Framingham grads face ‘slim’ chance of getting reimbursed

The requests for reimbursement submitted by graduates of the Framingham State University face a slim chance of being approved due the lack of funds and unsupported documents for their claims.

This was according to Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance administrator Henry Hofschneider, who said yesterday that the SHEFA board is expected to take action on the matter at its next meeting.

Sixteen students who recently graduated from the Framingham Cohort 8 had been refused reimbursements on their tuition and fees for their master’s study in the fall 2010 semester after SHEFA determined that they had no standing claim on their grant awards, amounting to $4,700 for each scholar, or a total of $75,200.

The students appealed the decision to the SHEFA board and Saipan Mayor Donald Flores, claiming that they had an agreement with the previous board due to their “unique” situation. They insist that they are entitled to the award because they all met SHEFA’s requirements. The previous board, they said, promised to reimburse their expenses once the awards are available.

Hofschneider said yesterday, however, that after searching for documents that would back the scholars’ claim, no record has been found of such an agreement or amended policy.

It is therefore improper, he said, to provide an award to these ineligible applicants.

The Framingham graduates’ complaint was referred to the SHEFA board’s policy and procedures committee, which will come out with a recommendation soon.

Hofschneider also disclosed that SHEFA has no “lapsed funds” for fall 2010 that could be used to reimburse the complaining scholars. He explained that graduate students are second priority of the program and SHEFA rules and regulations provide that awards are subject to availability of funds.

He said these students in Cohort 8 were all at the graduate level and thus should be ranked second priority, as provided by law.

At the same time, Hofschneider said there’s no way funding for fiscal year 2011 scholars could be used to cover the reimbursement.

“Based on the reports we received from Finance, SHEFA has no lapsed funds that can be used to cover for the financial assistance awards for second, third, and fourth priorities,” he added.

The SHEFA program has cut the amount it awards due to declining poker revenues. For the new semester, the board is eyeing another drastic cut in financial awards and termination of some grants to ensure the continuity of the scholarship program.