Awards for Physician Assistant Education Program

In-Course and Renewal Award Regulations

1. In-Course Awards are monetary and non-monetary awards allocated on the basis of academic merit and, in some cases, other forms of earned merit. Non-monetary awards such as medals and books as well as monetary awards of nominal value (currently $100 or less) are called prizes.
2. In-Course Awards are available to full-time and part-time students enrolled in an undergraduate degree program (excluding the Physician Assistant and M.D. Programs), at the time of award application and selection, who are returning to McMaster to continue their studies.
3. In-Course Awards requiring full-time status are available to students enrolled full-time or equivalent in both the fall and winter terms.
4. In-Course Awards requiring part-time status are available to students who are not enrolled full-time in the fall and/or winter terms.  In addition, true part-time awards are only available to students who have completed at least 50% of all units attempted at McMaster on a part-time basis.
5. In-Course Awards are available to all domestic and international students.
6. In-Course Awards are not available to second degree students unless the terms of a donor award specify eligibility and they have not received the award previously.
7. In-Course Awards are not available to students in their graduating term.
8. In-Course Awards may also consider other forms of earned merit.  To evaluate earned merit, students may need to complete one or more additional requirements, including, but not limited to, submitting an application.
9. In-Course Awards requiring an application that are determined by Cumulative Grade Point Average require a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average of 8.0 on at least 18 graded units, while those determined by Fall-Winter Average require a minimum Fall-Winter Average of 9.5 on at least 18 graded units.
10. In-Course Awards adjudicated without need of an application that are determined by Cumulative Grade Point Average require a minimum 8.0 on at least 24 graded units, while those determined by Fall-Winter Average require a minimum 9.5 on at least 24 graded units.
11. Available averages, units upon which averages are calculated, program level, and enrolled units, may be used to break any ties in an award competition.
12. To be considered for an In-Course Award by application, students must submit a complete application by the specified deadline date.
13. In-Course Award applications which meet award eligibility criteria are forwarded to a selection committee for review and ranking.
14. Some In-Course Awards are renewable.
15. Entrance, Indigenous Entrance, and In-Course Award renewals determined by Cumulative Grade Point Average or Fall-Winter Average require a minimum 8.0 on at least 18 graded units.
16. All In-Course Award payments are disbursed through the McMaster Student Account and applied to outstanding charges. A few exceptions to this regulation may be approved by the Office of the Registrar, Aid & Awards.
17. In-Course Awards are typically disbursed no later than the end of September.
18. In-Course Awards will be disbursed if the recipient continues to be enrolled in a McMaster degree program, or a specific McMaster program, when explicitly required by the terms of the award, or the student’s record reflects they are on exchange, on letter of permission, or participating in a coop or internship opportunity at McMaster University. 
19. In-Course Award recipients will have their awards noted on their University transcripts. Entrance and In-Course renewals are not noted on transcripts.
20. Registration in, or transfer to, another program of study and/or a change in course load may result in forfeiture of an In-Course Award or Entrance or In-Course Award renewal.  Students are advised to consult with the Office of the Registrar prior to making any changes to their program of study or course load.
21. If a student is approved to graduate or transfers to graduate in the fall, after the awarding decision and/or disbursement is made, the student will forfeit the award.
22. Students withdrawing from courses without failure by default will forfeit their In-Course Award or Entrance or In-Course Award renewal.
23. Students who forfeit their In-Course award will have their award cancelled and their transcript notation removed if forfeited in first year of payment only.  Students must return the In-Course Award or Entrance or In-Course Award renewal funding to their McMaster Student Account. 
24. Forfeiture of a renewable Entrance or In-Course Award also cancels all future instalments of the award.
25. Students wishing to defer the stated value of an In-Course Award or Entrance or In-Course Award renewal to the next academic year should make the request in writing to the Office of the Registrar, Aid & Awards.  Approval is not automatic and deferments are not normally granted for more than one academic year.
26. Students holding renewable Entrance or In-Course Awards who choose to accelerate their program and to complete their degree earlier than normal by completing Spring/Summer courses and who wish to employ the benefits of their renewable Entrance and/or In-Course Awards to defray the tuition and compulsory fees for those courses should make the request in writing to the Office of the Registrar, Aid & Awards.
27. The University may choose not to grant an In-Course Award in the absence of a suitable candidate; may choose to limit the number of recipients selected where funding is limited; may choose to limit the number of recipients selected where too few suitable candidates exist; and/or may choose to generate applicant pools where complete applications have not been received.
28. The University may remove specific In-Course Awards from the University Calendar, may revise the terms and stated value and/or suspend the granting of In-Course Awards (e.g. donor funds).
29. In-Course Awards supported by donor funds may have additional eligibility and renewal requirements.