What Can I Do During My Scholarship Off Season?

Congratulations! You’ve successfully completed another scholarship award season. Now you can sit back, relax, and start your summer. But wait! Before you head out on vacation, it might be worthwhile to knock out some pre-work to help you prepare for your next award cycle. Below are a few best practices on what you can do now to make your job easier later.

1. Analyze Your Application and Award Processes.

The end of an award cycle is an excellent time to assess what worked and what could have gone more smoothly. Did your reviewers have enough time to evaluate applications? Was the application process simple enough for students to navigate? Was there a particular part of the process that gave anyone trouble? Dig into that area while the experience is still top of mind and figure out how to avoid those same hang-ups next season.

One critical element to consider is fund utilization. Did you award 100% of available scholarship funds? If not, why? What can you do next year to increase student access to those funds?

2. Review and Update Your Software.

If you are using scholarship award management software, it’s beneficial to reacquaint yourself with the platform and catch up on any available upgrades or recent updates made to your system. Most software providers publish updates regularly, and keeping up with those in the middle of an award cycle can be challenging. Now is a great time to watch tutorials and ask questions to see what you can utilize in the future to create a better process overall. Make sure you have a centralized platform with the tools and data you need to effectively administer funds.

3. Plan your Reviewer Training.

You aren’t the only one going on vacation. Your reviewers will return from summer break and will most likely need a refresher on the process, especially if you decide to make any significant changes. Use this time to schedule a few training dates, think through your fall review process, and plan how best to communicate with your reviewers when they return to campus. A little planning will make it easier for you to field the inevitable deadline and process questions they will send your way.

4. Research Industry Best Practices

Now is a great time to research industry best practices! Catch up on your favorite blogs, reach out to your peers for advice on your biggest challenges, or take another look at those notes you took at that conference five months ago that you swore you would implement but have since let sit under a pile of paperwork on your desk. Your off-season is the time to change your process and take steps toward improvement and innovation. Dream big and set yourself up for success.