By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance board has introduced amendments to its existing eligibility requirements and rules.
Under the newly adopted amendments published in the Commonwealth Register on Dec. 12, a SHEFA applicant must be a high school graduate with a high school diploma or high school equivalent diploma; must have a cumulative high school grade point average of at least 2.5 upon graduation; and must be accepted or enrolled on a full-time basis — which does not include developmental or remedial courses — in a U.S.-accredited college or university.
Exemption to full-time enrollment status for certified disabled applicants may be granted on a case-by-case basis.
If awarded financial assistance, the recipient must sign a promissory note of agreement providing that all financial assistance received from SHEFA will be subject to debt conversion and be debt convertible and that future assistance will be contingent on funds availability.
An applicant must also maintain at least the minimum grade point average as a condition and prerequisite for continuing assistance which for undergraduate students is a 2.5 cumulative GPA; for performance-based scholarship students, 3.5; for graduate and advanced students, 3.0; for a priority field of studies, 2.5; and for loans, 2.5.
SHEFA is administered by the Saipan Mayor’s Office.