What Scholarship Recipients Should Know
Congratulations on Your Scholarship
Your hard work, passion, success, and future aspirations helped you stand out from your peers, and Brandeis joins you in celebrating your achievement!
Throughout the year, Institutional Advancement shares the exceptional work of scholarship recipients like you with donors to showcase the impact of scholarships on our community. The most important part of these communications is the voice of Brandeis students – in other words, hearing from you! Donors love to learn about who you are and what your Brandeis experience is like. Sharing a bit about yourself is a great way to show off your amazing accomplishments while connecting with donors, alumni, faculty, and staff. Plus, your words might just inspire additional philanthropy, expanding opportunities for more outstanding Brandeisians like you.
Your Brandeis Story Matters
You have a unique story and there are several ways to share it. The big and small moments that led you to Brandeis and inform your Brandeisian journey matter to the community, which is eager to support and cheer for you. Below are a few suggested ways to share your story, and we encourage you to choose the ones that feel most comfortable for you.
Share Your Story
REFLECT
Complete this brief survey to share how scholarships have impacted your Brandeis experience.
RECORD
Record a short video about what scholarships mean to you.
NOTE
Submit a note about your Brandeis story or write a message to a scholarship donor.
SHARE
Upload a project you are proud of (short story, research abstract, musical performance, sports clip, etc.)
Our Scholarship Philosophy
At Brandeis, students are the focus of all scholarship efforts, and scholarship recipients are equal partners with Institutional Advancement in connecting donors to the impact of their generosity. Scholarship recipients are invited to say thank you and highlight the scholarship's impact to donors in ways that feel safe, comfortable, and transparent, but they are not required to share any more than their name, major, minor, concentration, and class level. Brandeis is working diligently to create a scholarship environment that is transparent, equitable, and free of undue emotional labor. A student’s scholarship status and/or eligibility for future funding are not impacted by a student’s level of participation in any advancement activities.
Below are the responsibilities of each party involved in the scholarship.
The University
- Spends donated funds according to donor intent;
- Offers gratitude to donors;
- Provides accountability (reporting);
- Manages donor expectations and sets healthy boundaries.
The Donor
- Provides gifts without illegal, unethical, or unnecessary restrictions;
- Understands the relationship is with Brandeis, NOT the student recipient;
- Maintains realistic expectations of Brandeis and any recipient.
Student Scholarship Recipient
- Voluntarily partners with Brandeis in sharing impact;
- Voluntarily participates in storytelling following their comfort level.
Scholarship Program Information
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March – Students receive a tentative financial award letter.
May-July – Verified financial aid package sent to all students.
July 15 – September 15 – Students are emailed from SFS with a survey link to fill out their impact reporting.
September 1- November 1 – Select students are interviewed to be placed on scholarships that request donor interaction.
February/March – Students are asked to write thank-you notes to donors.
All Brandeis students, including scholarship recipients, are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Institutional Advancement may share a scholarship recipient’s name, major, minor, concentration, and class level with the stewardee(s) of their scholarship(s), as this is considered relevant public (directory) information; however, IA will not disclose contact information or any private information without the explicit consent of the scholarship recipient. Learn more about FERPA and the differences between directory vs. private information.
Alumni and Friends Grants
Most students receive a Brandeis Alumni and Friends Grant. This is your financial aid package of grants.
Brandeis Scholarship Application
At Brandeis, your scholarship is awarded based on your financial need and replaces the “Friends of Brandeis” section of your financial aid package. Donor Relations works with Student Financial Services to send out an annual information form that students are asked to fill out. That form is used to match scholarships to our students.
Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
All Brandeis students, including scholarship recipients, are protected by the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law that governs the privacy of student education records. More information is available here.
Institutional Advancement
Institutional Advancement is responsible for donor and alumni engagement, including fundraising and stewardship. Learn more about the office and its mission.
Office of Student Financial Services
The Office of Student Financial Services provides resources and information on ways to pay for education, including scholarships. All questions about applying for and receiving scholarships should be directed to sfs@brandeis.edu. Learn more.
Scholarship
A scholarship is an amount given or awarded to a student for educational study. At Brandeis, scholarships are based on future or continuing education, do not require the performance of a service, and are not compensatory.
Scholarship Impact Survey
The Scholarship Impact Survey is an optional way for students to share how scholarships have impacted their Brandeis experience. Survey responses are used to create stewardship reports for Institutional Advancement to share with the stewardee(s) associated with a student’s scholarship. Completing the Scholarship Impact Information Form is optional and has no impact on a student’s eligibility to receive future funding, but is highly encouraged. All questions about the Scholarship Impact Survey and other stewardship projects should be directed to givingsocieties@brandeis.edu.
Stewardee
A stewardee is the individual associated with a specific gift or fund, to whom Institutional Advancement reports back about the progress and impact of the gift/fund. A stewardee is usually the donor who made the gift or established the fund.
Stewardship
Stewardship involves managing philanthropic gifts as donors intended and updating donors on the progress and impact of their gifts.
