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Johnson Scholars Program Requirements

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Overview 

The Johnson Scholars Program is a merit-based scholarship program with specific academic, conduct, and participation requirements.  To remain in good standing as a Johnson Scholar, each of the requirements in all three areas must be met throughout the undergraduate career at SCU.  As part of the conduct and participation requirements, scholars must be engaged members of the Johnson Scholar Community.  By accepting the Johnson Scholar financial aid package, each scholar agrees to all of the requirements of the program.  In addition, these requirements will be reviewed annually at the start of each academic year. 

Academic Requirements 

Fundamentally, JSP is a merit-based program.  To remain in good standing, scholars must meet the following academic requirements related to cumulative grade point average and satisfactory academic progress.  

Johnson Scholars must maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA and each scholar must make satisfactory academic progress throughout their undergraduate career at Santa Clara. Scholars must maintain a cumulative 67% completion rate for all units attempted toward their academic programs. Scholars must register for and maintain a full course load of 12 units or more per quarter. Scholars who drop below 12 units will see their financial aid adjusted.  

Conduct Requirements 

The conduct requirement of the Johnson Scholars Program is two-fold. First and foremost, all scholars must follow the SCU student conduct code in the Student Hand boo​k. If a scholar is​ found in violation of the student conduct code through the student conduct system, the scholar may be immediately removed from the program.  

Participation Requirements 

The participation requirements include 1) actively engaging in the Johnson Scholar program throughout their undergraduate career at Santa Clara and 2) being a member of and completing the requirements of the Honors Program. 

To meet the requirement to be actively engaged in the Johnson Scholars program, each scholar must participate in the following throughout their undergraduate career at Santa Clara: 

  1. Meaningfully participate in JSP required meetings and events including Johnson Time 
  2. Attend all JSP retreats 
  3. Attend at least one JSP immersion 
  4. Actively participate in programming as determined by the leadership team for the year
  5. Assist in the JSP selection process 
  6. Complete the FAFSA annually  

Johnson Scholars are required to participate in and complete the requirements of the Honors Program.  The Honors Program credits scholars for JSP participation as follows: for four years of participation in the Johnson Scholars Program, scholars will earn 1 honors elective credit total. 

Review Scholar Status, Probationary Status, and Removal from JSP 

To remain in good standing as a Johnson Scholar, each of the academic, conduct, and participation requirements must be met throughout the undergraduate career at SCU.  

The status of each scholar will be reviewed annually. If any scholar does not meet all of the JSP requirements, then the scholar may be placed on JSP probationary status, at the Director’s discretion. The scholar will meet with the director to discuss the requirement or requirements that are not being met, strategies for improving JSP standing, and review JSP probation expectations and timeline. Once on JSP probation, the scholar will have three consecutive quarters to meet the requirements of the program. If the scholar does not meet the requirements of the program at the end of the probationary period, the scholar may, at the discretion of the Director, be removed from the program.  

If a scholar is found in violation of the student conduct code through the student conduct system, the scholar may be immediately removed from the program.  

Reconsideration of Probationary Status or Removal from the Program 

There may be extenuating circumstances encountered by a scholar that may affect his/her ability to meet program requirements. These circumstances may include personal injury or illness that occurs during an enrollment period; death of an immediate family member or legal guardian during an enrollment period; or other documented circumstances that were unexpected in nature and beyond the control of the student. A scholar may ask for reconsideration if placed on probation or removed from the program when there are documented​ extenuating circumstances. A reconsideration request must be initiated within 30 days of a status notification. For a reconsideration request, the following materials must be provided to the JSP director: 

  1. A statement describing the specific reason(s) beyond your control (events and/or circumstances) that directly contributed to the lack of meeting the requirements. Specific dates of the events (in case of illness, accidents, etc.) should be included. If the reasons for lack of meeting the requirements developed over the course of several terms (or academic years), you should explain all circumstances that have contributed to not meeting the requirements. 
  2. Documentation to support your appeal (e.g. medical billing statement as proof of illness, etc).  
  3. A specific plan to meet requirements in the future.