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The Palau National Scholarship Board (PNSB) establishes
the following regulations pursuant to Title 22 PNC Section 229.
ARTICLE
I MISSION
Section 1 – Policy and Purpose of National Government
Financial Assistance
(a) Title 22 PNC Section 222 provides that it is the
policy of the Republic to help Palauans finance
their college and university education.
(b) Title 22 PNC Section 227 subsections (b) and (d)
provide that financial assistance is necessary to educate and train
citizens to fill jobs, and in particular, high priority jobs in the
Republic of Palau.
(c) Republic of Palau Public Law 6-37 mandates the Scholarship
Board to provide loans to students in medicine, law, and engineering.
Section 2 – Primary Responsibility for Financing
(a) Notwithstanding the policy
and purpose of National Government Financial Assistance in education,
PNSB assistance is primarily supplemental in nature because of the limited
amount of funding and the potentially unlimited demand for financial
assistance.
(b) Accordingly, financing of Palauan
higher education at colleges and universities is primarily the responsibility
of the student and his or her parents or other supporters.
(c) Students and parents are encouraged
to seek financial assistance from as many sources as are available (e.g.,
family, personal savings, employment, other country financial aid programs,
individuals and schools).
Section 3 - Mission Statement
Palau National Scholarship Board administers government
assistance for Palauan students seeking post-secondary education and
seeks additional sources of scholarship opportunities to help fill high
priority jobs in the Republic.
ARTICLE
II PROGRAM TYPES
Section 1 – Authority
Title 22 PNC Section
227 Subsections (b), (c), (d), (f), and (h) and Section 229 Subsections
(b), (c), and (d) authorize the PNSB
to establish, fund & administer programs for Grants, Loans, and
Scholarships. Title 22 PNC Section 229 Subsection (e) also tasks PNSB
with the responsibility to administer training and other educational
financial assistance programs for the Republic.
Section
2 – Programs Offered
The following represents
general description of the programs offered by the PNSB.
More specific descriptions and details are provided in separate
documentation available from the PNSB at no cost to the requestor.
(a) Grants
(i)
PNSB-Sponsored Grants
(1) Congressional Scholarship Award – Grant provided
to high school graduates who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement. Awards are given to first year college students.
(2) Palau Grant –
General grant provided to eligible applicants of PNSB programs and intended
to defray basic costs of post-secondary education. Awards are available for undergraduate students
for up to 5 years.
(ii) Non-PNSB-Sponsored Grants
(1) Offered by governmental or private sponsors and
administered by PNSB. A list of grants available through the PNSB is
published regularly and can also be made available upon request.
(iii) Grants are awarded per the eligibility and qualification
requirements established by the sponsor.
(b) Scholarships
(i)
PNSB Sponsored Scholarships
(1) Full Scholarships
(a) Palau Scholarship (Full) –
This scholarship provides full funding for tuition, housing, and expenses
to a limited number of recipients in any region majoring in priority
fields. Amended 5-12-06.
(2) Partial Scholarship
(a) Palau Scholarship (Partial)
– The Partial Scholarship provides tuition funding to defray part of
students’ educational expenses at a wider number of institutions.
(ii) Non-PNSB Sponsored Scholarships
(1) Offered by governmental or private sponsors and
administered through PNSB. A
list of current Scholarships available through the PNSB is published
regularly and can also be made available upon request.
(iii)
Scholarships are awarded per eligibility and qualification requirements
established by the sponsor.
(c) Loans
(i)
PNSB-Sponsored Loans
(1)Palau Student Loan – Not less than
twenty-five percent of the Scholarship Fund is available each year to
undergraduate and graduate students as supplemental assistance based
on financial need.
(2) Medical, Law, and Engineering Loan – Not less than
ten percent of the Scholarship Fund is reserved for loans to students
in medicine, law, and engineering as required under RPPL 6-37.
(ii)
Non-PNSB Sponsored Loans
(1) Offered by governmental or private sponsors and
administered through PNSB. A
list of loans currently available through the PNSB is published regularly and
can also be made available upon request.
(iii) Loans are approved per eligibility and qualification
requirements established by the sponsor.
