Buffett Eligibility, Deadlines and Additional Requirements

Eligibility

You are eligible to receive scholarship funds for a Study Abroad Experience in-person or VIRTUAL provided:

• You earn credits toward graduation while abroad or during the exchange
• The program is approved by UNL
  • All programs offered through Education Abroad are approved by UNL.
• Program tuition and fees are paid directly to UNL
  • Tuition and fees should appear on your bill in MyRED.
• You are not on probation at the end of the term immediately prior to going abroad
• You complete a "Request to Study Abroad Form" prior to the deadline
  • The "Request to Study Abroad Form" should be filled out once you have applied for and been accepted into a study abroad program.
  • It is not guaranteed that you will be able to apply your Buffett Scholarship towards a study abroad program. This is determined on a case-by-case basis by the Buffett Foundation. If you are granted approval, you will be notified by the Foundation via email.
• You successfully complete two terms with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA at UNL
  • If you start your Study Abroad/Exchange term before the previous term’s grades were reported, and you earned a cumulative GPA less than 2.0, the Foundation is not responsible for funding the Study Abroad/Exchange term.
  • (Should in-person study abroad experiences resume) If you are planning to go abroad during the Fall or Spring of your second year, you will need to make up your Learning Community Expectations upon return, such as the William H. Thompson courses you are unable to complete, event requirements you will miss as a result of studying abroad, one-on-one meetings you are required to have with William H. Thompson staff, and your 2nd year, end-of-the-semester survey. In addition to this information, please refer to the front of your WHT Scholar Handbook and Planner in order to understand the expectations for William H. Thompson Scholars.
  • If you are making a request and have only completed one term, you will be required to submit additional information and your request will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Additional Requirements

• Meet with the WHT Administrative Coordinator, Francella Wiles (GAUN 133)
  
  (Virtual experiences)

  • before studying abroad, at least once. Please schedule with Kari Eller directly through the Student Success Hub.

  
  (Should in-person study abroad experiences resume)

  • before studying abroad at least once, with four weeks or more before your travel date
    • During the meeting, you will review your responses to the Pre-Study Abroad Survey, schedule trip one-one-one meeting dates*, and have a chance to ask any additional questions you may have. Pre-study abroad meetings average 30-60 minutes.
  • during your trip via phone or another video conferencing platform (e.g., Skype, FaceTime, Zoom)*
    • *Meeting is a requirement if your study abroad trip is longer than three weeks. At least one meeting per month that you are abroad is required. The purpose of meeting is to check-in regarding your experience, create a space for reflection and to connect you with any support that you may need. Trip meetings average 30-60 minutes.
  • after studying abroad, at least once, within the first month of your return
    • During the meeting, you will review your responses to the Post-Study Abroad Survey and have a chance to ask any additional questions you may have. Post-study abroad meetings average 30-60 minutes.

   

• Blog post(s)
  • While you are abroad or completing a virtual international program, it is required for you to  write one blog post per month to share about your experience. Scholars traveling for less than one month are only required to write one blog post. All blog posts should be submitted using the "WHT Study Abroad Blog Form." Before being posted, blogs will be reviewed by Adrienne Shavers, WHT Program Coordinator, to ensure that blog instructions (see Blog Form) and standards are met.