Field-of-study program to be narrowed down

The Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance maybe forced to narrow down the courses and degrees eligible for assistance under its field of study program due to the dwindling financial situation of the government.

“It’s too broad and we need to narrow it, reduce it and then prioritize it,” said SHEFA administrator Henry Hofschneider after yesterday’s special board meeting at the Saipan Mayor’s Office.

He said the board’s committee on policy and procedures will be looking into this.

SHEFA offers three financial awards for eligible recipients: grant in aid, field of study, and incentive.

The field of study program gives financial support to students taking up specific courses: accounting; nursing; teaching (specialized special education, early childhood education, library science, counseling, and bilingual education); business management and administration; hospitality and information technology; anthropology/sociology for teaching; biology for teaching; criminal justice leading to forensic science; and laboratory technology.

Also included are psychology other than leading to counseling; human resources development/personnel management; social worker; mathematics for teaching; engineering/architect; medical and allied fields including psychiatry; environmental studies/conservation; and computer graphics, including technical or specialized trades such as journalism, management information, computer programming and other fields of study sanctioned by the board.

Hofschneider believes that the “broadness” of the program’s scope has resulted in SHEFA providing additional assistance to existing beneficiaries. He explained that a student who meets all SHEFA requirements will first receive grant-in-aid assistance. If this student is taking a course or degree included in the field of study program, the scholar gets an additional grant. The same student may also receive the incentive award if he or she maintains the required grade point average.

Hofschneider said the new list of degrees under the field of study program may be cut to just five or less than 10 courses.

He said SHEFA will come up with the specific degrees and courses under the field of study award, based on the demand of the private sector. SHEFA will work with the Public School System, Workforce Investment Agency, Saipan Chamber of Commerce, and the private sector on this.

As much as possible, SHEFA will change its focus from government positions to private sector posts, he added.

Beginning Spring 2011 semester, SHEFA has been cutting down on the amounts it awards its scholars due to the continuous decline in government revenue.