National Scholarship
Program Guide
November 2016
Make Your College Dreams Come True!
TheDream.US National Scholarship Program Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction to the Guide ..................................................................................................................................2
Your Scholar Commitments ...............................................................................................................................3
The Amount of Your Award ...............................................................................................................................4
Receiving and Using Your Award ......................................................................................................................5
Renewing Your Scholarship Award ...................................................................................................................8
Transferring your Scholarship to another Partner College ..........................................................................9
Exceptions for Special Circumstances .......................................................................................................... 10
Questions: Who to Go to for What ................................................................................................................. 11
Termination of the Scholarship ..................................................................................................................... 11
Revisions to the Scholarship Program .......................................................................................................... 11
Introduction to the Guide
Congratulations on receiving TheDream.US1 Scholarship Award. This guide will help you
understand how to receive and manage your award. This guide and the processes set forth herein
(including the deadlines) will change from time to time. You should always check TheDream.US
website for the most recent version of the Guide.
1
TheDream.US Scholarship Program is a project of the New Venture Fund, a 501(c)(3).
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Your Scholar Commitments
As Scholar of TheDream.US, you pledged and committed to do the following:
I believe in my future and myself.

I will thank the donors who have made it possible for me to go to college by sending a note of
appreciation to TheDream.US Scholarship Program, 1300 N. 17th Street, Rosslyn, VA 22209
I commit to enroll in college.

I will enroll in a Partner College within one year of the date of the scholarship award and will maintain
full time status, regular attendance through my graduation, and cumulative college GPA of 3.0 or better.

I will sign up to receive text messages from TheDream.US and I will respond to emails, text messages,
and other communications from TheDream.US Scholarship Program within two days of receipt.
I commit to persevere while I am in college.

I will build and maintain a relationship with my Scholar Advisor by checking-in at least once per term to
review my progress.

I will work with my Scholar Advisor to develop and use an education plan with goals for the completion
of my degree. I will review and update this plan with my Scholar Advisor at the end of each term.

If I am struggling to meet my commitments, I will work with my Scholar Advisor to develop and submit a
plan to TheDream.US Scholarship Program.

I will work with my Scholar Advisor to identify and participate in available academic support programs
(e.g., tutoring, study workshops, etc.) as I need them.
I commit to support other DREAMers who want to go to college.

Through the Scholars Community, I will support fellow Scholars, mentor new Scholars, and identify
opportunities to “pay it forward” through service in my college or community.

I will support and help improve the TheDream.US Scholarship Fund through interviews, focus groups,
and events such as award luncheons, dinners or workshops.
I commit to graduate and join the workforce to contribute to the economic prosperity and social
richness of this county and the world.

