Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute

• To receive financial aid, students must be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program.
• To qualify for a full-time financial aid award, students are required to carry a minimum class load of twelve (12) credit hours and maintain satisfactory academic progress of 2.0 GPA minimum. Part-time students are also eligible for financial aid.
• Students may not owe an overpayment on a PELL grant and must not be in default on any Title IV loans at any school previously attended.
• Transfer students must provide an academic transcript from every post-secondary school they attended, even though they may not have received any financial aid. Effective July 1, 2000, schools are authorized to use data from the NSLDS to monitor the financial aid history of all applicants for Federal student aid. Academic transcripts will need to be reviewed to quantify academic progress. SIPI currently has a maximum time frame not to exceed 150% of the published length of the program for Federal financial aid eligibility.
• Students must have a high school diploma or passing scores from the HSET program (formerly the GED® Program).

Note: SIPI does not participate in any educational student loan programs

Federal and State regulations require all schools participating in state and federal financial aid programs to have a Standard of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The standard will be applied to all applicants and recipients of financial aid as a determination of eligibility. These standards are applicable to all students whether they are eligible for Title IV funding or not. SAP represents minimal standards of completion for financial aid eligibility, SIPI will review SAP at the end of each trimester.

In order to receive financial aid, the student must be enrolled in an eligible program of study that leads to a Certificate or an Associate’s Degree. In addition, students must adhere to three different standards;

1. a qualitative standard which is the maximum length of time (150% number of credits in published program of study) for which they may receive financial aid,
2. maintain a minimum 2.0-grade point average (GPA);
3. and quantitative standard which is to complete the number of credits required to meet the minimum (67%) pace of progression each trimester.

The Title IV Consolidation Appropriation Act of 2012 limits the amount of Federal Pell Grant eligibility to 12 full-time semesters for all recipients. The new law applies to all previous, current, and future Federal Pell Grant disbursements.

In order to make sure educational goals are achieved within the 12 full-time semester’s time frame, recipients should follow a degree plan and periodically meet with an Academic Advisor or Counselor to discuss graduation or transfer plans. Once notified by the Department of Education and/or SIPI Financial Aid Office, recipients who exceed the 12 full-time semester’s time frame cannot receive a Federal Pell Grant for any future coursework.

Students at SIPI can receive aid through grants, work-study, and other programs, most of which are based on need. Once the Financial Aid Office determines how much and what kind of aid a student may be eligible to receive, a financial aid package is prepared to meet the student's needs. Financial Aid Programs include:

Federal & State Supplemental Funding

Federal Work-Study & New Mexico Work-Study

This program is designed to provide financial assistance to students through part-time employment on campus. Work-study students are paid the minimum wage and payments are issued on a bi-weekly basis. Work schedules are determined by class schedules and job requirements.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The Supplemental Educational Grant (SEOG) is available to exceptionally needy students who wish to attend SIPI, such as students with the greatest of need and who are PELL eligible.

New Mexico College Affordability Grant (NMCA)

Eligibility Requirements:

• Pell Eligible
• Must have graduated from a New Mexico high school or obtained a GED® from New Mexico.
• Must not be receiving any other type of aid.

New Mexico Student Incentive Grant (NMSIG)

The NMSIG is available for New Mexico residents who are full-time students, are PELL eligible and who are determined to have exceptional need. If funds are available, part-time students may be eligible.

New Mexico Opportunity Grant (NMOG)

The NM Opportunity Grant can cover academic fees at SIPI for New Mexico state residents and students from tribes that cross the NM border. To be eligible students must be:

• Enroll in 6-18 credit hours
• Courses must be credit-bearing
• Have a 2.5 cumulative college GPA or above
• Have less than 90 total attempted credits

No application is necessary. All students will be screened and awarded if eligible. 

NOTE: SIPI does not participate in any loan programs.

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