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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

Academic and Cultural Sharing Scholarship

Who is eligible?

  • Students maintaining F-1 or J-1 visa status.
  • Some students who are in programs with special tuition fees, such as the MBA program, are only eligible to receive the ACSS towards tuition for courses paid at the regular university rates outside of their special programs.
  • On-line courses registered through the School of Continuing Studies are not eligible for the ACSS. Check tuition and fees rates through the School of Continuing Studies.

What are the requirements?

  • Check-in with the Center for International Studies upon arrival into the U.S.
  • Maintain a 2.5 Cumulative GPA as an undergraduate student or a 3.0 Cumulative GPA as a graduate student.
  • Maintain at least 12 undergraduate or 8 graduate credits each semester or obtain authorization to drop below a full course load from CIS.
  • Complete 2 cultural sharing activities every semester at SCSU and turn in the completed form by the deadlines listed. A complete list of cultural activities acceptable to receive the scholarship are listed on the Cultural Activities Form.

Who is exempt from doing service hours for eligibility?

  • Graduate students with Graduate/Teaching Assistantships awarded for the next term
  • International students participating in Internship/CPT are not required to do the activities for that term.
  • International students on athletic scholarships
  • Exchange students who are on a tuition reciprocity agreement with their home institution

Summer Sessions ACSS Policy

  • Cultural sharing activities submitted at the end of the spring semester are used for both the following summer and fall semesters.
  • Students who do cultural sharing activities during the summer can apply them toward the fall’s semester cultural activity requirement due on Dec. 15 of the same year.

How do I apply?

  • There is no need to apply for this scholarship. The only requirement for new students is that you check-in with the Center for International Studies upon arrival into the U.S.

How do I appeal if I lose the scholarship?

  • Students who lose the scholarship for CGPA may file for an appeal. ACSS Appeal Form is available at CIS and must be submitted by specified dates.
  • The Center for International Studies will monitor your completion of cultural sharing activities. If there is any falsification of information provided on behalf of the student, there will be no option to appeal the loss of your scholarship and the student will be referred to Student Life and Development as this is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.