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850 turn in SHEFA application for fall semester
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Posted on Jul 05 2011
The Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance received a total of 850 applications for the fall 2011 semester when it closed for business Friday noon. The number is expected to slightly increase in the coming days pending other applications sent through mail.
July 1 was the deadline to submit applications. SHEFA staffers confirmed that applications through mail would be counted provided they are postmarked on or before July 1.
By Sept. 30, all supporting documents must be in. These additional documents include class schedule, résumé, promissory note, career profile, and individualized degree plan which they can obtain from their schools’ adviser.
Saipan Tribune learned that the 850 applications comprise both new and ongoing students. The number of eligible students for the new semester will be known after review and assessment by SHEFA management and the board’s approval.
SHEFA provides financial assistance to eligible students through its three programs: grant-in-aid, field of study, and incentive.
Applications for the fall semester 2011 is a slight increase compared to the spring 2011 semester applications, which totaled over 700. Of that number, only over 400 were approved.
SHEFA administrator Henry Hofschneider and board chair Jose Mafnas earlier disclosed that due to lack of funding to sustain all scholarship programs, the board is thinking of cutting anew the financial award amounts for the fall semester. SHEFA is allocated $3 million annually for its scholarship programs.
The board first slashed financial awards in April this year due to funding shortfalls. The reductions ranged from 25 percent to 50 percent and took effect in the spring semester.
Mafnas said that some programs may be terminated or suspended to sustain the operation of SHEFA this new semester. The board is awaiting the committee’s recommendation.
Saipan Tribune learned that the CNMI government, which uses poker revenues to fund scholarship programs, has funneled a total of $17.7 million to SHEFA programs since its inception in 2004. The amount represents financial awards and grants provided to scholars as of August 2010.
