Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship

The Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship Program (ESDHSP) is designed to direct aid to undergraduate students who have demonstrated academic achievement and overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Candidates will contribute to the diversity of the student body by demonstrating their commitment to facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in their academic programs and/or activities. Award will be split evenly between the fall and spring semesters. Funding is based on availability. Award will be split evenly between the fall and spring semesters.

Program Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the ESDHSP, candidates are required to:

• Be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status and
• Be New York State residents
• Demonstrate how they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education..
• Demonstrate a commitment to contributing to the diversity of the student body by facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in their academic programs and campus activities.
• Be a matriculated entering freshman level student in good academic standing at SUNY Cortland
• Maintain full-time enrollment in coursework that is applicable towards your degree program (at least 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester)

Preference will be given to candidate who are:

• From a low-income background (e.g., Pell-eligible as undergraduates)
• First-generation college students (students whose parents have not earned a bachelor’s degree)
• able to demonstrate a history of overcoming adversity
• AmeriCorps alumni
• U.S. Veterans (e.g., Airforce, Army, Marines, Navy, etc.)
• Enrolled in the SUNY Cortland Honors Program

Renewal Information

• may be renewable, renewals are dependent on available funding as provided by the Cortland College Foundation
• continued funding is based on student maintaining a 3.0 cumulative grade point average
• award amounts may vary from year-to-year
• must be matriculated at SUNY Cortland
• must maintain full-time enrollment in coursework that is applicable towards your degree program (at least 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester)
• must maintain New York State residency
• must have at least one full academic year remaining at the start of the fall semester of award year
• this scholarship is renewable for a maximum of four academic years (eight academic semesters, excluding summer semesters). Actual number of terms is based on Class Level (freshman, sophomore, etc) at time of initial award

The Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship Program is open to any and all prospective candidates regardless of race, color, national origin, or sex, and is consistent with all current governing federal and state nondiscrimination law. All application submissions will be assessed and evaluated in accordance with the required eligibility criteria.