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The New Mexico Military Institute provides an extensive program of cadet financial assistance. The program has two distinctive areas. One area involves the various federal student aid programs and requires proven financial need. These programs are limited to college students. The second area of assistance involves institutional scholarships available to both high school and college cadets. Current or prospective cadets with a genuine financial need may request special consideration by contacting the Director of Financial Aid, New Mexico Military Institute.
Federal and State Programs
Current laws on student aid programs, which are funded by the federal government and the State of New Mexico, limit such aid to college students. The programs are available to those students who provide evidence of need for this assistance in order to attend college. A family need analysis is part of the application process. Approximately 45% of the college cadets at New Mexico Military Institute receive assistance from these programs. The application priority date is May 1; assistance is awarded after this date depending on availability of funds. More information is available from FAFSA.
NMMI participates in the following Federal Aid Programs which require completion of the FAFSA:
- Federal Pell Grant Program: The largest federal need-based student aid program providing grant assistance ranging from $740 to $7,395 to undergraduate students who are enrolled in a degree or certificate program and have not received their first bachelor’s degree. Eligibility is based on demonstrated financial need, cost of education, and enrollment status. The amount of the student’s award is determined using the Federal Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), Student Aid Index (SAI) and the Payment Schedule provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG): Provides grant assistance to students with exceptional financial need. In awarding Supplemental Grants, priority is given to Pell Grant recipients with the highest demonstrated financial need. NMMI limits awards through this program to a maximum of $4,000 per year.
- Federal Work-Study Program (FWS): Provides an opportunity for on-campus employment to students with demonstrated financial need. Various academic and administrative departments employ college work-study students in clerical, operational, and other office support functions. Working hours are generally limited to 4 to 6 hours per week. Students are paid at or above the current minimum wage.
- Federal Stafford Loan Program (Subsidized): This is a school-initiated process - you must contact the NMMI Financial Aid Office.
Allows students who demonstrate federal financial need to borrow up to $3,500 for the first year of undergraduate study, and $4,500 for the second year. Two thousand ($2000.00) in additional loan funds could be approved. The interest rate is fixed. Interest does not accrue nor does repayment begin on subsidized Stafford Loans until termination of college enrollment on at least a half-time basis. Interest accrued during in-school and the grace period is paid by the federal government. The standard repayment period is up to ten years. Subsidized loans carry a federal origination fee. Net proceeds could equal approximately 98.5% of the loan amount. New borrowers must complete a master promissory note and complete an on-line Entrance Counseling Session to borrow funds through this program.
- Federal Stafford Loan Program (Unsubsidized): This is a school-initiated process - you must contact the NMMI Financial Aid Office
Allows all students regardless of federal financial need to borrow up to $3,500 for the first year of undergraduate study, and $4,500 for the second year. This loan option requires approval of the Financial Aid Director. New borrowers must complete a master promissory note and complete an on-line Entrance Counseling Session to borrow funds through this program. The interest rate and origination fee are significantly higher than the subsidized loan program; however, interest accrual begins immediately during in-school and deferment periods. Interest accruing during these periods may be paid or capitalized. Dependent students may borrow up to an additional $4,000 through this program but only if the student’s parent is denied eligibility to borrow funds through the Federal PLUS Loan Program.
- Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS): This program allows parents of undergraduate students who do not have an adverse credit history to borrow up to the full cost of attendance minus other financial aid. The interest rate is fixed. Interest accrual begins on the date of the first loan disbursement. The first payment is due within 60 days after the final loan disbursement. This loan may be deferrable. Plus Loans carry a federal origination fee. Parents must complete a PLUS loan application and master promissory note to borrow through this program.
State Aid Programs (for further information on state financial aid call NM HED at 1-800-279-9777)
- New Mexico Student Incentive Grant: This program provides a limited number of grants ranging from $200-$2500 for especially needy college students who are residents of the State of New Mexico.
