Navigating Scholarships at Fisk University: A Comprehensive Guide

Fisk University, a distinguished Historically Black College and University (HBCU) located in Nashville, Tennessee, is committed to providing access to higher education for talented students. Understanding the various scholarship opportunities and their requirements is crucial for prospective and current students. This article offers a detailed overview of the scholarships available at Fisk University, along with eligibility criteria and application processes.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Fisk University offers merit-based scholarships to academically talented students as University resources permit. These scholarships are designed to reward students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement.

Eligibility: All students who are officially enrolled for the 2024-2025 Academic year are eligible to apply. Students are evaluated on the strength of their admission application in comparison against the applicant pool.
Application Process: There is no separate application for merit-based scholarships. Students are automatically considered based on their admission application. Scholarships are not guaranteed.

Endowed and Annual Named Scholarships

Fisk University provides a limited number of Endowed and Annual Named scholarships for both incoming and returning students. These scholarships are often funded by generous donors and may have specific criteria.

Eligibility: Incoming and returning students are eligible to apply.
Application Process: For consideration, students must complete a Scholarship Application and must reapply annually. Applications must be submitted electronically.

Need-Based Aid

Need-based aid is awarded on a case-by-case basis to students who demonstrate financial need.

Eligibility: All students are eligible to apply for need-based aid.
Application Process: All students are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at fafsa.ed.gov. The Fisk code is 003490. Families are strongly encouraged to file by February 15. Financial aid awards are distributed electronically and typically received by families in late spring.

Specific Scholarship Opportunities

Fisk University offers a variety of specific scholarship opportunities, each with its own eligibility requirements and application process.

Dr. Issac H. and Carrie W. Miller, Sr. Scholarship: Applicant must be a Tennessee resident and United States citizen who is an undergraduate student pursuing their first degree and who is enrolled at least half-time at an eligible Tennessee post-secondary institution.
The Sgt. Henry A. and Ella Mae Reed Scholarship: Applicant must be a graduating senior of Collierville High school who plans to be enrolled full-time at an accredited Tennessee public, not-for-profit university or community college pursuing a career as an educator or health care professional.
Clinton B. Ford, Sr. Scholarship: Applicant must be an incoming first-year student with previous volunteer service.
ETS Presidential Scholarship for HBCU Students: The ETS Presidential Scholarship for HBCU Students is available to full - time junior and senior students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
McDonald's Black and Positively Golden Scholarship: The McDonald's Black and Positively Golden Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate students attending TMCF - member HBCUs and Predominately Black Institutions.
Provost's Scholarship: The Provost's Scholarship is open to entering freshmen at Fisk University.
Descendants Truth and Reconciliation Foundation Scholarship: The Descendants Truth and Reconciliation Foundation Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate HBCU students. You must be a certified descendant of Jesuit slaveholding within the Catholic Church in the United States to be eligible for this award.
Coco Gauff Tennis Scholarship: The Coco Gauff Tennis Scholarship is open to HBCU student-athletes.
Dean's Scholarship: The Dean's Scholarship is open to entering freshmen at Fisk University.
William and Enid Hairston Scholarship: The William and Enid Hairston Scholarship is open to incoming freshmen at Fisk University.
Rebecca Landers Jennings and Corris Raemone Landers Scholarship: The Rebecca Landers Jennings and Corris Raemone Landers Scholarship is available to returning students at Fisk University.
Michael A. and Mary R. Robinson Scholarship: The Michael A. and Mary R. Robinson Scholarship is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors at Fisk University. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Leslie and John Garner Scholarship: The Leslie and John Garner Scholarship is open to sophomores at Fisk University.
Athletics Scholarship: This Scholarship is determined by the Fisk University Athletics Department. The award amount varies; to learn more information about this award please contact Dr.

Fisk Bound: Transfer Success Initiative

Fisk University has launched the Fisk Bound: Transfer Success Initiative, a strategic effort to support high-achieving community college graduates through financial assistance and tailored academic resources.

Eligibility: Students who graduate with an associate’s degree and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA will be automatically considered for the award upon submitting their application and transcripts.
Benefits: This isn’t just about a scholarship -it’s about designing systems that honor where students are coming from and set them up for long-term success. The Fisk Bound initiative reflects the University’s long-term vision to strengthen transfer partnerships and build a more connected pipeline of scholars who are ready to make meaningful impact.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements

The grade point average (GPA) is important for several reasons. First, a minimum 2.0 GPA is a graduation requirement at the undergraduate level. There are GPA requirements for various academic honors and within the major field in many departments. And, most crucially, there are minimum GPA performance levels required in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress and be retained at Fisk in good standing, with eligibility for financial aid.

