Education

Supplemental Tribal Scholarship Policy

Purpose

The Dot Lake Village Council (DLVC) Higher Education Grant (HE) and Adult Vocational Training (AVT) programs are established to financially assist eligible tribal members who are enrolled to an accredited university or institution and who can demonstrate a financial need.

The funding is supplemental. Before funding from DLVC can be considered, applicants are required to apply for all available state, federal and private financial aid and utilize all available student and family resources.

Application Deadlines

• November 15 (Spring Deadline)
• May 15 (Fall Deadline)

Submission Requirement

It is the student’s responsibility to contact DLVC to ensure his/her file is complete and submitted by the appropriate deadline. DLVC only accepts applications through the dedicated online application.

Checklist of Required Documents

Once per Academic Year:

• Complete the FAFSA. Proof that the student filed for the FAFSA is required once per academic year to be considered for scholarship assistance.

All applications must include:

• Fully completed DLVC Scholarship Application. Incomplete applications will not be considered for an award.
• Enrollment verification. Official proof of enrollment and registration, detailing semester class units/credits, including college/university’s definitions of part-time/full-time status.
• Budget forecast. Provide a need sheet request from the university’s financial aid office.
• Transcripts. University transcript of prior funded term, either official or unofficial. High School transcript is also acceptable for first time applicants.

New applicants must also submit:

• Admission letter. Acceptance letter into a degree or vocational program.
• Student ID card. Picture of the front of student ID card may be submitted after the scholarship deadline but must be on file before a student can apply for funding the second time.
• Copy of diploma/GED or high school transcript.

Academic Requirements

• A 2.5 GPA (grade point average) must be maintained.
• Not meeting a 2.5 GPA will result in Academic Probation.
• Academically disqualified students will not be funded.

Financial Need

DLVC provides funding for unmet financial need for the following costs related to attending an HE or AVT program:

• Tuition
• Fees
• Books

The Council will not issue a scholarship to a student if they have received financial aid that has exceeded the combined total of tuition, fees, and books for that given semester.

Exception: If an applicant has diligently applied for funding from all available sources (state, federal and private financial aid; including student and family resources) and plans to take out student loans to attend an HE or AVT program, the Tribe will consider this applicant eligible for funding.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a higher education grant or AVT funding, an applicant must:

• Be an enrolled tribal member.
• Not have exceeded the cap of $25,00 in scholarship aid from the Tribe within their lifetime.
• As determined by the Council, not be enrolled into a duplicative program; for example, if a student was awarded a BA Degree in 2019 and wants to go back to school for another BA degree in 2023 and wants scholarship assistance from the Tribe again.
• Before funding from DLVC can be considered, applicants are required to apply for all available state, federal and private financial aid; and utilize all available student and family resources. Many Tribal Members enrolled to Dot Lake Village are also shareholders of Doyon, Limited. Those Tribal Members who are also Doyon shareholders must apply for scholarship funding from Doyon before the Tribe will consider a request for funding.

Notifications and Payments of Awards

DLVC staff will notify applicants in writing as to the approval or disapproval of their application. Notifications to applicants will specify the amount of the individual awards, or reason for denial.

• Full Time Students (12+ Credits) will receive $0 – $3,000
• Part Time Students (6-11 Credits) will receive $0 – $1,600
• VOTEC Students will receive $0 – $2,000

Payments will be sent to the financial aid office of the institution that the student will be attending.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will late submissions for a scholarship be considered after the deadline has passed?
A: Late or incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.

Q:Why does the Tribe only fund tuition, fees, and books since there are more costs associated with attending a HE or AVT program?
A: The Tribe has limited funding to provide students with scholarships. Funding from the Tribe is supplemental in nature meaning it is not meant to fund the entire cost of attending a HE or AVT program.

Q: What if I am not eligible for applying for a scholarship from Doyon?
A: The Tribe is a payor of last resort, in short meaning, “the entity that pays after all other programs have been pursued for enrollment and payment.” If a Tribal Member is not eligible for a scholarship from Doyon the Tribe will not hold that against the applicant. The Tribe is only doing its due diligence to ensure that applicants are seeking funding from all sources they are eligible for.