- New Mexico Lottery Success Scholarship: This tuition scholarship is available to New Mexico resident students who graduate from a New Mexico high school program, enroll full time in college and establish and maintain a 2.50 cumulative GPA or above with at least 12 credits earned.
- New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship: Implemented by the State of New Mexico beginning Fall 2020. Scholarship provides tuition and fee assistance for students enrolled in 2-year programs, including credit-bearing certificate or associate degree programs in public institutions of higher education or Tribal Colleges in New Mexico. Eligible students must be:
- 18 years of age or older (or eligible to receive the NM Lottery Scholarship) at the time of enrollment
- Be a resident of New Mexico
- Enroll full-time (at least 12 credit hours) in a credit-bearing 2-year program
- Maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA)
Scholarships
The scholarship program at New Mexico Military Institute is the result of endowments made by individuals and organizations interested in NMMI and its cadets. Scholarships vary from those whose criteria are very specific to those that are quite liberally expressed. Many are strictly competitive on academic performance while others are awarded on the basis of need. Both high school and college cadets are eligible to compete for scholarship assistance. Consideration is automatic based on receipt of NMMI Formal Application. (Refer to ROTC Scholarship section in this catalog for information regarding the US Army ROTC Scholarships.)
The General Richard T. Knowles Legislative Scholarship Program
The program allows each of New Mexico’s 112 legislators to nominate a cadet from their legislative district for scholarship consideration. In addition, non-selected applicants may be eligible to receive an award outside of district. The award can be applied toward NMMI charges for up to six total years. Renewal of the scholarship requires the cadet to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward graduation and acceptable performance in the Corps of Cadets. Information on the prestigious General Richard T. Knowles Legislative Scholarship Program may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
The NMMI Financial Aid Office is required by Federal regulation to determine whether a cadet is enrolled in a degree-seeking program and is meeting satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements. All classes a cadet enrolls in must be required for their declared degree. The cadet’s entire academic records are considered in determining eligibility for financial aid whether or not they have previously received aid. The Financial Aid Office reviews academic progress after each semester. For purposes of Title IV consideration, a cadet at NMMI is considered to be making satisfactory progress when (1) the number of credits earned, divided by the number FTE semesters in attendance at any accredited institution of post-secondary education is equal to 12 or more; and (2) maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 each semester of attendance at NMMI; and (3) the maximum number of semesters permitted for completion of the course work for an Associate Degree is 6 semester of full-time enrollment. The computation for this phase of satisfactory progress will be accomplished at the end of the academic year. Computation of the credits earned and the cumulative GPA will be accomplished at the end of each semester, but before the beginning of the succeeding semester.
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STANDARD*
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MINIMUM REQUIREMENT
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Qualitative Standard
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Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 each semester of attendance at NMMI.
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Quantitative Standard
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The number of credits earned, divided by the number FTE semesters in attendance at any accredited institution of post-secondary education is equal to 12 or more.
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Maximum Time Frame
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The maximum number of semesters permitted for completion of the course work for an Associate Degree is 6 semester of full-time enrollment. The computation for this phase of satisfactory progress will be accomplished at the end of the academic year.
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| * Failure to maintain these standards may result in loss of financial eligibility |
SAP NOTIFICATIONS
A cadet will be notified by mail and/or their NMMI email account at the end of each term regarding SAP status for the next semester of attendance. DENY notifications are sent via certified, return-receipt mail. Official letters are also mailed and/or emailed to a cadet to notify them of Financial Aid Appeal results.
SAP notifications are based on available information at the time the process is run. This information is subject to change or correction. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the cadet who has been notified of a SAP status to document and report to the NMMI Financial Aid Office any corrections to information (such as grade changes, etc.) used to determine SAP status. Any aid released to a cadet who is subsequently determined to be ineligible for financial aid under the rules of SAP will be returned and the cadet will be responsible for any balance on their account.
FINANCIAL AID APPEALS (SAP Appeals)
A cadet who is DENY for failing to meet Satisfactory SAP may regain eligibility by successfully appealing to the Financial Aid Committee if he/she had an extenuating circumstance that prevented him/her from successfully meeting SAP standards.
