MARQUETTE, Mich.— Northern Michigan University has established four new scholarships for transfer students that will be awarded beginning with the fall semester. The amounts range from $500 to $2,000, based on grade-point average, similar to the university’s freshmen scholarships. The new awards are part of a broader commitment to make NMU more “transfer-friendly.”

“These scholarships replace the Transfer Merit Award, which required a minimum 3.5 GPA and was worth $1,000,” said Kevin Stulz of NMU Admissions. “A 3.5 is great, but we’re also trying to recognize those working hard who haven’t quite reached that level. More transfer students will be eligible with the new awards and those with higher GPAs will actually receive more than they would have under the Transfer Merit Award.”

The new scholarship names, GPA criteria and value are: Transfer Recognition Award, 3.0-3.24, $500; Transfer Achievement Award, 3.25-3.49, $1,000; Transfer Scholars Award, 3.50-3.74, $1,500; and Transfer Excellence Award, 3.75-4.0, $2,000.

Students who qualify for these scholarships may also receive the $500 PTK/AGS Award for Phi Theta Kappa or Alpha Gamma Sigma members and the $3,750 Transfer National Academic Award for non-Michigan students with a 3.0 GPA.

            According to Northern’s 10th-day enrollment figures, there were 524 new transfers last fall, an increase of nearly 20 percent from the 437 reported in fall 2008. The NMU admissions office has two counselors dedicated to prospective transfer students: Cary Vajda, who represents NMU in lower Michigan; and Jess Jones, who is responsible for the U.P. and other states.

            NMU has sent letters announcing the scholarships to transfer applicants meeting the criteria. Admitted students who were eligible for the Transfer Merit Award were also notified that their scholarship amount will increase.