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Tribal Funding. Return to Title IV Town WASFAA Conference Green Bay, Wisconsin April 3, 2019. Gayla Jenkins. Senior Administrative Program Specialist University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee jenkinsg@uwm.edu. Panelists. Shannon Chapman Education Director Menominee Indian Tribe Sherry King
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Tribal Funding Return to Title IV TownWASFAA Conference Green Bay, Wisconsin April 3, 2019
Gayla Jenkins Senior Administrative Program Specialist University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee jenkinsg@uwm.edu
Panelists • Shannon Chapman Education Director Menominee Indian Tribe • Sherry King Higher Education Advisor, Member of Oneida Nation Oneida Nation
Panelists • Jessica Last Higher Education Advisor Oneida Nation • Blake Taylor Financial Aid Counselor University of Wisconsin - Parkside
Objective • Create a forum – communication • Develop stronger relationships • Gain practical tips for better service • Discuss current issues/topics
Overview • Background - BIA Grants/Tribal Offices • Basics of awarding BIA Grants • Interaction with Panelists & FAAs • Wrap up with Q & A
BIA GRANT • Defined- Bureau of Indian Education Higher Education Grant Program U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Postsecondary Education • Purpose – supplemental assistance for American Indian and Alaska Native Scholars
BIA Grant • Student Eligibility *Member of, or at least one-quarter degree Indian blood descendent of a federally recognized tribe • *Demonstrate financial need- FAFSA • *Must apply through tribal education office
Tribal Offices • Different funding policies (file system) *Forms/faxing/email/postal mail/security *Student contact-teamwork *FERPA – releasing student information *PTAC – privacy issues
BIA Grant Award Processing • Scenario 1: FAA receives FNA/FRF form from tribe but student has not completed FAFSA • Email student informing of need for FAFSA • Process ISIR/ Complete File Review and Verification (if required) • Award Per Packaging Policy • Scenario 2: FAA receives FNA/FRF form from tribe and student has already been awarded • Award Per Packaging Policy
BIA Grant Award Processing • Packaging Policy: Step1 First package without considering BIA Step2 If total aid package – after BIA funds are added – does not exceed need, make no adjustment to the package • Vol 3-Calculating Awards & Packaging, 2017-2018 , Page 3-157 FSA HB Sept 2017
BIA Grant Award Processing Step2 (Continued) If package plus BIA exceeds need – eliminate in sequence: loans, work-study, grants EXCEPT PELL or BIA GRANT(you may alter the sequence at student’s request if you believe it would benefit student) • ***Consult tribe*** KEEP IN MIND THAT NOT ALL TRIBAL FUNDING IS CONSIDERED BIA FUNDING(For many tribes federal BIA funding is only a small percentage of the education funding they provide to students)
BIA Grant Award Processing • When the funding comes in……. • Bursars/business office receives all funds • Scholarship or BIA Grant? Check correspondence/terminology • Why does it matter? Central Data Request- CDR (UW System) Accuracy Delays in disbursement of funds
BIA Grant Award Processing • Tribal funding not considered BIA: Treated like a scholarship Estimated Financial Assistance (need-based) • Example: Tribe awards student without requiring a FAFSA and does not consider need as a factor. Student has COA of $24,268, EFC of $20,268. Assessed need is $4000. Tribe’s funding policy awards $7000 regardless of need. Original award consisted of $5500 sub and $2000 unsub. We would have to cancel the $5500 sub loan since need would be covered with tribal funding (scholarship). We could replace the sub loan with unsub but only with student’s approval.
Questions for Panelists (Tribal Reps) • What is the most common problem you encounter when providing tribal funding for your students? • How can financial aid administrators assist you in eliminating/minimizing this problem?
Questions for Panelists (FA Administrators) • What is the most common problem you encounter when administeringtribal funding to your students? • How can higher education offices assist you in eliminating/minimizing this problem?
Scholarship Resources for Students: • American Indian College Fund • https://collegefund.org/ • Bureau of Indian Education – Higher Education Grant Program • Information for Prospective American Indian College Students • https://www.bie.edu/cs/groups/xbie/documents/text/idc1-028546.pdf • Bureau of Indian Education – List of Scholarships and Grants • https://www.bie.edu/ParentsStudents/Grants/index.htm • Cobell Scholarship • http://cobellscholar.org/
Sources: • BIE Higher Education Grant Program-Information for Prospective American Indian College Students • https://www.bie.edu/cs/groups/xbie/documents/text/idc1-028546.pdf • Federal Student Aid Handbook • https://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachments/1718FSAHbkVol3Chapter7.pdf • Tribal Leaders Directory • https://www.bia.gov/tribal-leaders-directory • U.S. Department of the Interior • Bureau of Indian Affairs • https://www.bia.gov/bia/