Revised Implementing Guidelines for the Student Financial Assistance Programs of CHED

December 28, 2012

CHED MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 056-12

 

In consonance with the mandate of the Commission on Higher Education as provided for in Article XIV, Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution "to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all" and Article XIV, Section 2 (3) "to establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies, and other incentives which shall be available to deserving students in both public and private schools, especially to the underprivileged", the Commission en Banc approved the Revised Implementing Guidelines for the CHED Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) by virtue of Resolution No. 638-2012 dated December 19, 2012. DEcSaI

I. Objectives

The general objective of the revised guidelines is to rationalize the administration and implementation of CHED Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs). Specifically, it aims to:

1. Select the poor and deserving scholars/grantees;

2. Ensure that the scholars/grantees are enrolled in duly authorized higher education institutions and in identified priority programs; and

3. Ascertain that the StuFAPs are properly administered and implemented.

II. Coverage

The revised guidelines shall apply to the following programs:

A. Scholarship

Full Merit (FS) — This refers to the State Scholarship Program (SSP) intended for graduating high school students whose general weighted average is at least 90% in the third year and at least 90% in the first three grading periods of the fourth year, enrolled either in public or private HEIs.

Half Merit (HS) — This refers to the Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) intended for graduating high school students whose general weighted average is at least 85% in the third year and at least 85% in the first three grading periods of the fourth year. They are to enroll in degree programs in private HEIs.

The above scholarship programs can also be availed by students belonging to the following: persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents and their dependents, members of cultural minority, members of the hill tribe and senior citizens, if qualified.

B. Grants-in-Aid

Tulong Dunong (TD) — This is intended for graduating high school students whose general weighted average is at least 80% in the third year and at least 80% in the first three grading periods of the fourth year. This program can be availed by students belonging to the following: persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents and their dependents, members of cultural minority, members of the hill tribe and senior citizens, if qualified.

DND-CHED-PASUC Study Grant (DCP) — This is intended for qualified dependents of military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who were killed in action, discharged due to complete disability combat related and those who are in active service subject to admission requirements of accepting State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). The specific guidelines pertaining thereto are contained in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Department of National Defense (DND)-Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC).

OPAPP-CHED Study Grant Program — This is intended for authenticated or amnestied former rebel and individual members of groups with existing peace agreements with the government or their next of kin who cannot afford to study in college due to financial constraints. Only one slot can be availed by the qualified former rebel or his/her designated qualified next of kin beneficiary. The specific guidelines pertaining thereto are contained in the Joint Memorandum Circular of CHED and the Office of Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP).

CHED Special Study Grant Program for Congressional Districts (CSSGPCD) — This is intended for poor and deserving students from the different Congressional Districts and those recommended by Party Lists. They are to enroll in degree programs at any curriculum year level, preferably in public HEIs.

CHED Senate Study Grant Program (CSSGP) — This is intended for poor and deserving students selected by the Office of the Senators. They are to enroll in degree programs at any curriculum year level, preferably in public HEIs. IcTCHD

C. Study Now Pay Later Plan

This educational loan is intended to provide financial assistance to deserving students who are enrolled or to enroll in a degree program at any curriculum year level in private HEIs. The revised guidelines pertaining thereto are contained in existing CHED Memorandum Order.

III. Qualification Requirements

The following are the qualification requirements for student applicants:

1. Must be a Filipino citizen of good moral character.

2. Must not be more than 30 years of age at the time of application except for senior citizens.

3. Must be a high school graduate or a candidate for graduation.

4. Must have a combined annual gross income of parents/guardian not to exceed Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP300,000.00). For those who are exempted from filing income tax, there should be a Certificate of Tax Exemption from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). For OFW and Seafarers, a latest copy of contract or proof of income.

