Who is eligible?
Any person who was laid off from a full-time job at any time after December 2007, who has been admitted to Drexel University Sacramento, and who will start in a graduate degree program in or after September 2009. The program does not extend to those who have voluntarily quit their jobs or been terminated for cause.
When are Bridge to the Future Grant applications due?
Students must be admitted to Drexel prior to submitting an application for the Bridge to the Future Grant. Admission to a Drexel degree program is independent of, and not related to, any application for a Bridge to the Future Grant or any kind of financial aid. Bridge to the Future Grants are not awarded retroactively.
Can the Bridge to the Future Grant be combined with matching funds from a former employer?
Yes. While matching funds are not required, Drexel is pleased to work with companies who invest in the future of the region by providing education/tuition benefits as part of severance packages.
What Drexel academic programs are covered by the grant?
The grant can be applied to any degree-granting graduate program being offered through Drexel University Sacramento. It may be used for either full- or part-time study provided the student enrolls for at least 6 credits per term.
Are students who started in January 2009 eligible?
The Bridge to the Future Grant program is for new students first enrolling in September 2009 or later. The University has a continuing Student Financial Aid Appeals Committee to review cases of unexpected financial changes for students who are currently enrolled and for returning students.
How will the Bridge to the Future Grant be awarded?
Is the Bridge to the Future Grant renewable?
The grant will be renewed automatically as long as the student is enrolled for at least two courses (6 credits) per quarter term, maintains a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and remains unemployed. The student must satisfy all three requirements, and must notify Drexel as soon as s/he becomes employed.
Can students receiving Bridge to the Future Grants also receive other fellowships or scholarships from Drexel?
No. A Bridge to the Future Grant cannot be combined with other scholarships, awards, fellowships, or grants from Drexel.
What happens when a student with a Bridge to the Future Grant becomes employed?
A Bridge to the Future Grant will not be renewed at the end of the quarter term in which the student becomes reemployed. At that time, the student will be obligated to pay full tuition, reduced by any other scholarship or fellowship for which he or she is then qualified. Students may also seek additional financial aid by filing an appeal with the University's Continuing Student Financial Aid Appeals Committee. A student receiving a Bridge to the Future Grant is obligated to advise the University as soon as he or she has obtained employment.
What about people who lost their jobs and then had to take a lower-paying job?
The Bridge to the Future Grant program applies only to those who are out of work because they have been laid off. Drexel has a Financial Aid Office that is fully prepared to work with applicants and students who have incomes that make it a challenge to seek graduate degrees, and whose incomes suddenly change while they are enrolled in degree programs.
Must eligible students also apply for loans or other financial aid?
No, but all applicants are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Drexel will work with each applicant to help determine eligibility for other need-based programs.
What does a Bridge to the Future Grant cover?
The Bridge to the Future Grant is an academic tuition award for programs offered through Drexel University Sacramento, and cannot be applied to fees, books, or other educational expenses.