OSSE updates the list of institutions that are eligible to have students receive Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program (Mayor’s Scholars) awards annually.

2020-21 Award Year Eligible Institutions

The institutions that are eligible for the 2020-21 award year are:

• American University
• Bowie State University
• Capitol Technology University
• Catholic University of America
• College of Southern Maryland
• Fairfax University of America (Previously known as Virginia International University)
• Gallaudet University
• George Mason University
• George Washington University
• Georgetown University
• Howard University
• Maple Springs Baptist Bible College and Seminary
• Marymount University
• Montgomery College
• Northern Virginia Community College
• Prince George's Community College
• Sistema Universitario Ana G. Méndez-Universidad Del Este
• Trinity Washington University
• University of Maryland-College Park
• University of Maryland Global Campus
• University of the District of Columbia
• University of the District of Columbia – Community College
• Washington Adventist University
• Yeshiva College of the Nation’s Capital

OSSE requests that each eligible institution provide support through its financial aid office in sharing the opportunity with eligible students. Student eligibility criteria can be found here.
If you represent one of these institutions and would like to discuss the program or the invoice process, please contact Melanie Fleming at [email protected] or (202) 741-6406.

Eligible Institution Criteria

Institutions may not apply to be eligible for their students to participate in the Mayor’s Scholars program. OSSE reviews institutional eligibility annually based on program offerings, distance/location, and accreditation/licensure. Institutions may be added or removed based on that review, and OSSE will notify the institution in either case.

Representatives from each institution are encouraged to be familiar with the student eligibility criteria.

Institutional Payment Processes

OSSE will provide Mayor’s Scholars funding directly to the partner institution of higher education (IHE). IHEs are required to submit a payment request (invoice) for each Mayor’s Scholars recipient each semester, with detailed cost breakdown.

Invoicing and Payments

Payment requests (invoices) are provided each semester by OSSE to the IHE (semesters include fall, spring, and summer), and are requested from the IHEs as soon as possible to avoid delays in students’ course scheduling timeline. IHEs may then follow-up with a request payment starting the day after the course add/drop deadline for that institution each semester. To ensure payment is completed in a timely manner, OSSE will include with the original payment request language indicating that the institution must submit final invoices no later than Feb. 1 following the fall semester, and no later than Aug. 1 following the spring/summer semester.

OSSE is not responsible for an IHE’s failure to timely and/or properly request payment on behalf of a Mayor’s Scholars recipient. Please note: It is the student’s responsibility to work with the IHE to ensure its timely and proper submission of their payment request. Untimely or improperly submitted payment requests may prevent an eligible student from receiving their Mayor’s Scholars funding award or from receiving their funding award in a timely fashion.

Award Repayment

There are two ways that Mayor’s Scholars may identify the need for an institution to reimburse OSSE for a Mayor’s Scholars award. First, OSSE may calculate lifetime or annual award timelines and amounts and find that a student has received more than the maximum allowed. In this case, OSSE will request repayment from the institution that the student most recently attended.

Second, if a student is included on the payment request from the institution, and is then found not to be enrolled at that institution, OSSE will notify the institution of the reimbursement amount.

Institutional Responsibility

The institutions must agree not to request from or charge any student a fee for processing or handling any application, form, or data required to determine a student’s eligibility for, and amount of, financial assistance, including reimbursement to OSSE for amounts over the lifetime and annual award amounts and timelines.

Appeal

Should an institution receive a reimbursement request from OSSE, they may appeal within 15 days by writing a letter including the amount, student name(s), and reasons for appeal. OSSE will respond with a determination for each repeal within 15 days of receiving the institution’s appeal request.

This funding is a last-dollar award and eligible students, through their financial aid office, must demonstrate they have exhausted all other funding available to them.

Program Point of Contact

For more information or questions, please contact Melanie Fleming at [email protected] or (202) 741-6406.