Each year, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation carries out a nationwide competition to select students to be Truman Scholars.

(a) At least one Truman Scholar is selected each year from each State in which there is a resident applicant who meets minimum eligibility criteria as established by the Foundation. These minimum eligibility criteria are stated in §§ 1801.3, 1801.21 and 1801.23.

(b) As used in this part, State means each of the States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and considered as a single entity: Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (The Islands).

A student is eligible to be nominated for a Truman Scholarship if he or she:

(a) Is a junior-level student pursuing a bachelor's degree as a full-time student at an accredited institution of higher education and will receive a baccalaureate degree the following academic year; or, is a full-time senior level student from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or from The Islands;

(b) Has an undergraduate field of study that permits admission to a graduate program leading to a career in public service;

(c) Ranks in the upper quarter of his or her class; and

(d) Is a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a permanent resident of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

As used in this part:

Academic year means the period of time, typically 8 or 9 months in which a full-time student would normally complete two semesters, three quarters, or the equivalent.

Foundation means the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation.

Full-time student means a student who is carrying a sufficient number of credit hours or their equivalent to secure the degree or certificate toward which he or she is working, in no more time than the length of time normally taken at his or her institution.

Graduate study means the courses of study beyond the baccalaureate level which lead to an advanced degree.

Institution means an institution of higher education. “Institution of higher education” has the meaning given in section 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1141 (a)).

Junior means a student who, following completion of the current academic year, has one more year of full-time course work to receive a baccalaureate degree.

President means the principal official responsible for the overall direction of the operations of an institution.

Public service means employment in: government at any level, the uniformed services, public interest organizations, non-governmental research and/or educational organizations, public and private schools, and public service oriented non-profit organizations such as those whose primary purposes are to help needy or disadvantaged persons or to protect the environment.

Resident means a person who has legal residence in the State, recognized under State law. If a question arises concerning the State of residence, the Foundation determines, for the purposes of this program of which State the person is a resident, taking into account place of registration to vote, family's place of residence, home address listed for school registration, and eligibility for “in-State” tuition rates at public institutions of higher education.

Scholar means a person who has been selected by the Foundation as a Truman Scholar, has accepted the Scholarship and agreed to the conditions of the award, and is eligible for Scholarship stipend(s).

Senior means a student who is in his or her last year of study before receiving a baccalaureate degree.

Term means the period which the institution uses to divide its academic year: semester, trimester, or quarter.