Financial Aid and Scholarship Scams

To:                University Community

From:             Maureen Amos, Director of Financial Aid

Date:              March 29, 2012

Re:                 Warning: Financial Aid and Scholarship Scams

If you have to pay money to get money, it's probably a scam.

Recently, an NEIU student was contacted, about a grant opportunity, by an individual who represented himself as being from http://www.grants.gov/. The grant representatives were not calling from grants.gov, but from a Washington, DC number. The caller assured the student that the grant opportunity was a legitimate award and that the student had been selected to receive the grant. However, in order to participate in the grant opportunity, the student needed to wire $310. The NEIU student was asked for his checking account information. The Northeastern Illinois University Financial Aid Office or the U.S. Department of Education would never ask for checking account numbers or credit card numbers as payment for any financial assistance.

Every year, several hundred thousand students and parents are defrauded by scholarship scams. The victims of these scams lose more than $100 million annually. Scam operations often imitate legitimate government agencies, grant-giving foundations, education lenders and scholarship matching services, using official-sounding names containing words like "National," "Federal," "Foundation," or "Administration."

FinAid.org has some valuable tips to help identify such scholarship scams and how to protect yourself from scholarship scams. Please visit their site for ‘Common Scams’. http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtml. 

Report Financial Aid or Scholarship Scams to:

US Department of Education Office of the Inspector General
Inspector General's Hotline 1-800-MIS-USED or 1-202-205-5400
State Attorney General's Office
Chicago Office: 1-800-386-5438
http://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/scholars.html

Changes in the Federal Student Aid Programs

The NEIU Financial Aid Office would like to invite students and other members of the NEIU community to attend one of the two Spring Town Halls highlighting changes in the Federal Student Aid Programs.
Agenda items include:

• 2012-13 Changes in Verificatioin Requirements - Don't be afraid of Verification
• Repeat Coursework Calculations - Knowing the impact on your Eligibility
• Unofficial Withdrawal vs. Official Withdrawal - What is the difference?

The dates are as follows:

• Wednesday, March 28, Golden Eagles, 1:00pm
• Thursday, April 5, Student Union 217, 1:00pm

For more details, please call the Financial Aid Telephone Center at (773) 442-5016.

Rosetta Stone Program

If you want to learn Spanish or are taking Spanish courses, TRIO SSS now offers the Rosseta Stone Program.

What is Rosetta Stone
"Rosseta Stone, Inc. is changing the way the world learns languages. Rosseta Stone provides interactive solutions that are acclaimed for the speed and power to unlock the natural language-learning ability in everyone. Available in more than 30 languages, Rosseta Stone language-learning solutions are used by schools, organizations and millions of individuals in over 150 countries throughout the world. The Company was founded in 1992 on the core beliefs that learning a language should be natural and instinctive and that interactive technology can replicate and activate the immersion method powerfully for learners of any age."

Rosseta Stone.

LAPTOPS

We have Laptops available for use for TRIO students. You can check them out and use them within the LIBRARY. Bring a STATE I.D. or Driver's License to LIB 412 and ask the staff, or call us at (773) 442-4971.

Scholarship for Health Professionals - Due March 29

Louis Stoke Scholars Program Application due Thursday, March 29:
https://www.wizehive.com/appform/login/cbcf2012

 Louis Stokes Health Scholars Program

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) will award 10 scholarships to students who plan to enroll or are already enrolled in a degree program at a full-time undergraduate accredited two- or four-year college, university, or technical school during the 2012-13 academic year.  The Louis Stokes Health Scholars, sponsored by the UnitedHealth Foundation, program seeks to increase the number of qualified, yet underrepresented, college students entering the health workforce.  Preference will be given to students from underserved communities who demonstrate an interest to work in their own communities.  Students currently attending two-year institutions are strongly encouraged to apply.

AmountUp to $8,000 for the 2012-13 academic year.  CBCF will disburse up to $4,000 at the beginning of each semester, contingent on maintaining the minimum academic requirements.  All scholarships are to be used to cover all education-related expenses.

EligibilityApplicants must be U.S. citizens or legal U.S. residents who have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must also be currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or technical school.  The anticipated degree must be in a subject that will lead to a career in a health field.  The ideal candidate is a student at a two-year institution who plans to complete a four-year degree and seek work in an underserved community.  Additionally, the candidate will demonstrate financial need.  Employees or immediate family members of UnitedHealth Group and its affiliates, CBC Members, the CBC Foundation staff, the CBC Foundation Board of Directors or the CBC Foundation Corporate Advisory Council are not eligible.

DeadlineMarch 29, 2012

Application Materials

1. A completed application form
2. A personal statement essay from the student (500-1,000 words) that addresses all four (4) of the topics listed on the application in one cohesive essay
3. Two (2) letters of recommendation. One recommendation should come from a community or public service leader (i.e. church leader, community leader, volunteer organization). Email addresses will be requested of each recommender for electronic submission of the letter. Hard copy letters will not be accepted.
4. Copy of detailed Federal Student Aid Report (SAR); this report comes from the US Department of Education, not your institution
5. One (1) page resume listing extracurricular activities, honors, employment, community service and special skills
6. A recent photograph suitable for publication; i.e., a cap and gown picture, or other professional quality and professionally dressed photograph
7. Graduating high school seniors must provide proof of enrollment into institution of study for 2013
8. Official sealed transcripts from all institutions attended. Freshmen level students must also submit high school transcripts to be sent to:

Louis Stokes Health Scholars Program
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.
1720 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Questions

Call (202) 263-2800 or email http://us.mc818.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=scholarships@cbcfinc.org for additional information.

