This means, according to SHEFA administrator Henry Hofschneider, that they will comply with their policy of 12 credits requirement as full-time load for those pursuing advanced and master’s degrees.
This spring term, more than 20 students are pursuing a master’s degree but are taking less than 12 credits, which is not in conformity with SHEFA rules and regulations, he said.
Hofschneider said they are still reviewing the minutes of the previous meetings of the board to determine whether the credit requirement was reduced or not.
If the previous board did reduce the requirement, SHEFA will publish an amended policy in the Commonwealth Register, he said.
However, if no such policy was approved by the board, he added, his office has the duty to enforce the current 12-credit requirement.
He said the board should decide whether it will continue awarding financial assistance to students pursuing a master’s or advanced degree with less than 12 credits.
In its last meeting, the SHEFA board heard a concern from one of the scholars about the credit requirement.
The scholar said most of the federal education assistance programs recognize 9 credit units, which is also considered full-time for a master’s or advanced degree.
Hofschneider said they reviewed the files of their recipients and discovered that the previous SHEFA administration awarded scholarships to students pursuing a master’s degree despite their noncompliance with the rules and regulations.