The student’s grade point average is computed by assigning points to Fisk courses on the student's transcript. The grade point average is derived by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted, excluding from the latter total any hours for which grades of "P," "F," "I," or "WD have been recorded. When students repeat courses, only the last grade received is considered in determining grade point average. Standards and practices vary from one institution to another: The Fisk grade point average reflects only coursework done at Fisk University.

Acceptable standards of scholarship for Fisk undergraduates require a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 ("C") or better. Satisfactory academic progress toward the required 2.0 GPA and the required minimum 120 semester hours for the bachelor's degree must be maintained throughout the student's career at Fisk. The University recognizes that student performance may be affected by adverse personal circumstances.

Grading System and Policies

Incomplete Grades: The grade of "I" (incomplete) is given when the student has substantially and satisfactorily completed the work in a class but due to unavoidable circumstances (illness or other valid reasons) lacks no more than two distinct course completion requirements. The student must have achieved an average of "C" or better in work completed for the course, and will be responsible for having a clear understanding of the requirements for the completion of the course and removal of the "I".
Pass/Fail Grades: Pass/Fail grades are given in some laboratory sections. Selective pass/fail grading is also available, at the student's option, in order to provide wider opportunities for students to pursue courses outside the major field, without competition from students specializing in the discipline in which the course is offered. A grade of "P" (passing) is awarded for work at the "D" level or better. Work below the "D" level is assigned a grade of "F" (failure). Pass/fail grades are available only to students of junior or senior classification, who are in good academic standing and enrolled for fourteen credit hours or more in the semester. No more than one course per semester may be taken on a pass/fail basis in the junior year, and no more than two per semester in the senior year. basis. Students enrolling on a pass/fail basis must meet the same standards of achievement as other students, including the same attendance and other course requirements such as class recitations, tests, papers, and examinations. The Registrar will provide for each instructor, at the beginning of the semester, a list of students registered on a pass/fail basis for that instructor's classes. Students are not permitted to change their status from letter grade to pass/fail, or vice versa, after the close of normal registration. Credits earned by examination are also shown on the student's transcript with the grade of "P," and are not counted among the twelve hours of coursework permitted on the pass/fail basis.
Withdrawal Grades: The grade of "WD" (withdrawn) and “WF” (Withdrawn Failing) are given to a student who has been enrolled for a course during the first weeks of the semester, but has filed a properly approved withdrawal form with the Registrar before the beginning of the mid-semester examination period. Instructors must indicate consent on the withdrawal form. the beginning of the final examination period, but only if the instructor certifies on the official grade report that the student's standing in the course was at a "D" grade level or better at the time of withdrawal. The grade of "WF" (withdrawn failing) is given when a student files a properly approved withdrawal form with the Registrar between the beginning of the mid-semester examination period and a date four weeks before the beginning of the final examination period but the instructor certifies on the official grade report that the student was failing the course at the time of withdrawal.
Mid-Semester Reports: Mid-semester reports are required from each instructor for all students who are doing unsatisfactory work ("C -"level or below) in that instructor's courses at midterm. Students are notified of any such reports by the Registrar and are required to meet with their faculty academic advisors to discuss the possible reasons for the deficient\ performance and to make plans for improvement. The absence of a mid-semester deficiency report, however, does not constitute a passing grade.
Grade Changes: Grade changes may be made to correct a grade report. All such changes are initiated by the course instructor and approved by the appropriate department chair and by the school dean or prior to being recorded in the Office of the Registrar. Once filed in the Office of the Registrar, grades are no longer the property of the instructor and cannot be changed because of a revision of the judgment of the instructor. An awarded grade shall be final. A change of grade, however, may be permitted under certain exceptional circumstances.

