FEDERAL AGENCY:

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Snyder Act of 1921 Public Law 67-85, 25 U.S.C. 13.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide financial aid to eligible Indian students to enable them to obtain advanced degrees.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Grant funds may be used to defray the costs of obtaining a graduate degree.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Individual applicants must be Indian students who are members of Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, who have been admitted to a graduate program and have unmet financial need.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Members of Federally Recognized Indian Tribes who are a member of or are at least one-fourth degree Indian blood descendant of a member of an Indian tribe which is eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States through the Bureau of Indian Affairs to Indians because of their status as Indians.

Credentials/Documentation:   Individual applicants must have proof of membership or one-fourth degree of Indian blood or descendant of a member of a Federally Recognized Indian Tribe.

Pre-application Coordination:   Applicants should contact the American Indian Graduate Center which administers the program on behalf of the Bureau. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Application forms may be obtained from the local BIA agency or area education office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Award Procedure:   The applicant will be notified of the amount of the award by the financial aid office of the admitting university.

Deadlines:   None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   20 to 30 days from the receipt of the application by the American Indian Graduate Center.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   Individuals must reapply annually.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Awards made are not to exceed one academic year.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Successful applicants are required to show proof of satisfactory performance.

Audits:   None.

Records:   None.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   14-2100-0-1-501.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $1,328,000; FY 02 est $1,328,000; and FY 03 $1,328,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
Range is $250 to $4,000; Average $3,947.

Annually approximately 325 Indian students receive support to help finance graduate studies. Law and health professions are the most often selected areas of concentration.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

25 CFR, Part 40.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   See Regional Agency Offices. Ms.Juanita Mendoza, Bureau of Indian Education, MS 4657-MIB, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20240 Email: juanita.mendoza@bie.edu Phone: (202) 208-3559.

Headquarters Office:   Director, American Indian Graduate Center, 4520 Montgomery Boulevard, Suite 1-B, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109 Phone: (505) 881-4584.

Web Site Address:  
http://www.bia.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

None.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

None.