Overview

This section describes general usage and patterns that occur in multiple places in the model.

Contents:

General Usage Guide

Aggregate Programs

Often, there may be more than one scholarship associated with one organization or program. Specifically:

Individual scholarships (e.g., with different eligibility criteria or different amounts and purposes) should have their own NSPA Exchange Program record, even if sponsored by the same organization or leveraging the same online application system.

If one application has more than one end-date, it should be divided into two NSPA Exchange Scholarship Program records.

Geographic Areas

Statewide or other programs in a large geographic area

Sometimes a scholarship is open to a large geographic area, such as for students of every high school in Texas. Instead of entering each school, use the Geographic Criteria to indicate the State of Texas. When this technique is used, do not also enter each of the schools.

Criteria for nebulous geographic area

When limiting criteria such as “Central and Appalachia Kentucky” occur, either a group of cities, counties, or states may be used to approximate an area. If this method is not possible or is misleading, list all schools in the area. If it is still not possible to describe the area in question using the structured criteria, describe the area in the Blurb and/or the Eligibility Criteria Description elements.

Groups of Schools

For scholarship eligibility related to groups of schools such as PAC 10 or HBCU it's okay to use the shorthand version in the Eligibility Criteria Description, but enter each school individually in the Eligibility Criteria coding. However, honor more specific criteria, if explicitly given by the scholarship provider.

Test Records

When entering test records within the NSPA Exchange, include TEST in all caps in the title.