THE Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance board of directors has approved Board Resolution No. 2021-001, which waives the “return-to-Saipan-and-work” requirement for active duty members of the U.S. armed forces who are SHEFA program recipients.
The resolution was signed by SHEFA board chairman Oscar M. Babauta, vice chairman Juan “Shine” K. Tenorio, board members Raymond M. Muna, Kaelani Demapan and Francisco D. Cabrera.
The SHEFA promissory note/memorandum of agreement requires recipients to comply with a “return-to-Saipan” and “obligation-to-repay” rules.
It provides qualified active members of U.S. armed forces a deferral benefit from the requirement, but according to the resolution: “It is the board’s position that the current deferral benefit under SHEFA program does not go far enough to compensate our qualified military personnel for their sacrifices or recognize the value to the Commonwealth produced by their military service.”
Board Resolution 2021-001 also authorizes and directs SHEFA’s legal counsel to prepare amendments to SHEFA regulations to allow active duty members of the U.S. armed forces to satisfy both the obligations to return to Saipan and work, and the required service contribution of work in the private or public sector on Saipan, as imposed by the current regulations.
Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance board chairman Oscar M. Babauta, left background, speaks during a meeting in the SHEFA conference room in Oleai.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
