Asked for comment, the CNMI Scholarship office said the Department of Finance was asked to release the students’ financial aid checks but there was no word given exactly when they would be disbursed.
Sen. Paul A. Manglona, R-Rota, said students told his office they have yet to receive their financial aid checks for the fall semester.
Classes at NMC began on Aug. 24 and other colleges and universities in the U.S. will soon resume their classes.
Majority of college students from the CNMI are studying in Guam, Hawaii and Boise, Idaho.
The scholarship checks subsidize their college tuition and other miscellaneous fees.
Manglona said any further delay on the scholarship checks will have a negative impact on the off-island students’ finances.
“Further delay in scholarship payments will have a profound and negative impact on off-island students, as parents struggle to cover transportation, room, board and tuition costs,” the senator told CNMI Scholarship Administrator Merissa Mae Seman.
Manglona also asked her how much is needed to restore the financial aid to last year’s level of $3,900 for each student.
“With regards to this year’s anticipated reduction in scholarship amount, please provide my office with the total amount of funding required to at least restore to last year’s level of [$3,900] the scholarship assistance provided to each of our students,” the senator said.
He added, “I am sure you would agree that we should do everything to assist our students during these difficult economic times as their parents struggle to make ends meet at home.”
