He will recommend an end to the assistance for the master’s degree and advance degree program.
“It’s different now because I’m following the policy or the regulation the way it should be,” he said.
Among the inconsistencies he noted were students who enrolled in less than 12 credits but were given scholarship awards, and the awarding of grant-in-aid and incentives to students who only enrolled in one course.
Hofschneider said he will ask the Office of the Public Audit to look into the SHEFA awards since the inception of the program.
“There’s inconsistency in the program that’s why we’re trying to stop it,” he said.
Yesterday, eight graduate students of the Framingham State University Cohort 8 met with Hofschneider at the SHEFA office in Garapan.
The students, who are mostly Public School System teachers, counselor or school administrators, are asking SHEFA for a full reimbursement for their fall 2010 tuition.
Darrah Tagabuel, one of the Framingham students, said they understand that those in graduate programs are the second priority in awarding scholarships.
However, she added, other graduate students have already received their awards from SHEFA.
“Why is there inconsistency when it comes to Framingham State University students?” she asked.
Bobby Cruz, another Framingham graduate, said the received two awards from the previous SHEFA administration.
He said they follow the same protocol that has been in place since SHEFA started awarding scholarships to Framingham graduate students.
“There seems to be a double standard between how other graduate students are dealt with and how our cohorts are dealt with. We have one reimbursement award to receive — why the sudden policy and procedure change?” he asked.
He said they fully support giving priority to undergraduate students.
But he added that they also serve the local community and “we’re taking advantage of a program that is available locally so that we can continue to work here while furthering our education which in turn will make us better professionals.”
They are scheduled to meet again with Hofschneider today in the mayor’s office conference room.
Hofschneider, said he will listen to the complaints of the students.
But he said he will also recommend to the SHEFA board to stop the program for the master’s and advance degrees, adding that the program no longer has sufficient funds.
He clarified there was no change in the SHEFA policy because “as far as I know, what I am trying to do now is based on the regulation.”
He said Framingham State University students are eligible to receive the awards since they all meet the eligibility requirements.
However, he said, SHEFA has insufficient funds and based on the regulations, the priority are the undergraduate students
He said there are checks for the graduates at the SHEFA office but they can’t be released to the recipients since they are not the priority.
SHEFA gets its funding from poker license fee collections which have been declining as the local economy continues to get worse.