5. Must not be a recipient of any government scholarship and financial assistance.

IV. Application Procedures and Documentary Requirements

The student applicants for the Scholarship programs, SNPLP and all other Grants-in-Aid programs except CSSGP, DCP and OPAPP-CHED Study Grant Program, submit to CHED Regional Office concerned the accomplished CHED StuFAPs Application Form (OSS Form 1) with the following documentary requirements for evaluation purposes:

1. Accomplished StuFAPs Application OSS Form 01;

2. Duly certified High School Report Card for third year and grades for the first three grading periods for fourth year;

3. Latest Income Tax Return (ITR), Certificate of Tax Exemption or Copy of Contract or proof of income of parents/guardian from BIR;

4. Certificate of good moral character from the high school principal/guidance counselor.

In the case of student applicants for the following StuFAPs, they shall apply directly to the office/agency concerned:

Program	Office/Agency Concerned
DND-CHED-PASUC Study Grant	Department of National  Defense
OPAPP-CHED Study Grant Program	Office of Presidential
for Rebel Returnees	Adviser on Peace Process
CHED Special Study Grant Program	House of Representatives
for Congressional Districts
CHED Senate Study Grant Program	Office of the Senate

V. Selection Criteria

In the selection of scholars under the scholarship programs and grantees under the GIA programs, the following percentage distribution shall be used in the ranking:

Criteria	Percentage Allocation
Average grade of third year level and average of the	50
first three grading periods of fourth year level
Combined annual income of parents/guardian	35
Number of siblings in the family	15
	————
Total Percentage	100
	====

VI. Financial Benefits

The package of financial assistance to scholars and grantees shall be six (6) semesters for a three (3)-year program, eight (8) semesters for a four (4)-year program or ten (10) semesters for a five (5)-year program. The amount of financial benefits per academic year are as follows:

1. Scholarship Program

• Full Merit — Php30,000.00 HTCAED

• Half-Merit — Php15,000.00

2. Grant-in-Aid Program

• Tulong Dunong — Php12,000.00

• DND-CHED-PASUC — Php5,000.00

• OPAPP — Php10,000.00

• CSSGPCD — Php5,000.00

• CSSGP — Php5,000.00

3. Study Now Pay Later Plan — Php15,000.00

VII. Rules to be Observed by Scholars and Grantees

Scholars and grantees shall observe the following rules:

a. Enroll in duly authorized higher education institutions and in identified priority programs;

b. Maintain a general weighted average (GWA) of 2.5, B or 80% for scholars and passing grade for grantees;

c. Carry a full semester load and finish within the normal duration of the course or curricular program;

d. Transfer only in duly authorized higher education institutions and in identified priority programs upon approval of concerned CHED Regional Office;

e. Allow to defer enrolment during the semester for meritorious reasons for not more than one academic year in the whole duration of the academic program; and

f. Shall render at least two (2) years return service within the Philippines after graduation for Full Merit scholars and one (1) year for Half Merit scholars.

VIII. Termination of Scholarship/Grant

The grounds for termination of scholarship and grant are as follows:

a. Failure to maintain a GWA of 2.5, B or 80% for scholars and a passing grade for grantees within a given semester;

b. Dropping out from school without notifying the CHEDRO concerned;

c. Deferment of scholarship/grant without approval from CHEDRO; and

d. Semestral load is below the regular number of subjects or units prescribed by the HEI; and

e. Transferring to another HEI/academic program without written approval from the CHEDRO.

IX. Administration of StuFAPs

A. Duties and Responsibilities of Offices/Institutions involved in StuFAPs Implementation

The following are the duties and responsibilities of Offices in CHED-Central Office, CHEDROs and HEIs relative to the administration of StuFAPs:

Office of Student Services (OSS):

1. Orient the CHEDROs on the StuFAPs policies, standards and guidelines;

2. Determine slot allocation by type of StuFAPs per region and issue memorandum thereto to CHEDROs;

3. Review/consolidate masterlists/reports submitted by CHEDROs;

4. Obligate payment to CHEDROs for one (1) academic year based on the submitted first semester masterlist to facilitate the disbursement of financial benefits to the scholars, grantees and student borrowers subject to the submission of the actual number of beneficiaries; SDEHIa

5. Recommend to HEDFS/AFS the sub-allotment of funds to CHEDROs for one (1) academic year based on slots allocation per region;

6. Recommend to HEDFS/AFS transfer of funds to CHEDROs for one (1) academic year based on submitted masterlist of scholars and grantees and facilitate processing thereof;

7. Gather and consolidate reports on StuFAPs data and utilization of slots and fund allocation;

8. Monitor the CHEDROs' implementation and administration of StuFAPs by the CHEDROs and HEIs with enrolled StuFAPs grantees; and

