The Outdoor Leadership Scholarship Program
In 1997, the UCMC Executive Board, along with club members and local alumni decided to create The UCMC Outdoor Leadership Scholarship.
In 1999 the Club renamed the Fund: The Steve Must Memorial Scholarship, in honor of a beloved UCMC member who had recently died.
The goal of the program is to provide financial assistance for undergraduate members to attend professional wilderness/outdoor education programs. The members are then required to bring their new skills and knowledge back to the Club and educate current and future members.
In 1999 the Club renamed the Fund: The Steve Must Memorial Scholarship, in honor of a beloved UCMC member who had recently died.
The goal of the program is to provide financial assistance for undergraduate members to attend professional wilderness/outdoor education programs. The members are then required to bring their new skills and knowledge back to the Club and educate current and future members.
Steve Must Memorial Scholarship
Scholarship Charter
Goal
"The goal of the UCMC Steve Must Memorial Scholarship (SMMS) is to further develop the outdoor leadership skills of UCMC student members who have proven commitment and leadership potential for the UCMC."
The University of Cincinnati Mountaineering Club (UCMC) benefits tremendously from the development of active, committed members. This is a crucial step to increasing the number of individuals who are willing and able to lead trips, teach courses, and help develop other emerging leaders within the UCMC. In pursuit of this goal, the UCMC may provide partial scholarships to selected student members to attend approved outdoor education programs.
Principles
The SMMS was developed with certain principles in mind. Since the UCMC is an undergraduate student group that is funded significantly from general fees collected from undergraduate students, scholarship recipients shall be matriculated University of Cincinnati undergraduate students. The SMMS is considered an investment in which the UCMC seeks to maximize its return. Scholarships will be awarded based on the needs of the UCMC,as determined by the Scholarship Committee working in conjunction with the Executive Committee. The SMMS is not intended as an incentive program or a means of recognizing individuals.
Funding the SMMS
SMMS Administration
At the end of each Spring Semester, the outgoing UCMC Executive Committee will appoint a committee of five individuals to serve as the "Scholarship Committee". With the UCMC University Advisor serving as the committee chair, this committee will additionally consist of two alumni and two students, either graduate or undergraduate, who are not officers for the upcoming school year. The term of the Scholarship Committee is from the end of the Spring Semester to the end of the succeeding Spring Semester.
The Scholarship Committee should consist of "disinterested" individuals. Because of the nature of the UCMC and the many close friendships that develop, there is always the potential for the appearance of conflicts of interest. The Scholarship Committee should be sensitive to this and proactively identify and address potential misunderstandings. Scholarship Committee members should recuse themselves from the decision-making process when a family member, boyfriend, girlfriend, or close friend has applied for an SMMS scholarship. Likewise, the UCMC membership should trust that the Scholarship Committee will look out for the best interests of the UCMC.
The UCMC Executive Committee and Scholarship Committee will periodically review these policies and guidelines and evaluate their effectiveness for accomplishing the goal of the SMMS. Any necessary changes or clarifications should be documented herein and made public.
Role of the Executive Committee
The role of the Executive Committee in the administration of the SMMS consists of the following:
Role of the Scholarship Committee
The role of the Scholarship Committee in the administration of the SMMS consists of the following:
Timing and Deadlines
By the 5th week of the Spring Semester, the Executive Committee should inform the Scholarship Committee of the current available funds in the UC Mountaineering Club (UCMC) Steve Must Memorial Scholarship. The Scholarship Committee should then announce to club members the amount of money available for awards, eligibility requirements, and examples of factors that may influence the Scholarship Committee's decisions.
Between the 5thand the 8thweeks of the Spring Semester, the Executive Committee, in conjunction with the Scholarship Committee will advertise the application period for the SMMS during UCMC general body meetings and through other means available to them.
By the 8thweek of the Spring Semester, individuals seeking scholarships should submit to the Scholarship Committee a formal proposal. This proposal should detail the course the candidate wants to take and describe how they intend to utilize their experience to benefit the UCMC. The candidate should have already applied for any other scholarships or financial assistance that might be available. The Scholarship Committee will likely be looking to maximize the return on the available scholarship dollars so it would behoove a scholarship candidate to obtain as much funding from other sources as possible. Individuals seeking scholarships for use during the spring semester or outside of this time table may ask the scholarship committee to review their request. These scholarship requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
The Executive Committee should prepare a press release announcing the scholarship awards and make all possible preparations for its release.
By the last week of the Spring Semestersthe Scholarship Committee should announce the name(s) of the award recipient(s), the amount(s) of the award(s), and the course(s) that (each) award is valid for. Recipients must accept or decline awards within two weeks of when the announcement is made. Awards that are not accepted within that two-week period may be re-allocated.
In the event that a scholarship recipient does not successfully complete the course for which the award was designated, the UCMC will require that the award amount be refunded to the UCMC.
Selecting Scholarship Recipients
Throughout the school year, the Scholarship Committee, under advisement from the Executive Committee, shall assess the leadership development needs within the various disciplines (backpacking, canoeing, mountaineering, whitewater, etc.) of the UCMC. This factor should influence the decisions of the Scholarship Committee.