Section 3 – Others
PNSB will maintain a list of Non-PNSB sponsored programs
and the application forms required for these programs for purposes of
publication and distribution to interested students.
ARTICLE
III STUDENT APPLICATIONS
Section 1 – Authority
Title 22 PNC Section 227 authorizes PNSB to develop,
organize, and adopt the criteria to be followed in selection recipients.
Section 2 - Forms Used
(a) Except as provided in Subsection (b), the attached
“Financial Assistance Request” Form, (REQ 001), and other valid forms
issued by PNSB shall be used by applicants to apply for financial assistance
from and through the PNSB. Other
forms for non-PNSB funded programs may also be required by sponsors.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), students may also
apply by formal letter provided that all required supporting documents
and information are included with the formal letter. These supporting documents and information include
the following:
(i) Personal information
such as name, social security number, date of birth;
(ii) Enrolment information such as institution applying
to or enrolled in;
(iii) Schedule of available financial resources and
cost of education showing financial need certified by school official;
and
(iv) School year for which funding is requested, and;
(v) Other supporting documents deemed necessary by
the PNSB such as copy of birth certificate, copy of passport, and official
transcript.
Section 3 – Single Submission Permitted
Grants and loans shall be applied for annually. Scholarship applicants need only submit an application
form once to be eligible for financial assistance for the current year
of application and for subsequent years provided that transcripts/grade
reports and copies of registration documents for each additional semester
and/or year are submitted in accordance with the published deadlines
for submission of supporting documents.
Section 4 - Original Copies Required
(a) Only original application forms may be accepted
for review. The application form
submitted must also be legible. PNSB
reserves the right to disregard non-original application forms or forms
that are illegible.
(b) Transcripts must be original
copies certified by the issuing institution.
(c) Any erasures and white-outs on PNSB forms may
not be accepted. Amended
5-12-06.
Section 5 - Timeliness
(a) All applications and supporting documents must
be received by PNSB before or on the day of the posted deadline date
or postmarked before or on the day of the posted deadline date. Applications received within 30 days after deadline
date but postmarked before the deadline date will be considered until
thirty (30) days from the application deadlines posted by PNSB.
(b) PNSB may accept a copy of certified application
for transcript and a copy of grade report in lieu of an official transcript
provided that an award may be made and disbursed only after an official
transcript is received within thirty (30) days from posted deadlines.
(c) PNSB may accept fax copies of transcripts provided
that the school stamp or seal indicates that the transcript was issued
before the posted deadline and the original is subsequently received
by PNSB within thirty (30) days from the posted deadline.
ARTICLE
IV ELIGIBILITY
Section 1- Authority
Title 22 PNC Section 227 authorizes PNSB to develop,
organize, and adopt the criteria for eligibility. The following eligibility requirements are hereby
adopted.
Section 2 - Post Secondary Study
(a) Applicants must be enrolled or have been accepted
to a college or higher level institution.
(b) PNSB programs are based on accredited U.S. colleges & university
systems. Assistance for other country colleges & universities will
be considered based on that country’s standards provided that the PNSB
has the same on file or the same is made available by the institution
through the student’s own request.
A list of recognized colleges & universities is available
from the PNSB.
(c) PNSB-sponsored grants are available to all undergraduate
student applicants.
(d) PNSB-sponsored scholarships are available to Junior/Senior
level university students.
(e) PNSB-sponsored Loans are available
to all eligible student applicants.
(f) Any questions on interpretation of ruling will rest on final discretion
by PNSB. Amended 5-12-06.
Section 3 - Full-time Status
(a) Students must maintain full-time status as defined
by the institution to which the student has matriculated.
(b) Credits for the previous academic year will be
considered for continuing students.
(c) Students who began study mid academic year must
have been considered full-time for the semester/trimester(s) attended.
(d) A total
of 24 credits per year will be considered full-time for semester system; and 36 credits
per year for quarter system will be considered full-time. Amended 5-12-06
(e) Not more than one year’s worth of credits may be
considered for remedial courses over the course of 4 years for any college
or university student.