Grade Change Appeal Process

Step 1: The student shall seek a conference with and/or forward a written appeal to the instructor awarding the grade.
Step 2: If the instructor is no longer at Fisk or if the student is not satisfied with the outcome of the conference in Step 1, an appeal may be made to the chair of the department in which the course was offered. Such appeal shall be made no later than two weeks after the meeting in Step 1 and no later than the end of the sixth week of the semester following that in which the grade was awarded. This appeal should be made in writing by the student giving all reasons and providing all documents in support of the change of grade. Requests that do not include specific reasons and supporting documents will not be considered.
Step 3: If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of the appeal process in Step 2, an appeal may be made to the school dean in which the course was offered. This appeal should be made in writing by the student giving all reasons and providing all documents in support of the change of grade. Requests that do not go through Step 2 and that do not include specific reasons and supporting documents will not be considered.
Step 4: If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of the appeal process in Step 3, a final appeal may be made to the Office of the Provost. This appeal should be made in writing by the student giving all reasons and the summary of the outcomes in Step 1 through 3. Requests that do not go through Step1 through 3 will not be considered.

Additional Scholarship Information

Full Tuition Scholarships: This covers full tuition, fees, room & board. The recipient must earn a minimum of 12-18 credit hours per semester. Coverage for this scholarship ranges from $5K to $15K. The recipient must earn a minimum of 12-18 credit hours per semester. This scholarship is renewable annually and all detailed requirements are listed on the university contract found in the students’ award packet. This scholarship covers full tuition. The recipient must earn a minimum of 12-18 credit hours per semester. This scholarship requires an audition and a Music Department recommendation. The award varies; to learn more information about this award please contact Dr.
Institutional Financial Aid Programs: Institutional financial aid programs generally require academic excellence. Academic scholarship programs recognize academically talented high school students who wish to enroll in the freshman class. Recipients of an academic scholarship are selected on the basis of outstanding high school records and qualifying scores from either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT). Recipients are selected during the admission process, and no special application is necessary. Note that all students must be admitted to Fisk University before any aid is awarded. Also, no actual offer can be made to any student until all required documents have been received in the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Tennessee-Specific Aid Programs

The HOPE Scholarship: The HOPE Scholarship is established and funded from the net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to entering freshmen who are enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution within sixteen (16) months after graduating from a TN eligible high school. Exceptions may be granted to TN residents who graduate from high schools located in states other than Tennessee. GED ® recipients - minimum 21 ACT exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests and qualifying GED ® score. HiSet recipients - minimum 21 ACT exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests and qualifying HiSet score. ACT/SAT exams must be taken on a national test date or state test date and prior to the first day of college enrollment. Fisk University must be listed as the School of Record each year to potentially receive an award. At the point of enrollment at the out-of-state institution, the student must maintain continuous enrollment and meet renewal requirements as described above without the HOPE Scholarship. If at any time the student drops from full-time enrollment to part-time enrollment or withdraws from the out-of-state regionally accredited postsecondary institution, the student will no longer meet the minimum requirements as described in TCA 49-4-929. However, upon transferring to an eligible TN postsecondary institution, the student may appeal the ineligible status in order to restore HOPE Scholarship eligibility if the change in enrollment status was due to a documented medical or personal reason.
Tennessee Student Assistance Award Program (TSAA): The Tennessee Student Assistance Award Program (TSAA) was established to provide non-repayable financial assistance to financially-needy undergraduate students who are residents of Tennessee. Applicants must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment, at least half time, at a public or an eligible non-public postsecondary institution in Tennessee. Maximum award amounts are determined by the TSAC Board of Directors prior to the beginning of the fall term. You must file a FASFA for the award year that you are applying for the grant.
Tennessee Promise Scholarship: The Tennessee Promise Scholarship is a last-dollar award. That means that it will pay remaining tuition and mandatory fees minus all gift aid (e.g.

The Importance of Financial Aid at Fisk University

The student financial aid program at Fisk University is based on the principle that all eligible, motivated students who earnestly seek an education at the University should be able to obtain it, regardless of socioeconomic status. In implementing this principle, the University uses its student aid resources to provide financial support to as many students in need as possible. All principles, policies, and procedures governing the Fisk student aid program are consonant with this basic principle. The University strongly endorses the principle that the primary responsibility for the financing of a student's education rests with the student and the student's family, and that any aid provided by the University is always supplemental to the family's maximum effort to provide the necessary funds. Department of Education. Financial aid is awarded on an annual basis and the amount to be offered is determined by an examination of the family’s financial position. Student aid funds rarely meet all the financial needs of eligible students.

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