GPA Requirement

Warning Status

A warning will be issued to students whose semester/quarter grades fall below a 3.0 but whose cumulative GPA remains above a 3.0.

If the student’s term GPA is below a 3.0 for a second consecutive semester/quarter, then the student’s Scholarship will be reviewed, and at the Foundation’s discretion, the student may be placed on probation, even if his/her cumulative GPA is still above 3.0.

If a Scholar has a grade point average in any semester/quarter that is below a 2.0, he or she will be required to schedule a meeting with Boettcher Foundation staff. After that meeting, there are three possible outcomes:

• You may be given a warning
• You may be placed on probation
• Your Boettcher Scholarship may be terminated

While these guidelines hold true, this process is ultimately governed by Foundation discretion.

Probation Status

Boettcher Scholars are required to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA. If a Scholar fails to maintain a 3.0 GPA, his or her Scholarship will be placed on probation.

After a Scholar has been officially placed on probation, his or her semester/quarter grades will be scrutinized each term. As long as his or her semester/quarter grades remain above 3.0, the Scholar will not lose the Boettcher Scholarship even if his or her cumulative GPA remains below a 3.0.

A Scholar will be taken off probation once his or her cumulative GPA is again above a 3.0. While these guidelines hold true, this process is ultimately governed by Foundation discretion.

Moratoria (Deferral or Leave of Absence)

The Boettcher Foundation requires its Scholars to enroll in school every fall and spring term for the duration of the Scholarship.

However, in some cases, Scholars have been permitted to defer their Scholarships. In order to take a leave from school but keep their Scholarship, Scholars MUST have pre-approval from the Foundation. Historically, moratoria have not been granted in the first year of the Scholarship.

In most cases, students have been allowed to defer their Scholarship in the second, third or fourth year for the following reasons:

• Issues of health where medical authorization has been provided
• Rare professional development opportunities
• Unique service-related activities

Each case is reviewed individually, and all moratoria must be pre-approved by the President of the Boettcher Foundation.

The Foundation looks at several criteria when deciding whether to grant a leave of absence:

• Will the moratorium enhance the broader educational experience of the Scholar?
• Will it avoid adversely affecting the value of the Scholarship?
• Will it support the basic spirit of the Boettcher Scholarship’s founding intent?

To request a deferral, a Scholar must submit a written proposal to the Foundation that specifies the reason for the desired moratorium and includes appropriate documentation of the circumstance. This request must be submitted prior to the end of the semester/quarter preceding the term that you would like to defer. When the Scholar returns from a moratorium, he or she must give the Foundation written notice as to when he or she would like to have the Scholarship reinstated.

Scholarship Extensions

Many Scholars have the option to graduate in less than four years because of college/AP credits earned during high school. Others find themselves in this position because of a study-abroad program or other opportunity that has provided them with college credit, allowing them to graduate in fewer than the 8 semesters/12 quarters guaranteed by the Scholarship.

In such circumstances, a Scholar may choose to:

1. Postpone graduation and use the remaining Scholarship to pursue additional studies at the undergraduate level, or;
2. Apply the remaining Scholarship funding toward graduate school in Colorado. Because the Boettcher Scholarship has been developed as an undergraduate program, should a Scholar wish to apply the Boettcher Scholarship to graduate school, he or she MUST contact the Foundation and receive approval. Permission will be granted only in cases where the graduate school is located in Colorado and the graduate program is begun within 27 months of graduation from the Scholar’s undergraduate program. Approval is not guaranteed, and the amount of Scholarship coverage will be determined by the Foundation on a case-by-case basis. Remaining Scholarship funds that are not approved for graduate study will be forfeited.

Pass/Fail Option

The Foundation expects Scholars to excel in their courses. For that reason, we generally discourage Scholar’s from taking pass/fail courses. However, we do encourage Scholars to explore subjects outside their majors and to demonstrate great depth in their course work.

That’s why we understand that there are times when the pass/fail option would open up educational opportunities and allow Scholars to better achieve their goals. For example, a pre-med chemistry student may want to take an upper-division art course, but be hesitant to take it without the pass/fail option because of the risk of jeopardizing his/her GPA in a difficult course outside his/her focus of study.

Because of situations like those mentioned above, the Foundation allows pass/fail courses within limits:

• A Scholar may not take more than one pass/fail course per semester.
• A pass/fail course must be in addition to a regular schedule of graded courses.
• A Scholar must have a minimum of 12 graded hours each semester/term.
• A Scholar may not take pass/fail courses in his/her major or for core requirements.
• All pass/fail courses taken must abide by the policies at the Scholar’s school.

Additional Scholarships

It’s no secret that college is expensive these days. The difference between the total cost of college and our award can be made up through additional scholarships. In fact, the majority of Boettcher Scholars get additional scholarships or grants to supplement their Boettcher Scholarships. This funding may come from the school or from outside sources.

However, we do not want Scholars to take funding that could go to someone else who needs it. That’s why the Foundation and universities do not want Scholars to accept funds beyond the total expense of college, which would deprive other deserving students of opportunities to earn much-needed financial support.

Consequently, the total additional scholarships a Scholar accepts should not exceed the cost of attendance provided by the Office of Financial Aid. All scholarships should be reported to and coordinated by representatives in the Office of Financial Aid at each Scholar’s school. If you require more detailed information about this policy, please contact the Financial Aid Officer assigned to Boettcher Scholars at your school.