Seniority should not influence the Scholarship Committee's decisions. A freshman might dazzle the UCMC their first year or the consistent record of accomplishment of a junior might prevail. Nevertheless, the SMMS should not be viewed as a reward or incentive program.
The Scholarship Committee should focus on getting the maximum return on the UCMC's investment of training dollars. The decision-making process should take into account the available funds and answers to the following three questions:
Eligibility Criteria
A scholarship recipient must:
Formal Proposal
To apply to the SMMS, a candidate must submit a formal proposal. This proposal should be as detailed as possible. A complete proposal that anticipates and addresses questions and concerns, and requires very little follow-up or research would likely be viewed more favorably. Candidates should consider the developmental needs of the UCMC as they chose a course. A formal proposal must include:
Demonstration of Commitment and Leadership
The following are suggested actions that a potential scholarship recipient may take to demonstrate commitment and leadership:
Principles
The SMMS was developed with certain principles in mind. Since the UCMC is an undergraduate student group that is funded significantly from general fees collected from undergraduate students, scholarship recipients shall be matriculated University of Cincinnati undergraduate students. The SMMS is considered an investment in which the UCMC seeks to maximize its return. Scholarships will be awarded based on the needs of the UCMC,as determined by the Scholarship Committee working in conjunction with the Executive Committee. The SMMS is not intended as an incentive program or a means of recognizing individuals.
Funding the SMMS
- The UCMC should pursue all possible sources of funding from the university that could be used for educating members.
- UCMC-generated funds may be budgeted for scholarships as the Executive Committee deems appropriate.
- Tax-deductible donations through the University of Cincinnati Foundation to the UC Mountaineering Club (UCMC) Steve Must Memorial Scholarship should be solicited from alumni, organizations, and businesses..
SMMS Administration
At the end of each Spring Semester, the outgoing UCMC Executive Committee will appoint a committee of five individuals to serve as the "Scholarship Committee". With the UCMC University Advisor serving as the committee chair, this committee will additionally consist of two alumni and two students, either graduate or undergraduate, who are not officers for the upcoming school year. The term of the Scholarship Committee is from the end of the Spring Semester to the end of the succeeding Spring Semester.
The Scholarship Committee should consist of "disinterested" individuals. Because of the nature of the UCMC and the many close friendships that develop, there is always the potential for the appearance of conflicts of interest. The Scholarship Committee should be sensitive to this and proactively identify and address potential misunderstandings. Scholarship Committee members should recuse themselves from the decision-making process when a family member, boyfriend, girlfriend, or close friend has applied for an SMMS scholarship. Likewise, the UCMC membership should trust that the Scholarship Committee will look out for the best interests of the UCMC.
The UCMC Executive Committee and Scholarship Committee will periodically review these policies and guidelines and evaluate their effectiveness for accomplishing the goal of the SMMS. Any necessary changes or clarifications should be documented herein and made public.
Role of the Executive Committee
The role of the Executive Committee in the administration of the SMMS consists of the following:
- Appoint the members of the Scholarship Committee.
- Advertise the existence and purpose of the SMMS to the university community and within the UCMC membership.
- Issue press releases announcing the names of award recipients, the amounts awarded, and the courses recipients will attend.
- Obtain funding for the SMMS from the university via all possible programs.
- Consider allocating some UCMC-generated funds to the SMMS.
- Advise the Scholarship Committee as they assess the developmental needs of the UCMC.
- Recommend to the Scholarship Committee possible clarifications or changes to the SMMS policies, guidelines, eligibility requirements, and selection criteria.
- Collect proposals from candidates and forward to the Scholarship Committee for review.
- Ensure, by whatever legal means are necessary, that any dispersed scholarship funds which the Scholarship Committee determines should be returned to the UCMC are indeed returned.
- Ensure that scholarship recipients have the opportunities to pass on the knowledge gained on their courses (by encouraging them to lead trips, organize courses, and make formal presentations at meetings).
Role of the Scholarship Committee
The role of the Scholarship Committee in the administration of the SMMS consists of the following:
- Review proposals from candidates and verify accuracy of information presented therein.
- Determine who will receive scholarships, how much those scholarships will be, and for what courses those scholarships may be used.
- Ensure that scholarship recipients understand how the awards are to be used and that those funds must be returned to the UCMC if not used as prescribed by the Scholarship Committee.
- Verify successful completion of courses for which scholarships were awarded.
- Determine if any scholarship funds that were dispersed must be returned to the UCMC.
- Ensure that the UCMC membership understands the eligibility requirements and selection criteria for the SMMS.
- Ensure that the UCMC membership is aware of deadlines for the SMMS.
- Investigate outdoor leadership programs and course offerings that might meet developmental needs of the UCMC and pass along this information to the UCMC membership.
- Seek tax deductible donations from alumni and businesses to the SMMS fund at the UC Foundation.
- Assess the developmental needs of the UCMC.
- Review the SMMS policies, guidelines, eligibility requirements, and selection criteria for possible clarification or changes.
