UCT Charities Scholarship

The UCT Charities Scholarship Program, funded by UCT Charities, provides scholarships to students and teachers seeking college degrees or certification to work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Applicants must meet specific guidelines. Applications are due November 15.

For decades, United Commercial Travelers (UCT) has been dedicated to helping people with intellectual disabilities. UCT Charities was established as a way to continue this important support, primarily by providing scholarships through the UCT Charities Scholarship Program to individuals pursuing college degrees or certification to teach persons with intellectual disabilities.

Assistance Qualifications

1. Recipients of financial assistance granted through the UCT Charities Scholarship Program must meet one or more of the following criteria:
   1. Be a teacher of people with intellectual disabilities who needs additional course work to be certified or to retain certification.
   2. Be an experienced teacher who wishes to become certified to teach people with intellectual disabilities.
   3. Have a bachelor’s or master’s degree and wish to pursue graduate work in special education with an emphasis on teaching people with intellectual disabilities.
   4. Be a college junior or senior whose undergraduate course of study is special education specifically focusing on teaching people with intellectual disabilities.
   5. Be enrolled in courses to become a certified instructor under a structured trade, vocational, or recreation program at a facility for people with intellectual disabilities.
   6. Be in the second year of a two-year associate’s degree program in an accredited school, with the course of study specifically focusing on teaching people with intellectual disabilities.
2. Applicants teaching or studying special education focusing on areas other than intellectual disabilities are not eligible.
3. Applicants must plan to be of service to people with intellectual disabilities in the United States or Canada.
4. Applicants must demonstrate a justifiable need for financial assistance.

Application Procedure

1. Individuals interested in the UCT Charities Scholarship Program should request a scholarship application by contacting UCT Charities at (866) 458-2862, ext. 808 or at dvanorder@uctnorthamerica.org.
2. In addition to completing the application, initial applicants must include a typed résumé of work experience in the field of special education with an emphasis on teaching people with intellectual disabilities.

Application Submission

1. After receiving an application form, the applicant should answer all questions and return the completed application, along with other requested information, to UCT Charities at the above address. Applications are reviewed on a monthly basis. Applicants should allow two months for distribution of scholarship assistance. DEADLINE IS NOV. 15.

Assistance Approval

1. All applications are reviewed on a monthly basis. All applicants will be notified by mail regarding the action taken.
2. An amount up to, but not to exceed, $2,500 may be granted to any one applicant in any one calendar year. The scholarship assistance is a reimbursement to help cover registration fees, tuition and textbooks only.
3. After approval of an application, payment will be made upon receipt of positive documentation that the applicant has actually registered and paid for college or university courses in special education to teach people with intellectual disabilities.

Application Summary

1. Applicant requests information concerning UCT Charities Scholarship Program from UCT Charities.
2. Applicant completes the scholarship application and returns it, along with the requested résumé of work experience and course work, to UCT Charities.
3. Applicant is notified by mail regarding the action taken.