University officials are excited to announce a new academic scholarship program, including the Copper Dome Scholarship. The new program is designed with what students, parents, faculty and others said are important, including test optional criteria, superscoring, stackable awards, progressive values allowing the Copper Dome Scholarship and Presidents Scholarships values to increase every year, straightforward renewal, and allowing students to keep the need-based aid they receive, including the Federal Pell Grant.

This program is available to new students enrolling in fall 2019 and beyond. For more details, visit http://semo.edu/sfs/financialaid/scholarships/institutional.html.

The Copper Dome Scholarship Program replaces the current academic scholarship program, however all awards made to students enrolling in fall 2018 will be honored. Programs eliminated include the Beta Club, Dual Credit, Governors, History Day, International Regents, Presidents, Regents, Southeast Family Achievement Award, Southeast On-Campus A+, University and Outstanding Community College Scholarships.

Southeast will continue to offer a scholarship to qualified non-Missouri residents valued at the difference between in-state and out-of-state fees. This scholarship, previously known as the Midwest Achievement Award, was renamed the Redhawks Achievement Award. Qualified international students receive a scholarship of the same value known as the International Student Achievement Award.

Most importantly, the program recognizes that nearly 50 percent of all new students qualify for the Federal Pell Grant and/or the Access Missouri need-based grant. This new program was designed to add Southeast scholarships to the grants they receive, thus reducing their financial burden and cumulative student debt.

Southeast Missouri State University is committed to supporting all students in their pursuit of a college degree. This new scholarship program, and the associated renewal requirements, are intended to support the goal of retaining at least 80 percent of first-time, full-time students and to graduating at least 60 percent of this student population.

Faculty and staff who know a future college student, please encourage them to learn more about this program and to schedule a personal campus visit at semo.edu/visit.