I will keep TheDream.US Scholarship Fund informed as to how I have used my education to help others
and myself.
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The Amount of Your Award
Scholars attending California Public Colleges – see section below
Amount of Your Annual Award: The amount of your annual award will be based on the cost of
tuition and fees based on your enrollment status (i.e., number of credits). We will not reduce the
amount of your award by other aid, scholarships, or grants, unless your total financial aid package
exceeds the estimated cost of attendance based on your living arrangement (e.g., on campus or
off campus). In addition, you may receive an additional amount per year for books, supplies, and
transportation.2
You are expected to apply for all available state and institutional financial aid and actively seek
other scholarships and grants. If your total financial aid (including state and institutional aid and
other scholarship award or grants) exceeds your cost of attendance, the Partner College will
refund any overage to TheDream.US.
NOTE: If you are attending a National Online College you are not eligible for the books, supplies
and transportation additional award.
1. Maximum Award for First Time College Scholar Seeking an Associate Degree: You are eligible
to receive up to $12,500 for tuition and fees and up to $2,000 for books, supplies and
transportation which can be used over a three-year period for an associate’s degree.
2. Transfer to 4-year Partner College: If you are enrolled in an associate degree program at a
Partner College, you may use the TheDream.US Scholarship to complete your bachelor’s degree at
a 4-year Partner College so long as you remain eligible, there is not a break in enrollment, and
scholarship funds remain available. If you do so, the total amount you can receive is up to
$25,000 for tuition and fees and up to $4,000 for books, supplies, and transportation.
TIP: If you start in a community college and want to go on to earn a bachelor’s degree at a 4-year
Partner College you should work with your Scholar Advisor and Financial Aid Department to
develop a financial plan for managing your award through completion of your bachelor’s degree.
3. Maximum Award for First Time College Scholar Seeking a Bachelor’s Degree: If you are a 1st
Time College Student Scholar, you are eligible to receive up to $25,000 for tuition and fees and up
to $4,000 for books, supplies, and transportation which can be used over a six-year period for a
bachelor’s degree.
4. Maximum Award for Community College Graduate Scholar Seeking a Bachelor’s Degree: If
you are a Community College Graduate Scholar, you are eligible to receive up to $25,000 for tuition
2
IRS Policy on Taxability of Scholarships: You are encouraged to consult with your college’s financial aid office or with your personal or
family advisor to determine whether any portion of your award is taxable income that needs to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service.
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and fees and up to $2,000 for books, supplies and transportation which can be used over a threeyear period for a bachelor’s degree.
California Scholars attending Universities of California, California State Universities,
or California Community Colleges:
Amount of Your Annual Award: TheDream.US will consider the estimated costs of attendance
and the availability of state and institutional aid for AB540 students. Based on this we will set a
fixed amount for the scholarship award for each of our California Partner Colleges. The annual
award will not exceed $6,250 per year for UC’s and CSU’s and $2,000 per year for CCC’s. You are
expected to apply for all available state and institutional aid and to actively seek other
scholarships and grants. If your total financial aid (including state and institutional aid and other
scholarship award or grants) exceeds the cost of attendance, the Partner College is required to
refund any overage to TheDream.US.
1. Maximum Award for First Time College Scholar Seeking an Associate Degree: You are eligible
to receive up to $4,000 for the total cost of attendance which can be used over a three-year period
for an associate’s degree.
2. Transfer to a 4-year Partner College: If you are enrolled in an associate degree program at a
Partner College, you may use the TheDream.US Scholarship to complete your bachelor’s degree at
a 4-year Partner College so long as you remain eligible, there is not a break in enrollment, and
scholarship funds remain available. If you do so, the total amount you can receive is $25,000.
TIP: If you start in a community college and want to go on to earn a bachelor’s degree at a 4-year
Partner College you should work with your Scholar Advisor and Financial Aid Department to
develop a financial plan for managing your award through completion of your bachelor’s degree.
3. Maximum Award for First Time College Scholar Seeking a Bachelor’s Degree: If you are a 1st
Time College Student Scholar, you are eligible to receive up to $25,000 for the total cost of
attendance which can be used over a six-year period for a bachelor’s degree.
4.
Maximum Award for Community College Graduate Scholar Seeking a Bachelor’s Degree: If
you are a Community College Graduate Scholar, you are eligible to receive up to $25,000 for the
total cost of attendance which can be used over a three-year period for a bachelor’s degree.
Receiving and Using Your Award
1. Receiving Your First Payment:
After your Partner College confirms your enrollment, ISTS will notify you of the amount of your
Scholarship Award and will send funds to your Partner College as follows:
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
Fall Term: Your scholarship award will be sent to your Partner College generally no later
than the end of October and will be for tuition and fees for the Fall Term.

Spring Term: Your scholarship award will be sent to your Partner College generally no later
than mid-March and will be for tuition and fees for the Spring semester.
Note: Your Partner College will put a hold on your account so that your classes will not be
dropped. If you have any difficulties with this, contact your Financial Aid Advisor.
2. Payments for Winter or Summer Terms outside the Traditional Academic Year3:

Summer Session: If you are going to enroll in a summer session(s), notify your Scholar
Advisor by email, phone or in person at least one month in advance of your summer
enrollment and confirm that you are on their summer enrollment list. Scholar Advisors
will then provide ISTS with a list of all Scholars taking Summer classes, along with the
tuition and fees for each Scholar. It is your responsibility to ensure your Scholar Advisor
has everything they need to submit your information to ISTS. ISTS will then process a
special payment for your summer tuition and fees. NOTE: There is no additional award
for books, supplies, and transportation expenses for summer sessions.

