In 2004, PLNU established the Diversity Leadership Scholarship, under the Office of Multicultural & International Student Services.
How to Apply for the Diversity Leadership Scholarship
1. Access the online application form:
2025-2026 Diversity Leadership Scholarship Application (continuing / current students)
2. Obtain one letter of recommendation to substantiate your commitment to embracing and building communities that are diverse and inclusive (letters are to be uploaded within online application). Please note the letter of recommendation requirement is only for incoming freshmen and Fall 25 transfer students.
3. Application process is as follows:
Application Deadline: February 14, 2025 (Continuing and Current Students)
Application Deadline: March 7, 2025 (Incoming Freshmen and Fall 25 Transfers)
Application Review begins: March 10, 2025
Applicants Notified by: between April 1 and May 1, 2025
4. All applicants will be notified of decisions between April 1 and May 1, 2025
Qualifications & Selection Criteria for Incoming Freshman and Fall 25 Transfers:
- You must be a high school senior graduating in the spring/summer semester of 2025 or a college transfer student entering PLNU in Fall 2025
- Proven leadership experience/skills/character
- Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Must be in good academic and judicial standing
- Demonstrate a passion for promoting multicultural awareness and racial conciliation
- Must submit all application materials by the deadline of March 7, 2025. Any incomplete application packets will be automatically disqualified from being reviewed by selection committee
Qualifications & Selection Criteria for Continuing & Current Students:
- Proven leadership experience/skills/character
- Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Must be in good academic and judicial standing
- Demonstrate a passion for promoting multicultural awareness and racial conciliation
- Must submit all application materials by the deadline of February 14, 2025. Any incomplete application packets will be automatically disqualified from being reviewed by selection committee
Expectations & Policy Courtesy:
For accountability reasons, this policy for Diversity Leadership Scholars will be in effect for the following 25-26 Academic Year. These expectations have been shared with students if and when they accepted the role.
Student’s attendance, participation, and engagement in the program is required. Therefore, the following attendance policy and expectations will be enforced:
- Requirements to be in the program for all current students (not first year students)
- Scholars must maintain a 3.0 GPA (cumulative per semester)
- Hold active leadership role on campus (ie. Mosaic, Ministry with Mexico, CJR, ResLife, etc.)
- Full participation in monthly DLS training sessions
- Requirements to be in the program for first year students
- Active involvement in Mosaic/OMISS programming
- Monthly meetings with OMISS staff
- Full participation in monthly DLS meetings
Any recipient who misses two sessions within an academic year—one per semester—will have their scholarship revoked as follows:
- After the first session is missed, a warning will be given.
- If a second session is missed, the scholarship will be revoked.
Appeal process: an appeal may be made to the OMISS Director by filling out the form below.
- An appeal for medical reasons, must be accompanied by a doctor’s note.
- If appealing for non-medical reasons, all relevant documentation showing the reason for missing the session must be provided with the form.
- MLK scholars, please see the OMISS Director for additional information about how the scholarship will be adjusted.
If a Diversity Leadership Scholar misses one monthly DLS meeting, they must meet with OMISS Staff within two weeks to discuss meeting content.
Seniors who are in their final semester of study may be approved to remain in DLS with fewer units and still receive their scholarship if they continue to fulfill the other requirements for DLS.
If all requirements above are not met, the student must meet with OMISS staff.
Freshman expectations
Given the limited leadership opportunities, your leadership development will be expressed in the following ways:
- Active involvement in Mosaic/OMISS programming
- Active participation in other aspect of campus life
- Develop a leadership plan for your time at PLNU
- Monthly meetings with OMISS staff and one other PLNU staff member
- Full participation in monthly DLS training sessions
Diversity Leadership Scholars - (new and continuing) Sophomore/Junior/Senior expectations
- Hold active leadership role on campus (Mosaic, Ministry with Mexico, etc)
- Full participation in monthly DLS training sessions
- Attendance at major campus events sponsored by OMISS/Mosaic
Defining Key Terms
DIVERSITY: As a Christian community shaped by grace, truth, and holiness as a way of life, Point Loma Nazarene University is committed to pursue and reflect the diversity, inclusion, and equity of the kingdom of God portrayed in scripture. We believe that every human being is created in the image of God and that our diverse identities, experiences, and abilities enrich our learning community.
INVOLVEMENT: Involvement is defined as having direct association with and contribution to the PLNU community: as advocates who will listen to and communicate the needs of the community, who are involved in the community, and who maintain a leadership role throughout the award year.
CONSISTENCY: Recipients of the PLNU Diversity Leadership Scholarship must commit to a full academic year of service. Scholars must remain in their leadership role for the fall and spring semesters. If a place of service is not a match, the recipient must notify the Director of Multicultural & International Student Services for other arrangements.
SERVANTHOOD: PLNU provides numerous opportunities for students to hold leadership roles. Please note applicants may not select a place of service outside the university. If the desired role is not listed below, the student may submit a request for an alternative leadership role within PLNU. The request must be in writing to the Director of Multicultural & International Student Services. Please note the Director must approve the request before a student accepts any position outside the leadership roles listed below.
As a Diversity Scholar, you can become a leader in any of these areas:
- A.L.A.S. Intern
- A.S.U. Intern
- B.R.E.A.K. Intern
- B.S.U. Intern
- Delta Alpha Pi Intern
- Hui O’ Hawai’i Intern
- M.E.A. Intern
- Rooted Magazine Intern
- Team Barnabas Intern
- U.N.I.T.E. Intern
- Unmuted Podcast Intern
- Other: Alpha Group, CJR Leader or Intern, Community Ministry Leader, ResLife (RA), and Ministry with Mexico Leader