Max Schroder Indigenous Mentoring Scholarships

Background

Max Schroder studied at Armidale Teachers’ College in 1959-60 and gained a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Master of Arts degrees from UNE by distance education. His interest in Indigenous students began in the 1960s when he was teaching Aboriginal students in Armidale. He has also spent time in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.

Max had an outstanding career in higher education which clearly emphasised the value he places on higher education and its ability to be transformational. In 2008, Max Schroder provided a scholarship for one Indigenous student to pursue a UNE degree. Since then, Mr Schroder’s ongoing support and generosity has grown the program significantly with dozens of scholarships awarded over the years.

The Max Schroder Indigenous Mentoring Scholarship has been initiated to act in a supporting capacity for the other Max Schroder Indigenous Scholarship and Ella Schroder Indigenous Residential Scholarship recipients. Two such scholarships are offered, preferably one each for a female and male mentor.

Details

Value per annum:Up to $8,000 (See Scholarship Specific Conditions)  
($4,000 for part-time study)
Payment method:Residential fee account
Number awarded in 2024:2 (preferably 1 male, 1 female)
Duration:1 year
Study Mode:On Campus
Study Load:Full-time/Part-time - minimum enrolment of 24 credit points per academic year
Course Type:Bachelor degree (including Honours programs)
Postgraduate
New/Continuing students:

Continuing students in their final year of undergraduate study or in any year of postgraduate study

Residential requirement:The recipient is required to reside in one of the UNE residences (excluding St Albert's) for the duration of the scholarship unless special permission has been sought and granted.
Application Closing Date:Extended to 18 March 2024

Who can apply?
  1. Australian Citizen/Permanent Resident: The applicant must be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident as defined by the Commonwealth  
  2. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander: The applicant must identify as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and provide documentation according to the UNE Confirmation of Aboriginality and Torres Strait Islander Identity Rule
  3. Student and Course Requirement: Open to continuing UNE students in their final year of an undergraduate degree or in any year of postgraduate study at UNE.
  4. Academic Requirement: Applicants must have achieved a minimum GPA of 4.0 in their course to date.
  5. Living in College: The applicant is living or intending to live in a UNE Residential College (excluding St Albert’s College) for the duration of the scholarship (see Conditions specific requirements of this scholarship)
Selection criteria (in order of importance)

The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of (in order):

Written recommendation from an appropriate UNE staff member (e.g. staff from the Oorala Aboriginal Centre, Head of College, Course Coordinator, etc.) who can comment on the following attributes:

    1. Demonstrated understanding of the issues affecting the academic, personal and social life of Indigenous students at university generally, and UNE and College specifically.
    2. Capacity to balance the responsibilities of the Scholarship with continued satisfactory academic progress.
    3. Demonstrated leadership skills, including motivational and initiative skills.
    4. Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

And

The statement of case:

    1. Why are you studying your chosen course and what are your career aspirations?
    2. Tell us about your personal strengths, leadership, and community activities you are involved in. How you have used them to make a difference in the lives of others?
    3. What impact will NOT receiving the scholarship have on your studies?
    4. What special conditions or obstacles have you overcome in your path to study? e.g. financial, geographic, cultural, or other disadvantage. Tell us what you have done to address your situation, in light of the challenges you outlined.

Notes

  • Preference may be given to applicants who were previous recipients of a Max Schroder or Ella Schroder Indigenous Residential Scholarship.
  • Preference may be given to applicants not in receipt of another scholarship.
  • The scholarship shall be awarded on the recommendation of the Executive Principal Student Experience and administered by the UNE Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team.
  • By applying for this scholarship you, the applicant, permit the University to give some personal details contained in your application to the Donor/Trustee/Committee/School, who may not be UNE staff. All information gathered will be treated with discretion.
  • The Selection Committee’s decision is final.
Supporting documents/Required information

The listed documents are acceptable forms of evidence in each of the following criteria:

