Higher Education Information


The Higher Education Program provides scholarship grants to enrolled Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Members. To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be a high school graduate or have obtained a GED. The applicant must meet the eligibility criteria stated in the Higher Education Guidelines. Students must submit a new application for each of the terms (Academic Year, Spring Semester, Summer Session). If the student is not awarded for the academic year and would like to be considered for the following spring term, please submit another application for the spring term only. The funding priorities are as follows: 1. SENIORS 2. JUNIORS 3. SOPHOMORES 1. FRESHMAN

Applications must be complete by the deadlines provided on this web site.

Associate of Applied Science Applicants enrolling in a vocational education or technical school must submit a letter from the school verifying: accreditation, transferability of credits to a 4-year institution.

Summer School Applicants Only Students need to submit a Letter of Justification stating why you need summer classes. The letter must be from an academic advisor or another staff person directly involved with the students progress.

STUDENTS IN DEFAULT ON A STUDENT LOAN ARE INELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM UNTIL THE STUDENT IS NO LONGER IN DEFAULT STATUS AND IS ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID.

Scholarships you must apply for.

  • The student must apply for the Higher Education Scholarship prior to applying for the CRST Scholarship in order to determine federal aid eligibility.

  • The Higher Education Scholarship is a supplemental grant, therefore; the student must also apply for federal student aid (FAFSA/PELL). Students must complete a higher education grant application with their tribal education office. Students need to apply with the tribe they are enrolled in if the program is available.

    You must fill out an application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a Pell Grant Application, and have it on file before a needs analysis can be completed by the financial aid office and submitted to the higher Education office.

  • The student may not receive both the Higher Education Scholarship and the CRST Scholarship.

Required Documents

  • Higher Education Scholarship Application - This is the form used by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

  • CDIB - certifying that the applicant is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Our scholarships are only available to Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Members. For assistance with your CBID, call 605-964-6612.

  • Letter of Acceptance from an eligible institution - New students, transfers and previously suspended students only. The student must be enrolled full-time in a specialized technical, associate, bachelor, graduate or doctorate degree program at any accredited institution.

  • HS Transcript or GED Scores - New applicants only. High school students must submit a transcript of any college course work. The student must have graduated from High School or earned their GED.

  • An UPDATED COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT from the previous term/year of attendance. NOTE: an OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT must be ordered (fee required) and sent directly to our office for those students who have received a scholarship in any previous term. HAND CARRIED TRANSCRIPTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

  • A FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE/NEEDS ANALYSIS FORM prepared and certified by the college Financial Aid Officer indicating the student's unmet need based on his/her individual budget, resources and awards. The NEEDS ANALYSIS FORM can accessed by clicking on the Higher Ed tab and click NEEDS ANALYSIS FORM to print out and send to your Financial Aid Office. This form can only be returned to this office if a FAFSA has been completed and is on file with the college’s Financial Aid Office.

Additional Important Information

Tribal Equitable Compensation Act (TECA)
The Higher Education Scholarship is a Public Law 93-638 Contract and funds are appropriated annually by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) Scholarship is funded annually through appropriations by the Public Law. 106-511 Tribal Equitable Compensation Act (TECA). More about TECA

Both are annual, non-renewable, and available to college students who are an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, full-time, (limited part-time funding is available), and attending any nationally, regionally and industry accredited post-secondary institution. Applicants must be accepted for admission to a nationally accredited institution of higher education which provides a course of study conferring the Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts or science degree, a vocational certificate or diploma, Masters, Doctoral, professional degree or certificate. All applicants must demonstrate financial need as determined by the financial aid officer of the collegiate institution.

Students must maintain a grade point average (GPA) minimum of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and complete the semester earning no less than 12 credit hours.

Freshman students may be placed on probation if the GPA is less than 2.0 but higher than a 1.75.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors with a GPA less than 2.0 will be placed on suspension. Withdraws during a semester or discontinues training without providing written notification to the CRST Education Services office will be placed on suspension.

Only withdrawals for the following reasons will prevent termination of funding:
a. Medical-must present medical statement signed by your physician.
b. Death in family (immediate family members only)

Reason must be verified in writing and presented to the CRST Education Services office before the end of the semester.
Funding may be terminated if a student: Fails to meet or maintain the eligibility requirements of the program. Fails to maintain minimum G.P.A. of (2.00) and a course load (12 credit hours minimum) standards per semester. Fails to submit an OFFICIAL grade transcript at the end of the term to the CRST Education Services Department for review. THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. You must contact the Registrar at your school as there may be a fee you need to pay before it can be sent.

Graduates from school-Scholarships are available for one (1) degree program only whether technical or academic. Withdraws during a semester or discontinues training without providing written notification to the CRST Education Services office. Only withdrawals for the following reasons will prevent termination of funding: Medical-must present medical statement signed by our physician.

Death in family (immediate family members only)

These reasons must be verified in writing and presented to the CRST Education Services office before the end of the semester.
Students may receive up to 10 semesters of funding and may be required to submit 2 letters of recommendation from college personnel to determine if the student is making a sincere effort towards the completion of their academic goals. Part-time students will be allowed to accumulate up to 15 credit hours as a part-time student and will receive $1500.00. Once the student has earned 15 credit hours attending part-time, the student is then required to enroll full-time.
Students that fail to meet the minimum academic requirements of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Scholarship shall not be considered for future funding until the student through other funding sources earns a minimum of 12 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA in one term. The student shall submit an official transcript for review at the end of the term to the Education Services Office. Funding may be reinstated if the student successfully completes one semester earning a 2.0 GPA with no less than 12 credit hours and as long as funds are available.
Students must appeal in writing to the CRST Education Services Office within 10 days of receipt of notice of termination of funding. If the decision is upheld by the Higher Education Director, the student may appeal to the CRST Education Committee within 10 days of receipt of notice from the Higher Education Director ruling. The decision rendered by the CRST Education Committee will be final. Students in default on a student loan are not eligible to participate in the scholarship programs until the student is no longer in default status and is eligible for federal financial aid. Students in default status may contact the office for a CRST Education Hardship Grant application.

PRIVACY ACT AND PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT


The information you provide on this site is pursuant to Public Law 93-579 (Privacy Act of 1974), December 31, 1974. Although furnishing personal information to this office is voluntary, failure to supply complete and accurate information may preclude the applicant from eligibility for assistance under the scholarship programs available to us. The information is being collected to determine elibigility of individuals applying for services. This information will be used to produce statistical records required of the Office of Indian Education Programs. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit.
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