An extenuating/special circumstance must exist and be supported by additional documentation in order to file an appeal to regain financial aid eligibility. A special circumstance may include injury, illness, the death of a relative, or other special circumstance during the term the aid was received. Circumstances do not include a lack of dedication to their studies, not understanding the impact of withdrawals, etc.
All submitted documentation for a Financial Aid Appeal is confidential and only used to verify and support a cadet’s appeal.
A cadet may be approved for reinstatement on a probationary status of no more than one term to resolve all deficiencies. A cadet who appeals, but for whom it would be mathematically impossible to resolve all deficiencies in one term, will be placed on an academic plan. Appeals must provide documentation of circumstances on which the appeal is based. Appeals must also specify why the cadet failed to satisfy SAP requirements and what has changed in the cadet’s situation. An academic plan will be required to insure counseling and direction.
PROB (Probation) A cadet who successfully appeals may be placed on financial aid probation. Cadets on probation will be eligible to receive financial aid during that period. Reinstatement of aid during this probationary period may be no longer than one term and SAP will be evaluated at the end of the probation term. During the probation term, a cadet must complete 100% of all attempted credit hours with a term and cumulative GPA of 2.0 and satisfactory completion rate. Failure to do so will result in cadet being placed DENY with no appeal.
PLAN (Academic Plan) Cadets may be placed on an academic plan upon submission of a successful appeal. If it is mathematically impossible for a cadet to resolve all deficiencies during one term of attendance and the cadet’s reason for appeal is appropriate according to Federal regulations, the cadet may be placed on an academic plan with the end goal being to resolve all deficiencies. An academic plan varies in length and will be determined after the appeal is approved and will not be the same for all cadets. It does not have to equate to the exact number of terms it would take a cadet to resolve all deficiencies. Cadets granted aid eligibility through an academic plan may receive aid for the term. If the cadet is meeting the criteria identified in the SAP appeal approval at the end of the term, the cadet’s academic plan may be extended. If cadets fail to meet the terms on the plan, the cadets will be DENY with no appeal.
TRANSFER STUDENTS - The assessment of a cadet’s academic progress will be based on the cadet’s entire academic record to include all hours from other institutions, whether or not financial aid was received. Transfer students entering NMMI must be enrolled in a program of study which leads to a degree or certificate.
A student’s file will not be reviewed until it is complete and all academic transcripts are received.
WITHDRAWING FROM CLASSES – Cadets who enroll in classes are responsible for officially withdrawing from classes which they are not attending or planning to attend. Cadets that stop attending classes and do not officially withdraw will receive a failing grade. In these cases, cadets that received Title IV funds may owe all or a portion of the money received back to the school and/or the Federal Government.
NOT ATTENDING CLASSES - The law makes clear that Title IV funds are awarded to a cadet under the assumption that the cadet will attend school for the entire period for which the funds are awarded. If a cadet never attends at least one class then the cadet is not eligible for Title IV funds.
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NMMI Federal Refund Policies
Return of Title IV Financial Aid / Official and Unofficial Withdrawals
Title IV funds are awarded to a cadet under the assumption that the cadet will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a cadet withdraws (officially or unofficially) the cadet may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds that the cadet was originally scheduled to receive.
NMMI is a military boarding school. Class attendance is mandatory and monitored daily. Should a cadet leave the NMMI campus with the intention of not returning the Registrar and/or Commandant’s Office would be alerted by monitoring staff.
Official withdrawal – Cadet begins the official withdrawal process or provides official notification to the school of his or her intent to withdraw, the date of the institution’s determination that the cadet withdrew would be the date the cadet began the official withdrawal process, or the date of the cadet’s notification, whichever is later.
Unofficial withdrawal – Cadet ceased attending classes and did not begin the official withdrawal process or provide notification of his or her intent to withdraw or leave the school, the date of the institution’s determination that the cadet withdrew would be the date that school becomes aware that the cadet ceased attendance.
