The Educational Enhancement Fund supports Kogod students to participate in professional development opportunities, including business-focused professional conferences, case or other competitions, leadership development activities, and other experiential opportunities. Portions of this fund are generously provided through the Richard and Shelley Glanell Birnbaum Education Enhancement Fund and the Derek and Cheryl Jones Experiential Learning Fund.

The Jones Experiential Fund supports unpaid internships or global experiences for students from historically underrepresented populations who demonstrate strong connections to the Black, African, and Caribbean communities through academic engagement, leadership, or community service.

Once approved, students will work with faculty, Kogod's Student Development team, the Kogod Office of Career Engagement, the Kogod Center for Professionalism and Communications, and Kogod Global Learning to prepare for their experience.

To be considered, you will need to:

1. Complete the Educational Enhancement Fund application (note that an application must be submitted at least two months before the opportunity date to be considered).
2. Connect with Kogod's Coordinator of Student Development, Chris Hung, to discuss and finalize your application.
3. Depending on the opportunity, meet with your team, a faculty sponsor, the Center for Professionalism and Communications, and/or the Office of Career Engagement.
   1. Students must meet with a career coach in the Office of Career Engagement to get approval for all conferences.

Many opportunities will be highlighted in the weekly Kogod Student News newsletter or Handshake, but these are not all-encompassing lists.

Guidelines

Overall

Students must be undergraduate students with a declared major or minor in Kogod or graduate students enrolled in a degree-granting program through Kogod.

Students must also be in good standing with the university and Kogod (including but not limited to student conduct probation, academic probation, and academic integrity violations). While the university standards to be in good academic standing are lower, priority consideration will be given to undergraduate students above a 2.5 cumulative GPA or graduate students above 3.25.

Students can receive funding (as outlined below) that is approved in advance by the Coordinator. For priority consideration, requests must be submitted two months in advance of the opportunity. Late applications may be considered for partial funding, but not guaranteed. There are no reimbursements offered through this fund unless there is an unexpected emergency and the Coordinator approves in advance.

We want to encourage all eligible students to participate in opportunities, so preference will be given to those not previously funded in the current academic year. Multiple opportunities for a single student may be available but are not guaranteed.

If you will miss class or other responsibilities due to these activities, you will need to discuss with and get approval from your faculty/supervisors/advisors in advance to plan for missed class time, assignments, exams, or other course-related materials.

After participating, students will be asked to submit the following to the Coordinator:

1. a photo of themselves (either a professional headshot or a photo from experience)

2. Testimonial sharing what they learned through their experience that may be used in marketing, on social media, or other public forums.

Lodging/hotels, meals, and local transportation to and from airports will be the student's responsibility and not be covered by this fund.

If a student commits to an opportunity and then later withdraws, they will be responsible for reimbursing Kogod for expenses already made on their behalf.

In any opportunity where a student must submit a resume, resumes must be reviewed and approved by the Kogod Office of Career Engagement.

Covered Expenses

Professional Conferences and Memberships

Kogod will pay the cost of a student's registration for a conference focused specifically on a business industry or relevant to their program of study at Kogod and/or a career fair. (NOTE: students must get approval from a career coach in the Office of Career Engagement for all conferences.)

If a student is presenting at a conference, their conference registration, travel, and lodging may be paid for by Kogod.

Memberships in accredited or faculty-sanctioned professional associations that are relevant to a student's academic program and/or career goals may be paid for by Kogod, provided the membership results in a reduced conference or event registration costs.

Roundtrip transportation (flight, train, bus) based on the location of the opportunity will be covered for conferences.

Kogod-Sponsored Programs

Programs sponsored by Kogod academic departments or student services offices will be considered for funding. Funding cannot be requested or used for expenses related to cost-of-attendance, such as tuition, course fees, or items included in your AU bill. Funds also cannot be used toward penalties or late fees. Examples of things to request funding for may include but are not limited to short-term lodging (less than three weeks) if not included in program fees or airfare. Examples of programs eligible for funding include but are not limited to:

• Kogod-sponsored short-term international programs through Kogod's Global Learning office (non-course related). Students applying to long-term or AU Abroad programs can apply for funding through the AU Abroad office. Preference will go to students who have not been able to study abroad during their current degree program.
• Career treks through Kogod's Office of Career Engagement.

