2008-2009 Cherokee Nation Undergraduate Scholarship Guidelines

The Cherokee Nation's Higher Education Office awards scholarships to selected Cherokee Nation Tribal Citizens pursuing degrees at a college or university accredited with Carnegie units. To apply for these funds, new and continuing students must submit a complete set of application documents to the Higher Education office postmarked on or hand delivered before JUNE 13, 2008 . CERTIFIED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT ENCOURAGED.

Desired Outcomes
The purpose of the Cherokee Nation Higher Education Program includes accomplishing three desired outcomes: 1) strengthen the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation; 2) increase the capacity of its citizens; and 3) promote the language and culture of the Cherokee Nation. The scholarship selection process is designed to achieve these outcomes. Future scholarship applications may provide a preference for students who have demonstrated accomplishments relating to the desired outcomes.

Self Help Component
Recipients are required to volunteer one-hour service to the tribe (Cherokee Nation) or any Non-Profit Organization for every $100 they receive in scholarship funding. (Example: $1,000 per semester = 10 community service hours).

Scholarship Programs and Selection Process

1. Cherokee Nation Scholarship Program ($1,000 per semester)
   Tribal citizens whose permanent residency is within the Cherokee Nation area, which is defined as those counties and contiguous to the Cherokee boundaries, who do not qualify for Pell funding, and do not want to attend Haskell Indian Nations University may apply for Cherokee Nation Scholarship funding to the accredited college of their choice. Funding is not available to tribal citizens living outside the Cherokee Nation area . This scholarship is based on the following selection preferences:

   First Preference
   Continuing students (Funded Fall 2007 and Spring 2008) in the Cherokee Nation Scholarship Program.

   Second Preference
   Classification of new applicants (Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman).

   Third Preference
   Academic performance as determined by High School G.P.A., ACT, SAT, College Placement Tests, And GED.

   Fourth Preference
   Students not selected for scholarship funding will be placed on a waiting list. Students on the waiting list may be selected for scholarships as additional funding becomes available or attend Haskell Indian Nations University .

2. Haskell Indian Nations University Scholarship ($500.00)
   Tribal citizens may apply to attend Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence , Kansas , at any time during the academic year. The Cherokee Nation will fund the normal fees associated with enrollment at Haskell. This is the equivalent of a full scholarship including room and board to any Cherokee who wishes to attend Haskell. Students that are currently funded by the HINU scholarship must abide by set deadlines.

3. Cherokee Nation PELL Scholarship ($1000.00)
   All Cherokee Nation tribal citizens, regardless of permanent residence, who qualify for Pell grant funding, are eligible for Bureau of Indian Affairs scholarship funding. This funding is divided equally to all Pell eligible students who complete the application process.

Application Process
Students seeking higher education scholarship funding must submit all documents listed on the application checklist. All documents must be hand delivered or mailed postmarked on or before JUNE 13, 2008 . CERTIFIED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT ENCOURAGED. HIGHER EDUCATION NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST OR RETURNED MAIL

Complete Application
A packet containing the application and all required documents, received postmarked on or before the June 13, 2008 deadline. Applications missing information, returned to the student for correction and not submitted correctly by the deadline, will not be considered, even if parts of the application were received prior to the deadline.

Notification of Receipt of Complete Application
A COMPLETE APPLICATION WILL CONSIST OF THE APPLICATION AND ALL REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS DETAILED ON THE FACE OF THE APPLICATION EITHER POSTMARKED OR HAND DELIVERED ON OR BEFORE JUNE 13, 2008. Students will be notified in writing when the Higher Education Office receives a complete application. Any and all verbal information provided by the Higher Education or Education Office is not official. There are no assurances that a student has a complete application in the Higher Education office awaiting consideration for funding until the student receives official written notification from the Higher Education Office.

Notification of Scholarship Selection
Students will be notified in writing by August 1, 2008 of scholarship selection or denial. Any and all verbal information provided by the Higher Education or Education Office is not official . There are no assurances that a student has been selected to receive the scholarship until the student receives official written notification from the Higher Education Office.

