STEP 3: Tribal Education Programs

Financial assistance for tribal members wishing to pursue post-secondary education is available through individual tribal education departments. To apply, contact your tribal education director for an application and program guidelines.

KBIC Tribal Members

STEP 4: American Indian College Fund

The American Indian College Fund scholarships and grants are an integral part of the financial aid package at Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College and are for ANY student attending a Tribal College/University. The Financial Aid Office posts information regarding the AICF Grants/Scholarships at the beginning of each semester and the student is responsible for filling out the application online using the American Indian College Fund Student Login. 

Click here to review the Reflection Questions assigned in your scholarship application

• Spirit of Sovereignty Scholarship Established by the Native American Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) as an avenue to give back to tribal communities.
  
  
• Hemlock Scholarship for Environmental Science Majors
• Dr. Madurai G. Ganesan Scholarship
  
  

Fifth, KBOCC now offers three FREE tuition waiver programs:

• • INSTRUCTIONS

    • STUDENT SECTION: Student fills out their portion of the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver (MITW) Application. FORM CLICK HERE. https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdcr/MITWAppFinal-10-2018_637599_7.pdf
      • New Student - Fill out this section if you have never applied for the MITW.
      • Current Student - Fill out this section if you already applied for the MITW and need to update anything.
    • DOCUMENTATION with your MITW application:
      • A photocopy of your Michigan Driver’s License or State-issued Michigan ID card AND
      • A photocopy of your Tribal ID.
    • TRIBAL EDUCATION OFFICE SECTION: Send the MITW application (and attached documentation) to your Tribal Enrollment Department for certification.
      • If you are a KBIC Member, hand into Liz Julio or email the application to ljulio@kbic-nsn.gov
      • If you are an LVD Member, hand into your Tribal Education Office.
      • If you're from any other Tribes, hand into your Enrollment Office if you don't have an Education Office.
    • MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR TRIBE: to ensure your application is complete and handed into the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
•  
  • Waivers are for any credit, any degree track, certificate, and/or program. There is no limit on how many times you use.
  • There is no deadline, however, you must use the waiver in the semester your enrolled.
  • For more information view the Michigan Department of Civil Rights website  https://www.michigan.gov/mdcr/.
  • Review their Frequently Asked Questions document.

Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)

• The Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) encourages eligible Medicaid recipients to complete high school by providing tuition assistance during an eligible student’s qualifying certificate or associate degree program and also during the student’s bachelor’s degree program.
• These two periods of assistance are referred to as ‘Phase I’ and ‘Phase II'.
• TIP Fact Sheet

• • Note: The first institution listed on the FAFSA will be considered the priority school. Students are responsible for notifying MI Student Aid of a change in their college choice. This can be done through the MiSSG Student Portal or by calling 1-888-447-2687.

Michigan Reconnect

• • Note: If you live within a community college district and attend your local college, tuition is free. If you don't live in a community college district or choose to attend a college in Michigan that considers you to be out-of-district, you will need to pay the difference between their 'in-district' and 'out-of-district' tuition rates.

APPLY TO KBOCC INSTITUTION USING NEW ONLINE FORM!

FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY

Admission Status Affects Financial Aid Eligibility

Regular or New Admission 

• Student must have an official high school or GED transcript on file. 

Transfer  

• Students must have official transcripts from the previous institutions on file.  
• Satisfactory degree progress will be affected by the number of credits transferred into an eligible program. 

Non-degree Seeking Students/ Advanced Secondary Students/ Guest Students

• Not eligible for Federal Student Aid. 

Students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for Federal Financial Aid: 

• Be admitted to an eligible program of study (degree program)  
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress  
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen  
• Be registered with Selective Service, if required (see www.sss.gov for more information)  
• Must not owe the U.S. Department of Education a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal education loan  
• Must not have any drug convictions or must meet the eligibility criteria of the drug conviction worksheet  
• Have a valid social security number 

To maintain eligibility, students must successfully complete a minimum percentage of their required degree credits (see below). Students earning an associate’s degree must complete the minimum credits listed in the catalog and may receive funding for up to 150% of the average credits (typically about 93 credits). Students will not receive financial aid for credits exceeding 93 credits unless an extension due to special circumstances has been approved by the Financial Aid Office.

Your online billing statement from KBOCC is now available.

You may access this statement via the KBOCC Student Portal http://my.kbocc.edu/ics.   Once you have accessed the portal, students may access their statement by clicking student billing, then clicking "view my course/fee statement”.

KBOCC offers the following payment options:

• Credit Card:  Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover (convenience fee)
• If you would prefer to pay via check, please print a copy of your bill and mail it along with your check to:
  
  • Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College
  • Attn: Michelle Bianco
  • 770 N Main St
  • L’Anse, MI  49946

If you have any questions regarding your billing statement, please contact Michelle Bianco, KBOCC Bursar/Registrar, M-F 8-4:30 at 906-524-8306.

For financial aid/scholarship inquiries please contact Dalene Chosa, KBOCC Financial Aid Director, M-F 8-4:30 at 906-524-8109.

