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546 scholars’ checks pending at Finance
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Posted on Sep 23 2011
Over 500 checks for eligible scholars of the Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance program and the CNMI Scholarship Office are pending at the Department of Finance.
Most of these checks for 546 recipients are made up of financial assistance covering previous semesters. The total amount is $863,510.
NMI Scholarship Office administrator Jackie Che disclosed that a total of 253 checks remain pending to complete the spring 2011 award disbursement. These awards total $303,210.
The Scholarship Office receives $2 million each fiscal year for its Honors and Education Assistance Program. Che disclosed that her office exceeded its allotted budget last fiscal year.
“It seems that we overshot our budget last school year and scholarship grants amounted to more than what was within our budget,” she said, adding that since there are not enough funds from last school year, the NMI Scholarship Office will be paying for the actual educational costs of 40 students who have an outstanding balance with the Northern Marianas College.
The remaining 213 students who were able to pay out of their own pockets or with the help of Pell grants will have to wait until the government’s budget shortfall is resolved, she said.
Saipan Tribune learned that SHEFA administrator Henry Hofschneider is still waiting for Finance to disburse 293 checks amounting to $560,300.
Of these checks, 261 cover the first batch of scholars for fall 2011, amounting to $473,100; 13 checks cover the spring 2011 semester amounting to $14,200; and 18 checks are the undisbursed financial aids for fall 2010 semester, which amount to $76,000.
Each fiscal year, the Legislature appropriates $3 million for SHEFA programs.
