The George Alexander Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship

If all the below statements describe you and your current situation, you can apply for this scholarship:

• I am an Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of a permanent visa; and
• I have completed secondary school in a rural or regional location; refer to ASGC Remoteness Areas RA3/RA4/RA5 applicable
• I am a commencing student in the year the scholarship is to be awarded; and
• Will be enrolled in a full time undergraduate course at James Cook University; and
• I have achieved an Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranking (ATAR) of 75.

The value of the scholarship shall be $24,000 in total with an option to receive your payments over 3 years or over the duration of your course which will be paid in two equal instalments after census date of Study Period 1 and Study Period 2. Please allow up to 6 weeks after census for payment.

Prior to completing an application, you should carefully read the Scholarship Rules below. Applicants wishing to apply for this scholarship must attach the following documents to the application form and email to scholarships@jcu.edu.au:

• a copy of your academic record; and
• evidence of your ATAR score or equivalent; and
• a completed GAF Application Form
• a copy of your curriculum vitae; and
• two referee’s reports outlining suitability for a scholarship:
  • From a person qualified to comment on your academic studies, preferably a subject coordinator from your secondary school and/or school principal.
  • From a current or past employer or a person with whom you have undertaken community service, sports or volunteer activities and who is competent to supply a reference for you.

When applying for a scholarship it is very important that you answer all the questions and include all relevant documents.  Your application and relevant documents must be submitted before the closing date. If an application is incomplete, it will not be considered.

Your application is checked for completeness and eligibility, and you will receive an email confirmation it has been received. After the closing date it will be individually assessed and put forward to a selection committee who will rank your application against others who have applied. Applicants may be required to attend an interview as part of the selection process.

Introduction

The George Alexander Foundation was established by Mr George Alexander AM in 1972 to provide grants for public charitable purposes in Australia.

The George Alexander Foundation has an emphasis on helping talented young people, especially those from regional and rural areas and those who must move away from home in order to undertake higher education. The Scholarship Program forms the core of the Foundation’s work and the first programs commenced in 2002.

This scholarship is subject to the provisions of James Cook University’s Coursework Scholarships, Bursaries and Grants Policy.

Value and Payment of the Scholarship

The value of the scholarship shall be $24,000 in total with an option to receive your payments over 3 years or over the duration of your course which will be paid in two equal instalments after census date of Study Period 1 and Study Period 2. Please allow up to 6 weeks after census date for payment.

Eligibility Criteria

The George Alexander Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship shall be open to competition among candidates who:

• Are Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of a permanent visa; and
• Have completed secondary school in a rural or regional location; refer to ASGC Remoteness Areas RA3/RA4/RA5 applicable
• Are a commencing student in the year the scholarship is to be awarded; and
• Will be enrolled in a full time undergraduate course at James Cook University; and
• Have achieved an Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranking (ATAR) of 75.

Selection Criteria

The Selection Committee shall, in the exercise of its absolute discretion, afford consideration to the following criteria:

• academic merit or potential;
• content of the key selection criteria form;
• the character of the candidate for the award; and
• any other criteria that the Selection Committee deems appropriate.

Application Procedures

Applications must be submitted on the official application form no later than the advertised close date for the year in which the award is to be made.

Applicants wishing to apply for this scholarship must attach the following documents to the application form and email to scholarships@jcu.edu.au:

• Their academic record; and
• Evidence of ATAR score or equivalent; and
• A completed GAF Application Form:
• Their curriculum vitae; and
• Two referee’s reports outlining suitability for a scholarship:
  • From a person qualified to comment on academic studies, preferably a subject coordinator from the applicant’s secondary school and/or school principal.
  • From a current or past employer or a person competent to supply a character reference (for example, a person with whom the candidate has undertaken community service, sports or volunteer activities.

When applying for a scholarship it is very important that you answer all the questions and include all relevant documents.  Your application and relevant documents must be submitted before the closing date. If an application is incomplete, it will not be considered.

The applicant authorises the Selection Committee to make such enquiries as to the applicant’s good character and suitability to receive the scholarship, which includes authorisation for the Selection Committee to examine the applicant’s academic record, and seek opinions from relevant members of the academic staff of this University or any other academic institution.

Selection Process

The award of the scholarship shall be made in the absolute discretion of the Selection Committee, which shall comprise:

• Director, Advancement (chair), or nominee,
• Director, Academic Program Quality, or nominee,
• Plus member/s of JCUs academic or professional/technical staff, as determined by the Chair. These could include:

1. Member of Future Students Team
2. Member of Academic Quality and Strategy Team.

• **OR a pool of appropriate JCU representatives

The Selection Committee reserves the right not to award a Scholarship in any year if, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, there is no candidate of sufficient merit to warrant an award;

The Selection Committee may require applicants to undertake an interview as part of their application.

The Selection Committee will determine all matters relating to the selection of the Scholarship awardee.

Ongoing eligibility

To continue to receive payments, the ongoing eligibility must be met:

• The recipient must maintain a course GPA of 4.0 or above.
• The recipient must remain enrolled full-time (minimum 9 credit points per semester)
• Where the recipient fails to meet this requirement evidence of special circumstances contributing to the reduced GPA must be provided to the Selection Committee for consideration of ongoing eligibility
• At the end of each academic year, a written report must be submitted to the scholarships office, the template will be sent to you.
• The recipient of the scholarship shall continue to receive the award on condition that in the opinion of the Selection Committee, and on advice from the head of the school in which the recipient is undertaking a course of study, that the recipient maintains a satisfactory level of performance.  Where it is determined that the level of academic performance is unsatisfactory the Selection Committee may in its absolute discretion cancel the award or suspend the award for such time as it may determine and/or until academic performance is considered satisfactory.

Conditions of the Scholarship

If the holder of an award fails to comply with any of the conditions imposed under these provisions or the provisions relating to a particular award, the Selection Committee, in consultation with the Foundation may terminate the award or withhold any further emoluments or take such action as it may deem necessary to enforce compliance with the provision or performance of the condition by the holder:

• If the recipient has not maintained a minimum GPA of 4.0, or
• The recipient defers or terminates their study/enrolment, the recipient will no longer be eligible for the award; or
• The recipient transfers to another institution; or
• The recipient does not maintain a full time study load

A student may lodge a request for review of decision in accordance with the provisions of the Student Complaints Policy and Procedures.

The requirements of the Scholarship shall not make the awarding of the Scholarship conditional upon the recipient providing unremunerated services or products to the donor.

In the event that the recipient suspends their study, the scholarship shall be suspended.

Administration of the Scholarship

The scholarship shall be administered by Scholarships Office of the University, on behalf of the Selection Committee.

The funds of the scholarship shall be held in an account in the name of the University and shall be administered by the scholarship office.

Where there is a fund maintaining the award, the annual value of the award shall be approximately equal to the annual income from the fund.

Income from a fund not expended on the award which it maintains, shall be added to and become part of the fund.

Where an award provides some benefit to the recipient from a body external to the University, or an obligation upon a body external to the University, the University, its servants and agents, shall not be liable for that benefit or obligation.

Please refer to Glossary of Terms