College Financing Information

DESCRIPTION:
Information to help AFGE members find fund education.

FEDERAL LOANS AND GRANTS:

Government-sponsored grant opportunities unlike loans, do not require repayment, such as the Pell Grant, or the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOPG). The Federal Work Study program provides jobs for undergraduate students either on or off campus.

Low-interest, government guaranteed loans include the Stafford Loan, Perkins Loan, Plus Loan, federal Supplemental Loan for Students (SLS), as well as a federal loan consolidation program.

AFGE members may request "The Student Guide, Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education" by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

UNION PLUS EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAM:
An excellent source of information from Sallie Mae, the largest non-profit provider of student and parent education loans in the country. Traditional college loans are available to students attending accredited colleges and universities at least half time. The Job Skills Training Loan is designed for adults or part-time students attending technical, trade or professional schools.

Members can access free information, applications and guidance by calling the Union Plus education loan financial aid.

UNION PLUS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
AFGE Members, their spouses and dependent children (as defined under IRS regulations) can apply for the scholarship. The one-time cash awards amounts range between $500 and $4,000 and are based on academic achievement and potential, character, leadership, social awareness, career goals and financial need.

APPLICATIONS: Applications are available from September 1 to January 15 each year. To request an application by mail, please send your name, address, phone number and international union name on a POSTCARD to Union Plus Scholarship Program, PO Box 34800, Washington, DC 20043-4800.

Applications are also available for download directly from the Union Privilege website at www.unionprivilege.org

The deadline to submit an application is January 31st. Winner announcements are sent out May 31. Due to the volume of applicants, only winners are notified.

JNS Scholarship Program

Description:
The JNS College Scholarship was established by the Executive Board of the American Federation of Government Employees to honor John N. Sturdivant, President of the AFGE from 1988 to 1997. John graduated from the college degree program at the George Meany Center in January 1980. We believe this scholarship program is an appropriate tribute to John's belief in the empowerment of education. [inside panels 2 and 3 and outside panels 4 and 5]

Purpose:
To provide scholarship assistance to members of the American Federation of Government Employees AFGE) to attend the college degree program at the George Meany Center for Labor Studies, Inc.

Funding:
Annual funding by academic year:
July 2001: $7,500.00 total per year
July 2002: $10,000.00 total per year

• AFGE's maximum commitment for the JNS Scholarship Fund for July 2002 and beyond will be no more than $10,000 per year.
• Scholarships will be awarded in amounts ranging from $500.00 to $1,000.00 per individual for each year. Scholarship awards may be carried over for one year. For example, a 2001 scholarship award may be used in 2001 or 2002.
• Recipient may receive scholarship assistance for multiple years.

Structure of Scholarship Program

Criteria:
Scholarship awards are based on the applicant's anticipated net annual costs and other relevant financial criteria including other financial support available to the applicant.

Eligibility:

• At the time of application, the applicant must be a student in good standing at the George Meany Center, in the college degree program or an applicant to the college degree program.
• The applicant must be a confirmed American Federation of Government Employees member in good standing or an employee of AFGE.

CYBER GUIDE:
An AFL-CIO web site which provides information for approximately 3,000 Union-Sponsored scholarships, awards and student financial aid worth nearly $4,000,000 that are offered directly by individual unions, state federations and local central bodies. This web site contains a bibliography of additional financial-aid programs and other sources that may be of assistance in paying for a college education. These scholarships are normally available only for union members and their families from the union sponsoring the scholarship. The AFL-CIO does not offer scholarships. Members must write directly to contact persons that are listed on the web site.