ASSOCIATED COLLEGES OF THE SOUTH
TUITION EXCHANGE PROGRAM

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

 

The ACS is comprised of fourteen outstanding liberal arts colleges and universities. They are
nationally recognized institutions located in the South, encompassing eleven states. They share a commitment to excellence in all their programs, offering rigorous academic programs focusing on the growth and development of each student.

PARTICIPATING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES:
Birmingham-Southern College, Centenary College, Centre College, Furman University, Hendrix College, Millsaps College, Morehouse College, Rhodes College, Rollins College, Southwestern University, Trinity University, University of Richmond, the University of the South, and Washington and Lee University.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Dependents of full-time employees are eligible to apply for an ACS tuition exchange award.

IS A SCHOLARSHIP GUARANTEED TO ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS?

ACS colleges and universities set their own policies and procedures for awarding ACS scholarships.

HOW DO I APPLY?

When you begin to complete your admissions applications to the college and universities of your choice, contact the ACS liaison officer in the Financial Aid Office at your place of employment to confirm participation by that institution. The ACS liaison officer will send you a preliminary application for the ACS program to be completed and returned to the Financial Aid office. From this preliminary application, the liaison officer will prepare and submit the ACE Application/Certification Form to the liaison officers at the institutions to which you are applying. Eligible individuals who are interested in attending an ACS college under the terms of the tuition exchange must apply for admission in the normal way, observing all deadlines.

The liaison officer at the institutions to which you apply will notify you that your application has been accepted or rejected by returning completed copies of the ACS Application/Certification Form to you and to the liaison officer at the institution in which you are applying. Notification of acceptance into the ACS program will be at the end of March. You should notify the other institution's ACS liaison officer if you accept the ACS scholarship.

ARE THERE ANY FEES FOR THE ACS PROGRAM?

Each student who is offered an ACS scholarship and accepts the scholarship at a participating institution must pay $1,500.00 per academic year. Each exporting institution contributes a matching participation fee of $1,500.00 per student for each academic year. There are no refunds of this fee.

ARE ACS SCHOLARSHIPS RENEWABLE?

Students must complete a renewal form each year and meet the institution's standards for academic performance and personal conduct. The family member whose employment qualified for eligibility for an ACS scholarship must continue to meet the employing institution's eligibility criteria. The ACS award is available for only a total of four years of study or until the requirements for the BA or BS are met, whichever is less. Attendance for less that one that one year constitutes one year of the four years available.

ARE ACS SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR SUMMER SCHOOL OR FOREIGN STUDY PROGRAMS?

Each institution is required to set their own policies and procedures. Furman allows the ACS scholarship to be applied toward the Furman foreign study expenses, but not for summer school expenses.

WHAT IS THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THE ACS SCHOLARSHIP?

Most ACS scholarships cover full tuition, but not special fees, course overloads, or room and board charges. For 1998-1999, institutions that charge more than $15,400 for tuition are permitted to award less than their full tuition, but not less than $15,400. Some member institutions reduce their ACS scholarships by the amount of federal and state grants awarded to a student, whether or not these are based on financial needs. The ACS Application/Certification Form notifying you of your award should provide specific details, but if you are confused, seek clarification by asking questions before you accept the scholarship.

ARE ACS SCHOLARSHIPS TAXABLE?

Under current IRS guidelines, the Tuition Exchange awards are not taxable.