RA Scholarship FAQs
Q: What is the UCB Family RA Scholarship Program?
A: UCB is offering 30, one-time scholarships of up to $10,000 to people diagnosed with RA or an immediate family member (parent, spouse, child, or sibling) of someone with RA who is seeking a post-high school degree. Individuals of all ages are welcome to apply. The scholarship can be used for an associate's, undergraduate, or graduate degree, or a trade school certificate.
Q: Who is eligible for the program?
A: This program is designed for applicants of any age. An applicant for the scholarship must be:
- A legal resident of the United States
- Diagnosed with RA by a physician, or an immediate family member (parent, spouse, child, or sibling) of someone with RA
- Seeking an associate's, undergraduate, or graduate degree, or enrolled in a trade school educational program
- An individual who demonstrates academic ambition and embraces a way of life that overcomes the boundaries of living with RA
- Enrolled in or awaiting acceptance from a United States–based institution of higher education for the fall semester of 2011
Employees of UCB and their immediate family members are not eligible for this scholarship. Previous RA Scholarship winners are not eligible to reapply. Additionally, immediate family members of healthcare professionals who directly or indirectly influence the prescribing of RA medications are not eligible to apply.
Q: Are applicants who are not already in college eligible?
A: Yes. The UCB RA Family Scholarship is available to applicants who are entering college in the fall of 2011 or currently enrolled in college. All applicants must be accepted by July 18, 2011.
Q: When is the application deadline?
A: The deadline for the 2011 UCB RA Family Scholarship has passed. Be sure to check back for updates on the 2012 program.
Q: Will applications postmarked after the deadline be considered?
A: In order to be fair to all participants, applications for the UCB RA Family Scholarship postmarked after the deadline will not be considered. If a participant foresees that he/she will have a problem meeting the deadline, he/she should contact Summit Medical Communications (the vendor contracted to manage the scholarship program for UCB) in advance of the deadline for more information. To reach Summit Medical Communications, applicants should call 1-888-854-4996 or e-mail ucbrascholarship@rbxhealth.com.
Q: What are applicants required to do?
A: Applicants for the UCB RA Family Scholarship are required to:
- Complete and sign an application; include an official academic transcript and a recent, non-returnable photograph labeled with their name, address, and telephone number
- Write a one- to two-page essay describing how he/she is living beyond the boundaries of RA to demonstrate academic ambition and personal achievement, and how the scholarship would affect his/her life
- Submit one recommendation letter from a teacher or school official, and one recommendation letter from someone from the community (e.g. employer, coworker, clergy member, or coach)
- Enclose proof of RA diagnosis from the patient's treating physician on the physician's letterhead
Q: What if the cost of an applicant's education is below $10,000 or if the cost has already been covered?
A: Scholarship amounts will be up to $10,000 to cover the recipient's tuition and expenses for educational materials. If a student does not have a minimum of $10,000 in educational expenses remaining for his or her schooling, the scholarship will only cover the remaining amount. If upon contacting an applicant, UCB learns that he or she does not have any remaining costs owed to the academic institution, the applicant will no longer be eligible for the scholarship.
Q: How will the RA diagnosis be verified?
A: Applicants must have the patient's treating physician verify the RA patient's condition in a letter on the physician's or medical institution's letterhead. Summit Medical Communications will follow up with individual physicians to confirm the diagnosis.
Q: Can participants submit their RA scholarship applications online?
A: No. Applicants can download an application from www.ReachBeyondRA.com, but will need to submit a hard copy of the application, along with the additional listed components for eligibility, including an essay, two letters of recommendation, proof of patient's RA diagnosis, and a non-returnable photograph, labeled with their name, address, and telephone number.
Q: Where can more information about the UCB RA Family Scholarship be obtained?
A: Applicants and physicians can:
All inquiries will be responded to within three business days.
Q: When will applicants find out if they've won the scholarship?
A: UCB Corporate Office personnel will personally notify each RA scholarship recipient via telephone by July 1, 2011. Recipients who are not awarded a scholarship will be sent a letter the week of July 5, 2011, thanking them for their participation and encouraging them to apply again next year.
Q: Who is sponsoring the program?
A: The UCB RA Family Scholarship Program is both created and sponsored by UCB. The scholarship program aligns with UCB's ongoing commitment to provide RA patients and their families with unique programs and tools that empower them to live beyond the boundaries of this disease. No other pharmaceutical company currently offers a scholarship program to RA patients and their immediate family members.