Special Winter Session: If you are going to enroll in a special winter term, notify your
Scholar Advisor and by email, phone or in person at least one month in advance of
your start of your winter enrollment and confirm that you are on their Winter session
list It is your responsibility to ensure your Scholar Advisor has everything they need to
submit your information to ISTS. Scholar Advisors will then provide ISTS with a list of all
Scholars taking special Winter classes, along with the tuition and fees for each Scholar.
Please note: ISTS will then process a special payment for your winter tuition and fees.
Note: There is no additional award for books, supplies, and transportation expenses for
a special winter session.
NOTE: It may take the Partner College two or more weeks to process your payment. If you
have any questions, contact your Partner College’s financial aid/scholarship office and ask to
speak to the person who administers TheDream.US Scholarships.
3.
Using Your Award: Your Partner College will apply your Award (including any stipend for
books, supplies and transportation) in this order:
 For any unpaid tuition and fees for the term,
 For books, supplies, and transportation either purchased by you through the college or, at
your election, purchased with funds disbursed to you (you are required to keep receipts for
“Traditional academic year” means the combined fall and spring semesters for colleges on a semester schedule, and fall, winter, and spring for
colleges on a quarter schedules.
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all academic expenses and submit upon request from ISTS or the Internal Revenue
Service); and
 For any unpaid housing and meals.
4. The funds cannot be used for:
 Costs incurred before you received your award;
 Courses that do not count toward your degree;
 Remedial or developmental courses unless you earn credits toward your degree;
 Courses previously paid for by the Scholarship that you are retaking because you failed or
withdrew from the course too late to get a reimbursement; or
 Additional required courses due to a change in your degree.
5. Unused Funds: If there are unused funds at the end of your academic year and you are not
going to enroll in the summer term, the Partner College will refund the unused funds to ISTS.
These funds will remain available to you upon renewal of your Scholarship (see below). If you
have graduated or are no longer attending a Partner College, the Partner College will refund
any unused funds to TheDream.US. These funds will no longer be available to you. If you
graduate and there are unused funds in your account, these funds will go back to the general
scholarship fund to help another Scholar achieve their dream of a college education.
6. Study Abroad: DACA students can study abroad and return to the United States if they
request and are granted advance parole by the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS), using "educational" purposes as the reason for travel. There is a cost to apply
for advance parole (about $400) which is not covered by the Scholarship. Some students have
had no issues applying for advance parole, going abroad and coming back. Others have had a
very difficult time getting back into the US with advance parole. The Scholarship may be
applied toward tuition and fees associated with study abroad if:
 You are in good academic standing, i.e., you have a 3.0 GPA or greater and are enrolled
full-time (12 or more credits);
 The tuition and fees for the study abroad courses are the same as your on-campus
tuition and fees;
 The study abroad courses are part of your education plan you created with your
TheDream.US Scholar Advisor; and
 The study abroad program is offered by your college not a third party.
The Scholarship does not cover funding for traveling abroad.
7. If you receive a “zero” Award: If your costs of attendance for the academic year are fully paid
for by other financial aid, ISTS will not issue a scholarship payment for that year. You will
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remain a Scholar of TheDream.US, have access to your Scholar Advisor, and have full
participation in the Scholar Community. So long as you continue to renew the Scholarship
Award, you will be able to use any unused funds in a future academic year in accordance with
our Scholarship Program Guide.
Renewing Your Scholarship Award
1. Renewal Form: You must renew your Scholarship each academic year. ISTS will send you a
link to a renewal form in mid-June of each year. You must complete the form by the due date.
If you fail to do so, you will not be eligible to receive the scholarship. The form will ask you to
provide:

Confirmation of your intent to return to the Partner College of record;

A copy of your unofficial transcript that includes your name, your cumulative grade
point average, and the name of your Partner College;

Confirmation of your DACA or TPS status, including renewal documents, if applicable;
and

Confirmation of your fulfillment of your Scholar Commitments.
2. Receiving Your Payment: After your Partner College confirms your enrollment, ISTS will
send funds for the approved amount to the Partner College you are attending as set forth
above.
3. Eligibility Requirements: You must meet the following criteria in order to renew your
Scholarship:

Continue to be eligible for in-state tuition at the Partner College (if applicable);

Continue to be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits) for each consecutive academic
term (except the summer term), unless ISTS has pre-approved a part-time schedule or
one-time leave of absence;

Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better throughout your attendance, unless ISTS has
approved a plan for improvement;

Remain current on all of your college accounts and charges;

Maintain your DACA or TPS status and, upon application for renewal, provide ISTS with
a copy of the receipt for your DACA or TPS renewal application or approval letter; and

Meet all other program commitments.
4. Scholarship Expiration: You are eligible to renew your scholarship until:

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For 1st Time Scholars seeking an associate’s degree:
November 2, 2016
o
You graduate with an associate’s degree and do not enroll in a bachelor’s degree
program at a Partner College in the next academic term;
o
You exhaust the total limit of $12,500; or
o
You reach the third anniversary of the date of your first enrollment, whichever
comes first.

For 1st Time Scholars seeking a bachelor’s degree:
o
You graduate with a bachelor’s degree;
o
You exhaust the total limit of $25,000 (including amounts received in earning
your associate’s degree); or
o
You reach the sixth anniversary of the date of your first enrollment (including
time spent in community college), whichever comes first.

