1. Return to Title IV Town WASFAA Conference
Tribal Funding
Return to Title IV Town WASFAA Conference
Green Bay, Wisconsin
April 3, 2019

2. Gayla Jenkins Senior Administrative Program Specialist
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

3. Panelists Shannon Chapman Education Director Menominee Indian Tribe
Sherry King
Higher Education Advisor, Member of Oneida Nation
Oneida Nation

4. Panelists Jessica Last Higher Education Advisor Oneida Nation
Blake Taylor
Financial Aid Counselor
University of Wisconsin - Parkside

5. Objective Create a forum – communication
Develop stronger relationships
Gain practical tips for better service
Discuss current issues/topics

6. Overview Background - BIA Grants/Tribal Offices
Basics of awarding BIA Grants
Interaction with Panelists & FAAs
Wrap up with Q & A

7. 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

8. 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

9. Tribal Offices In Wisconsin
11 Federally Recognized Tribes (tribal sovereignty – self government rights)
Bad River
Forest County Potawatomi
Ho-Chunk
Lac Courte Oreilles
Lac du Flambeau
Menominee
Oneida
Red Cliff
Sokaogon Chippewa
St. Croix Chippewa
Stockbridge Munsee

10. Tribal Offices Different funding policies (file system)
*Forms/faxing/ /postal mail/security
*Student contact-teamwork
*FERPA – releasing student information
*PTAC – privacy issues

11. BIA Grant Award Processing
Scenario 1: FAA receives FNA/FRF form from tribe but student has not completed FAFSA
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

12. 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, , Page FSA HB Sept 2017

13. 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)

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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?

17. Questions for Panelists (FA Administrators)
What is the most common problem you encounter when administering tribal funding to your students?
How can higher education offices assist you in eliminating/minimizing this problem?

18. Scholarship Resources for Students:
American Indian College Fund
Bureau of Indian Education – Higher Education Grant Program
Information for Prospective American Indian College Students
Bureau of Indian Education – List of Scholarships and Grants
Cobell Scholarship

19. Sources:
BIE Higher Education Grant Program-Information for Prospective American Indian College Students
Federal Student Aid Handbook
Tribal Leaders Directory
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs

20. Thank You!

21. Questions?