1. Who is eligible to apply for a UMLS award?

UMLS is a point-of-entry scholarship only. UMLS awards are intended for undergraduate students seeking their first degree. Applicants must be first-time enrollees in a United Methodist-related higher education institution to be eligible for a UMLS award. Applicants must also be active members of The United Methodist Church (for at least one year) and planning to enroll full-time in the fall at a participating United Methodist-related college or university located in the Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) of The UMC. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

2. How do I apply for a UMLS award?

A check for $1,000 payable to UMHEF from the sponsoring church must be mailed along with a fully completed application form to the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation by the published deadline date.  A UMLS application for the current year may be downloaded from the www.umls.umc.org  website or the www.umhef.org website. Students may be sponsored by only one church and submit only one application.

3. Are churches allowed to sponsor more than one student per year?

Yes, churches are allowed to sponsor an unlimited number of students through the UMLS program.

4. Can a church send more or less than $1,000 for their sponsored student?

No, each sponsoring church must submit a check for exactly $1,000 for their student. We cannot match any excess funds raised, nor can we pass on the excess funds to the student’s school.

5. Does a student need to be a member of the sponsoring church?

No, the student does not have to be a member of the particular local church sponsoring the student, but the student must be a member of, for at least one year, The United Methodist Church.

6. What if a student is awarded the scholarship and then decides not to attend a participating United Methodist-related school in the SEJ?

Please write to the Foundation and let us know, or send an email to umhefscholarships@gbhem.org. We will then cancel the scholarship and send a $1,000 check back to the sponsoring church.

7. When and how do recipients receive their award money?

Recipients will receive a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form with their award letter in the spring. The top half of the form must be filled out by the recipient. In the fall, after classes have begun and the recipient has enrolled full-time at a participating United Methodist-related institution in the SEJ, he/she must take the VOE to the Registrar’s Office, have them complete the bottom portion and then mail it to the Foundation. An Award check will be mailed to the recipient's school after the Foundation receives the completed VOE. The school will provide their portion of the matching funds directly to the student.

8. What if I lose my VOE form?  How can I get another one?

The VOE may also be downloaded from the Resource Library on the UMHEF website www.umhef.org.