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Financial Assistance
We have two broad categories of financial assistance available to graduate students at NAU. The first is awarded on the basis of academic merit or your ability to perform specific services. The second is based on your demonstrated financial need.
This chapter describes the following kinds of financial assistance.
Graduate Assistantships
Assistantships are available in most departments that offer graduate degree programs; research assistantships are available in a few departments. For information about positions and applications, you should write directly to the chair of the department in which you plan to earn your degree.
Please note that, for purposes of determining eligibility for financial assistance, 9 hours is considered full-time enrollment for graduate students and half-time is 5 hours. This is true during both fall and spring semesters and the thirteen-week summer session.
Graduate assistantships are also available in other areas at NAU--for instance, as residence hall directors through the Office of Residence Life, as assistants in the Counseling and Testing Center, and in other areas of Student Affairs.
Other units that employ graduate assistants include the Learning Assistance Center, the University Advisement Center, the Institute for Human Development, Educational Support Services, the Multicultural Student Center, Career Services, the Science and Mathematics Learning Center, Bilby Research Center, and other support service departments. You should contact these offices directly for information and application forms.
Applying for an Assistantship
If you are interested in obtaining a graduate assistantship for the fall semester, be sure that all of your admission application materials reach the Graduate College and that your assistantship application reaches your department by the departmental deadline, usually March 1. If you apply after this date, we can only consider you if positions remain unfilled or existing positions are vacated.
Please be aware that accepting a graduate assistantship or scholarship may affect your eligibility for federal financial aid. You should consult with a counselor in the Office of Student Financial Aid before accepting an assistantship if you are applying for one of the federal programs that we describe later in this chapter.
We only award assistantship contracts for one year. You may receive a contract for a second year, but receiving a contract for one year does not guarantee a second contract. We base that decision on your performance as a graduate student and as a graduate assistant during the first year. We do not issue contracts to master's students for more than two years.
Assistantship Responsibilities
You may be awarded a graduate assistantship for half-time, third-time, or quarter-time duties, and the stipends vary by discipline. If you have an assistantship, you are expected to carry no less than 9 and no more than 12 credit hours while holding the assistantship.
All assistantships carry a waiver of the nonresident portion of tuition. We expect all graduate assistants to pay the usual resident tuition and other registration fees.
As a graduate assistant, you are expected to demonstrate qualities of social stability and academic leadership beyond those expected of other students. Your acceptance of a graduate assistantship contract implies your acceptance of such professional responsibilities. You are also expected to remain in good academic standing and to make satisfactory progress toward your graduate degree by:
Graduate Scholarships
Most of the scholarships we award to graduate students are tuition scholarships. A few other kinds of scholarships are available as well, as we describe in the following sections.
Tuition Scholarships
We have a limited number of graduate tuition scholarships available for Arizona residents. These scholarships cover the resident tuition for full-time students and are awarded by the associate provost upon the recommendation of individual departments. You should contact your department chair to apply for a scholarship. We normally reserve waivers of resident tuition for Arizona residents.
We also have a few graduate tuition scholarships available for nonresidents. These scholarships cover only the nonresident portion of tuition and are awarded by the associate provost upon the recommendation of your department chair. Contact your academic department to apply for such scholarships.
We only award tuition scholarships to graduate assistants in case of extreme financial need; scholarships are primarily available to graduate students who do not receive assistantships.
If you are interested in applying for a tuition scholarship for the fall semester, make sure all admission application materials reach the Graduate College and the appropriate department by March 15. If you apply after this date, we can only consider you if scholarships are still available.
If you are awarded a scholarship, you must enroll as a full-time student, maintain a grade point average of 3.0, and earn no grades of C or below.
We award scholarships for one year only. You can apply for a scholarship for a second year; we base the decision for a second year on your academic performance during the previous year.
Accepting a graduate scholarship may affect your eligibility for federal financial aid. You should consult with a counselor in the Office of Student Financial Aid before accepting a scholarship if you are applying for one of the federal programs that we describe near the end of this chapter.
Other Scholarships and Awards
NAU's Scholarship Office also awards a limited number of scholarships to graduate students. You must apply between January 1 and March 1. For additional information and an application form, see the brochure titled NAU Scholarships, which is available from the Scholarship Office (PO Box 4108, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4108, 520-523-6032).
In addition, fellowships are available in some academic areas. Contact your academic department for more information.
Need-Based Assistance
Need-based financial aid programs are administered by the Office of Student Financial Aid, NAU, PO Box 4108, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4108 (520-523-4951). These programs are described in a brochure published by the U.S. Department of Education titled The Student Guide, which is available from the Office of Student Financial Aid.
