Academic Requirements
Ozanam Scholars are held to the same academic scholarship
regulations posted by the Office of Financial Aid for all academic
scholarship recipients. Students, to remain in good program
standing, are required to maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point
average. If a student does not meet this academic standard at
the mid-semester point they will meet with a program advisor and
will be placed on program probation. If a scholar does not
increase their cumulative grade point average to a 3.0 by the
end of the academic year (May) of the probation semester they
will be dismissed from the program. Students, once dismissed,
may not regain entrance to the program. Students experiencing
any academic or personal difficulties are expected to see the
program coordinator for immediate assistance.
Community-Based Research Team
A cornerstone of the Ozanam Scholars Program is the formation and
participation in a community-based research team. Second-year
students will enroll in a community-based research techniques
course. This course will hone students’ research skills to
allow for full engagement with the service site. Starting in
the third year each scholar will be paired with a selected faculty
member, and a site coordinator to form a community-based research
team. It is this team that guides a student’s research and
fieldwork leading to a completed capstone project.
Capstone
The culminating project of the Ozanam Scholars Program is the
presentation of the electronic portfolio / capstone project.
The capstone contains reflections of all service performed,
academic discourse from workshops, lectures, and seminars and
specific written assessment on the students’ individualized
community-based research project. Students will learn how to
prepare the electronic portfolio in weekly seminars during the
first year of the program. The electronic portfolio must be
updated regularly.
Ozanam Scholars Orientation
Retreat
First-year Ozanam Scholars will attend an orientation weekend in
the first semester. The orientation retreat will serve as an
opportunity to provide scholars time to build community, prepare
for semester community service, and begin to learn the spirituality
and vision of St. Vincent dePaul, St. Louise de Marillac, and
Blessed Frédéric Ozanam.
Seminar Participation
Reflection, discussion, leadership development and workshops are
the foundation of the Ozanam Scholars Program. First and
second-year Ozanam Scholars are required to attend all weekly
program meetings each semester. These meetings will allow
students to build community among all scholars as well as plan
future activities, listen to experts in the field of social justice
and poverty studies, and reflect on service opportunities in which
students are involved. First semester freshmen will be
enrolled in a specialized section of Discover New York which serves
as both a transition to higher education and to the Ozanam
Program. Third and fourth-year Ozanam Scholars will meet with
less regularity each semester as a community but regularly with
their community-based research