ACS Leadership Development System Scholarship Program Questions and Answers

What is the Scholarship Program and why is it being instituted:

The ACS Leadership Development System’s Scholarship Program has been established to encourage maximum participation in the ACS Leadership Development courses. Whether a member is new to volunteering, an experienced volunteer looking to step into a leadership role, a newly elected officer, or a seasoned leader, the scholarship program is designed to incentivize all members to participate in these world-class courses.

Below are answers to the most common questions members may have.

1. What are scholarships?
   

• Scholarships are a systematic means to provide members with financial support and incentive to participate in the ACS Leadership Development courses. The scholarships are alpha-numeric “discount codes.” The enrollee will buy the course electronically at www.acs.org/professionaldevelopment and will enter the code during the check out process.

2. How much are the scholarships for? Are there different scholarships for the different courses - online, facilitated, and the Extraordinary Leader?
   

• The scholarships are for facilitated courses and the Extraordinary Leader course only. Scholarships are not applicable for online courses.
  
• The scholarships for the facilitated courses are 50% of the course fee. The price for facilitated courses is $150. The value of the scholarship is $75, so the member pays only $75 for the course.
  
• The scholarships for the Extraordinary Leader course are greater than 50% of the fee for the course. The price for the Extraordinary Leaders course is $650. The value of the scholarship is $350, so members pay only $300 for the course. The $300 is equivalent to the cost of the comprehensive assessment tool used in the course.

3. Who has access to scholarships? How are scholarships distributed?
   

• Local Section and Division members should contact their respective chairs to receive scholarships for the four-hour facilitated courses. The Committee on Local Section Activities (LSAC) and the Committee on Divisional Activities (DAC) will distribute the scholarships for the Extraordinary Leader course.
  

The Committee on Committees (ConC) and the Committee on Meetings and Exhibitions (M&E) will distribute all scholarships (four-hour facilitated and the Extraordinary Leader course) for Committee and Regional Board members.


The enrollee will buy the course electronically at www.acs.org/professionaldevelopment and will enter the scholarship code during the check out process.


The ACS Center for Professional Development will, at their discretion, award scholarships to specific individuals who demonstrate leadership commitment and/or potential leaders that will be key to the future leadership of ACS.

4. My employer is paying for the course; can I still use a scholarship?
   

• The scholarships are intended to help ACS volunteers participate in the ACS Leadership Development System, given the outstanding value of the course we would prefer that scholarships not be used to reduce the costs that employers pay. The final decision on distribution of scholarships is up to the Local Section, Division, the Committee on Committees and the Committee on Meetings and Exhibitions.
  
• Scholarships are limited to use by members only. Non-members are not eligible to receive scholarships.

5. What courses qualify for use of scholarships?
   

• The scholarships are good for the ACS Leadership Development System facilitated courses and its Extraordinary Leader course.
  
• Scholarships are not applicable for the online ACS Leadership Development System courses.
  
• Scholarships do not apply to Continuing Education (ACS Short Courses). The scholarship system applies to courses in the ACS Leadership Development System only.

6. Do scholarships have an expiration date?
   

• Scholarships are good for one year from January 1 to December 31. Scholarships will be disseminated to Local Sections, Divisions, Committees (via ConC) and Regional Boards (via M&E) at the beginning of each calendar year. In addition, LSAC and DAC will distribute Extraordinary Leader course scholarships.
  
• If the scholarship is not used within that period of time, it will not be valid.

7. Where can they be used?
   

• Scholarships can be used at any venue where leadership courses are offered – National Meetings, Regional Meetings, and other venues, excluding the ACS Leadership Institute.
  
• Scholarships cannot be used for an ACS course that is sponsored and conducted by an external group, e.g. NOBCChE or other Sister Societies.

8. Are the scholarships transferable?
   

• No, however, there are plenty of scholarships for everyone.
  
• If an individual receives a scholarship and does not use it, the scholarship should be returned to the group they received the scholarship from so that they may pass on the scholarship to another member to use.

9. Are members limited as to the number of scholarships they can receive?
   

• No, members are encouraged to take multiple courses.
  
• Members should work with their Local Section, Division, Committee or Regional Board to obtain scholarships for the courses that will help them gain the skills needed. Local Section and Division members should work with LSAC or DAC to obtain a scholarship for the Extraordinary Leader course.