To honor former President Harry S Truman through the
operation of an education scholarship program, financed by a permanent trust
fund endowment, to develop increased opportunities for young Americans to
prepare for and pursue careers in public service.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Direct Payments for Specified Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Assistance is intended for the use of Scholars only.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: Undergraduate junior level
students at four year colleges and universities who are properly nominated by
accredited colleges or universities recognized by the Department of Education.
Beneficiary Eligibility: U.S. citizens or
nationals, college juniors.
Credentials/Documentation: Enrolled, matriculated
in a degree program at an accredited U.S. college; Pursuing a bachelor's
degree as a full-time student during the forthcoming academic year; ranked in
the upper quarter of her or his class; U.S. citizen or national; selected
field of study that will permit admission to a graduate or professional
program allowing better preparation for a career in public service.
Pre-application Coordination: Each July the chief
executive officers of all accredited U.S. colleges and universities are
invited to appoint a Truman Scholarship Faculty Representative to manage the
selection and nomination of up to four students for the forthcoming year's
Truman Scholarships. The standard nomination forms with instructions will be
provided in September to the designated faculty representatives of all such
institutions whose presidents or chancellors inform the Foundation of their
intent to participate. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedure: The faculty representative
of an institution is the key person in the Truman Scholarship selection
process and serves as liaison between her or his institution and the
Foundation. The faculty representative is responsible for publicizing the
Truman Scholarship on campus, soliciting recommendations on students with
significant potential for leadership in government from members of the
faculty, conducting a competition on campus in order to determine the
candidates best qualified to be nominated by the institution, helping prepare
the nominees for the competition, and insuring that the institution's official
nomination or nominations are forwarded to the Truman Scholarship Review
Committee by the stated deadline. The following information, on the official
nominating materials, must be included with each Scholarship nomination: 1.
The nomination and supporting information for the Harry S Truman Scholarship
Program must include a certification that the student is a candidate for a
Truman Scholarship; a statement that the student plans to pursue a career in
public service; a list of the student's public service activities such as
those associated with government agencies, community groups, and political
campaigns; a list of leadership positions the student has held during high
school and during the first two and one-half years of undergraduate study; a
statement of interest in a career in public service that specifies how the
student's educational plans will provide preparation for that career; and a
statement that the student is willing to participate in a week long seminar
sponsored by the Foundation. 2. It must also contain an essay of 700-800 words
written by the student that analyzes a public policy issue chosen by the
student; transcripts of the student's college grades; and four letters of
recommendation. One letter must be from the Truman Faculty Representative; one
of the letters must be written by a faculty member in the student's field of
study; one by another person who can discuss the student's leadership
potential and abilities, and, the fourth letter from a person who can discuss
the student's commitment to public service.
Award Procedure: 1. Initial evaluation: Students
nominated for consideration as Harry S Truman Scholars will be evaluated on
the basis of: a. the extent to which the student has shown an outstanding
potential for leadership in public service, b. the extent of participation in
community and public service activities, c. the appropriateness of the
candidate's intended plan of study to prepare him/her for a career in public
service, d. the student's academic performance. 2. Interviews: Finalists
selected as a result of the initial evaluation of the credentials of all
nominees are interviewed by Regional Review Panels, composed primarily of
prominent public officials and previous recipients of Truman Scholarships.
Each Review Panel will recommend from among the qualified applicants one
person from each State or district for appointment by the Board of Trustees as
a Truman Scholar, plus up to two additional persons for Scholarships at large
from each region. The Review Panels will concentrate their evaluation on the
nominees' demonstrated interest in the public service, their relative
potential for leadership in government, their analytical abilities, their
commitment to careers in public service, and the quality of their submitted
materials. Among the characteristics they will assess in making this judgment
are the following: analytic ability, communication skills, integrity,
self-confidence, sensitivity to others, ability to explain with clarity a
complex situation, a demonstrated interest in public service, and a commitment
to future public service. 3. Final Selection: From among the candidates
recommended by the Review Panels, the Board of Trustees will name up to 85
winners of Harry S Truman Scholarships.
Deadlines: January 29, 2001, for receipt of
nomination materials. All materials must be submitted by the student's faculty
representative.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: 1. January,
each year - Scholarship nominees are evaluated and Finalists selected. 2.
February- March, each year - Truman Scholarship Finalists are interviewed. 3.
April, each year - The Truman Scholars are selected by the Board of Trustees
of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation.
Appeals: None.
Renewals: 1. It is the intent of the Foundation
to renew Scholarship awards made to college juniors for a period not to exceed
three academic years of graduate study, in accordance with the regulations
established by its Board of Trustees, and subject to an annual review for
compliance with these requirements. 2. The Foundation may terminate a
Scholarship: a. when a student has not maintained, satisfactory proficiency,
or b. when the student is no longer enrolled in a program preparing her or him
specifically for public service as specified by the Foundation. 3. A Scholar
may seek postponement of her or his award because of ill health or other
mitigating circumstances, upon application to the Executive Secretary.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: To be
eligible to receive payments, a Truman Scholar must submit in writing: 1. an
acceptance of the Scholarship award, 2. An annual report, and 3. at the
beginning of each academic year, a statement of eligible expenses certified by
the authorized financial officer of the enrolling institution, including those
of tuition, fees, books, and room and board, an additional certification
regarding the Scholar's academic program, an annual report, and other
certifications as required by law or regulation. The number of payments to be
made via Treasury check during the academic year will correspond to the number
of semesters, trimesters, or quarters in the institution's academic year and
the amount of funds to be provided, the total not to exceed $30,000.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: Not required.
Audits: Not applicable.
Records: Not applicable.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification: 95-8296-0-7-502.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $2,000,000; FY 02 est
$2,000,000; and FY 03 est $2,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: $3,000
to $13,500; Average: $6,510.
Since the Program's inception, 2016 (of a total of approximately 20,000
nominees) college students studying for careers in public service have
received scholarship assistance. The first six classes of Truman Scholars are
progressing well toward their goals of preparation for public service by
gaining acceptance to high quality postgraduate programs, by pursuing
Foundation-assisted or self- initiated internship opportunities, and by
securing positions in government at the Federal, State, and local levels.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
45 CFR 1801.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters Office: Louis Blair, Executive
Secretary, 712 Jackson Place, NW., Washington, DC 20006. Telephone: (202)
395-4831. Use the same number for FTS.
