The SMART Bowling Scholarship Funding Corporation is revising its scholarship use policy to better protect student-athlete eligibility and ensure compliance with collegiate and state high school athletic associations' regulations.
Effective November 1, 2011, SMART scholarship funds may only be used for qualifying secondary education expenses. All funds disbursement, after final review and approval, will be paid directly to the educational institution. No policy exceptions for direct reimbursement of SMART funds to a student or parent will be allowed.
Qualifying expenses for SMART Scholarship funds include tuition/fees, textbooks, meal plans, housing plans, required class supplies and equipment necessary for the successful completion of a course or program at universities, colleges, business schools, technical schools, trade schools or vocational schools.
"A primary mission of SMART is to protect the eligibility of student-athletes," SMART Corporation Board Chairman Wally Hall said. "To protect their eligibility, SMART's policies must guarantee that scholarship funds are applied solely for secondary education and prevent any use of money that could be considered a cash prize or improper benefit."
Under the new policy, SMART scholarship funds may not be used for sport equipment or supplies; bowling and non-bowling sport camp, clinic or lessons; private tutors' fees; elementary or high school tuition/fees; costs related to computer repair; normal school supplies; transportation expenses (including parking permits); or clothing expenses.
A fully revised SMART policy manual is being developed and is scheduled to be finalized next year.
This will completely screw us!!!! Lindenwood doesn't allow outside scholarships or atleast they didn't before. We always had to be reimbursed directly.
Yes, and it would have been nice to know a little more in advance so we could have at least gotten as much of the money out of our accounts as possible.
This is in reaction to what the Illinois High School Athletics Association was going to do. Starting for their 2011-12 season, they were going to require anyone that obtained SMART funds while bowling in high school would have to immediately designate those funds to a college, even if it was their freshman year. If they ultimately didn't attend that college, they would lose those funds. In reading the new language, it doesn't sound like much has changed as far as what the funds can be used for, just who can get them.
I've had some conversations with Lindenwood back in September, plus there has always been another option, but I don't know if the USBC closed that as well. I'll contact the USBC and let you know.
If anyone has major issues, let me know in writing via email and I'll see what options there are case by case.
-- Edited by philmark11 on Thursday 27th of October 2011 10:13:30 AM
As you can tell from the history of this thread, I originally posted about the change in SMART fund policy very soon after it was announced in late October. Since this policy change affects just about everyone currently in our program because it goes 180 degrees from what we were told to do by SMART, Ive been exploring what options might be available for fund use in light of their new policy combined with the school policy regarding additional outside scholarships.
I originally contacted SMART at the USBC and was told that the final decision about the policy change came from the board that oversees the program. As indicated before, they were being challenged by the Illinois and Michigan High School Athletic Associations because apparently some people were getting money back out of their SMART accounts by using bogus receipts and claiming them as school expenses. This in essence jeopardized a high school athletes amateur status and eligibility within those high school programs (and didnt help future collegiate eligibility much either) because being reimbursed in that way could be construed as receipt of a cash prize or improper benefit. I explored an extension of the policy exception or a grandfathering for students already in college, but that went nowhere.
I then explored options through the school even though it was SMART that changed policy. I was able to get some clarity for any future incoming student-athletes, but after internal discussions that went all the way to the President from what Ive been told, the policy for those already here as it relates to outside scholarships hasnt changed. Its a 50/50 split, which is an exception that bowling gets due to the unique nature of the SMART fund. For all other athletic programs, the policy is that any additional outside scholarship first replaces the LU grant, and its even more complicated for the soon-to-be NCAA sports on campus. Lindenwood is not the only school that does things this way.
That being said, there are some options. Because books are NOT included in any LU packages, SMART funds can be used 100% for books, but you are limited to using $1,000 per year. You would have to direct the SMART fund to send an amount to the business office with the specific designation that it be for books. The business office would then issue you a book voucher that you can take to the book store and use. You can do this for the approximate cost of your books each semester, but only up to the annual cap amount each year. I do not know if this can be done for on-line book purchases.
Another apparent option would come into play for anyone that might pursue a masters degree. Because pursuit of an advanced degree falls outside of the undergraduate package you received, SMART funds can be used 100% for tuition for a masters program. The only requirement based on SMART rules, is that all funds must be used prior to the sixth anniversary of your high school graduation. I can put you in touch with someone that can explain this option more. Just let me know.
Finally, although the school has the 50/50 policy in place, if you were to acquire additional SMART funds after starting college through Junior Gold or any other tournament that awards scholarship money through SMART, you do have the option of appealing the 50/50 split. There HAVE been instances where the school has allowed someone to use an additional outside scholarship at 100%, but each situation is looked at independently, so its not a guarantee, just a possible option. I would think that one way to present a case is to keep track of expenses related to acquiring the SMART money. Making the trip to Vegas last summer for Junior Gold probably cost more than any amount of SMART money that could have been awarded.
This is a complicated issue and represents a drastic change in SMARTs policy. It happened on November 1st with only about four days notice which sure didnt help. If you have any questions or would like me to review your specific situation as it relates to SMART, send me an e-mail and Ill explore your specific options.
In reading the list of qualifying expenses, perhaps there are some other avenues that can be explored more thoroughly.
Qualifying expenses for SMART Scholarship funds include tuition/fees, textbooks, meal plans, housing plans, required class supplies and equipment necessary for the successful completion of a course or program at universities, colleges, business schools, technical schools, trade schools or vocational schools.
The scholarship funds may NOT be used for the following: transportation expenses (including parking permits), clothing expenses, sport camp/lessons, sports equipment or supplies, private tutor fees and elementary or high school tuition and/or fees.
-- Edited by philmark11 on Thursday 5th of April 2012 10:23:56 AM
