Smoke Signals
June 1993
Page 4
Education Update
With the 1992 school year fast approaching closure, the Tribal Education Program is undergoing
major changes in how students will receive assistance for the 1993-94 school year. Both Higher Education
and Adult Vocational training Programs have increased enrollment during the 1991 and 1992 school years.
The current funding level cannot address all student applications and can't provide for students' entire
financial need to attend school It is extremely important all students seek grants, scholarships, and other
resources to supplement their educational expenses.
GRANT AWARD CEILING
Beginning the 1993-94 financial aid year (Summer
93-Spring 94), the Tribe is setting a maximum ceiling on all
Higher Education and Adult Vocational training awards.
The total per year award will be a maximum of $3,600 per
student, with a per termdistribution of $ 1 ,200. This does not
mean each student will receive $3,600 per year. It means if
a student's unmet need is greater than $3,600 they can only
receive this amount from the Tribe. During the 1992-93
school year, the average amount awarded to each student was
$2,400 per year. Each student is strongly urged to apply for
all the financial aid heshe can get. It is also important for
students to seek out scholarships.
LOANS AND COLLEGE WORK STUDY
It is now a policy that PERKINS LOANS,
STAFFORD LOANS, and COLLEGE WORK STUDY will
no longer be replaced by the Tribe for the 1993-94 school
year. This does not mean that a student has to accept any of
the loans if they are included in the Financial Aid package.
The loans arc recommendations, they are not mandatory. If
a student feels heshe can live without them or do without
work study, they can be declined, but the tribe will no longer
replace the monies.
GRADE REPORTS AND TRANSCRIPTS ,
In most cases, a majority of students responsibly
get grade reports to the Education office in a timely manner.
Lately there have been more and more students becoming
extremely lax in submitting these reports. Beginning Fall
Term, 1 993, no checks will be issued if grade reports have not
been submitted. Many of the students have expressed
concern with schools that do not complete the grading
process until well into the first week of the next term. If this
is the case with your school, contact the school and have your
grades sent directly to the tribal offices. Arrangements will
need to be made through the school's registrar.
CONTINUING STUDENTS
Because of the increase in new student applications
each year, we are now instituting a deadline for continuing
students. If a student is currently in school and will be
attending school next year, heshe must have a copy of the
Federal Student Aid Application submitted to the Education
office by February 15, 1994. If we do not have a copy of the
FSA filing, we will drop students from the priority list as
"continuing students" and they will compete with new
students for fi nancial assistance. This requirement is targeted
for both Higher Education and Adult Vocational Training.
ATTENTION!
If you plan to attend school, Higher
Education, or Adult Vocational Training
during the 1993-94 school year, you must
submit your application to the tribal office
by these dates:
Fall term 1993 deadline July 1, 1993
Winter term 1993 Nov. 1, 1993
Spring term 1994 February 28, 1994
Summer term 1994 April 30, 1994
SUMMER TERMS DISCOUNTED
Beginning in Summer Term, 1993, there will be no
assistance automatically provided to attend Summer Session.
We will make exceptions for those students who:
Are students of Senior status who will complete graduation
requirements by the end of the term;
Students who demonstrate they can complete graduation
requirements by the conclusion of Fall Term and need
Summer to complete the program;
Students who demonstrate their program courses are
established on a year-round schedule and Summer Session is
necessary;
Those students who, due to medical interruption, missed a
term and need to catch up on course work (verification must
be provided by physician).
STUDENT INPUT NEEDED
If you have time, the Education Program is seeking
Higher Education and Adult Vocational Training Volunteers
to serve on an advisory committee to work with the Education
Committee and Program staff on a variety of changes being
proposed such as funding, grants, requirements, etc. Meetings
will be scheduled during the week day evenings or Saturdays.
If you are interested, please call 1 -800-422-0232.
ADULT EDUCATION CHANGES FOCUS
Beginning June 1, 1993, the Tribal Adult Education
Program adjusts services to focus on GED, Adult Basic
Education, Basic Skills Development, Literacy, Adult High
School Diploma Completion, and Senior Citizen classes and
programs.
In years past, the Adult Education Program was
fortunate enough to also sponsor 3-4 credit hour classes once
per quarter for members in areas related to special interest
and employment enhancement at community colleges.
Furthermore, the Adult Education Program was able to assist
sponsoring tribal employee & staff development assistance.
Due to increases in members seeking completion of
ABEGED Programs and the increased need to address basic
skill development, the Adult Education Program will no
longer sponsor community college classes at the 200 level ()
series, or employee training. All tribal employees and
programs are encouraged to utilize program training funds
to cover staff development and training.
The Adult Education Program is currently working
with Chcmcketa Community College to plan and develop a
calendar of community education classes to be offered in the
Grand Ronde community. Present scheduling is at a standstill
due to lack of space and availability of classroom site.
Because of the many conflicts surrounding our attempts to
schedule classes on a regular basis in the Community Center,
the program will look to other possibilities for conducting
Community Education activities.
Currently, the Adult Education Program conducts
Pre-GED, GED, and Basic Skills Review classes every
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (as regularly as possible)
from 4:30 to 7:30 P.M. Classes will be held on these dates:
June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30.
4 f ,
I lit' -
Education Committee member Donna Stronach, at
the TECA Convention, poses with Rodney Grant, who
played "Wind In His Hair" in Dances With Wolves.
Kids if you would like a free poster of Rodney Grant
as portrayed in the movie, call toll-free 1-800-THE
SOIL and ask for the Living in Harmony Activity
Packet
()Denotes possible change in location
All classes will be held at the Tribal Community
Center and are open to all tribal members at no charge. Non
Indian and members of other tribes may also enroll in GED
classes at a monthly fee of $20.00. Instruction is provided on
a personalized basis. Participants are encouraged to bring a
sack lunch. People needing more information may call
Gayla Tulensru at 879-2282.
LAST MINUTE CHANGES
Just when you thought we had all the answers to
college financial aid processing and tuition costs.Jook out!
The latest word regarding tuition costs in many Oregon and
national colleges and universities is that tuition will be
increased. For example, Chemeketa Community College
approved a tuition increase of $30.00 per credit flat rate. No
longer will a student be able to sign up for a 1 7-1 8 credit hours
and pay one standard fee that covers 12 credits and beyond.
For every credit hour a student signs up for, you must pay a
fee.
IfyoufiledyourFAF.receivedyourFederal Student
Aid Report, signed and mailed it off to your respective
college, you may encounter a delay in receiving your award
letter. Due to the numerous changes handed down by the
U.S. Department of Education concerning financial aid,
many schools will be mailing out award notices at a later
date. On the other hand, if you received your Student Aid
Report, (SAR) or an award letter from the college and have
not yet completed these forms and mailed them to the
Financial Aid Office, you may be losing some financial aid.
The longer you delay in returning them, the more likely it
becomes you will not receive as much funding.
Concerning loans, did you know there are now two
types of loans? Both the Perkins Loan and the Stafford Loan
were subsidized by the federal government in years past,
which guaranteed the loan and paid the interest on the loan
as long as the student was in school. Once the student
graduated or stopped, repayment of the loan did not begin
until a "grace period" of approximately six months. Students
need to be aware that you have a subsidized Stafford loan. If
you have an non-subsidized Stafford, you will begin making
payments as soon as you receive it. Most students do not have
this type of loan.
' While educational costs are on the rise, programs
are being eliminated, and systemsprocesses being revamped,
the Tribal Education Program will make every effort to work
with as many students as possible. If you have questions
about your award or budget, call 1-800-422-0232.