the Foundation at scholarships@nebraska.edu to request to complete reduced credit hours. Include in the e-mail to the Foundation, the number of hours enrolled after the withdrawal and the reason for the withdrawal.


18. Is this scholarship for graduate work?
    The scholarship is for undergraduate studies only.


19. May I transfer my scholarship to another Nebraska state college or community college?
    Yes. You may transfer your scholarship to any Nebraska state public college, university, or community college as long as you notify the Foundation in advance, are still an undergraduate student, and are meeting scholarship GPA requirements. You also need to notify UNO of your intentions to transfer.


20. How is my scholarship paid to me?
    The Foundation sends your scholarship to your campus, which then credits your tuition statement for the costs of your actual semester tuition and fees up to a maximum of $3,750 a semester plus a book allowance up to $500.


21. How do I receive my book money?
    You will receive your book money from your campus for $500 each fall and spring semester or $33 per credit hour for summer courses up to the maximum of $500. The book money is credited to your student account and will be available on your Mavcard approximately one week prior to each semester start date. For the summer term, the prorated book money will be available on your Mavcard about a week before the very first summer session for the students who are registered. If you register after that time, the book money will become available the day after you register regardless of when your summer classes start.


22. I am a freshman or sophomore.  Whom do I contact about the Thompson Scholars Learning Community?
1. At UNO, contact Kellie Pickett at 402-554-4080, or visit the website http://www.unomaha.edu/thompsonlc/
2. At UNK, contact Jennifer Harvey or Scott Seeba at 308-865-8364, or visit the website http://www.unk.edu/thompson/
3. At UNL, contact Kelli King at 402-472-5523, or visit the website http://www.unl.edu/wht


23. What is the e-mail address to ask other questions I may have?
Email your questions to scholarships@nebraska.edu. Make sure to include your name and which campus you are attending.


24. Do I need to claim the scholarship funds as income on my tax return?
In nearly all instances, this scholarship will not count as income on your tax return. The scholarship check is not made out to the student, so the funds do not need to be claimed on tax returns. However, if you receive additional scholarships or tuition assistance, please confirm this with your tax preparer.

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