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Tinian delegation opposes proposed changes to CNMI Scholarship rules
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Posted on Mar 20 2012
The Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation is opposed to proposed changes to the CNMI Scholarship Advisory Board Regulations for the Educational Assistance Program, particularly in expanding the program’s eligibility but at the same time excluding others such as those from Rota and Tinian.
Senate Vice President Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian), chairman of the delegation, said the board’s proposal to broaden the eligibility of the EAP is “very impractical” given the state of the CNMI economy and the Scholarship Office’s inability to timely release awards.
“For the [Scholarship Advisory Board] to make such changes to the rules and regulations at this time will only burden our postsecondary students. The CNMI Scholarship Office has continually been forced to reduce award amounts for students and the proposed regulation changes will only further reduce assistance to our students and impair the CNMI Scholarship Office,” Hofschneider said in a March 15 letter to CNMI Scholarship Office administrator Jacqueline P. Che.
The proposed regulations are up for public comment.
Hofschneider also said the proposal to make eligible those high school students enrolled in the Early Admissions Program at Northern Marianas College is “discriminatory” as students from Tinian, Rota and many high schools on Saipan are unable to avail of the program.
“In fact, according to NMC statistics, only students from one school in particular —Northern Marianas Academy—stand to benefit from this regulation change,” Hofschneider said.
The proposed changes include increasing the minimum undergraduate grade point average for satisfactory academic progress from 2.5 to 2.75, as well as limiting scholarship assistance for new undergraduate applicants to those enrolled at NMC or have already obtained an associate’s degree and are enrolled at an accredited institution.
The proposed amendments also include enabling scholarship assistance for participants in NMC’s Early Admissions Program, and authorizing the board in its discretion to extend the duration of an award.