9. Manage and maintain a substantial database of StuFAPs.

Administrative and Finance Service (AFS)/Higher Education Development Fund Secretariat (HEDFS)

1. Inform OSS on the approved budget allocation for StuFAPs;

2. Obligate/Sub-allot funds to CHEDROs for one (1) academic year based on slots allocation per region as recommended by OSS;

3. Transfer the funds to CHEDROs based on masterlist of scholars or grantees as recommended by OSS; and

4. Monitor and reconcile fund utilization by CHEDROs in coordination with OSS.

CHED Regional Offices (CHEDROs)

1. Advocacy Campaign of CHED StuFAPs through internet, memorandum, brochures, flyers and other medium of information dissemination;

2. Evaluate documents of student applicants;

3. Determine qualified applicants and rank them using the selection criteria;

4. Issue notice of award to qualified applicants based on results of ranking and slot assignment;

5. Orient the scholars and grantees of their obligations/duties and responsibilities;

6. Act on termination of scholarship and grant; determine, approve and submit to OSS replacement of scholars and grantees based on voluntary withdrawal by the grantee of the grant awarded, dropped out from school and termination of grant due to poor academic performance. Replacee must be taken from the approved ranklist and can avail the remaining duration of the grant of the replaced grantee, except for grantees under DND-CHED-PASUC, OPAPP and CSSGP-CD/Senate programs.

7. Act on requests of scholars and grantees for transfer to another school, deferment, shifting of course, and requests on other relative concerns;

8. Provide HEIs with masterlist of grantees for proper identification of beneficiaries;

 Collect from the Registrars of participating HEIs certification of enrollment or registration of new and ongoing scholars and grantees and grades for the previous semester for ongoing scholars and grantees and list of StuFAPs graduates;

9. Obligate and release financial benefits for one (1) academic year to scholars and grantees either to the schools or individual;

10. Submit to OSS data or information on status of scholars and grantees of the different StuFAPs as required based on the following schedules of submission:

Data/Information	Deadline of Submission
Masterlist and Ranklist	April
Semestral Status Report by Curriculum	November and April
year Level, by Discipline, by Gender,
by Province and Congressional District,
Type of Institution
Data on deferment, terminated, dropped-	December
out, transferred, waived, graduates
Data on graduates per school year	April

11. Manage and maintain a substantial database of StuFAPs.

Participating Higher Education Institutions

1. Submit to CHEDROs certification of enrollment or registration of new and ongoing scholars and grantees and grades for the previous semester for ongoing scholars and grantees;

2. Release to scholars and grantees their financial benefits transferred by CHEDROs;

3. Submit to CHEDRO liquidation reports on the disbursement of fund received for payment of financial benefits of scholars and grantees;

4. Submit to CHEDRO data or information on scholars and grantees of the different StuFAPs as needed;

5. Provide guidance and counseling services and assistance in job placement of scholars and grantees; and

6. Manage and maintain a substantial database of StuFAPs.

B. Monitoring of StuFAPs Implementation

The CHEDROs and OSS shall conduct regular monitoring of StuFAPs implementation. The focus of the CHEDROs shall be on the implementation of StuFAPs by HEIs and status of scholars and grantees while the OSS shall monitor the implementation of StuFAPs, validate data on scholars and grantees, and utilization of slots in the region.

C. Distribution of Administrative Cost

In the implementation of StuFAPs, the 3% administrative cost shall be distributed as follows:

2.75% for CHED Regional Offices; and

a. 0.25% for the Office of Student Services

These shall be used for related expenses such as:

a. Office supplies and materials

b. Communication

c. Transportation/travel

d. Maintenance/repair of equipment

e. Purchase of IT equipment

f. Meals for meetings and conferences

g. Attendance to trainings and seminars

h. Printing of information materials

i. Sourcing out of job order services to assist, and

j. Other incidental expenses.