The purpose of this fund is to provide financial assistance to undergraduate students who are a major in any program within the Kogod School of Business and seeking to participate in experiential learning opportunities. This fund is not meant to support tuition or related cost-of-attendance expenses. Mr. Kushner established this award to ensure that students who participate in unpaid or low-paid opportunities have fewer obstacles while taking advantage of experiential opportunities.

There will be two cycles of awards, with two students awarded $3,000 in the fall semester and two in the spring. Differentiating this award from existing funds like the Emergency Fund or the Educational Enhancement Fund, the Kushner Experiential Learning Fund can support larger-scale or Kogod-sponsored programs which can include but are not limited to:

• Unpaid internships
• Study abroad or other experiences through Kogod’s Global Learning Programs office (note that while AU Abroad programs will be considered through this fund, Kogod Global Learning programs will take priority. For AU Abroad programs, consider their funding options).
• Opportunities through an academic program like the BS in business and entertainment’s annual trip to Los Angeles
• Treks through Career Development

Note that the deadline to apply for Fall 2024 will be September 22nd at 11:59 pm. Those selected will be notified within a week of each deadline.

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The Graduate Excellence Fund aims to recognize Kogod graduate students who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership outside the classroom at Kogod and American University.  

This is a need- and merit-based scholarship for students who have fully completed six credits in a Kogod or WCL (for JD/LLM/MBA) on-campus or online graduate program. Students must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher and will be enrolled in at least six credits (fall/spring) or three credits (summer) in Kogod during the semester/term for which they are applying. Students who are full-time employees at AU and receive tuition benefits are not eligible for this fund. 

Applications will be reviewed three times each year. The deadlines to apply for funding are as follows: 

• Fall semester/Terms 3&4 funding: July 5 at 11:59 p.m. ET 

• Spring semester/Terms 1&2 funding: January 5 at 11:59 p.m. ET 

• Summer term funding: April 25 at 11:59 p.m. ET 

Recipients are typically notified of their award within three business days from each deadline, and funds are added to a student's account within a week. 

The consideration process is outlined below: 

1. Complete the application by the deadline above (note: you must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher to apply). 

2. Leadership and co-curricular involvement at Kogod and American University are weighed heavily in the review of applications. Examples of impact can include, but are not limited to:  

• Student club roles and leadership 

• Student ambassador roles 

• Athletic or club sport team involvement 

• Case competition or other competition participation 
  
  
• Pro Bono projects 
  
  
• Volunteer work, community engagement/service involvement

3. Applicants will be forwarded to the financial aid office to verify financial need (note that these funds are restricted to apply only towards tuition).  

New applicants will be considered with priority over returning applicants that have received funding. 

Note: letters of recommendation are no longer a part of this fund's application process. Please do not request recommendations from faculty.

The Graduate Excellence Fund Review Committee will meet to consider applications within two weeks after each deadline. Recipients will be notified of their scholarship and asked to confirm acceptance. All decisions are final.  

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1. Complete the application to find out if the exam or prep course would be funded. Students can apply for support of either prep course fees or exam fees, but not both.
2. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of faculty and staff. 
3. Students will be notified of award decision and next steps.  

• Students must be a graduate student enrolled in a degree-granting program through Kogod.
• Students must be in good standing with the university and Kogod (including but not limited to student conduct probation, academic probation, and academic integrity violations). While the university standards to be in good academic standing are lower, priority consideration will be given to graduate students with a cumulative GPA above 3.25.
• Students must provide receipt of payment, demonstrate proof of prep course or certification exam completion, and complete a brief survey to receive funding.
• We expect students to keep all aspects of their application and award confidential and ask you to refrain from discussing the award process with even your most trusted friends. Any breach in confidentiality can result in immediate cancellation of your award.

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This fund has been established to provide financial assistance when a Kogod student (major, minor, or enrolled in a graduate program) encounters unexpected, immediate, and temporary personal hardship that puts at risk their ability to successfully progress in their course work toward degree completion and fulfill other commitments at AU. The fund cannot support long-term or continuous situations, but we can help you find community-based resources to support ongoing issues. Students should only apply for emergency funding when they have exhausted all other resources.  

