Financial Aid

The Center for Multidisciplinary Studies awards scholarship money to CMS students each year. In addition to scholarships awarded through CMS, the RIT Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships offers a wide variety of scholarships, loans and grants which are awarded to students according to their eligibility and application process.

Students who are seeking scholarships based on financial need should:

• Contact the RIT Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
  location: Bausch & Lomb Center, #77, second floor
  phone: (585) 475-2186
  tty: (585) 475-6909
  fax: (585) 475-7270
  email: ritaid@rit.edu
  ntid email: ntidaid@rit.edu
• Complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). It can be found online here. RIT's school code is 002806.
• Complete and Submit a CMS Scholarship Application.
  (use the PDF file link posted in the CMS Undergraduate Scholarship section below)
  location: George Eastman Building, #1, Room 2210
  phone: (585) 475-2234
  

Students who are seeking scholarships based on merit should:

• Visit the Wallace Library Information Desk at RIT
  location: Wallace Library, Building #5, Information Desk
• Check out the Henry & Pinny Cooke Endowed Schoarship below

Eligibility:

• Matriculated students in CMS programs with a GPA of 2.0 better. Recipients must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or greater.
• Must demonstrate need
• Completed FAFSA form to the RIT Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Completed scholarship application form to CMS office

How to apply:
Submit a CMS scholarship application to Janet Nystrom.
[PDF file: CMS Scholarship Application]
phone: (585) 475-7451
email: jsnldc@rit.edu
location: George Eastman Building, #1, Room 2210

Benefits:
$100 - $1500 tuition per quarter

About the Scholarship:

The Bernard Osher Foundation was founded in 1977 by Bernard Osher, a successful businessman and community leader. The Foundation seeks to improve quality of life support for higher education and the arts.The Foundation provides post-secondary scholarship funding to colleges and universities across the nation, with special attention to reentry students. In addition, the Foundation supports a growing national lifelong learning network for seasoned adults. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, operating on the campuses of 115 institutions of higher education from Maine to Hawaii, have a National Resource Center at the University of Southern Maine. Finally, an array of performing arts organizations, museums, and selected educational programs in Northern California and in Mr. Osher’s native state of Maine receive Foundation grants.

The Foundation has a nine-member Board of Directors which is chaired by the Honorable Barbro Osher, Consul General of Sweden in San Francisco.

The Bernard Osher Foundation has renewed its grant for CMS to receive a $50,000 for the 2007-2008 academic year. The tuition scholarship will be given in awards of $5,000 per student. Ten students will be selected to receive tuition assistance during the upcoming academic year. The program's purpose is to provide assistance to individuals with financial need between the ages of 25 and 50 whose collegiate studies were interrupted for several years by circumstances beyond their control and who now wish to resume their studies and complete a four-year baccalaureate degree.

Eligibility:

• Matriculated undergraduate students in CMS programs between the ages of 25 to 50 whose collegiate studies were interrupted by circumstances beyond their control
• Must be pursuing a BS degree through the Center for Multidisciplinary Studies
• Must successfuly complete at least 16 quarter credit hours of RIT coursework during the school year in which the Osher Reentry Scholarship is received
• Must have FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid) on file with the RIT Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Submission of completed scholarship application
• Must have been previously enrolled at a four-year institution and have experienced a gap in their education of five or more years.
• Must be at the undergraduate level and pursuing their first baccalaureate degree
• Must anticipate workforce participation for a significant period of time subsequent to graduation
• Scholarship awards will be applied directly to student tuition fees exclusively
• Non-Traditional students transferring directly from a community college without ever having matriculated at a four-year institution do not qualify for consideration

How to apply:
To be considered for this scholarship, please refer to the instructions listed on the Osher Reentry Scholarship Application.

Benefits:
Ten award recipients will be chosen for the 2007-2008 academic year and the scholarship award will be in the amount of $5,000.

About the Scholarship:

This merit based scholarship was established in honor of Henry and Pinny Cooke. Henry's long time association with and dedication to RIT began in the College of Continuing Education (CCE) where he taught as Professor Emeritus. When CCE evolved into the Center for Multidisciplinary Studies, Henry continued to teach and serve on multiple committees and contribute to the development of CMS students.

Henry's wife and partner in life, Pinny, was a well known and admired New York state assembywoman and local philanthropist. She also volunteered and worked for various social service agencies and local groups.

Together the Cooke's promoted careers for teh common good, community service and a commitment to civic responsibility.

Eligibility:

• Matriculated undergraduate students in CMS programs with a GPA of 3.80 or higher
• Preference is given to students who choose careers for the common good and community service or have demonstrated a personal or career commitment to civic responsibility
• Submission of completed scholarship application

How to apply:
To be considered for this scholarship, please refer to the instructions listed on the Henry & Pinny Cooke Endowed Scholarship Application.

Benefits:
One award recipient will be chosen for the 2007-2008 academic year and the scholarship award will range from $1000 - $1300.

Eligibility and Requirements:

• Individuals who have been laid off or unemployed within the last year
• Must provide document stating beginning and end dates for employment
• May be used in conjunction with Rochester Works grants

How to apply:
Contact the Office of Part Time and Graduate Enrollment for an application.
phone: (585) 475-2229

Benefits:
Cost per credit our is reduced to 60% less than the evening price per credit hour. Unfortunately, PREP does not cover the cost of Credit By Experience.

Eligibility and Requirements:

• Individuals recently unemployed
• May be used in conjunction with PREP

How to apply:
In person at:
255 North Goodman St.
Rochester, NY 14607

By telephone (585) 258-3500 or fax (585) 232-6033.

Secondary location:
276 Waring Rd.
Rochester, NY 14609

By telephone (585) 266-7760 or fax (585) 266-7041.

Benefits:
Up to $10,000 additional costs for texts, supplies or Credit By Experience exams for dislocated workers. ($5,000 per year for a maximum of $10,000 for 2 years)

Eligibility and Requirements:

• Individuals receiving full unemployment and VA benefits
• Must be registered as a full time student
• Must be able to prove full time student status to the Department of Labor

How to apply:
Contact Eugene Clark in the Office of Part Time and Graduate Enrollment.
phone: (585) 475-6008

Benefits:
NAFTA legislation and TAA (Trade Act Allowance) allow up to $20,000 for retraining.