The following information must be verified:

• Household size – Verification worksheet 
• Number enrolled in college – Verification worksheet 
• Adjusted gross income (AGI) – IRS Tax Return Transcript 
• U.S. income tax paid – IRS Tax Return Transcript 
• Untaxed income and benefits – W2s or proof from the appropriate agency 
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits –a copy of the card or appropriate documentation 
• Child support paid or received

The Financial Aid Office will send students whose applications were chosen an initial letter indicating that they were chosen and listing the required documentation.  

Students will be given 30 days to submit:

• Verification Worksheet
• Student/Spouse/Parent IRS Tax Return Transcripts (if applicable) 
• Proof of SNAP benefits

In some cases, other documents may be required. Common examples include but are not limited to: 

• Driver’s License
• IRS W2s from employers 
• Proof of separation or divorce 
• Proof of Selective Service registration 
• Social Security Card 
• Tribal ID and Blood Quantum (Jay Treaty Students) 
• National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS) default resolution

Applicants not selected for verification 

Students whose applications were not selected for verification may still be required to submit documentation. If there is reason to believe that any information on the application used to calculate the EFC is discrepant or inaccurate (or if any supporting documentation is discrepant or inaccurate), the applicant will be required to provide adequate documentation to resolve the conflict.

Examples of conflicting information which requires resolution include: 

A student was not selected for verification; however, her tax return is on file and information conflicts with items on the FAFSA. 

• IRS 1040 shows a parent as single head of household and the FAFSA/ISIR shows the same person as married.  

• Parent or student reported on the FAFSA and signed a verification worksheet that he will not file an IRS 1040. However, the amount of reported income is greater than the minimum amount required to file as indicated in the instructions provided on the IRS 1040. 

• Statements or information that suggests that the copy of the Income Tax Return submitted is not the return actually filed with the IRS. 

• Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits verified by the certifying official in the Enrollment Coordinator’s Office don’t match the FAFSA.  

• Admissions information received affects student eligibility (i.e., student accepted into a non-degree program, student received scholarship from high school, etc.) 

• A student’s academic progress or enrollment status on file in the Financial Aid Office doesn’t agree with the information from the Enrollment Office. 

RETURN TO TITLE IV

After the drop/add period, students can withdraw (or be administratively withdrawn) from courses or from the College altogether. Financial aid recipients who completely withdraw (or are withdrawn) or cease attendance from a term prior to the 60% point of that term are subject to the Return To Title IV fund rules for any federal aid not earned, according to the provisions of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. 

Earned grant aid will be configured by the date the student began the formal withdrawal process regardless of the date it was processed by the Enrollment Office.  

Failure to formally withdraw may result in the student receiving all “F” grades. Receiving all “F” grades will trigger an investigation to determine the last day of attendance (LDA) in an academically related activity. This LDA will be used in configuring what portion of grant aid was earned or unused. 

The responsibility to repay unearned aid is shared by KBOCC and the student. The Financial Aid Office will configure earned aid through financial aid administrator access to CPS Online (the Department of Education’s Central Processing System) and report earned aid to the Department of Education’s Common Origination and Disbursement System (COD) within 30 days of receiving grades. The Bursar will then adjust any unearned portion through KBOCC’s account on G5 (the U.S. Department of Education’s grant management system) within 15 days. Unearned aid is the responsibility of the student. Students required to return unearned grant monies should contact the Business Office to arrange repayment. 

PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT AND DEPENDENCY OVERRIDES 

The Financial Aid Director has the authority to adjust a student’s eligibility using professional judgment for special or unusual family or student circumstances. These circumstances may affect the expected family contribution (EFC) and must be documented. The Financial Aid Director analyzes each circumstance requiring professional judgment decisions on a case-by-case basis. 

Professional judgment decisions may be made to adjust eligibility for all institutional, Title IV, and campus-based aid. Documentation supporting special circumstances must be maintained in the student's financial aid file.

Examples 

Student circumstances, that may warrant a professional judgment decision include, but are not limited to: 

1. Cancellation of parental contribution due to an abusive or an estranged relationship
2. Cancellation of parental contribution due to parental abandonment of the student
3. A loss or change in income to the independent student or dependent student family
4. Extensive out of pocket medical expenses to an independent student or dependent student family

Documentation 

Because professional judgment situations are unique, the Financial Aid Director must determine the specific documentation needed to support the decision.  

1. Documentation should substantiate the student's situation.
2. Typically, documentation should be from a professional outside the family and not a family member.
3. Documentation from more than one person should be collected to document a student's life situation. 

The Financial Aid Director reserves the right to deny any request for a dependency override or income reduction.