If you have unusual financial circumstances or additional education-related costs, you should contact a counselor in the Office of Student Financial Aid for a review of your eligibility. You must complete a financial aid application--the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)--which takes up to six weeks to process. This application is available at high schools and community colleges and through NAU's Office of Student Financial Aid, third floor, Gammage Administration Building (building 1), in Flagstaff.
Perkins Loan
This loan program is available to graduate students with many of the same eligibility, repayment, and deferment provisions as for undergraduates. See The Student Guide brochure for details. The Perkins loan carries a 5% interest rate, and you can borrow up to $4,500 per year to a maximum of $30,000 (including undergraduate amounts).
You must submit the FAFSA form along with all supporting documents before we can determine your eligibility. Please be aware that this program has limited funding; therefore, awards are contingent upon availability of funds.
Federal Direct Loan, Subsidized
These loans are available to all graduate students based on need. Eligibility, repayment, and deferment provisions are the same as for undergraduates. See The Student Guide brochure for details. You can borrow up to $8,500 per year to a maximum of $65,500 (including undergraduate amounts). Eligibility may be restricted by the cost of attending NAU or by other financial assistance such as graduate tuition waivers and scholarships.
You must submit a FAFSA form and supporting documents before we can determine your eligibility.
Federal Direct Loan, Unsubsidized
Unsubsidized loans are available for all students regardless of income. You can receive a combination of subsidized and unsubsidized loans at the same time up to $18,500 per year to a maximum of $138,500 including undergraduate amounts. Interest begins to accrue on the day the loan is disbursed, and interest payments can be made monthly or quarterly or be capitalized and added to the principal balance.
You must submit a FAFSA form and supporting documents before we can determine your eligibility. Eligibility is limited to your cost of attending NAU minus other financial assistance.
Federal Work Study
Work study funds are available to graduate students on the same basis as for undergraduates. Wages are often higher than for undergraduates based on level of experience and responsibility. Submit a FAFSA form along with supporting documents to determine your eligibility.
Arizona Financial Aid Trust Fund
We have limited funds available to Arizona residents through the Arizona Financial Aid Trust Fund. To apply, you must complete a FAFSA form through the Office of Student Financial Aid and submit a short letter of application to the Office of the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research. You must enroll as a full-time student to be considered. Contact the Office of the Associate Provost for additional information about this program.
Other Financial Aid Programs
The following types of assistance are not based on financial need.
Student Wage
Student wage is institutionally funded, on-campus employment. Available positions are posted outside the Office of Student Financial Aid (third floor, Gammage Administration Building), in the du Bois conference center and the University Union, and on LOUIE, NAU's on-line computer system.
Veterans' Educational Benefits
NAU is approved to train you under several government educational programs if you are a veteran or the eligible dependent of a deceased or disabled veteran. Our services include assistance in applying for all veterans' benefits, educational counseling, tutorial assistance, and various referral services.
If you are eligible or wish to find out if you're eligible, apply at NAU's Office of Veteran Services (Gammage Administration (building 1), room 312, in Flagstaff). You can also write to PO Box 4110, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4110 or call 520-523-4931.
If you are making an initial application for your G.I. Bill benefits, you must provide a certified copy of your military record (DD 214). If you are an eligible dependent making initial application under Chapter 35, you must provide a copy of your birth certificate and, if possible, your parent's V.A. claim number.
To meet your financial obligations, we recommend that you arrange for advance payment of your benefits by the Veterans' Administration. Arizona students should allow six to eight weeks and out-of-state students eight to ten weeks before the semester begins, so the Veterans' Administration has sufficient time for processing.
You may be eligible for a tuition deferment if you are a transfer student or a new student who is eligible for V.A. benefits. If you are a continuing student, you are not eligible; however, if you have experienced V.A.-related delays in payment that are beyond your control, you may also be eligible. Your failure to apply for benefits each semester is not grounds for a deferment. All deferments must be approved by NAU's veterans coordinator. For additional information, contact the Office of Veterans Services.
If you attend NAU under the V.A. Vocational Rehabilitation Program, you must contact your vocational rehabilitation specialist before registering. You can do this through NAU's Office of Veteran Services.
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Please note that this electronic version of the 1996-1998 Graduate Catalog is a reproduction of the official printed catalog and is not updated more frequently than the printed catalog. If you have questions or comments about these pages, please e-mail Graduate Admissions and Academic Services.