Illinois Basic Skills Workshops

Date Time Workshop Location

 

Monday, March 26 4:15pm-6:45pm Language Arts FA 218

Thursday, March 29 11am-1:30pm Language Arts FA 216

Monday, April 2 12pm-2:30pm Math FA 218

Thursday, April 5 4:15pm-6:45pm Math FA 202

Tuesday, April 10 12pm-2:30pm Writing LWH 1002

Wednesday, April 11 4:15pm-6:45pm Writing Library-Lower Level Classroom

The TRIO SSS Teacher Preparation Program is offering three Illinois Basic Skills Workshops.
Please note

Please sign up for the workshops you wish to attend by visiting the TRIO Office in LIB 412 or by emailing  triosss@neiu.edu

773-442-4971 Please Note: For each content area, the same material will be covered twice. For example, the Writing workshop held on Tuesday, April 10 will repeat on Wednesday, April 11. If you wish, you are welcomed to attend both workshops for each session.

Space is limited!

Attend the Democratic or Republican National Convention

Deadline Extended to March 30

AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME FOR NEIU STUDENTS!
Attend the Democratic or Republican National Convention / Campaign 2012

 ALL ELIGIBLE NEIU STUDENTS MAY APPLY

Every four years, through a competitive application process, Northeastern Illinois University selects one student to attend the Democratic National Convention and one student to attend the Republican National Convention. This provides an opportunity for two students to encounter first-hand the national conventions. For students who are selected to attend the conventions, the University covers the costs of the students’ registration, airfare, housing, and per diem.

Convention locations are:

- Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina (August 25, 2012 – September 7, 2012).
- Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida (August 18, 2012- August 31, 2012).

How does a student become eligible to apply?:

 
- Applicants may be undergraduate or graduate students.
- Undergraduate students must have at least a 3.00 or higher cumulative GPA and have earned at least 45 credit hours.
- Graduate students must have at least a 3.50 or higher cumulative GPA.
- Candidates should have served in some leadership capacity as students.   

The application process:
The application deadline has been extended to March 30, 2012. 

1) Candidates must submit an application.
2) Candidates must also complete an essay about what they hope to learn by attending the convention and how they intend to share the experience with the campus. The essay must be typed, double spaced, and not exceed 3 pages (maximum of 750 words)
3) Submit an official NEIU transcript.
4) Include a résumé that lists student leadership positions held at NEIU or another institution.
5) Finalists will be invited to participate in a 30 minute interview with the selection committee. Candidates will be required to make a brief presentation (5-8 minutes) summarizing the content of their essay. Interviews will take place during the week of April 2, 2012.

Note: Students will be expected to keep a daily journal of experiences, write an Independent article, make a brief campus presentation, make up any missed class work, and attend the entire event. 

Click here to download an application

Submit applications by March 30, 2012 to:

 NEIU National Convention Selection Committee
 ATTN: Antoinette McConnell, Room B-119 (B Building)

Questions: E-mail a-mcconnell@neiu.edu

For additional information about Campaign 2012 and the Washington Center, go to: www.twc.edu/seminars/programs

Coordinated at NEIU through the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

Posted by Kerri A. Kadow, Student Affairs

"GRAMMAR FOR THE RIGHT BRAIN"

Using grammar to create meaning

Date                                                           Time                                 Workshop                                                                           Location

Tuesday, February 28, 2012        3:00 – 4:00 pm       Part I: Introduction to Grammar           LWH 3096

Tuesday, March    13, 2012         3:00 – 4:00 pm       Part II: Creating “when”information    LWH 3096

Thursday, March 29, 2012         3:00 – 4:00 pm       Part III: Creating “where” information  LWH 3096

Tuesday, April 3, 2012                3:00 – 4:00 pm       Part IV: Creating “why” information     LWH 3096

LWH=Lech Walesa Hall

TRIO will be conducting a series of workshops to help you improve your grammar skills.  All TRIO participants are welcome to attend. 

If you are interested in attending all or any of the sessions, please RSVP :  triosss@neiu.edu

                                                                                                                    

TRIO Student Support Services Participation Scholarship

Dear Student,

We are pleased to announce the TRIO Student Support Services Participation Scholarship. Any NEIU TRIO participant may apply. Twenty-four scholarships in the amount of $555.00 each will be awarded in the spring 2012 semester.

To apply for the scholarship, please contact the TRIO office and request an application and send it by email as an attachment to triosss@neiu.edu  or drop it off in person by March 30, 2012 to the TRIO Office in LIB 412 or triosss@neiu.edu

Criteria for selecting recipients of the TRIO Participation Scholarship are:

·         GPA of 2.5 or higher;

·         Level and frequency of participation in TRIO (i.e., meeting with your TRIO advisor, attending workshops, and other TRIO events); and

·         Willingness to share your TRIO story (as evidence in the scholarship application essay).

If you have not already met with your TRIO Advisor to go over your Student Success Plan this semester, please contact him or her right away.

Should you have any questions about the TRIO SSS Participation Scholarship, do not hesitate to contact your TRIO advisor, or contact our main office at 773-442-4971.

I wish you the best and most successful semester.

Sincerely,

Therese Hlavin, Director

TRIO Student Support Services

The Way to Happiness

All TRIO participants are welcome. If you are also looking into finding your way to happiness, this is the right place to be. Join us in this new journey to happiness.

What: The Way to Happiness

Where: Library 4th floor - TRIO Program

When: Every Thursday, 3-4pm

For more information please contact TRIO at triosss@neiu.edu.

What is The Way to Happiness?

The first moral code based wholly on common sense, originally published in 1981, its purpose is to help arrest the current moral decline in society and restore integrity and trust to Man. The Way to Happiness further holds a Guinness Record as the single most translated non-religious book in the world.