Guidelines

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for emergency funding, a student must:

• be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at the Kogod School of Business, in good standing with the university, and not violating the AU Student Conduct Code.
• have, in good faith, considered all possible financial resources, including family resources, loans through AU’s Office of Financial Aid, or scholarships through internal and external resources, and have deemed them insufficient, unavailable, or not available within the timeframe needed.
• complete the entire application and provide supporting documentation of financial hardship (i.e. bills, estimates, notices, photos/videos, etc.).
• not exceed the $1,000 limit for emergency funds within the current academic year.
• promise that their statements are true and correct to the best of their knowledge and made in compliance with the terms of the AU Student Conduct Code.
• agree to refrain from discussing their emergency fund application or award, if granted, with anyone outside the Student Development staff.

Please note:

• The Kogod Student Development team administers this emergency fund, advised by a committee of Kogod staff and faculty.
• The Emergency Fund Committee will only consider requests involving a one-time, unavoidable expense.
• All funds are awarded solely at the discretion of the Kogod School of Business, and decisions are final.
• Funds are not intended to substitute or supplement existing financial aid packages.
• Each award is in relation to individual needs and in most cases does not exceed $500.
• The committee will review applications requesting more than $500 for unique and unusual circumstances, and applicants may be required to meet with Emergency Fund Committee members to discuss their application and/or provide further supporting documentation.
• Disclosure of the award amount that you receive from the Emergency Fund to anyone outside of Student Development staff will jeopardize the payment of your award.
• Awarded emergency funding may be classified as taxable income to the recipient and require the University to make appropriate withholdings and report the payment information to the IRS.
• If you are currently receiving financial aid, please be aware that receiving funding from the Emergency Fund may affect your future aid packages, and funds received may be taxed as income.

Expenses Considered For Funding

• Emergency medical, vision, dental, and mental health expenses, associated medications, and associated travel costs not covered by insurance, including expenses related to hospital stays or emergency care, or those related to accidents and unforeseen events. (Note that the university Dean of Students office may be contacted regarding the situation while respecting confidentiality.) 
• Unexpected immediate or imminent need for shelter (i.e., students experiencing homelessness or immediate loss of housing due to unforeseen events and significant change in financial circumstances). 
• Essential utilities not incorporated in the cost of attendance and in danger of being shut off (e.g., electricity, water). 
• Travel expenses in the event of serious illness or death in the applicant’s primary family. 

Expenses Not Considered for Funding

Please review the list of emergencies that will not be considered for funding below:

• Tuition, on-campus room, and board, student fees, insurance, and study-abroad expenses 
• Legal/court fines, counsel, or fees 
• Parking permits or tickets, library fines, or other similar expenses 
• Non-essential services and revolving credit line payments (including but not limited to cable, credit card, cell phone, subscriptions to streaming services, memberships, etc.) 

Award Process

Funding applications will be acknowledged within two (2) business days by the Kogod student development team and are then reviewed by a committee of Kogod faculty and staff (and AU financial aid staff, if appropriate). The emergency fund committee aims to share a decision with the applicant within ten (10) business days.  

Emergency funds are awarded on a case-by-case basis after considering the following factors: 

• the level of impact the emergency/hardship is having on the student’s academic progress 
• the overall personal well-being of the applicant 
• the availability of emergency funds at the time of the request 

Applications must be completed with all required supporting documentation before being considered by the emergency fund committee. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, thus funds may be awarded at any point in the year based on the availability of funds. 

A meeting with a student development staff member to further discuss the situation and urgency of funds may be requested. 

Emergency funds awarded to a student will not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). At the emergency fund committee’s option, partial awards may be made. Full funding is not guaranteed. 

All emergency fund requests are confidential, and details will only be shared amongst the administration offices needed to process the request. No information will be shared with a third party unless the student explicitly gives permission or reporting is required by law, as in instances of Title IX violations or crimes covered under the Clery Act. 

If awarded funds, the preferred payment to the student is through reimbursement. In very rare cases, it may be made directly to a vendor or another third party (e.g., a landlord, service provider, airline, medical provider, etc.). 

Additional Resources

Please consider other available resources before applying to the Kogod Student Emergency Fund if applicable:

• American University Financial Aid
• American University Health Center
• American University Counseling Center
• AU Food Pantry
• Graduate Excellence Fund
• Educational Enhancement Fund

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Kogod has more than forty donor-funded scholarships available for Kogod undergraduate and graduate students.  Visit the Kogod Donor-Funded Scholarships webpage for more information about these scholarships.

Visit the “Grants and Scholarships” section of the university's Financial Aid website for other funding opportunities and the Office of Merit Awards' website.