Other Information

1.  Students receiving a license or training certificate are not eligible for the Cherokee Nation Scholarship Program.
2. If total undergraduate hours earned is 140 or greater, funding is not available.
3. Students receiving the following scholarships are not eligible for the Cherokee Nation Scholarships:
   1.  Indian Health Services (IHS) Scholarship
   2. Assistance from other tribe(s)
   3. Cherokee Nation Career Services, Vocational Rehabilitation or Employee Reimbursement Program
   4. Department of Education Indian Fellowship
4. Students who have completed an undergraduate degree may not apply for additional undergraduate coursework.
5. Cherokee Nation scholarship recipients who require more semesters than the traditional eight semesters to complete baccalaureate degree requirements, will be considered for an extended two-semester period in accordance with the following:
   1. Availability of funds.
   2. Review of transcripts and degree plans to determine that a two-semester extension makes degree attainment possible.
   3. Review of transcripts to determine that students completed the required number of hours for each semester supported by the Cherokee Nation scholarship funds.
   4. Maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.00.
   5. All existing Cherokee Nation Higher Education selection criteria and program regulations remain in effect.
   Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis by a committee.
6. Higher Education not responsible for lost or returned mail.
   
   
7. Late applications will not be accepted and applications postmarked after June 13, 2008 will be returned to the student without consideration for scholarship funding .
8. Students applying to the program for the first time will be given priority over students applying to reenter the program.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Student Aid Report – what to look for
Student Aid Report (SAR) is the results from a processed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can be obtained online at www.fafsa.ed.gov .

FAFSA ONLINE - If the student wishes to complete a FAFSA online, they need to apply for a Personal Identification Number (PIN). If you are providing parent information, one parent must sign your FAFSA. To sign electronically, your parent should also apply for a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov . Please allow two weeks for processing (must have the PIN). The SAR will be on the website, the student must use the PIN to retrieve the SAR (instructions to download are below). Student Aid Reports will be 2 to 4 pages (ALL pages must be mailed with the application).

How to download a SAR from the WEB

1. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov
2. Under “FAFSA Follow-up” click VIEW & PRINT YOUR STUDENT AID REPORT ( SAR )
3. Select year 2008-2009
4. Enter you personal information then ‘submit'
5. SAR Transactions, pick most recent number
6. Processing Information – at left of screen PRINT SUMMARY
7. Print Summary HTML or PDF Version
8. Check for COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR INFORMATION on last page
9. Please review “ COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR INFORMATION ”. If there are issues with your SAR it will be located under the “ COMMENTS ” section. These issues will need to be resolved or the SAR will not be accepted by the Higher Education office. If you need further help with these SAR issues, contact FAFSA.

District Information
District 1 – Cherokee County
District 2 – Adair County
District 3 – Sequoyah County
District 4 – Parts of Muskogee , Wagoner and McIntosh Counties
District 5 – Delaware County and parts of Ottawa County
District 6 – Mayes County
District 7 – Rogers County
District 8 – Washington County and parts of Tulsa County
District 9 – Nowata and Craig Counties
District C – Oklahoma : Haskell, LeFlore, Osage and Pittsburg Counties
Arkansas : Benton , Crawford and Washington Counties
Kansas : Cherokee, LaBette and Montgomery Counties
Missouri : McDonald County

Important Numbers:

Cherokee Nation Registration (918) 453-5575 To obtain Tribal Citizenship and CDIB
Cherokee Nation Housing Authority (918) 456-5482 To inquire for Housing Assistance
Indian Health Services (I.H.S.) Scholarship (405) 951-6040 Inquire with Melissa Langley on this scholarship
Haskell Indian Nations University (785) 749-8404 Inquire about attending HINU
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (800) 433-3243 Questions or help about the SAR
(FAFSA)

Please keep name and address changes current with the Higher Education office. Correspondence is mailed to students at various stages throughout processing. Our office cannot be responsible for mail returned due to changes in address.

If you have questions or need assistance completing either the Cherokee Nation Scholarship Application or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, feel free to contact our office:

Direct: (918) 453-5465 or (918) 207-3948
Toll Free: 1-800-256-0761 option: 5

  Application and All required documents must be postmarked or hand delivered on or before
JUNE 13, 2008

CERTIFIED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT ENCOURAGED

HIGHER EDUCATION NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST OR RETURNED MAIL