X. Calendar of Activities for the Selection of Scholars and Grantees and Payment of Financial Benefits

Period	Activities	Offices/Person
		Concerned
January	Determination of new and on-going	OSS
	slot allocations for the different StuFAPs
	for the incoming academic year
January-February	Issuance of Slot Allocation to CHEDROs	OSS
	with corresponding Award Numbers
	Call for the submission of application	CHEDROs
	for CHED StuFAPs to concerned
	CHEDROs
February to March	Submission of application	Student applicants
	Acceptance of application documents	CHEDROs
	from student applicants
	Evaluation of documents of student	CHEDROs
	applicants    DIEAHc
April	Determination of qualified applicants	CHEDROs

	and ranking using the selection criteria
	Issuance of notice of award to qualified	CHEDROs
	applicants based on results of ranking
	Submission of confirmation of	Scholars and
	acceptance of grant	grantees
	Submission to OSS StuFAPs approved	CHEDROs
	masterlists and ranklist of new qualifiers
	together with complete list of new
	applicants. Also, submit data on graduates
	per school year
	Submission of recommendation to HEDFS/	OSS
	AFS for sub-allotment of funds to CHEDROs
	for one (1) academic year based on slots
	allocation per region
	Obligate payment to CHEDROs for one (1)	OSS
	academic year
	Obligate/Sub-allot funds to CHEDROs for one	AFS/HEDFS
	(1) academic year based on slots allocation
	per region as recommended by OSS
	Submission of recommended scholars and	OSS
	grantees to HEDFS/AFS for the transfer of
	funds to CHEDROs
May	Transfer of funds to CHEDROs as	AFS/HEDFS
	recommended by OSS
	Submission to CHEDROs of Grades for the	HEIs Registrars
	previous semester of on-going scholars and
	grantees
	Obligate and process payment of financial	CHEDROs
	benefits to new and on-going scholars and
	grantees either to the schools or individual
	Release of financial benefits to scholars and	CHEDROs
	grantees either to the schools or individual
	First Semester
May to June	Enrolment of scholars and grantees	Scholars and
	in HEIs	Grantees
On or before June	Submission to CHEDROs Certificate	HEIs Registrars
30	of Enrolment/Registration
July	Orientation of new scholars and grantees	CHEDROs
	Determination and submission of	CHEDROs
	recommendation to OSS replacement of
	scholars and grantees based on voluntary
	withdrawal by the grantee of the grant
	awarded, dropped out from school and
	termination of grant due to poor academic
	performance.

	Refund of unutilized financial benefits for new	HEIs
	and on-going scholars and grantees who did not
	enroll and for those who did not meet the grade
	requirements
September	Submission of recommendation to HEDFS/AFS	OSS
	transfer of funds to CHEDROs based on
	submitted 1st Semester masterlist of scholars
	and grantees and facilitate processing thereof
October	Transfer of funds to CHEDROs based on	AFS/HEDFS
	masterlists of scholars or grantees as
	recommended by OSS
	Processing of payment of financial benefits	CHEDROs
	to new and on-going scholars and grantees
	Release of financial benefits to scholars and	CHEDROs
	grantees either to the schools or individual
	Second Semester
October to	Enrolment of scholars and grantees in HEIs	Scholars and
November		Grantees
On or before	Submission to CHEDROs of Grades for	HEIs Registrars
November 30	previous semester of on-going scholars
	and grantees
December	Determination and submission of	CHEDROs
	recommendation to OSS the following data:
	1)	replacement of scholars and grantees
		based on voluntary withdrawal by the
		grantee of the grant awarded;
	2)	dropped out from school;
	3)	termination of grant due to poor
		academic performance;
	4)	deferment;
	5)	transferred;
	6)	waived; and
	7)	graduates.
	Refund of unutilized financial benefits for new	HEIs
	and on-going scholars and grantees who did
	not enroll and for those who did not meet the
	grade requirements

XI. Transitory Provisions

Upon issuance of this CMO, all concerned shall comply with the policies, standards and guidelines on CHED StuFAPS.

All provisions in previous issuance inconsistent with this revised CMO are deemed, repealed, revoked, and/or rescinded accordingly.

The implementation of the revised CMO shall commence effective Academic Year 2013-2014.

For the proper guidance and strict compliance of all concerned.

Issued this 28th day of December 2012, Quezon City.

(SGD.) PATRICIA B. LICUANAN, Ph.D.Chairperson