p. 19 | The Revised Scholarship Plans by E. R. P.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 14, 1911

The Revised Scholarship Plans

By E. R. P.

At the autumn council of the General Conference Committee, consideration was given to a suggested change in our scholarship plans, which for a considerable time has been desired by the Educational Department. Since the scholarship arrangements are proving a great blessing to our young people, to the schools, and to the publishing work, and as it seems most desirable that all scholarships should be uniform, they were revised so as to meet with the hearty approval of both departments. The following resolution was adopted:—

“Whereas, There has been more or less dissatisfaction on the part of the schools in regard to the present division of discounts on scholarships; therefore,

“We recommend, That, beginning with 1912, the fifteen per cent allowed to agents on scholarships be divided equally between the schools and the publishing interests.”

In harmony with this recommendation, the scholarships offered on the sale of subscription-books and magazines were revised to read as follows:—

Subscription-Book Scholarships

“We recommend, (a) That all our denominational colleges, academies, and intermediate schools join with our publishing houses and State tract societies in offering scholarships at a discount of fifteen per cent to all who will earn such scholarships wholly by the sale of subscription-books, or such other denominational literature as may be agreed upon by the publishing house, the tract societies, and the schools in each union conference.

“(b) That the schools make a discount of seven and one-half per cent from their regular charges, and that the publishing house, and the tract society in charge of the territory in which the canvassing is done, divide equally between them the remaining seven and one-half per cent, thus providing for the fifteen per cent mentioned in paragraph (a).

“(c) That the State tract society in which the work is done by the student be the custodian of the scholarship funds, and turn over the money due any student on his scholarship, direct to the school wherever the student decides to attend.

“(d) That any person desiring to earn a scholarship make satisfactory arrangements with the State tract society for doing so, and work in harmony with the regulations of the State tract society, in order to be entitled to these scholarship benefits.

“(e) That any person be entitled at any time to draw from the State tract society the money due him on a scholarship, if he wishes to do so; but in such event, he would receive only the regular commission of fifty per cent on his sales, the same as other agents, it being understood that in drawing his money he withdraws from the scholarship endeavor, and places himself on the same basis as other agents.

“(f) That all persons who have earned scholarships present to the managers of the schools which they wish to enter, satisfactory evidence that the full amount of a scholarship has been earned, in harmony with the regulations governing the scholarship plan.

“(g) That persons who have earned at least one half of a scholarship be allowed to receive the benefits from the same on the same pro rata basis as outlined above.

“(h) That in case any student, after having earned a scholarship, is unable, through sickness or other misfortune, to attend school, he may transfer his scholarship to any worthy person whom the officers of his State tract society can recommend, and the authorities of the school can accept as a student.”

Periodical Scholarships

“We recommend, That our schools, tract societies, and publishing houses join in offering full-year and half-year scholarships at a discount of fifteen per cent from regular cash charges to all students who will earn such scholarships wholly by the sale of our ten-cent magazines, upon the following basis:—

“(a) That the schools make a discount of seven and one-half per cent from their regular cash charges.

“(b) That the tract society furnish the magazines to such prospective students at the regular agent’s rates; but when the required number of magazines has been sold, and the money necessary for a scholarship or a half scholarship has been deposited with the tract society by the student, to apply on said scholarship, the publishing house or houses issuing the magazines will credit to the tract society 26½ cents per 100 copies, and the tract society will credit the student with this amount and also an additional 26½ cents per 100 copies, making a total credit of 53 cents per 100 copies on the number of magazines required for the scholarship or half scholarship.”

To ascertain the number of magazines to be sold for a scholarship, subtract fifteen per cent from the regular cash charges by the school for one year, and divide the remainder by six cents, the amount of profit on each magazine sold.

“(c) That any person desiring to earn a scholarship shall arrange with the conference tract society for doing so, ordering all his supplies through the tract society, and working in harmony with its regulations.

“(d) That in case any student, after having earned a scholarship, is unable, through sickness or other misfortune, to attend school, his scholarship may be transferred to any one whom the officers of the tract society may recommend, and whom the authorities of the school can accept as a student.”

The above scholarship plans, as revised, will appear in the Publishers’ Manual to be issued early in 1912. We trust that all schools and union and State conferences will revise their scholarships, so that all will be upon the same basis so far as the percentages are concerned. If difficulty is experienced by any one in the effort to make these plans apply to the local situation, we will be pleased to give further explanations or to render any assistance we can, in order to bring all our scholarships upon a clear, uniform basis.

E. R. P.