Scholarship opportunities
Fairie A. Decker Memorial Biology Scholarships are awarded for support and encouragement of CSUB Biology Majors interested in preparing for careers related to "care, treatment, and preservation of animals and wildlife." Successful students in this area might seek employment in zoos, government agencies, wildlife agencies, such as the Department of Fish and Game, veterinary hospitals, consulting firms, or planning agencies. Applicants might also aspire to continue their education in veterinary medicine, graduate school, or other post- graduate programs.
Purpose
To encourage interested students and provide financial support which would enable them to enroll as full-time students without having to work excessive hours at a low-paying, part-time job, or minimal hours at a high-paying, non-related job.
Terms of the Award
Two renewable scholarships of $1000 each may be awarded annually, and paid quarterly, to biology majors whose interests match those stated above and meet the criteria listed below. Support will be discontinued if a recipient fails to enroll for the next quarter, but a recipient could re-apply the following year.
Recipients must meet regularly with an Advisor in the Department of Biology to document progress toward goals and compliance with the intent of the Scholarship. Support may be continued for a second year, provided the recipient maintains a GPA in biology courses greater than 2.5, based on completion of at least three biology courses during the Year. Renewal will require re-application, including documentation from the faculty advisor of progress, compliance, and continuing need.
Criteria for Awards
Applicants must have: interest, demonstrated by background (e.g., previous coursework), experience in "animal care" programs or employment, and recommendations. This is the primary criterion. ability, demonstrated by performance (GPA, test scores) in previous educational endeavors. A GPA of 2.5 is the minimum acceptable level. need, as evidenced by the present level of support from parents or other guardians and the number of hours they are presently employed in order to pursue their education (but not other endeavors). If the applicant works, he/she must demonstrate that this award would allow them to reduce work hours and increase hours spent pursuing educational goals.
Application Procedure
Applicants must submit to the Chair of the Department of Biology: a completed CSUB Academic Scholarship application form, a resume of their experience related to "care, treatment, and preservation of animals and wildlife," a statement of their interest in a career in the area, a plan of coursework, developed with their advisor, that will prepare them for their goal, a statement of how the scholarship will allow them to reduce or eliminate need for employment, the names of two persons who have been asked to complete Decker Scholarship Recommendation forms, attesting to the applicant's background, interest, or experience, relative to the area of concern. At least one recommendation should come from an instructor at a college or university; both letters should be mailed directly to the Chair of the Department of Biology.
Evaluation of Applications
Recipients will be selected by the Department of Biology on the basis of the complete application, including recommendations. The evaluation may require a personal interview, especially for students new to CSUB.
Time of Awards
Applications are normally solicited in the Spring Quarter of each year. If there are no qualified applicants at that time, the awards will be deferred until the following fall. If spring recipients do not enroll in the Fall quarter, new applications may be solicited. Awards will not be made if the Department determines there are no suitable applicants.
*If you are not selected as a Decker Scholarship recipient, your application will be forwarded, if you wish, to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office for consideration for support from other sources. This will require that you also complete page 4 of the Academic Scholarship form and obtain two recommendations on the "Academic Scholarship Recommendation Form."