Scholarships

Full-time Employees Eligible

The Staff Senate Scholarships — comprising the Barbara G. Taylor Staff Senate Scholarship, the Rick A. Haley Memorial Scholarship, the Susan Imes Yell Scholarship and the Valerie Pryor Memorial Scholarship — are available to degree-seeking University of Arkansas staff members. These scholarships are offered for the fall and/or spring semesters with up to $250 awarded per semester. The number of scholarships and amount awarded per recipient is determined by the Staff Senate and dependent on funds available.

Purpose

To promote and encourage staff development through higher education in undergraduate and graduate studies.

Eligibility

Applicant must be a staff member eligible to receive the tuition waiver employment benefit as defined in Fayetteville Policies and Procedures 512.0 (PDF) at the start of the semester that the scholarship award would be applied.

Criteria

1. In addition to the above eligibility requirement, applicants must:
   1. Be staff eligible for the University of Arkansas tuition discount benefit at the time of award
   2. Be admitted as a degree-seeking student enrolled in at least 3 credit hours per semester at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
   3. Have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 or higher
   4. Maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in the fall semester to remain eligible for spring disbursement
2. A recipient may receive only one Staff Senate scholarship per academic year, either the combined fall/spring scholarship or the spring-only.
3. Members of the Scholarship Committee and their immediate family members are ineligible.
4. A scholarship may be rescinded if eligibility is not maintained. The recipient will receive written notification and may request review within 30 days.

The Staff Senate Scholarship Procedural Guidelines section of the body's Bylaws offers full details.

Selection Process

Spring semester awards are only for spring semester. The application deadline for spring semester scholarships is 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. Fall semester awards are for the entire academic year, consisting of two semesters. The application period closed June 15, 2026. 

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. The Scholarship Committee will determine the recipients of these scholarships. If the recipient of the scholarship is no longer an employee, no longer a student, or does not meet the GPA requirements, the scholarship will be rescinded. Once the recipient of the scholarship is determined, the scholarship process will be as follows:

• Recipients will be notified.
• The Staff Senate, Chancellor, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the media, the recipient’s immediate supervisor, dean, director, and/or department head will be notified.
• Recipients will be recognized at the annual Employee Recognition Banquet.

Support Staff
Senate Scholarships

Scan or click on the QR code to donate

The University of Arkansas has made it simple for individuals to donate to the Staff Senate Endowed Scholarship Fund.

To donate, please visit Online Giving. Donors may make the gift in memory or honor of someone. There also are optional sections for the honored party to be notified of the gift and for donors to provide additional information about the gift.

Donations via check can be made out to The University of Arkansas Foundation with "Staff Senate Endowed Scholarship" in the memo line.

Please mail to:
481 S. Shiloh Drive
Fayetteville, AR 72701

The Staff Senate Endowed Scholarship Fund is awarded to staff who are pursuing undergraduate or graduate level education while being employed at the University of Arkansas.