  1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander: The applicant must identify as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and provide documentation according to the UNE Confirmation of Aboriginality and Torres Strait Islander Identity Rule
  2. Written recommendation from an appropriate UNE staff member (e.g. staff from the Oorala Aboriginal Centre, Head of College, Course Coordinator, etc.) who can comment on the following attributes:
    1. Demonstrated understanding of the issues affecting the academic, personal and social life of Indigenous students at university generally, and UNE and College specifically.
    2. Capacity to balance the responsibilities of the Scholarship with continued satisfactory academic progress.
    3. Demonstrated leadership skills, including motivational and initiative skills.
    4. Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and communication skills. If you are unsure of who may be appropriate, please contact the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team for advice on 02 6773 2000 or email: scholarships@une.edu.au
  3. Statement of Case:
    1. Why are you studying your chosen course and what are your career aspirations?
    2. Tell us about your personal strengths, leadership, and community activities you are involved in. How you have used them to make a difference in the lives of others?
    3. What impact will NOT receiving the scholarship have on your studies?
    4. What special conditions or obstacles have you overcome in your path to study? e.g. financial, geographic, cultural, or other disadvantage. Tell us what you have done to address your situation, in light of the challenges you outlined.
Conditions

General Conditions

  1. Undergraduate/Postgraduate (coursework) scholarship recipients may not hold more than one UNE scholarship (excluding the Betty J Fyffe Scholarship) if the combined value is greater than six thousand dollars ($6,000) per annum.
  2. The scholarship is intended for the nominated course and may not be deferred or transferred.
  3. The scholarship is payable into the recipient’s residential fee account in two instalments within 30 days following the Trimester 1, 2 or 3 census dates. Payment for part-time students is 50% of the full-time scholarship amount.
  4. Continuation of the scholarship, if applicable, is subject to:
    1. Achieving a Trimester GPA of at least 4.0. For continuing students, results for Trimester 2 and 3 will be combined for the purpose of calculating eligibility for continuation of the scholarship in Trimester 1 in the second and subsequent years. OR for Honours - Sufficient academic progress as confirmed by a representative of the relevant Faculty.
    2. The student continuing to maintain eligibility in relation to their enrolment status as stipulated by the Scholarship terms.
    3. Full-time students are expected to complete their course in the minimum period of candidature.
    4. Submission of brief Donor Report upon request each year reporting on progress with their studies and involvement in sporting, cultural and community activities as well as participation in university life, where applicable. In submitting this report, the recipient understands that some of the information and/or personal details contained in each report will be sent to the Donor/Trustee/Committee/School, who may not be UNE staff. All information gathered will be treated with discretion.
  5. Any request to vary the terms and/or conditions of the scholarship must be made in writing and will be determined at the discretion of the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships Committee (in consultation with relevant Donor/Trustee/Committee/School/Head of College).
  6. If at any time during the scholarship term the student is found to have committed behavioural misconduct in accordance with the University’s Student Behavioural Misconduct Rules, the scholarship will be terminated and any outstanding payments to be made under the scholarship will not be paid.  You may also be required to repay any instalment already received. Students who are residential college residents are also subject to the Residential College Code of Conduct.
  7. The student may be required to attend the annual scholarships donor event if they are invited to do so, and may be asked to participate in activities to promote this scholarship and other scholarships in general, including public speaking, donor liaison, media interviews and photographs.
  8. Some scholarships may affect other government payments. It is the recipient’s responsibility to seek advice from the relevant government agency.
  9. From time to time minor changes may be required to the administrative conditions of this scholarship. If this occurs recipients will be given advanced notice in writing. Donors will also be consulted where appropriate.
  10. Failure to meet the requirements of these terms and conditions may lead to the termination of the scholarship and your being required to repay any instalment already received.