For Community College Graduate Scholars seeking a bachelor’s degree:
o
You graduate with a bachelor’s degree;
o
You exhaust the total limit of $25,000; or
o
You reach the third anniversary of your first enrollment, whichever comes first.
NOTE: Renewal of your Scholarship is contingent on TheDream.US’ continuation of
the scholarship program.
Transferring your Scholarship to another Partner College
1. You may be able to transfer your scholarship to another Partner college if:

You have applied and been accepted to that Partner College;4

You continue to meet all of the eligibility requirements, including eligibility for in-state
tuition (if applicable).
2. Steps for Transferring at the Beginning of the Academic Year:

You must select the new Partner College in your renewal form which you complete in the
summer. If you decide that you are transferring to another Partner College after you have
renewed your scholarship, send an email to ISTS Customer Care ASAP to notify them that
you are transfer and give them the names of your current and new Partner Colleges; and
Note: Some Partner Colleges limit the number of Scholars they are able to support. You need to confirm that the Partner College will
be able to provide sufficient financial aid or other financial support through work study or on-campus employment so that the cost of
your tuition and fees does not exceed $25,000.
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
Contact your Financial Aid and Scholar Advisors at your new Partner College and let them
know that you are transferring so they can confirm their enrollment to ISTS and put a hold
on your account so your classes are not dropped.
3. Steps for transferring at the Beginning of the Winter/Spring Term:

Send ISTS Customer Care an email notifying them that you are transferring to a different
Partner College at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the Winter/Spring term and
give them the name of your current and new Partner Colleges;

Send an email to your current Financial Aid and Scholar Advisors and let them know that
you are transferring to a new Partner College and ask them to return to ISTS any unused
portion of your scholarship so that ISTS may apply it toward your tuition and fees at your
new Partner College; and

Contact your Financial Aid and Scholar Advisors at your new Partner College and let them
know that you are transferring so they can confirm their enrollment to ISTS and put a hold
on your account so your classes are not dropped.
ISTS will determine the amount of your award and transfer your award funds as set forth above.
Exceptions for Special Circumstances
1. Extenuating Circumstances: If extenuating circumstances prevent you from maintaining fulltime status, continuous enrollment during the academic year, or a cumulative GPA of 3.0, you
must request and receive a pre-approved exception from ISTS in order to continue to be
eligible to receive the Scholarship.
Part-time or break in enrollment: You must request a pre-approved exception for part-time
and break in enrollment before the beginning of the term in which you will have part-time
enrollment.
GPA below 3.0: You must request a pre-approved exception for a GPA below 3.0 during the
renewal process.
2. To receive the pre-approved exception, you must email ISTS and request a link to the
exception form or access the exception form on your ISTS Scholar Profile. You must:
1. Write an explanation for your request and submit supporting documents (including
written verification if the reason for the request is an illness or disability);
2. Attach the academic plan for completion of your degree or to achieve a 3.0 GPA (parttime status must be allowed by the Partner College); and
3. Provide the email of your Scholar Advisor who worked with you on the academic plan.
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4.
Your Scholar Advisor will receive an email which will ask them to confirm that you have
a plan in place and the Advisor supports this plan.
ISTS must approved your request in order for you to continue to be eligible to receive your
Scholarship. ISTS has sole discretion to decide whether it will approve a part-time schedule,
break in enrollment, or an academic plan to achieve a cumulative 3.0.
Questions: Who to Go to for What
Questions about your Scholarship Award: Contact ISTS at the email or phone number below;
indicate that you are calling about TheDream.US Scholarship Program and share your name and
the Partner College you are attending.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 1-(855) 670-ISTS (4787) and ask for the TheDream.US Scholarship Program
Questions about the TheDream.US National Scholar Community: Contact TheDream.US
Program Director; share your name and partner college you are attending.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 202-445-7376 (Cell)
Questions about your Partner College’s disbursement of your funds, your academic plan, or
transferring from one Partner College to another: Contact your College Scholar Advisor or
your on-campus Scholarship Administrator for TheDream.US.
Please see Scholar Directory for the complete list of College Advisors and Scholarship
Administrators.
Termination of the Scholarship
Scholarship aid may be cancelled at ISTS’s sole discretion if you do not fulfill the outlined
responsibilities or because of academic failure, lack of academic progress, or withdrawal for other
than approved reasons or upon the request of the Partner College.
Revisions to the Scholarship Program
ISTS may modify the terms and conditions for this scholarship program at any time, including
termination of the program.
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