Review Process

WHIHBCU STUDENT RECOGNITION PROGRAM

REVIEW PROCESS

General Information

This program is designed to identify current HBCU scholars for their dedication to academics, leadership, and civic engagement. Students will be recognized by the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Initiative) and acknowledge for one academic school year. Recognized scholars will also receive a formal invitation to attend the Annual HBCU Week Conference. During an academic school year selected member of Initiative Staff will reach out to recognized students to inform them of outreach and engagement opportunities that they can take advantage of or communicate to their fellow students.

Through professional relationships with community-based organizations, public and private sector entities, selected students will share promising and proven practices with key stakeholders that support opportunities for all young people. In addition, this opportunity will also allow students to participate in regional events, as well as, web chats facilitated by Initiative Staff and other professionals from a wide range of disciplines that support a spirit of engagement and personal, professional development and entrepreneurship.

Eligibility and Rules

In the past, students were self-nominated and asked to submit a nomination package containing a signed nomination form, unofficial transcripts, short essay, resume, and endorsement letter.

Note: Students may identify interested in this program; HBCU faculty may also identify potential scholars. To, streamline the nomination, process the Initiative request that each HBCU identify their scholars and submit nomination packages. HBCU Presidents or Chancellors may nominate up to two current HBCU students to participate in the recognition program.

To, participate in the 2021 HBCU Scholar Recognition Program, the nominee must:

1. Be a current undergraduate, graduate, or professional student at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU)¹. Students must be enrolled for the 2021-2022 academic school year; and

2. HBCU Presidents/Chancellors or surrogated staff must sign the completed application package by the established deadline that includes the signed nomination form, unofficial transcripts, and short essays.

Completed nomination applications to The White House Initiative on HBCUs should represent the best depiction of the nominee and specifically outline activities and experiences that will make the nominee a great candidate for this recognition.

Evaluation of the Complete Package

Nomination Form

The nomination form provides general information about the nominee; provides additional information on required elements of the completed package and identifies the nominee and the President or Chancellor. The application must be signed by the nominee and the HBCU President/Chancellor. Nominees should pay special attention to the required fields on the application pages. Incomplete forms will not be considered.

Transcript

The unofficial transcript is an important piece of the review process at The White House Initiative on HBCU. With each transcript, the Initiative staff will take a close look at a nominee's current enrollment status and grade point average.

Common Application Essays

The essay is an important piece of the application as this allows for additional meaningful information from the nominee. We will use the short essay to learn more about the nominee on the personal level. From the essay, the Initiative staff hopes to gain an understanding of what issues are important to the nominee.

We are proud of HBCU Scholars active and vibrant civic engagement activities and seek to invite new students who have demonstrated strong involvement beyond the classroom to serve. These pieces tell the unique story beyond a nominee’s academic achievements and paint the picture of his/her personality and potential contributions to the community of The White House Initiative on HBCU and the HBCU Student Recognition. We urge nominees to take advantage of the opportunities within the application to detail some their campus advocacy activities, issues, involvements and accomplishments.

Endorsement/Commitment Letters

Endorsement/commitment letters play an important role in the holistic application review process. For all applications, one letter endorsed by HBCU President/Chancellor or designated faculty member required.

We understand that Professors and other HBCU faculty are often able to provide useful context for the nominee's academic performance, and explain any special circumstances (i.e. campus involvement, leadership potential or personal situations) that may have arisen during the academic career.

We encourage HBCU Faculty to provide to provide the office of the president their recommendation.

The endorsement/commitment letter should provide helpful context of the nominee's academic career, ideally bringing to light things about the nominee that may not be apparent from simply looking at the unofficial transcript.

1 See www.whhbcu/ed.gov/schools for a list of accredited HBCUs.

2