| Financial Aid Documents |
Financial Aid
Billi K. Hornbeck, Student Services Coordinator, Phone
Kateri Montileaux, Financial Aid Officer, Phone
Ellen Hernandez, Financial Aid Assistant, Phone
Fax
MISSION STATEMENT
To help those students who need assistance to further their education. Priority will be given to those
people with the greatest need. Aid is administered in accordance with the applicable laws of the United
States regulations and policies of the Board of Trustees and the Oglala Lakota College, regulations of the
college stated in the Oglala Lakota College catalog and the policies and procedures in this manual.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be completed as soon as possible once it is
available in the Spring. The application may be filed by going to fafsa.ed.gov.
Financial Aid is available at Oglala Lakota College in the form of Grants, Employment, and Scholarships.
Due to the limited amount of funds available through these aid programs, full-time (12 credit hours or more)
students with high need will be given priority.
Classification of Students. Freshman students (up to 30 hours attempted) must maintain a cumulative GPA of
1.50. Thereafter, the student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00. This is consistent with the
graduation requirements at Oglala Lakota College.
Transfer Students. Transfer students will be responsible for maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.00 if their
total applied and Oglala Lakota College credits equal more than 30 semester hours. They will be responsible
for a GPA of 1.50, if the total applied credits equal less than 30 hours. An academic transcript must be on
file in the Registrar's Office before a student receives any Federal Student Aid.
Credit Hours Maximums. The maximum amount of hours for financial aid will be 192 hours attempted for
Bachelor degrees. This will allow for curriculum changes, repeats, and enrichment course work that may be
required for the field of study. The student will receive an update, as to the amount of financial aid left,
with the satisfactory progress letter at the end of each semester.
GRANTS
Pell Grant Entitlement Program (formerly called Basic Grant). Students must have filed the Free Application
for Student Aid (FAFSA) on file. This is a federal program that offers assistance to any eligible student
who needs it to attend a post secondary educational institution. The value of the award may vary from
$400.00 to $4,050.00, depending on the amount of assistance reasonably available from the family. This award
helps eligible students work toward an undergraduate degree. Once a student has earned a first Bachelors
Degree, they are no longer eligible to receive PELL.
OST Higher Education Grant (formerly BIA). Presently administered by the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Students must
file the OST Higher Education Grants application. Students must also have a Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA), Pell Grant Application, on file before a needs analysis can be completed and submitted
to Higher Education.
FSEOG. The Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant Program provides grants to undergraduate students who
demonstrate a financial need. The average award average award to a student is $800.00 a year.
Federal Work Study. Students employed under the Federal Work Study (FWS) Program can work amaximum of twenty
hours a week, depending on the amount of the award. Students will be compensated at an hourly rate of $6.00
per hour. The average award is $1,200.00 per student per semester, but varies based on need.
Eligibility of Student:
A. Preference to students with greatest aid eligibility, who have indicated on their FAFSA that they are
interested in work.
B. At least half time students (except during the summer session).
C. U.S. Citizen, permanent resident, or in the United States for other than a temporary purpose.
D. Not in Default/or owe a refund to any Title IV programs.
E. At least one work-study student will be hired in each district college center.
F. Assignment of FWS to district centers is contingent on satisfactory compliance by the center in
developing job descriptions, recruitment, supervision and evaluation.
SCHOLARSHIP
The Student Services Committee reviews and approves the institutional scholarship at OLC. All scholarship
applications must be completed and turned in by the second week of classes. Only complete applications will
be considered for selection. You must fill out the application, write an essay, attach a photo and have a
completed Pell on file to be considered complete. (An original photograph. No copies, no photo I.D.'s.)
All students must apply for the PELL grant to be considered for any scholarship even if the student is not
eligible for PELL. See the Counselors for applications or more information.
Richtmyer Scholarship: In 1980, Dr. Robert Richtmyer presented Oglala Lakota College with a gift in memory
of his late wife, Jane. Scholarship amounts vary depending on the amount of interest earned from the
Richtmyer Endowment fund during the year. Students must present evidence of creative ability in Native
American arts and crafts. The total amount of the award will not exceed $500.00 per student per semester.
Crazy Horse Book Scholarship: This scholarship is available to cover the cost of books only. Students must
be of Lakota ancestry, must be in good standing academically, demonstrates a need and must submit a letter
stating their educational goals.
Wilms Scholarship: Established for the purpose of financially assisting "young Indian males" to achieve a
college education. One male will be selected from each high school on the Pine Ridge Reservation. This
award is also based on the interest accrued from the Wilms Scholarship Endowment fund per academic year.
The categories will be in the area of humanities, arts and athletics. Criteria to be considered will be:
academics, school and community activities, leadership, potential for completing college and financial need.
$500.00 will be awarded per student, in good standings, per semester.
McApline Scholarship: This scholarship is open to Indians and non-Indians. The applicant must be an
incoming freshman student; enrolled full-time; and an essay of her/his dream, vision, or something that
pertains to achieving her/his goals.
