The intent of this program is to reduce student loan indebtedness for individuals who have graduated in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related field and been employed in a STEM occupation in North Dakota for one year.

The number of funded applicants is limited and contingent upon legislative appropriations; therefore, not all qualified applicants are assured funding. All qualified applicants for this Program will be considered in priority order as defined in Section 3.

The Bank of North Dakota is responsible for applying loan forgiveness payments for funded recipients by July 30th of each year. The NDUS will notify all funded recipients of their award by July 30th of each year; no notice will be sent to applicants not funded.

Funding recipients are eligible to receive up to $1,500 per year in continued loan forgiveness for each year they are employed in an approved STEM occupation in North Dakota, subject to a maximum of 48 months of eligible employment. Individuals must apply or re-apply annually for new or continued funding.

Section 1 - Qualifications

To qualify for the STEM Occupations Student Loan Program, an applicant:

1. Must have graduated from a board-approved college;
   
   
2. Must have successfully completed a board-approved STEM-related program;
   
   
3. Must have maintained at least a cumulative 2.5 grade point average based on a 4.0 grading system, at a board-approved college;
   
   
4. Must have a student loan with the Bank of North Dakota or other participating lender and not be in default on that student loan;
   
   
5. Following graduation, must have been employed in a board-approved STEM occupation for 12 months' employment in North Dakota beginning at least by July 1 of the previous year or, at least a 9-month teaching contract on a full time basis in a school district or nonpublic (private) school in the state; and
   
   
6. In order to receive continued funding, must continue to meet all qualifications.

1. Board-approved college means a postsecondary institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and accredited by regional, national, professional or specialized accrediting bodies.
   
   
2. Board-approved STEM related program means programs listed on Table 1-STEM Program Areas and Codes. These are broadly based upon North Dakota's targeted industries and the national Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) grant program eligibility with the categories defined by the National Center for Education Statistics' Classification of Instructional Programs.
   
   
3. STEM Job Occupations and Codes means the STEM related Department of Labor job classifications as found in Table 2-STEM Job Occupations and Codes. A degree from Table 1 is required for Table 2 occupations to qualify.
   
   
4. Cumulative grade point average means grade point average at graduation using a 4.0 grading scale (no rounding).
   
   
5. Default means failure to repay a loan according to the terms agreed to when you signed a promissory note. Default may also mean failure to submit requests for deferment or cancellation on time.
   
   
6. Student Loan means Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) - Stafford subsidized, unsubsidized and FFEL Consolidated loans as well as the Dakota Education Alternative Loan (DEAL) obtained through the Bank of North Dakota as a lender, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan - subsidized and unsubsidized loans, Federal Perkins Loan, FFEL or William D. Ford Federal Direct Consolidated Loans.
   
   
7. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs.

1. Applications for this program may be obtained by: (1) calling the NDUS at (701) 328-4114; (2) writing the NDUS at 600 East Boulevard Avenue - Dept. 215, Bismarck, ND 58505-0230; or (3) accessing the NDUS web site at www.ndus.edu and clicking on Student and Parent Information/Financial Aid.
   
   Applications will not be accepted prior to May 1. A completed application must be received in the NDUS no later than June 30. Applications should be mailed, faxed or delivered to: Director of Financial Aid, NDUS, 600 East Boulevard Avenue - Dept. 215, Bismarck, ND 58505-0230, Fax (701) 328-2961.
   
   

   A completed application must include a statement signed by the personnel director or CEO of the applicant's employer verifying that the applicant is employed full-time in one of the defined STEM occupations and the length of employment.
   
   

2. Completed applications will be considered in priority order as follows:

   1) priority will be given first to the previous year program funded recipients who were continuously employed in an approved STEM occupation;
   

   2) Secondly, priority will be given to prior year funding recipients who were employed in an approved STEM occupation; and
   

   3) Finally, new program applicants will be funded.
   

   If available funding is sufficient to fund some but not all eligible applications in a priority category, funding shall be allocated based on date of receipt by the NDUS of completed applications, beginning with those received on (but not before) May 1, continuing with those received May 2, and so on, to the extent funds are available.

1. Application
   
2. Final college transcript that reflects degree earned and the date received (attach copy for verification purposes)

Financial Aid Director
North Dakota University System
600 East Boulevard Avenue - Dept. 215
Bismarck, ND 58505-0230
Phone: Gina Padilla at (701) 328-2964 or Peggy Wipf at (701) 328-4114