NC Forgivable Education Loans for Service 1 November 2013 NCASFAA Cherokee, North Carolina Bill Cox Deputy Director Grants, Training and Outreach North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority

Forgivable Education Loans for Service - Introduction 2011 General Assembly enacted legislation that merged multiple state programs into a single new program – FELS for and beyond 2

FELS – Intent of Program Provides financial assistance in the form of forgivable loans to qualified students who are committed to working in North Carolina in identified critical employment shortage professions Current target employment areas are teaching, nursing, allied health and medicine 3

With the creation of FELS, the following programs ceased funding new students beginning Nurse Educators of Tomorrow Scholarship Loan Nurse Education Scholarship Loan Program Nursing Scholars Program Board of Governors’ Dental Scholarship Loan Board of Governors’ Medical Scholarship Loan Prospective Teachers Scholarship Loan Teacher Assistant Scholarship Fund Health, Science, and Mathematics Student Loan FELS - History

Millennium Teachers Scholarship Loan (Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University and Winston-Salem State University) merged with PTSL on January 1, PTSL then became FELS on July 1, Renewal recipients only after January 1, 2012 New applicants after January 1, 2012 must have applied for the new FELS program FELS - History

FELS – Student Eligibility Requirements A recipient must meet the following eligibility criteria to be considered for FELS: Be a legal North Carolina resident and NC resident for tuition purposes Register with the Selective Service System, if required; Must not be in default, or does not owe a refund, under any federal or State loan or grant program Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress according to policy of the institution. Be willing to work in NC in a designated critical employment profession. Not contingent on Federal Pell or Title IV eligibility 6

FELS – Student Eligibility Requirements Minimum cumulative grade point (GPA) average at the time of application, must be: –3.00 for graduating high school students (weighted GPA) –2.80 for undergraduate students pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree –3.20 for students pursuing a graduate or professional degree –For , certain professional student applicants were not required to provide transcripts and their admission credentials replaced the GPA requirement. Minimum GPA not required for renewal (SAP is required for renewal) Currently offered fall and spring semesters; not available in the summer 7

FELS – How Much? Annual Loan Amounts are as follows: Diploma, Certificate and/or associate degree programs: $3,000 Bachelor's degree program: (freshmen and sophomores) $3,000 Bachelor's degree program: (juniors and seniors) $7,000 Master's degree program: $10,000 Doctoral degree program: $14,000 Maximum Aggregate Loan Limits: Diploma, Certificate and/or associate degree programs: $6,000 Bachelor's degree program: $20,000 Master's degree program: $20,000 Doctoral degree program: $56,000 Total Maximum Aggregate: $56,000 8

FELS – How Much? By credit hour: 12 credits or more - Certificate, Diploma or Associate degree programs: $3, credits or more - Bachelor's degree program: Freshman and Soph: $3, credits or more - Bachelor's degree program: Junior and Senior: $7,000 9 credits or more - Master's degree program: $10,000 9 credits or more - Doctoral degree program: $14, credits - Certificate, Diploma or Associate degree programs: $1, credits - Bachelor's degree program: Freshman and Soph: $1, credits - Bachelor's degree program: Junior and Senior: $3, credits - Master's degree program: $5, credits - Doctoral degree program: $7,000 9

FELS – How Much? Some exceptions: 1. RIBN program (Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses): First three years at CC, last year at a four year school 12 credits or more - Bachelor's degree program: Fresh, Soph and JR: $3, credits - Bachelor's degree program: Fresh, Soph and JR: $1, credits or more - Bachelor's degree program: Senior: $7, credits - Bachelor's degree program: Senior: $3, Undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing: First two years must be at an Approved Institution offering the BSN degree 3. Undergraduate Teaching First two years can be at a community college 10

FELS - Advisory Group General Assembly provided that an advisory group would periodically make recommendations to SEAA regarding identifying critical shortage professions –For , this group included representation from: NC Community Colleges UNC General Administration Council for Allied Health in NC Department of Commerce Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research NC Independent College and Universities Department of Public Instruction 11

FELS – Approved Programs Education Programs (Undergraduate or Master’s) Biology Chemistry Comprehensive Science English as a Second Language Math Middle Grades Physics Special Education 12

FELS – Approved Programs Nursing Programs Nurse Educator (Masters, Doctorate) Nurse Practitioner (Masters, Doctorate) Nursing (ADN, BSN, RN2BN, RIBN) Medical Programs Dentistry (DDS) Medical Doctor (MD) Osteopathy (OD) Podiatry (PD) Psychology (PhD or PsyD) 13

