Native American Indian Waiver and Scholarship Program

• Individuals whose names are included on the current tribal census or who have at least one parent or grandparent who are included on the current tribal census of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet, the Aroostook Band of Micmac, or
• Individuals who have lived in Maine for at least twelve months immediately prior to application and at least one of whose parents or grandparents were either included on the census of a state, federal, or provincial North American Indian Tribe or held a band number of the Maliseet or Micmac Tribes.

To maintain participation in the program students must continue to show satisfactory academic progress as defined by institutional policy and/or federal guidelines. Students who change institutional affiliation must      re-apply for the Scholarship and Waiver Program and re-submit their evidence of eligibility to the Native American Scholarship Coordinator on their new campus.   Additionally, students must apply for financial aid by October 15 to receive the scholarship for the fall semester and/or academic year or March 1 to receive the scholarship for spring semester.

Students must notify the Wabanaki Center, 5724 Dunn Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME  04469-5724 or by phone at 207-581-1417 of their intentions of either transferring to, or participating in a course on, a UMS campus where they are not currently enrolled.  Students must also contact the coordinator of the campus they will be attending to sign a new agreement letter.  Students must also contact the appropriate offices to transfer their financial aid package.

Tuition and Mandatory Fees Waiver

Tuition and mandatory fees (required fees charged of all students enrolled at the institution and automatically assessed at the time of registration exclusive of travel and accommodation fees related to travel courses) will be waived for qualified students, both matriculated and non-matriculated, who are enrolled in academic, credit-bearing courses at the undergraduate, graduate, or continuing education level at the universities of the University of Maine System.

Room and Board Scholarship

1. To qualify for the room and board scholarship, applicants must be matriculated students in an undergraduate or graduate degree program within the University of Maine system, enrolled in a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours for undergraduate or nine (9) credit hours for graduate students at USM, or six (6) credit hours for students at UM, and living in a residence hall on one of the campuses of a University of Maine System institution.  Room and board charges will be covered ONLY during the time period when the student is actively enrolled.
2. To be eligible for the Native American Scholarship, matriculated students must first apply for financial aid through the process outlined at their institution.
3. An eligible Native American student's university bill will be credited with room and board scholarship or waiver of tuition and mandatory fees after initial authorization from the campus staff member serving as a coordinator of the Native American Indian Waiver and Scholarship Program, and the financial aid office.
4. The total amount a student receives from the Native American Indian Waiver and Scholarship Program and from all other sources of financial support from outside agencies for the same purpose may not exceed the total cost of attendance.
5. Students enrolled in course work during short sessions outside the regular fall and spring semesters may be considered for a room and board scholarship while carrying fewer than the minimum credit hours specified above.  If granted, the scholarship will cover room and board charges only during that time period when the student is regularly enrolled and attending classes regularly.
6. Standard meal plan not to exceed the cost of the maximum meal plan.
7. Room charges will be subsidized at the double occupancy rate for the student's residence.  Charges for a single, double single, or computer or telephone devices, for which there is a separate charge, will be the responsibility of the student tenant.
8. Students who maintain a permanent private residence, other than a parent's home, within commuting distance of the university are NOT eligible for room and board scholarships.
9. Persons employed by the University of Maine System on a half-time or greater basis and who are carried on the University employee payroll are NOT eligible for the room and board scholarship.
10. A student who disagrees with a decision made under these program guidelines and/or the additional provisions below on his/her behalf may appeal through the appropriate campus appeals process.