Scholarship Specific Conditions

  1. The recipient must submit their intended enrolment plan for the academic year to determine the recipient's scholarship payment allocation.
  2. If the recipient is also awarded the UNE Residential Financial Assistance Scholarship) and/or is receiving reduced residential fees due to holding a leadership, academic mentor or other College office, the scholarship amount may be reduced to ensure the combined scholarship payments do not exceed the College fees for that academic year.
  3. If the recipient requires leave from their scholarship responsibilities temporarily (e.g. due to illness) they must inform the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team immediately.
  4. The recipient must perform the duties required of them diligently. The following   Duties Statement outlines in more detail the specific duties associated with accepting this mentoring scholarship.

Max Schroder Mentor Duties Statement

1. Act as a role model for good study practices and provide support and guidance to the students in their care, assisting them by facilitating contacts within UNE, including the Colleges, and/or the broader community where appropriate.

2. Conduct weekly individual mentoring sessions face-to-face or via Zoom/Skype/Facetime with each of the Max Schroder Indigenous and Ella Schroder Indigenous Residential Scholarship recipients assigned to your mentorship (up to a maximum of 10 students). They should also have a group session at least once a month. The recipient of the Max Schroder Indigenous Mentoring Scholarship will be required to keep attendance proper records of these meetings.

3. Recipients will be required to submit mentee attendance records to the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team during Week 4 of each Trimester and again in May and September with your standard Scholarship student progress report. These attendance records must include information about:

  • The attendance or otherwise to mentoring sessions, of the students in their care;
  • The willingness and participation of each of the students in their care.

If you are unsure of how to do this please seek advice from the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team: scholarships@une.edu.au or 02 6773 2000.

4. Encourage and facilitate the students in their care to utilise the services offered by Oorala Aboriginal Centre at UNE, and in accordance with the students’ own scholarship Terms & Conditions.

5. Ensure that you utilise the support and resources available to assist and support you in your role as mentor and in your own studies if required.

6. Ensure you notify the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team immediately if at any time the following occurs:

  • You have concerns for the safety or welfare of the students under your mentorship;
  • If any of your mentees has not attended any mentoring session in the first 4 weeks of Trimester;
  • If any of your mentees misses more than 2 consecutive mentoring sessions;
  • You have questions or concerns at any stage about your role and responsibilities as mentor: Email:  scholarships@une.edu.au or phone 02 6773 2000.
Enrolment Notes and Definitions
  • Full-time is defined at UNE as an enrolment of 48 credit points in the academic year.
  • Part-time for this scholarship is defined as a minimum enrolment of 24 credit points in the academic year.
  • Enrolment is required for Trimester 1 and 2 study periods (with Trimester 3 optional), where if there is no active enrolment in these periods and a request for a leave of absence from their scholarship is not made and approved to the UNE Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team, the scholarship may be suspended.
  • For full-time scholarships, payments will be made in Trimester 1 and 2 each year provided there is a minimum enrolment of 18 credit points in each period. If fewer than 18 credit points are undertaken in Trimester 1 and/or 2, payments will be deferred to the following Trimester.
  • Part-time scholarship payments will be made in Trimester 1 and 2 each year provided there is a minimum enrolment of 24 credit points across the academic year. If fewer than 24 credit points are demonstrated in Trimester 1 and/or 2, payments will be withheld until enrolment intentions are made in writing to the Student Scholarships team.
  • For on campus required scholarships, students must be enrolled in all on campus units, subject to availability, not just registered in ON mode. Students unsure about this should contact the UNE Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team to discuss their situation.
  • If a problem presents in meeting the above requirements, the recipient must liaise with the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team to discuss their specific situation.
How to apply

Applications for the Max Schroder Indigenous Mentoring Scholarship should be made through the Application for University of New England Scholarship/s Form.

Only complete applications will be processed, so please ensure that you have submitted all required documentation with your application. The Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team will notify you via email when your application has been processed.

Acceptance

In accepting the Max Schroder Indigenous Mentoring scholarship, the recipient acknowledges that they have read, understand and accept the Terms and Conditions and Duties outlined above.