Timing and Deadlines
By the 5th week of the Spring Semester, the Executive Committee should inform the Scholarship Committee of the current available funds in the UC Mountaineering Club (UCMC) Steve Must Memorial Scholarship. The Scholarship Committee should then announce to club members the amount of money available for awards, eligibility requirements, and examples of factors that may influence the Scholarship Committee's decisions.
Between the 5thand the 8thweeks of the Spring Semester, the Executive Committee, in conjunction with the Scholarship Committee will advertise the application period for the SMMS during UCMC general body meetings and through other means available to them.
By the 8thweek of the Spring Semester, individuals seeking scholarships should submit to the Scholarship Committee a formal proposal. This proposal should detail the course the candidate wants to take and describe how they intend to utilize their experience to benefit the UCMC. The candidate should have already applied for any other scholarships or financial assistance that might be available. The Scholarship Committee will likely be looking to maximize the return on the available scholarship dollars so it would behoove a scholarship candidate to obtain as much funding from other sources as possible. Individuals seeking scholarships for use during the spring semester or outside of this time table may ask the scholarship committee to review their request. These scholarship requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
The Executive Committee should prepare a press release announcing the scholarship awards and make all possible preparations for its release.
By the last week of the Spring Semestersthe Scholarship Committee should announce the name(s) of the award recipient(s), the amount(s) of the award(s), and the course(s) that (each) award is valid for. Recipients must accept or decline awards within two weeks of when the announcement is made. Awards that are not accepted within that two-week period may be re-allocated.
In the event that a scholarship recipient does not successfully complete the course for which the award was designated, the UCMC will require that the award amount be refunded to the UCMC.
Selecting Scholarship Recipients
Throughout the school year, the Scholarship Committee, under advisement from the Executive Committee, shall assess the leadership development needs within the various disciplines (backpacking, canoeing, mountaineering, whitewater, etc.) of the UCMC. This factor should influence the decisions of the Scholarship Committee.
Seniority should not influence the Scholarship Committee's decisions. A freshman might dazzle the UCMC their first year or the consistent record of accomplishment of a junior might prevail. Nevertheless, the SMMS should not be viewed as a reward or incentive program.
The Scholarship Committee should focus on getting the maximum return on the UCMC's investment of training dollars. The decision-making process should take into account the available funds and answers to the following three questions:
- What are the leadership development needs of the UCMC?
- What programs and courses will best fill those needs?
- Which candidates will best bring that knowledge and leadership back to the UCMC and pass it on?
Eligibility Criteria
A scholarship recipient must:
- Be a matriculated full- or part-time University of Cincinnati undergraduate student and must be a member of the UCMC.
- Have been a member of the UCMC, in good standing, for not less than eight months at the time the course begins.
- Have at least one year of undergraduate study remaining at the University of Cincinnati at the time the course begins.
- Show proof of a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25 at the University of Cincinnati and must maintain this status up to the time the award is made.
- Show proof of a GPA of at least 2.0 for the two academic quarters immediately preceding the course.
- First apply for any other possible scholarships or financial aid.
- Have consistently demonstrated leadership potential and commitment to the UCMC.
- Submit to the UCMC Executive Committee a formal proposal as described below.
Formal Proposal
To apply to the SMMS, a candidate must submit a formal proposal. This proposal should be as detailed as possible. A complete proposal that anticipates and addresses questions and concerns, and requires very little follow-up or research would likely be viewed more favorably. Candidates should consider the developmental needs of the UCMC as they chose a course. A formal proposal must include:
- A description of the course provider.
- Documentation from the course provider detailing the course curriculum, prerequisites, and costs.
- Proof that the candidate meets the eligibility requirements (prerequisites, insurance, medical exam, etc.) established by the course provider.
- Proof of medical insurance, student status, and GPA.
- Copies of completed applications for other scholarships and financial aid which would apply toward the desired course, along with copies of any resulting/related correspondence.
- A detailed description of how the candidate has demonstrated leadership potential and commitment to the UCMC (as suggested below).
- A detailed plan of how the candidate intends to pass on acquired knowledge to the Club membership. (Some of the past proposals can be found on the Application page.)
Demonstration of Commitment and Leadership
The following are suggested actions that a potential scholarship recipient may take to demonstrate commitment and leadership:
- Actively welcome and get to know new members.
- Provide enthusiasm and encourage others.
- Create and/or post fliers for courses and events.
- Organize, lead, and/or help lead trips.
- Project a courteous and safety-conscious attitude.
- Write an article for the Goosedown Gazette (the UCMC newsletter).
- Edit or otherwise help produce the Goosedown Gazette.
- Create and/or place advertisements on campus newspaper & social media sites.
- Write an article for a campus newspaper & social media sites.
- Help organize and/or teach UCMC courses.
- Demonstrate an eagerness to learn.
- Help prepare a budget proposal.
- Put on a presentation at a meeting.
- Serve as an officer or equipment manager.
- Assist with an Open House meeting.
- Help maintain or repair equipment.
- Assist with the UCMC web pages.
- Represent the UCMC at various meetings (Student Government, SALD, UFB, etc.).
- Represent the UCMC at various events (freshman orientation, Earth Day, etc.).
- Hand out fliers by TUC.