(f) Credit for summer classes will be considered provided
credits are reflected on transcript received by the deadline.
(g) To complete thesis or project, graduate students
will be given a 1-year eligibility status as full-time students.
Section 4 - Citizenship
(a) All students must provide a copy of their Birth
Certificate documenting Palauan Ancestry with their first application
for assistance. This copy will
be maintained in the student file to be used in support of subsequent
applications.
(b) Must also provide a copy of their current Republic of Palau Passport which copy shall conform with the following requirements:
(i)
Copy must show picture of student and signed date for passport; and
(ii) Passport must expire after
award year that student is applying.
(c)
Copies of the foregoing in a student’s file at the PNSB may be used
for subsequent applications provided that the passport is current.
(d) Student must have graduated from a high school
in the Republic of Palau and/or
one of his parents or legal guardian
must physically reside in the Republic. In the event
that the recipient graduated from a high school outside of the Republic,
one parent or legal guardian must physically reside in the Republic.
At minimum, the criteria for residency of the parent
must be two or more years of physical residency in the Republic or one
or both parent works for the ROP Government and is a ROP taxpayer, prior to the receipt
of scholarship, grant or loan and the continued physical residency of
said parent in the Republic, while student recipient is receiving scholarship,
loan and/or grant. Amended 5-12-06 by RPPL 7-13 § 22
dated 10/30/05.
Section 5 – Basis of Awards
(a) Scholarships will be awarded based on student’s:
(i)
Financial needs;
(ii) Merit on academic achievement;
(iii) Extracurricular activity;
and
(iv) Eligibility as otherwise
dictated by each program or sponsor.
(b) The PNSB may use information provided by credit
reporting agencies to determine eligibility of applicants and guarantors
according to creditworthiness.
Section 6 – Eligibility Periods
(a) Undergraduate students may
receive financial assistance from PNSB for a
maximum period of five (5) years regardless of program.
Students enrolled in a two-year college may receive financial
assistance for a period of not more than three (3) years. Amended
03-02-07
(b)
Graduate students may receive financial assistance from PNSB in the
form of Palau Student Loan for a maximum period of not more than three
(3) years.
(c) The above periods are general guidelines but the
Board may give consideration to a limited number of extensions due to
extenuating circumstances.
(d) A student
re-entering study following a 3-year absence from school may be treated
as a new applicant provided the student is in good standing with PNSB
and is in compliance with RPPL 7-13. Amended 5-12-06.
Section
7 - Grade Point Average (GPA)
(a) Students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA for loan
eligibility.
(b) GPA requirements may be higher
as identified per program in application form instructions
Section 8 – Declare of a Major
(a) Student must declare major
– a student who does not declare a major of study is ineligible to apply
for assistance. Amended 5-12-06.
ARTICLE
V AWARDS & AWARD CLASSES
Section 1 – Authority
Title 22 PNC Section 227 authorizes PNSB to determine
programs and amounts of assistance and PNSB may establish maximum awards
for its programs.
Section 2 – Class Criteria
(a) Award amounts shall be made available each year
by the PNSB and are subject to change without prior notice.
(b) Awards within PNSB Programs may be set by classes
according to the following criteria:
(i) Class level;
(ii) Field of study; and
(iii) GPA.
Section 3 - Disbursements
(a)
Unless otherwise agreed by PNSB, all awards shall be made via mail.
Students may authorize other individuals to receive awards per
written authorization specifying award affected and identifying individual
by first and last name and address information.
PNSB may deny requests from persons should the identity of the
individual receiving the award check be questioned.
PNSB reserves the right to mail award checks directly to the
student.
(b) Timing – Awards may be made as follows:
(i)
Semi-Annual for Semester Programs
(ii) Tri-Annual for Trimester
programs
(iii) Other based on program
of study & institution requirements
(c) Awards may be deferred to up to one year upon written
request to the PNSB prior to disbursement of the award or upon the return
of award in the full amount. Deferment
may be granted at the discretion of the Board subject to valid documented
justification demonstrating that deferment would benefit both the student
and PNSB. Valid justification
includes death in the family of awardee of
a consanguinal relation in the first degree,
illness, and undue hardship. Deferment may only be considered if the student
has requested leave from his or her educational institution and such
leave has been approved.