FEDERAL WORK STUDY

Student Eligibility and Selection 
 

To be eligible for consideration for Federal Work Study (FWS), students must: 

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

2. Answer “yes” to the “are you interested in work study” question on the FAFSA 

3. Be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits during the Fall or Spring semester 

4. Demonstrate financial need 

5. Complete all KBOCC FWS and applicable Human Resources paperwork  

6. Consent to and pass a background check (and physical if applicable) 

7. Obtain and submit clearance from DHS regarding person-centered crimes (if applicable) 
 

1. Student eligibility (above) will be verified by the Financial Aid Office 

2. Students will be contacted for job placement in order of need 

3. Students with completed files will be given first consideration 

4. Best efforts will be made to match student program type until positions are filled 

5. Supervisors will have access to completed files to ensure the students have the necessary skills to perform the job (they also have the right to reject a student if not qualified)

Previous Federal Work Study Students 

In order to extend limited FWS funds to as many students as possible, previous FWS awardees will be placed at the end of the priority list.

FEDERAL WORK STUDY JOB ASSIGNMENT  

Before a FWS job can be assigned to a student, two conditions must be met: 

Eligible employers have approved work-study agreements  

Both on-campus and off-campus work study employers must have Off/On Campus Agreements approved and up-to-date prior to placement, so that all parties know what is expected of them. The agreement sets forth FWS work conditions and indicates what the institution and employer shall pay the students. These agreements are stored and can be viewed in the Student Services Assistant’s office

Employment must be able to fall into one of the following categories: 

• Community Service – Services identified to improve the quality of life for the campus, community, and the environment, through local nonprofit, governmental, and community-based organizations. These services include but are not limited to: health care, child care, literacy training, educational support services, social services, public safety, transportation, and campus/ community/environmental improvement
• FWS Students as Tutors - Activities in which a student serves as a mentor for supporting educational and recreational activities, may not have to work directly with students. Services may include, but are not limited to educational tutorial services, peer guidance counseling, assisting an instructor with curriculum-related activities, and transportation. 
• Family Literacy – Services designed to increase knowledge or skills. Services include but are not limited to library services or learning support for computer literacy, emotional literacy, or cultural literacy

Employment Conditions and Limitations 

Regardless of the student's employer, the student's work must be governed by employment conditions, including pay, that are appropriate and reasonable in terms of  

• Type of work
• Geographical region
• Employee proficiency; and
• Any applicable Federal, State, Tribal, or local law

Federal Work Study employment may not:  

1. Impair existing service contracts
2. Displace employees
3. Fill jobs that are vacant because the employer's regular employees are on strike
4. Involve the construction, operation, or maintenance of any part of a facility used or to be used for religious worship or sectarian instruction; or
5. Include employment for the U.S. Department of Education

Academic Credit and Work-Study 

A student may be employed under the FWS program and also receive academic credit for the work performed. Those jobs include, but are not limited to, work performed when the student is: 

1. Enrolled in an internship
2. Enrolled in a practicum; or
3. Employed in the research, teaching, or other assistantship

A student employed in an FWS job and receiving academic credit for that job may not be:  

• Early Childhood Education: Pre-Primary, OCC Childcare Center, BHK Great Explorations
• Liberal Studies: KBIC Youth, tutors, Library Aide, KBOCC Computer Lab Assistant
• Anishinaabe Studies: Cultural Committee, KBOCC Anishinaabe Programs & Studies
• Environmental Science: KBIC Natural Resources, KBIC Forestry, KBOCC Laboratory Aide
• Business: KBOCC Student Services, KBIC Economic Development, KBOCC Entrepreneurial Center

Re-Assignment: 

Students who have problems in work-study employment situations should seek to solve the problems with their supervisors. If needed, they must also contact the Financial Aid Office and Student Services Assistant to attempt to find a mutually satisfying resolution. Whether a change is sought because of problems or in pursuit of a preferred assignment, re-assignment will be made if available but is not guaranteed.

Termination and Suspension:

Students must follow their work placement’s policies regarding conduct and discipline. Students who have been terminated or suspended from their workplace will not be re-assigned unless an appeal was made and granted by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee.

Reinstatement of Federal Student Aid may occur when a suspended student:

1. Has completed enough credits to achieve satisfactory academic progress using alternative funding.  
2. Who has also been academically suspended successfully petition for readmission to the Faculty Council and then for reinstatement to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee (FAAC). These requests must be made in writing accompanied with an Academic Plan. Proof of readmission by the Faculty Council and a copy of the Academic Plan must be submitted to the FAAC before consideration. 
3. Who has not been academically suspended and has taken a semester or more off from college or attended college elsewhere petitions the FAAC for reinstatement. Reinstatement requests along with college transcripts, if applicable, and an Academic Plan must be submitted to the FAAC before consideration. 
4. Petitions for immediate reinstatement based on extenuating circumstances. Petitions explaining the circumstances must be made in writing and submitted to the FAAC along with an Academic Plan before consideration.

*An Academic Plan is a contract created between a student and advisor outlining the steps the student plans to take to improve academic performance. 

*Any student reinstated based on an academic plan must complete the plan without any W, F, or I grades and attain a satisfactory GPA during the semester reinstated in order to continue Federal Student Aid eligibility.  

Students may be required to supply additional information before a decision is made on their readmission or reinstatement petitions. Students who are readmitted or reinstated without achieving satisfactory academic progress will be on probation status. Petition denials will include an explanation, steps for students to take, and the length of time before students may re-petition. 

GRIEVANCES

Work Study