Buffett Scholar FAQ’s

1.  What costs are covered with my Buffett Scholarship?
   Up to $3,600 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.


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. 


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 1 for the fall semester for UNK & UNL; January 10 for UNO
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.  Please go to the website https://buffettscholargrades.nebraska.edu to submit your grades which includes your term and cumulative GPA from your campus website. Also include the campus or other school you attended, your intended date of graduation and any changes to your address or email address.  Correspondence is handled via email, so it is imperative that you advise us of any changes immediately.


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 $3,600 for the summer sessions and up to $33 per credit hour for books and/or supplies 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 the student is attending a school other than their primary University campus, 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 they are requesting funding.


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 UNL/UNK/UNO.  The scholarship will cover the equivalent of tuition and fees for those credit hours earned up to the maximum of $3,600.  The scholarship will not pay for airfare, room, board or any travel 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 they are requesting funding or if requesting their scholarship be placed ‘on hold’ while not attending their primary University campus.


16. May I use my scholarship at another state school even if I am a student at a University campus?
    Yes, but you must let the Foundation know 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.


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.


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 tuition and fees up to a maximum of $3,600 a semester.


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 UNL, contact Kelli King at 402-472-5523, or visit the website http://www.unl.edu/wht
2. At UNO, contact Kellie Pickett at 402-554-4080, or visit the website http://www.unomaha.edu/thompsonlc/
3. At UNK, contact Jennifer Harvey at 308-865-8364, or visit the website http://www.unk.edu/offices/reslife.aspx?id=40748.  You may also contact Jolene Berg in the Finance Office at 308-865-8778.


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.

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