Education Assistance Program/Higher Education
Services (TONEAP/HES) Orientation
MISSION STATEMENT
In order to conserve the uniqueness of Native American Culture, language and to
strengthen families and communities: Education must begin at home. To promote
success in both cultures the Tohono O’odham Education Department will assist
O’odham to reach their fullest potential by promoting self respect, expanding
awareness of opportunities, and providing education and training.
HISTORY
- Tohono O’odham Nation Scholarship Fund was established in 1995
- In 2005 Scholarship Fund and Higher Education Services merged
- Scholarship Fund is tribally funded whereas, Higher Education Services is
federally funded - On August 4, 2016, Legislative Council approved program name change from
- Scholarship Fund to Education Assistance Program
Enrollment Status
EAP Full Time and Part-Time status is defined as the following:
- Full Time is 24 credit hours per year or 12 per semester, 8/tri, 6/quad
- Part Time is 12 credit hours per year or 6 to 11 per semester
- Credit hour minimums are affected by degree level and school year calendar
(semester, trimester, year-round status) - Maintain 2.0 GPA minimum
- Must complete all funded credits
- Start submitting required documentation at the end of each semester before the two
- Deadline Dates: January 4th and July 15th. These Deadline Dates are continuous
every year - Student must maintain Tohono O’odham Nation tribal enrollment status
enrollment Status
Public vs Private Institutions
Not all credits may transfer to/from Private & Public Institutions
- Example: if you are attending a private institution and plan to transfer to a public
university, your credits might not transfer - The cost of attending a private institution is substantially higher than attending a
public school, which will affect your yearly allocation by reducing the amount you
receive for Living Expense
Transferring Schools
• Degree Audit is a requirement when transferring
• Remember that not all credits may transfer from one institution to another
• If credits don’t transfer, student will be responsible to make up credits on their own
• May cause funding to stop, or drop to Part Time funding Renewal of Funding
Renewal of Funding
Student must ensure ongoing communication with your assigned specialist and give
prior notification when considering withdrawing/drop of any/all courses.
• All changes in your student status must be communicated with your specialist
• Failure to do so, will have a direct impact on your status in the program
Academic Requirements
Disbursement of Education Assistance Program funds for renewal periods are
contingent upon receipt of the following information.
• All students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) per semester/term
• Student must complete all credits that they were funded for
• Failure to complete credits and maintain the 2.0 GPA may result in Academic
Probation, Suspension or Default Status
Before Your Semester Ends
TONEAP/HES Allocation
Academic Probation
Suspension
Default
Renewal Requirements
In order to conserve the uniqueness of Native American Culture, language and to
strengthen families and communities: Education must begin at home. To promote
success in both cultures the Tohono O’odham Education Department will assist
O’odham to reach their fullest potential by promoting self respect, expanding
awareness of opportunities, and providing education and training.
• Tohono O’odham Nation Scholarship Fund was established in 1995
• In 2005 Scholarship Fund and Higher Education Services merged
• Scholarship Fund is tribally funded whereas, Higher Education Services is
federally funded
• On August 4, 2016, Legislative Council approved program name change from
Scholarship Fund to Education Assistance Program
• EAP Full Time and Part-Time status is defined as the following:
• Full Time is 24 credit hours per year or 12 per semester, 8/tri, 6/quad
• Part Time is 12 credit hours per year or 6 to 11 per semester
Credit hour minimums are affected by degree level and school year calendar
(semester, trimester, year-round status)
• Maintain 2.0 GPA minimum
• Must complete all funded credits
• Start submitting required documentation at the end of each semester before the two
Deadline Dates: January 4th and July 15th. These Deadline Dates are continuous
every year
• Student must maintain Tohono O’odham Nation tribal enrollment status
enrollment Status
Not all credits may transfer to/from Private & Public Institutions
• Example: if you are attending a private institution and plan to transfer to a public
university, your credits might not transfer
• The cost of attending a private institution is substantially higher than attending a
public school, which will affect your yearly allocation by reducing the amount you
receive for Living Expense
• Degree Audit is a requirement when transferring
• Remember that not all credits may transfer from one institution to another
• If credits don’t transfer, student will be responsible to make up credits on their own
• May cause funding to stop, or drop to Part Time funding Renewal of Funding
Student must ensure ongoing communication with your assigned specialist and give
prior notification when considering withdrawing/drop of any/all courses.
• All changes in your student status must be communicated with your specialist
• Failure to do so, will have a direct impact on your status in the program
Disbursement of Education Assistance Program funds for renewal periods are
contingent upon receipt of the following information.
