NMI Scholarship Office cuts EAP awards

The CNMI Scholarship Office disclosed yesterday that recipients of its financial awards this Fall 2013 semester are receiving a lower assistance after a cut was decided and formally enforced.

Scholarship Administrator Rose Pangelinan admitted this to Saipan Tribune, citing the decision was reached following approval of the new fiscal year budget that will fund the scholarship grants for the Fall 2013 semester.

The CNMI Scholarship Office is handling two scholarship programs, namely educational assistance program (EAP) and the Honors scholarship program.

Under the EAP program, eligible applicants receive $1,050 financial assistance per semester if they are pursuing education outside the Commonwealth. For those EAP recipients enrolled at Northern Marianas College, the financial assistance amounts to $908 per school year while $700 for quarter scholars.

Pangelinan disclosed that new EAP awards are $850 for per semester scholar, while $550 for quarter term scholars. This reflects a 19-percent cut for per semester recipients and a 21-percent cut for quarter term scholars.

The reduction in awards, Saipan Tribune learned, was based on the budget approved for the program in FY 2014 which is $1.2 million.

“This amount is determined by the annual appropriation after Honor Scholarship awards have been paid, the remainder is divided among the EAP recipients. This amount took effect this Fall 2013,” she confirmed.

To avail of the EAP award, it requires meeting a 2.25 cumulative GPA and the scholar must be enrolled in 12 units or more for the semester.

Records from the scholarship office show that there are a total of 512 scholars approved for Fall 2013 semester. The office recorded 366 applications that were denied for the semester assistance. Of those approved, only 38 students are receiving the Honors scholarship assistance. They are completing their degrees here and abroad. At present, Honor recipient receives up to $15,000 financial awards per semester depending on the “unmet” needs of students.

Honors scholarship program had stopped receiving new applicants beginning Fall 2013 semester as a result of the expiration of the sunset provision that created the program. What the scholarship is providing to its scholars, are the assistance to complete the remaining years of their degrees. The law needs to be amended for the Honors scholarship to continue beyond 2013.

The NMI Scholarship Office functions under the Office of the Governor. Its primary mission is to provide financial assistance to eligible CNMI students pursuing post secondary education. This mission is also designed to enhance the government’s support of the students, resulting in the prosperity and economic growth of the people in the community and their families.