Fund Exchange Scholarship: Applicants must be an enrolled member of a Federally-recognized tribe, must be
a potential graduate for the current academic year, have an unmet need for financial assistance, be enrolled
in a least 6 credit hours, have demonstrated academic achievement and have a cumulative semester GPA of 2.0
or better.
Edith Kooyumjian: Applicant must be an O.S.T. member, enrolled in at least 6 hours, 23 years of age or
older, an undergraduate student, a need to support a family, and a financial need.
Activities: Must be involved in community or student activities, enrolled in at least 6 credits hours, an
unmet financial need, a letter of recommendation, a completed application and a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or
better.
Lawlor: This scholarship is for students with a Lakota Studies Major, full-time enrollment, an Oglala Sioux
Tribal member and an unmet financial need.
Johnson Foundation Entrepreneur: Students must be majoring in small business management or submit goals for
starting a small business.
Davis: This is for students with a Voc-Ed major, enrolled member of a Federally recognized tribe and a
full-time student.
Long Wolf Memorial: This for two undergraduate students who have demonstrated potential and sincere desire
to perform college level academic work. Must be a member of federally recognized tribe, at least part time
enrollment, and demonstrate financial need.
American Indian College Fund: This is not a single scholarship, but is a number of scholarships we receive
from the AICF with their own criteria and change every semester. Selections are to be decided by the
Scholarship Committee.
NOTE: Students may only receive one scholarship per semester.
FINANCIAL AID REQUIREMENTS
All students must be aware of the following when applying for financial aid:
A. The student must apply for all financial aid in a timely manner to determine if he/she will receive
Financial Aid to help pay for his/her educational costs. The general rule is if you plan to attend
OLC, your financial aid application should be completed the semester prior to registering for
classes.
B. Selected students must verify the information reported on the FAFSA. If a tax return was filed, a
copy of your tax forms and verification worksheet must be in the students file in the Financial Aid
Office.
C. Students must not be in default on a federal student loan or owe any type of federal student aid
repayment.
D. All applications should include Oglala Lakota College school code, which is 014659.
Students who need financial aid, are urged to contact the local District College center staff or the
Financial Aid Office for general information. All Federal Financial aid funding regulations state that a
student receiving Federal Financial Aid must maintain satisfactory progress.
SATISFACTORY PROGRESS RULE
A. Full Time Student (12 credits or more)
1. The full time student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 8 semester credit hours.
2. The full time student must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average of: Freshman - 1.50;
Sophomore, Junior, Senior - 2.0.
B. Three Quarter Time Student
1. The three quarter time student (9-11 semester credit hours) must satisfactorily complete a
minimum of 6 semester credit hours.
2. The three quarter time student must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average of:
Freshman - 1.50; Sophomore, Junior, Senior - 2.0.
C. Half Time Students
1. The half time student (6-8 semester credit hours) must satisfactorily complete a minimum
of 4 semester credit hours.
2. The half time student must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average of: Freshman -1.50;
Sophomore, Junior, Senior - 2.0.
D. Less then Half Time Students
1. The less then half time student (1-5 semester credit hours) must satisfactorily complete 100%
of the hours enrolled.
2. The less then half time student must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average of:
Freshman - 1.50; Sophomore, Junior, Senior - 2.0.
**Students who have a attempted less than 30 credit hours need to maintain a cumulative GPA of 1.50.
E. Review
1. Following each semester the Grade Point Average and number of credits for each Financial Aid
recipient will be entered into his/her official student Financial Aid record.
2. The following are considered credit hours satisfactorily completed.
a. A,B,C,D.
3. The following will not be considered as credit hours completed:
a. M, not mastered c. F, failing
b. W, withdrawal d. I, incomplete.
Courses that are repeated are considered hours attempted. In accordance with Title IV
regulations, test out courses will not be paid by PELL.
F. Financial Aid Probation
If a Financial Aid recipient fails to meet the Satisfactory Progress Rule in a particular semester,
the recipient will be placed on Financial Aid Probation during the succeeding semester of enrollment.
Students are still eligible to receive Financial Aid during the probationary period, but they must
satisfactorily complete the number of hours required with a cumulative Grade Point Average of:1.50
for Freshman and 2.0 for Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors.
G. Financial Aid Suspension
If a Financial Aid recipient fails to comply with requirements of the probationary period, they are
placed on Financial Aid Suspension.
H. Appeal of Financial Aid Suspension
1. A student may appeal suspension by indicating in writing to the Financial Aid Office by mid-term
of the semester during which the student is on suspension.
a. Reasons why he/she did not achieve minimum academic requirements.
b. Reasons why his/her Financial Aid should not be terminated.
2. An appeal Committee will review the appeal and determine whether the Financial Aid suspension
is justified. The student will be advised in writing of the decision of his/her appeal no later
than five days after receipt of such appeal.
3. A student wishing to appeal the decision of the Appeal Committee may do so in writing to the
Student Service Committee. The student must state exactly what he/she disagrees with and furnish
additional pertinent data.
4. The Student Service Committee will consider any proper appeal it receives at the next regularly
scheduled meeting and indicate in writing it's decision to the student by the end of the
semester during which the student is on suspension.
