Repayment Plans and Grievances
Scholarship Guidelines require that students demonstrate successful completion of all schooling paid for by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe. In the event that things do not go as planned, review the Repayment Plan and Grievance policies for assistance.
Repayment Plans
Should you be unable to demonstrate completion of a grade level, course or program, you will be issued a Repayment Plan. Click on the topics below to learn more about what to expect.
What is the Awards Condition & Repayment Agreement?
This is a document that you sign as part of the Scholarship Program application process it. Once you submit your application and it is reviewed and approved by the MPTN Education Scholarship Team, you will receive notification via email prompting you to sign the ACRA. You’ll log back into your Scholarship Portal and agree to the terms of the Scholarship Guidelines. By signing, you are committing to upholding your responsibility to demonstrate successful proof of completion of your academic program.
How Do I Show Proof of Completion?
You will need to submit your final grades/certificate/diploma within 14 days of the end of your term. The MPTN Education Scholarship Team will review your submission to ensure you have passed all courses and successfully completed your term, school year or degree/program.
Where Do I Submit My Proof of Completion?
Submit all documents through the MPTN Scholarship Portal. For questions on where to do this within the portal, reach out to [email protected].
What Happens If I Don’t Successfully Complete My Program?
Failure to complete all or part of your coursework will result in a Repayment Plan. If repayment is required, a letter will be sent to you listing the amount owed, the timeframe for repayment and when the repayment will begin. This letter is a courtesy notification, and failure to read or respond to it will not delay the repayment schedule. Signing up for the Scholarship Program and completing the ACRA during the application process automatically makes you eligible for a Repayment Plan, should one be required.
What Are My Options For Repayment?
When you sign your ACRA, you will be able to determine if you’d like to mail in monthly checks, withdraw funds from your paycheck if you are an MPTN or MPGE Team Member, or withdraw funds from the MPTN Financial Support Program (FSP). If you elect to pay via check or payroll and you fail to submit timely checks to the Department or stop working for MPTN/MPGE, your Repayment Plan will default to FSP.
Who Is Responsible for Repayment Plans For Minors?
Minors under the age of 18 are not financially responsible for their educations. If a student in the Early Childhood or K-12 program does not demonstrate proof of completion of a school year, the parent/guardian who signed the ACRA will be held financially accountable for the Repayment Plan. Parents/guardians will remain responsible for these Repayment Plans issued to minors, even once the student in question turns 18. If the responsible parent/guardian is non-Tribal and fails to submit checks and does not work for the Tribe, the repayment will be sent to collections.
What Do I Do If I Cannot Complete My Coursework and Need Assistance?
Communicate with the MPTN Education Department as soon as possible. The better you work with this team, the easier it will be to navigate this challenging situation. Please note that failure to complete courses includes, but is not limited to: withdrawal for medical reasons; withdrawal, discharge or expulsion for disciplinary reasons; and academic failure. We recognize that everyone has extenuating circumstances, so contacting us will enable us to proactively support you through the process and attempt to negotiate with your school.
How Is the Amount of Repayment determined?
Please consult Section 10 in the Scholarship Guidelines to read about this process.
Requests for Reconsideration & Grievances
Parents/guardians and students may appeal any decision made by the Education Department in administering the Scholarship Program to the Education Committee. This can be done using the process outlined below. For more information, please consult the Scholarship Guidelines.
Meet with the Education Department
Parents/guardians/students should meet with the appropriate Education Department Team Member to discuss their concerns. Click the button below to email the Department to get the process started.
Complete a Request for Reconsideration Form
When meeting with the Education Department Team Member, you’ll complete a form outlining your concerns and proposed solutions. This form will be sent to the Director of Education for Review.
Meet with the Education Director
Should the Education Director have any questions about your Request for Reconsideration, they will contact you to discuss.
Escalation to the Tribal Manager’s Office
If the Director of Education cannot resolve your issue because policy does not allow for an exception, they will meet with the Tribal Manager for additional input. Following this meeting, the Education Director will inform you of the status of your Request for Reconsideration. If your concern cannot be resolved without violating the Scholarship Guidelines, the Education Director will submit a Grievance to the Education Committee on your behalf.
Education Committee Review
Within approximately 30 days, the Education Committee will review your Grievance and present a solution. If needed, the Committee will escalate the Grievance to Council for their review. The outcome of the Grievance will be communicated to you in writing.
Council Review
Should you disagree with the Education Committee’s decision, you may complete an Appeal to the Tribal Court.
