Beginning with the summer of 2007, a scholar must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 at the end of the previous fall semester to participate in Entre Prep or Freedom School.  This new policy has been put into place to prevent scholars from being caught between the proverbial "rock and a hard place." 

One of the goals of our summer programs is to provide our scholars with an enriching employment experience that they may use to build upon their job skills, knowledge, references and future career options.  At the same time, we want the mentor to come away from the experience completely satisfied with the quality of work performed so that he holds both the intern and the J.L. Bedsole Scholars Program in high regard.  Having a GPA below 3.0 could prevent both of these conditions from being met.

The professionals coordinating these programs must begin the process of arranging internships early in the calendar year.  In fact, most interns are already committed to their mentors/summer jobs long before the end of the spring semester.  If a scholar with a fall GPA close to the 2.5 mark has a couple of low spring grades, he could find himself faced with a tough decision.  Does he back out of the internship so that he can take summer classes in an effort to keep his Bedsole Scholarship?  Does he honor the commitment made to his mentor and skip summer school, thus losing his scholarship?  Or does he try to juggle both?

The Scholars Program views both Entre Prep and Freedom School as serious commitments on the part of our scholars.  As a result, the third question posed at the end of the paragraph above is not an option.  Enrollment in classes or participation in any activity that would infringe upon the requirements of the internship is prohibited.  The 3.0 minimum GPA is our way of being sure that our scholars are not faced with choosing which Scholars Program policy to violate - the 2.5 GPA required to renew the scholarship or the commitment to the mentor.