President's Award Program

A Scholarship Program for University Diversity

Description and Eligibility

The President’s Award Program (PAP) assists the University of Illinois System to enroll highly capable students who have been admitted to one of the U of I universities and are members of historically underrepresented groups and groups that have been less likely to enroll at the university. The broad goal of the program is to ensure and enrich the diversity of the student body. The University of Illinois believes that a diverse student body enhances the quality of education for all students.

High achieving newly-admitted freshmen from several underrepresented groups are considered for the PAP award. To be eligible for consideration, students must be Illinois residents and have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.

Students from any of the following underrepresented groups at the University of Illinois are eligible for consideration for the PAP award:

Students who are members of one of the underrepresented racial/ethnic groups at the University of Illinois (African American, Latino, or Native American; Latino is based on origins from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, or Central or South America);
Students from underrepresented Illinois counties, with underrepresented defined as counties sending an average of two or fewer students per academic year to the University of Illinois in the past five-year period;
High achieving dependent students whose families are at or below the poverty level and are not expected to contribute to the cost of their education, as verified through FAFSA and financial aid application processes.

PAP Award Decisions

The scholarship provided by the PAP is intended to support and encourage students to select the University of Illinois System for enrollment and each university of the System makes independent decisions regarding admissions and PAP awards. All applications are made through the regular admissions review process (the application for admission serves as the application for the PAP); once admitted, eligible students receive individual review for the PAP.

Financial Aid

Effective beginning with freshman entering Fall 2012, the PAP award is $5,000 per year, available for a maximum of four years (eight semesters) regardless of need, subject to program and campus requirements for continued receipt of the award.

PAP Honors

As of fall 2012, a companion program, the PAP Honors Scholarship, was initiated for the highest achieving PAP-eligible students. PAP Honors awards of $10,000 for each of four years are distributed across the three campuses each year.

Information for award recipients (frequently-asked questions)

Additional Information

Please direct inquiries to the campus of your choice:

Office of Student Financial Aid
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Student Service Arcade
620 E. John Street, MC-303
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-0100

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
University of Illinois at Chicago
Box 5220, MC-018
Chicago, Illinois 60680-5220
(312) 996-4350

Office of Admissions
University of Illinois Springfield
One University Plaza, MS UHB 1080
Springfield, IL 62703-5407
(217) 206-4847 or Toll Free (888) 977-4847

For general policy questions only, please contact:

Gretchen Lohman
Interim Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
glohm2@uillinois.edu
(217) 333-5524