• All students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) per semester/term
• Student must complete all credits that they were funded for
• Failure to complete credits and maintain the 2.0 GPA may result in Academic
Probation, Suspension or Default Status
• Start turning in documents AS SOON AS YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THEM. This lets us
know you are still seeking our support and your specialist will help you keep tabs on
what to submit next. You will receive notices with a list of items to turn in before our
next due date
• Let your specialist know how you did so they have an idea of what your funding
situation will look like next semester. Especially if you feel you need to take a Leave
of Absence, Withdrew/Failed/Dropped a class, or had unexpected circumstances that
affected your school performance
• The more we know about your status and the sooner we receive your documents the
quicker your funding status will be determined
TONEAP/HES disbursement of funds are based on the student’s FNA submitted by the
Financial Aid Office of the school attending.
• Tuition & Fees (Paid directly to the institution)
• Living stipend
• Books (CAPPED at $450.00 FT or $225.00 PT)
• Transportation (CAPPED at $720.00 FT or $360.00 PT)
• Students who live on campus (dorm), or take online courses are not eligible for
transportation cost
- Please keep in mind these calculations are specific to a semester student only. The
amounts will change depending on Year Round/Trimester.
• Living stipend, books and transportation may be disbursed directly to the students
(for some schools) - If a student is eligible for a living stipend, it must be used to cover room, dorm fees
and board)
Please keep all award letters issued to you for your tax purposes, no copies will
be provided.
• At the end of each term, if a student does not meet the required 2.0 GPA or has not
completed all the credits/ classes, or failed to report any changes to your EAS, that
he/she was funded for, will be placed on Academic Probation
• Students are given one (1) semester/term to correct their GPA or credit deficiency
• If placed on probation, only part time funding will be issued, this will include Tuition,
Books, Transportation and Living Expense. This means that EAP will only fund for 6 to
11 credits, and the remaining credits owed will be at your own expense. - Credit hour minimums are affected by degree level and school year calendar
(semester, trimester, year-round status)
• Failure of six (6) credits or more will result in Suspension
• Failure to correct GPA or credit deficiency during Academic Probation period will
result in Suspension
• Students are given one (1) semester/term to correct their GPA or credit deficiency
without TONEAP/HES funding
• Failure to satisfy Suspension requirements will result in Default
Default means there is NO continuing funding from TONEAP/HES Students are subject
to repayment of all funds provided to them during the last funding period due to:
• Failure to complete all credits/ classes that you are funded for
• Failure to satisfy Suspension requirements
• No contact with your EAS
• Withdrawal or dismissal from school
• Incarceration/ Falsifying Information - You must clear your Default through our Audit Process before you can be
considered for any future funding.
• Payment(s) can be paid monetarily and must be a money order or cashiers check,
made payable to the Tohono O’odham Nation
• Students can also use credits to satisfy their default amounts
• If you should end up in default, in order to come back into the program you would
need to submit an Official Transcript and request your file to be audited. For credits
owed, you will still have to meet the 2.0 GPA minimum
• Once the audit has been completed, you will be notified by email and postal mail
• Once student is cleared, student may reapply to the program and meet all deadlines.
(funding is not guaranteed, therefore we encourage students to seek other sources
of funding)
- Must submit Official Transcript at the end of Spring semester and Unofficial
Transcript at the end of Fall semester for verification of credits completed at the
end of each semester/term.
• Official Transcript must be certified and remain in its original unbroken sealed
envelope by the school registrar’s office and mailed or hand delivered to EAP
• Electronic Transcripts are accepted if your institution delivers electronically - Must maintain a 2.0 semester grade point average
- Submit a current Class Schedule with your name, start and end dates, credits
and location. If your school does not have this available please contact your academic
advisor and have them email AskEAP@tonation-nsn.gov a statement of the classes and
credits you are taking with start and end dates. Remember your class schedule must
match your grades on the Transcript you submit at the end of each semester.
Note: If for any reason, you change your class schedule without consulting your EAP
Specialist, you may jeopardize your funding. This action may place you in Academic
Probation, Suspension or Default.
TONEAP/HES will not fund repeated courses or incomplete credits. - Updated Program of Study (P.O.S)/ Degree Audit
• Current classes must be listed on your updated P.O.S.
• We will not pay for classes not listed on your P.O.S. - Financial Needs Analysis Form (FNA)
• Must be submitted to your school Financial Aid Office on/or before June 15th for Fall
& December 4th for Spring semesters
• The Financial Aid Office completes and returns the document to AskEAP
Remember to notify your financial aid advisor that your FNA must match your class
schedule/credits and completed for one semester/ term
REMEMBER TO NOTIFY YOUR EAS AS SOON AS YOU BECOME AWARE OF ANY CHANGES
Repayment
- Payment(s) can be paid monetarily and must be a money order or cashiers check,
made payable to the Tohono O’odham Nation - Students can also use credits to satisfy their default amounts
- If you should end up in default, in order to come back into the program you would
need to submit an Official Transcript and request your file to be audited. For credits
owed, you will still have to meet the 2.0 GPA minimum - Once the audit has been completed, you will be notified by email and postal mail
- Once student is cleared, student may reapply to the program and meet all deadlines.
(funding is not guaranteed, therefore we encourage students to seek other sources
of funding)
