Dinadolequasdi nole Sosoyodvsgi Unadatsisgigvi EDUCATION & TRAINING PROGRAM HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING POLICY Academic Year 2020-2021 EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1ST, 2020 This document is for all enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians that are wanting to obtain technical/vocational, associates, undergraduate, graduate, and advanced degrees. https://ebcihighered.com APPROVED BY THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE Table of Contents Section 1. Definitions ................................................................................................................................... 3 Section 2. General Information .................................................................................................................... 7 a. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 7 b. Purpose ............................................................................................................................................. 7 c. Education Committee ....................................................................................................................... 7 d. Responsibilities ................................................................................................................................. 7 e. What’s New & Improved in this Policy? ............................................................................................ 8 f. Program Approved Institutions – For All Degree Types ............................................................ 8 g. Special Provisions for Veterans or Persons Actively Serving ............................................................ 8 h. Academic Enrollment – For All Degree Types ................................................................................... 9 i. Working Professionals ...................................................................................................................... 9 j. Financial Assistance – Total Number of Hours Funded Towards Undergraduate ............................ 9 k. Financial Assistance – Graduate and Doctoral .................................................................................. 9 l. Financial Assistance – Certificate Programs ................................................................................... 10 m. Costs Covered ............................................................................................................................. 10 n. Costs Not Covered........................................................................................................................... 11 o. Memorandum of Understanding “MOU” Schools (colleges and universities) ............................... 11 p. In-State Tuition ............................................................................................................................... 11 q. Good Standing ................................................................................................................................. 12 Section 3. Application Process for New Students – All Degree Types ........................................................ 13 a. New Student Deadlines ................................................................................................................... 13 b. STEP 1: BEGIN APPLICATION PROCESS ........................................................................................... 13 c. What happens next? ....................................................................................................................... 13 d. STEP 2: REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO BEGIN FUNDING PROCESS ................................................... 14 e. STEP 3: FUNDING PROCESS ............................................................................................................ 14 f. What happens next? ....................................................................................................................... 15 Section 4. Program Requirements – All Degree Types .............................................................................. 16 a. STEP 4: PROGRAM PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................ 16 b. When to contact your Specialist: .................................................................................................... 16 c. What happens next? ....................................................................................................................... 16 d. Recurring Deadlines ........................................................................................................................ 17 EBCI HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING POLICY Page 1 of 22 e. Grade Incentive ............................................................................................................................... 17 Grade Incentive Eligibility ....................................................................................................................... 17 f. Graduation Bonus ........................................................................................................................... 17 Section 4. Non-Traditional Programs .......................................................................................................... 18 a. Study Abroad Eligibility ................................................................................................................... 18 b. Study Abroad Application Process .................................................................................................. 18 c. Required On-Campus Visit Eligibility ............................................................................................... 19 Section 5. Reimbursements to the Tribe ................................................................................................... 19 b. Extenuating Circumstances ............................................................................................................. 20 Section 6. Transfers/Withdrawals .............................................................................................................. 20 a. Transfers ......................................................................................................................................... 20 b. Withdrawals .................................................................................................................................... 21 Section 7. Provisions for Person(s) with Disabilities .................................................................................. 21 a. General information: ...................................................................................................................... 21 b. What does the Program provide? ................................................................................................... 21 Section 8. Appeals ...................................................................................................................................... 22 EBCI HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING POLICY Page 2 of 22 Section 1. Definitions 1. 1099 MISC Form - The IRS requires any person or company that makes certain types of payments to report them on a 1099-MISC to the recipient and the IRS. Miscellaneous funds and incentive awards are taxable and will be included on the 1099-MISC statement each student will receive. 2. 126 Allotment - Funding will be provided for 126 credit hours to complete a bachelor’s degree. 3. Academic Advisor - a high school or college/university faculty member who helps and advises students on academic matters, such as planning their academic career 4. Academic Dismissal - You did not meet the academic standards required to maintain enrollment (this is administered by the school you are attending) 5. Academic Probation - Academic probation is the most common term colleges and universities use to indicate that a student is not making the academic progress the institution requires for graduation. Academic probation often means that a student's grades and/or overall GPA are not high enough to continue in school if they do not improve 6. Accommodations - the process of adapting or adjusting to someone or something 7. Accreditation-official certification that a school or course has met standards set by external regulators 8. Appeals- apply to a higher authority for a reversal of the decision of a lower authority 9. Ribbon Program- recognizes outstanding public and non-public schools. In identifying several hundred outstanding schools annually, the program celebrates school excellence, turn around stories, and closing subgroup achievement gaps. 10. Bridge Program - Bridge program is a formal partnership between two post-secondary institutions that provides students with advanced standing in a degree program at one institution as recognition of previous academic experience in a similar field of study at another institution. 11. Business Day- A business day is a popular unit of time measure that typically refers to any day in which normal business operations are conducted. For the EBCI, this is Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. eastern standard time and excludes weekends and public holidays. EBCI HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING POLICY Page 3 of 22 12. Calendar Day- All days in a month, including weekends and holidays. 13. Certificate Program- A certificate program is a set period of education that results in a certificate of completion rather than a degree. In general, these programs either prepare students