KEES Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship

KEES awards are available for a maximum of 8 academic terms and must be used within the earlier of satisfying requirements for a baccalaureate degree or 5 years from high school graduation. KEES awards can be used for the fall and spring terms only and are not available for summer coursework.  Students with visiting and non-degree statuses are not eligible to receive KEES. 

Kentucky Higher Educational Assistance Authority (KHEAA) calculates your KEES offer. You may access your award information when you log into KHEAA's Zip Access System. 

If a KEES award is not listed in your information, contact your high school guidance counselor. 

In order to receive a KEES award at the University of Kentucky (UK), the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (OSFAS) must have your social security number (SSN) on file so that the OSFAS can request your KEES money from KHEAA. If you provide your SSN on your admission application and/or if you filed a FAFSA (and entered UK School Code, 001989) prior to your enrollment at UK, there is no further action needed on your part. 

The University of Kentucky will send your UK cumulative GPA to KHEAA at the end of each spring term.  (Note: KEES eligibility is not evaluated after fall terms.)  If you were not a UK student during the spring semester, the university that you did attend is responsible for sending your cumulative GPA from that school to KHEAA.  

*Summer courses taken will not be included in the cumulative GPA until the end of the next academic year unless completed as repeat options -- you must contact the KEES Coordinator after the repeat option form is completed. 

KEES regulations require you to be "on track" to graduate.  (See KY Legislative Reference:  KRS 164.7881).  Your "on track" status will be sent to KHEAA along with your cumulative GPA at the end of each spring term. 

• If you have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, you will receive your full KEES award. 
• If your cumulative GPA is between 2.5 to 2.99 and if you meet the "on track" to graduate requirement per the "on track to graduate" information below, you will receive your full renewal KEES award. 
• If your cumulative GPA is between 2.5 to 2.99 but you do NOT meet the "on track" to graduate requirement per the information below, you will receive a 50% renewal KEES award if you were enrolled full time for a least one of the previous two semesters. 
• If your cumulative GPA is between 2.5 to 2.99 but you do NOT meet the "on track" to graduate requirement per the information below and you were enrolled part time for both previous semesters, you will not receive a KEES award for the next academic year.  
• If your cumulative GPA drops below a 2.5 you will lose your KEES award for the next academic year. 
• You may regain your KEES award for subsequent academic years by meeting the above criteria by the end of the spring term in which you meet the criteria. 

UK will monitor earned hours as part of the On Track to Graduate policy (transfer hours accepted at UK will be included in the calculation): 

UK must complete the calculation for “on track” after each spring term, but all summer courses end in August therefore summer hours cannot be included in the total hours completed until the end of the next spring term. There are no exceptions to this rule as your "on track" status must be submitted in May for KHEAA to determine awards for the next academic year by early summer. 

Award estimates are based on full-time enrollment. Your actual KEES award will be based on your enrollment status after the last day to add a class each fall and spring semester.  

• If you enrolled for 6 to 11 credit hours, your semester award will reduce proportionally.  
• If you enrolled for 1 to 5 credit hours, you are not eligible for a KEES award for that semester unless you are participating in a cooperative education or a study abroad program and the Office of the Registrar considers you to be full-time student. 
• You may defer your KEES award for a semester if you are in a cooperative education program, but you must contact the KEES Coordinator.  
• Keep in mind that the award expires if you do not use it within five years of your high school graduation. 

Should you have questions regarding your KEES, please contact one of the following listed below for further assistance:

Terri Jo Thomas, UK State Scholarship Coordinator - treed@uky.edu 

KHEAA Statewide KEES Coordinator - kees@kheaa.com