frequently asked questions
Q: What constitutes a full-time student?
A: Generally, a minimum of (12) credit hours per semester constitutes a full-time academic workload during the traditional nine-month academic year. During summer sessions, (6) credit hours are considered full-time. Graduate programs require a minimum of (9) credit hours to be considered full-time.
Q: Are summer semester classes eligible for scholarship funds?
A: If the student is attending summer school on a full-time basis, he/she is eligible for scholarship funds as long as he/she has not reached the designated lifetime scholarship cap. Since summer sessions are condensed, 6 credit hours constitutes full-time.
Q: Is there an age limit for applicant eligibility?
A: No. There is no age limit for applicants.
Q: Are students eligible for scholarship funds when they are attending a program which will be completed in less than one academic year?
A: Generally, scholarship funds have been awarded only for academic programs lasting no less than one academic year, (i.e. 9 months). Programs of shorter duration, such as diesel mechanic training or other craft training programs will be considered on an individual basis.
Q: For training/academic programs lasting less than one year, how will Scholarship funds be allocated?
A: Funding for training/academic programs lasting less than one academic year, (9 months), will be funded at the cost of the program or at the funding allowed for two academic semesters, ($5,000), whichever is less. All funding for programs lasting less than one academic year, (9 months), will be subject to the Program Administrator’s determination of eligibility.
Q: If both parents work for MMA-NW, can a student submit two applications for scholarship funds?
A: No. Only one application can be submitted since there is a $2,500 per semester or $1,650 quarter limit, and a $20,000 lifetime limit per student.
Q: Are students eligible to receive a grant if their parent/spouse is a retiree?
A: No. The student is only eligible to receive funds if the parent/spouse is an employee at the time the application is received. Once the employee is retired, the student is no longer eligible to receive funds.
Q: What if a student’s cumulative GPA falls below the required minimum?
A: If the minimum GPA requirement is not met, the student will be ineligible for the scholarship until the cumulative GPA threshold is satisfied.
Q: Can a student take a semester/quarter or a year off and still qualify for the Scholarship?
A: As long as (1), the employee who is the parent/spouse of the student continues to work full-time for MMA-NW; (2) the disbursements attributed to the student are below the lifetime maximum; and (3), the student satisfies the minimum requirements; the student continues to be eligible.
Q: Are grandchildren eligible for the scholarship?
A: Unless a grandchild is under legal guardianship or conservatorship, or another court order that creates a parent/child relationship between the grandparent and the grandchild, a grandchild is not eligible under the scholarship guidelines.
Q: Are students eligible to receive the scholarship if, because of scholarships or other financial assistance, they have all their tuition and book costs paid?
A: Yes. Even though the student does not have tuition or book costs, they still may have living expenses associated with being in school that qualify as educational costs. In this case scholarship proceeds are still sent to the school, and if necessary, the school will reimburse the student or apply to the following semester/quarter.
Q: Can an employee request early disbursement of scholarship funds prior to formal registration enrollment?
A: No. Funds will only be disbursed after the Program Administrator has received verification from the registrar that the student is enrolled full-time AND the period for drop/add has expired.
Q: Are online courses eligible for the scholarship program?
A: Online courses must be offered on a quarter/semester basis, (which covers the largest majority of higher education institutions offering online course work). Online institutions must be able to provide enrollment and GPA status. Online institutions must require enrollees to actually take classes rather than simply “test out”. Scholarship reimbursement for regular online courses will be made just as non-online courses currently are reimbursed; e.g. the online college provides the Program Administrator with formal enrollment and GPA status to prove the student meets the scholarship eligibility requirements. Scholarship reimbursement for accelerated course work (i.e. 12 credits condensed into a six-week period), will be disbursed once in the fall, ($2,500) and once in the spring, ($2,500), just as non-online course work is reimbursed, no matter how many accelerated online or other academic credits the student earns during the standard academic year. In situations where a student is physically attending a college or university AND the student is taking online courses from another school to reach the 12 credit minimum, the student will receive the standard scholarship reimbursement, but only one check will be issued to the school in which the student is receiving the majority of their credits. All instances that fall outside of the protocol contained herein will be at the discretion of the Program Administrator.
Q: Are applicants ineligible to receive scholarship funding if they submit their application AFTER the application window?
A: Yes. In order to function efficiently, applications must be received by the Program Administrator within the application periods defined on the Deadlines page of this website.