Emergency regulation for EAP scholars proposed

The CNMI Scholarship Advisory Board has filed an emergency regulation that proposes some changes in the policy governing its Educational Assistance Program. If approved, the changes will take effect in the fall 2012 semester.

Among the proposed changes is requiring a higher grade point average-from the current 2.25 to 2.75-and giving the Northern Marianas College the authority to determine the award amount for eligible EAP scholars, according to Scholarship administrator Jackie Che yesterday.

Under existing regulations, the administrator makes the decision on who will be eligible to get the scholarship and the amount that will be awarded. If the proposed emergency policy is passed, Che’s office will be left with the authority to determine who will receive scholarship assistance.

Also included in the proposed emergency policy is the implementation of an early admission program that will be open to high school students who want to avail of the scholarship at NMC.

Che emphasized, however, that NMC will be authorized to determine the award amount for its EAP scholars only in the fall 2011 and spring 2012 terms. After that, the Scholarship Advisory Board will have to decide whether to retain this authority or turn it over completely to NMC.

For off-island EAP recipients, Che said the decision on who will benefit and how much they will get will still be under her office. She said further discussion on the matter is scheduled in an upcoming board meeting.

The board cited the limited funding available for the EAP program as the main reason for the emergency proposal.

“Because of these budgetary restrictions, the scholarship advisory board seeks to implement changes in its scholarship eligibility requirements so as to best allocate its limited resources. By limiting EAP assistance to those who attend NMC for their first two years of postsecondary education, the SAB seeks to provide students access to core courses and certain degrees at lower tuition rates than many off-island schools,” states the proposed emergency regulation now published in the Commonwealth Register.

Beneficiaries of the NMI Scholarship Office suffered a cut in their financial assistance starting fall semester of 2011 after the board enforced a 42-percent cut in their EAP award. From the previous years’ $1,200 in EAP grants, the amount was slashed to $700 per student per semester.