1. What is the UCB Crohn's Scholarship Program?
UCB is offering 30 one-time scholarships of up to $5,000 in 2012 to people diagnosed with Crohn's disease who are studying to receive a post-high school degree. Students of all ages are welcome to apply. The scholarship can be used for an associate's, undergraduate, or graduate degree or for a specialty or trade school certificate.
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2. Who is eligible for the scholarship?
This program is designed for applicants of any age. A student applying for the scholarship must be:
- A legal resident of the United States
- Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease by a physician
- Seeking an associate's, undergraduate, or graduate degree, or enrolled in a trade school educational program
- An individual who demonstrates academic ambition and embraces a way of life that overcomes the boundaries of living with Crohn's disease
- Enrolled in or awaiting acceptance from a United States-based institution of higher education for the fall semester of 2012
Use of UCB products is not considered and does not increase your chances of winning.
Employees of UCB, their immediate family members, and previous Crohn's Scholarship winners are not eligible for this scholarship.
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3. Are patients who are not already in college eligible?
Yes. The scholarship is available to patients who are entering college or currently enrolled in college. All applicants must be accepted for admission into a college or specialty school by July 16, 2012.
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4. When is the application deadline?
The application deadline for this year's program has passed. Be sure to check back for updates on next year's Crohn's Scholarship Program.
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5. Will applications postmarked after the deadline be considered?
In order to be fair to all applicants, applications postmarked after the deadline will not be considered. If an applicant foresees that he or she will have a problem meeting the deadline, they should contact Summit Medical Communications (the vendor contracted to manage the scholarship program for UCB) in advance of the deadline for assistance. To reach Summit Medical Communications, patients should call 1-866-757-4440 or
e-mail ucbcrohnsscholarship@summitmedcomm.com.
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6. What are applicants required to do?
- Complete and sign an application, with an official academic transcript and a recent, nonreturnable photograph labeled with the applicant's name, address, and telephone number
- Write a one to two page essay describing how the applicant is living beyond the boundaries of Crohn’s disease, demonstrating academic ambition and personal achievement and how the scholarship would impact their life
- Submit one recommendation letter from a teacher or school official and one recommendation letter from someone from the community (eg, an employer, coworker, clergy member, or coach)
- Enclose proof of Crohn’s disease diagnosis, including disease course and severity, from their treating physician on the physician's letterhead
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7. What if the cost of an applicant's education is below $5,000 or if the cost has already been covered?
Scholarship amounts will be up to $5,000 to cover the recipient's tuition and educational materials expenses. If a student does not have a minimum of $5,000 in educational expenses remaining in his or her schooling, the scholarship will only cover the remaining amount. If, upon contacting an applicant, UCB learns that he or she does not have any remaining costs owed to the academic institution, he or she will no longer be eligible for the scholarship.
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8. Are applicants with ulcerative colitis eligible?
No. The 2012 Crohn's Scholarship is limited to patients with Crohn's disease.
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9. How will the Crohn's diagnosis be verified?
As part of the application process, patients will need their physician to verify their condition, including a description of the disease course and severity. This must be on the physician or medical institution’s letterhead. Summit Medical Communications will follow up with individual physicians as needed to confirm the diagnosis.
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10. Can patients submit their applications online?
No. Patients can download an application from www.crohnsandme.com but will need to submit a hard copy of the application along with the components listed above for eligibility, including an essay; two letters of recommendation; proof of Crohn's diagnosis; and a nonreturnable photograph labeled with their name, address, and phone number.
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11. Where can more information be obtained?
Patients and physicians can do one of the following:
E-mail us at: ucbcrohnsscholarship@summitmedcomm.com
Visit: www.crohnsandme.com
Call: 1-866-757-4440
All inquiries will be answered within three days.
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12. When will patients find out if they won the scholarship?
Each scholarship recipient will be personally notified via telephone by June 15, 2012. Recipients who are not awarded a scholarship will be sent a letter the week of June 4 thanking them for their participation and encouraging them to apply again next year.
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13. Who is sponsoring the program?
The program is created and sponsored by UCB. The scholarship program aligns with UCB's ongoing commitment to provide Crohn’s patients with unique programs and tools which empower them to live beyond the boundaries of their disease. No other pharmaceutical company currently offers a scholarship program to Crohn’s patients.
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14. Will UCB do anything with the information they have for each applicant?
The application provides a space where each student authorizes UCB to publish, copyright, and use the information contained on the application. This includes using photographs in advertising and other promotional materials such as on the internet. The winners will have their photo and bio posted on this site.
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