The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 changed the formula for calculating the amount of aid a cadet and school can retain when the cadet totally withdraws from all classes. If a cadet withdraws from NMMI, the school, the cadet, or both may be required to return some or all of the federal funds awarded to the cadet for that semester.
If a recipient of Title IV grant or loan funds withdraws from a school after beginning attendance, the amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance earned by the cadet must be determined. If the amount disbursed to the cadet is greater than the amount the cadet earned, unearned funds must be returned. If the amount disbursed to the cadet is less than the amount the cadet earned, and for which the cadet is otherwise eligible, he or she is eligible to receive a Post-withdrawal disbursement of the earned aid that was not received.
Please note that if the cadet never actually began attendance for the payment period or period of enrollment, the cadet is not eligible for Title IV funds, and adjustments to awards must be made.
This policy applies to all Title IV federal aid recipients with disbursed aid from any of the following Federal programs: Federal Direct Stafford Loans (unsubsidized and subsidized), Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Graduate and Parent), Federal Pell Grant, Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), Federal National SMART Grant (SMART), and Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and TEACH Grant.
A cadet who withdraws from all classes prior to completing 60% of the enrollment term is subject to having their aid adjusted based on the percentage of the term completed. Up through the 60% payment period or period of enrollment, a prorated schedule is used to determine the amount of Title IV funds the cadet has earned at the time of withdrawal. After the 60% point the payment period or period of enrollment, a cadet has earned 100% of the Title IV funds he or she was scheduled to receive during the period.
The formula used in the federal Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation divides the aid disbursed to cadet accounts into “earned aid” and “unearned aid.” During the first 60% of the period of enrollment (semester), cadets “earn” Title IV funds in direct proportion to the length of time the cadet remains enrolled. “Unearned” aid is the amount of disbursed Title IV aid that exceeds the amount of aid earned under the formula. Cadets contemplating withdrawal from all classes PRIOR to completing 60% of the term should contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss how this will affect their financial aid and satisfactory academic progress status.
(For example, a cadet who withdraws from all classes after completing only 30% of term only earns 30% of aid disbursed or received on their account. As a result, the school or cadet must return the 70% of the disbursed/received aid that was not earned.)
Example of how Return of Title IV is calculated: The percentage of the period a cadet remains enrolled is derived by dividing the number of days attended by the number of calendar days in a term/semester (excluding breaks of 5 consecutive days or more). This is referred to as the percentage completed (% completed).
EARNED aid is calculated as follows: Total aid disbursable multiplied by % completed
If EARNED aid equals disbursed aid, no action is required.
If EARNED aid exceeds disbursed aid and the cadet still has aid that has not disbursed, the university must calculate a post-withdrawal disbursement. The cadet is notified by letter, email, or phone regarding the aid to be disbursed to the cadet account and to verify whether or not the cadet wants funds disbursed for the term. The cadet will be given 14 days from the offer to respond to the inquiry. The Financial Aid Office has up to 180 days to disburse funds after the withdrawal date has been determined. (This is for post withdrawal disbursements) If EARNED aid is less than disbursed aid, the school must calculate the difference to be returned by the school and by the cadet.
The calculation is as follows: [A]UNEARNED aid: Total aid disbursable minus EARNED aid [B]Percentage of UNEARNED aid (% UNEARNED): 100 minus % completed
The school’s share of the “unearned” aid is the lesser of the total amount of “UNEARNED aid” [A] or the school charges multiplied by the “Percentage of UNEARNED aid” [B]. This amount must be returned by the school.
The cadet’s share is the difference between the total unearned amount and the school’s share. UNEARNED aid minus school’s share equals cadet’s share. This amount must be returned by the cadet.
The Financial Aid Office must complete the R2T4 withdrawal calculation within 45 days from the date the University determines the cadet withdrew. Cadets are responsible for any balance on their cadet accounts due to official or unofficial withdrawal calculations.
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