Section 4 - Completion of Study
(a) Authority - Title 22 PNC Section
227 authorizes PNSB to determine, in the absence of criteria set forth
in legislation, program criteria.
(b) Students must provide copy
of certificate/diploma within 6 months of completion. Failure to do so shall be deemed failure on
the student’s part to fulfill all program requirements and student will
thereafter be required to repay all assistance provided by PNSB so long
as the student remains absent from Palau.
.
(c) All students must report their
return to the Republic and provide official transcript and diploma information
to the PNSB.
(d) Repayment
(i) Title 22 PNC Section
227 permits PNSB to require repayment of the funds it disperses. Repayment may be in the form of cash or by service
credit.
(ii) Students who receive scholarship, grant &/or
student loan who do not return to the Republic following completion
of their studies must repay all awards.
(iii) All students who graduate must return to the
Republic within two (2) years and work for a period of at least three
years.
(iv) All recipients of scholarship, grant, and student
loans are required to work in the Republic for the duration of at least
three (3) years, commencing two (2) years after completion of graduate
degree studies, for graduate students or commencing two (2) years after
completion of all other degree studies.
If scholarship, grant and/or loan recipient ceases his degree studies and
fails to obtain his degree, he/she is required to pay back 50% of the
grant or loan within two years time. All grant and loan recipients regardless
of completion of studies must work in the Republic for not less than
three (3) years after the two-year grace period. If scholarship, grant
or loan recipient fails to return and work in the Republic within the
allotted time period, said recipient shall be liable to pay back to
the Scholarship Fund the total amount of the scholarship, grant and/or
student loan received with interest. Amended 5-12-06 by RPPL 7-13.
(v) Repayment may be suspended for students who continue
from undergraduate to graduate studies until completion of graduate
studies or until the student leaves school.
Upon approval of the Board via prior written request, suspension
of repayment will be made.
(vi) Students who return to the Republic may receive
credit for balances outstanding after their return.
(vii) Students accepting financial assistance from
PNSB and guarantors waive application of the Statute of Limitations
with respect to PNSB’s collection claims.
Section 5 - Access to Records
(a) All personal information obtained in the course
of application shall be confidential.
(b) Access to an applicant or awardee’s
personal records will be available by request of the student or their
authorized representative.
(c) PNSB may publish statistics aggregating student
information
(d) Names and awards shall be available to the Office
of the Public Auditor, President of the Republic, Minister of Finance,
the President of the Senate Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the
Office of the Attorney General.
(e) Personal records shall also be made available as
directed by the Palau Supreme Court.
Section 6 - Service Credit for Palau Student Loan
(a) Title 22 PNC Section 227 (d) authorizes service
credit.
(b) Service Credit will be given for Loan awards received
by a student 6-months from returning to the Republic and notifying the
PNSB or provides proof of their date of arrival and the date employment
commenced. Proof of employment
(contract or personnel action) is required prior to earning service
credit.
(c) Students will receive a 15% immediate credit against
their total awards if they return to the Republic and notify PNSB, re-establish
residency and notify PNSB of the same within 60 days of their return.
(d) Five percent of the total awards for all programs
awarded to the student will be credited against a student’s accounts
for returning to the Republic within 6 months from graduation or completion
of their last term of school, whichever is sooner.
(e) Five percent will be credited against a student’s
account when a student provides a copy of his or her diploma or certificate
of completion
ARTICLE VI
ADOPTION AND EFFECTIVE DATE
After
having gone through the 30-day notice and comment period as required
of the Administrative Procedure Act, the foregoing amendments to the
PNSB Regulations were adopted on the 6th day of March 2007.
Having
been so adopted, and pursuant to 6 PNC Section 127, these amendments
to the PNSB Regulations were transmitted to the President of the Republic
of Palau for approval. Honorable President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr., President of the Republic
of Palau signed the proposed
Amendment to the PNSB Regulation on the
14th of March 2007. Based on the adoption date
for these revised PNSB Regulations, it is now effective as of the 6th
day of April 2007.
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