FELS – Approved Programs Allied Health Programs Chiropractic Care (Doctorate) Clinical Laboratory Sciences Cytotechnology Dental Hygiene Emergency Medical Science Emergency Medical Technology Imaging Medical Technology Occupational Therapy & Assistant Optometry (Doctorate) Pharmacy (PharmD) & Technician Physical Therapy (Doctorate) & Assistant Physician Assistant Radiography Radiology & Radiology Technician Social Work (BSW, MSW, DSW) Sonography Speech-Language Pathology 14

Pre-requisite work Undergraduate courses for study in preparation for graduate/professional study (ex. pre-medicine, pre-pharmacy, etc) are not approved education programs for receipt of FELS. 15

FELS – the Commitment to Work Loan recipients must sign a promissory note that will require them to seek loan forgiveness through employment in an approved position or repay in cash with interest Loan recipients must be continuously enrolled in an approved education program Generally, a loan for one academic year will be forgiven for: – one year of full-time employment; or – two years of part-time employment in an approved qualified position Interest will accrue at rate of 8% per year from the date of disbursement The repayment period generally will not exceed ten years and varies depending on the borrower’s degree program and loan amount 16

FELS – Forgiveness Requirements Teaching Complete the Approved Education Program Obtain licensure from NCDPI Teach in a qualified position –Includes employment in a NC public school or charter school, school operated by the State of NC or operated by the federal government in NC Employment as an administrator or as a substitute teacher or employment in a nonpublic school, community college or institution of higher learning is not eligible for forgiveness 17

FELS – Forgiveness Requirements Nursing Complete the Approved Education Program Obtain licensure from NC Board of Nursing Practice nursing at the Approved Education Program funding level Work in a qualified position in North Carolina –Includes employment in health care delivery positions that provide medical services to North Carolina residents Nurse Educators Teach at a public or nonprofit institution approved by the NC Board of Nursing 18

FELS – Forgiveness Requirements Allied Health Complete the Approved Education Program Obtain certification or licensure from applicable licensing agency Work in a qualified position in North Carolina –Includes employment in health care delivery positions that provide medical services to North Carolina residents 19

FELS – Forgiveness Requirements Medicine Complete the Approved Education Program Obtain licensure from NC Medical Board Work in a qualified position in North Carolina –Includes employment in health care delivery positions that provide medical services to North Carolina residents 20

FELS – Approved Institution’s Responsibilities Execute a Participation Agreement Certify that borrowers meet the eligibility criteria (NC Resident for Tuition Purposes, Approved Education program, SAP, etc.) Disburse FELS funds to borrower accounts Refund money within prescribed timeframes Maintain records Reassure current recipients that renewals will be honored based upon the terms of renewal Renewals require successful academic progress (SAP) 21

FELS – Priority Consideration Priority consideration is given to upperclassmen in bachelors degree programs. If more applicants qualify than funding will allow, first- come, first-serve may be a consideration, so it is advisable to apply early 22

FELS – Additional thoughts Please update your publications and websites to remove references to the discontinued programs and to share the FELS information with interested parties Renewals require successful academic progression (SAP), so no renewal decisions before the end of each Spring semester Students will be offered FELS for one Approved Education program (or degree) at a time and will need to re-apply for FELS for any subsequent degree plan 23

FELS – Resources and Contacts The program rules can be found at sourcePage.pdf sourcePage.pdf Edna Williams, Program Manager, SEAA NCSEAA Student Portal (for students): 24

The FELS Application Process Submit the online application as soon as possible, but no later than April 1, 2014 for the academic year. The application can be found at The applicant may also be required to request that an official grade transcript be sent to SEAA. 25

The FELS Application Process For current high school students or high school students who have not attended college: If your public high school participates in the electronic transcript program with CFNC, you may request your transcript to be sent to NCSEAA using the Transcript Manager. If you decide to use the Transcript Manager, make sure you select "NCSEAA" in the "college/university" list.your public high school participatesTranscript Manager If your high school does not participate in the CFNC Transcript Manager, please request that your transcript be ed (preferred) directly from the counseling center to SEAA at or sent via fax to The transcript must include your Fall 2012 grades (for current high school students). 26

The FELS Application Process For current college students (undergraduate, graduate and professional): Please request an official academic transcript from any colleges you have attended. Transcripts may be submitted via (preferred) to via fax to or via mail to the address listed below (NCSEAA’s address). 27

Let’s Apply! Preference for Internet Explorer as the browser. 28

Service or Repayment Student receives with instructions on completing the Notice of Intent to Repay close to the time of graduation NOTR is received by SEAA Repayment Services and the appropriate action is taken. SEAA follows up with schools (academic status reports) to verify graduation dates. Student services off the loan and becomes a valued citizen of North Carolina! 29

Questions? 30