20 AAC 18.030 - Application procedure

(a) A resident who plans to attend, or who has currently enrolled in, a participating school as a full-time student in an eligible degree program must submit an application for certification to the commission between July 1 and October 15 of the year preceding the year in which the student intends to enter the professional school. An application is timely filed if it is postmarked between July 1 and October 15 and contains all the information required to make a determination of the applicant's eligibility and the amount of the loan award.

(b) The commission will not accept an application before July 1 of the year preceding the proposed entrance date.

(c) The commission will give alternate status to an application received after October 15 of the year preceding the proposed entrance date.

(d) The commission may require an applicant's signature to be notarized before submission of an application for certification. The borrower, and the cosigner if required under 20 AAC 18.025(d), must sign a promissory note for the loan award. Unless a cosigner's signature is authenticated through an electronic application and signature process approved by the commission, the commission may require the cosigner's signature to be notarized before submission. Liability for the loan is limited to the amount of support fees disbursed on behalf of the student and applicable interest.

(e) An applicant must apply directly to a participating school for admission.

(f) An applicant must send to the commission a copy of all offers of admission received from participating schools. An applicant's eligibility for certification terminates unless the applicant advises the commission of the applicant's intention to attend a participating school by June 15 of the year in which the program of study begins.

(g) An applicant who is accepted for enrollment must consent to the transfer of student records, enrollment information, and support fees among the state, WICHE, and the school of attendance. The commission will provide a form to the applicant for this purpose.

(h) Repealed 11/8/2000.

(i) A continuing PSE student is not required to reapply for certification each year, and will be presumed to be continuing for the regular degree program duration unless the student otherwise notifies commission staff.

(j) A PSE student who leaves school for more than one academic year before completing a program must reapply for certification. Recertification is not required for a leave of absence approved by the school for up to one year. However, repayment on the PSE loan must begin six months after the leave of absence begins, as required under 20 AAC 18.100(e) for borrowers who are no longer enrolled in a program. The commission will resume paying support fees when the PSE student returns as a continuing student in good standing the following term.

(k) An incomplete application shall be returned to the applicant with a request for additional information, unless the additional information is obtainable telephonically or electronically. Further action may not be taken on an incomplete application until it is resubmitted. The commission staff may require an applicant to furnish additional information and documents to verify statements on the application. The commission staff shall perform a credit history check on a loan applicant and a cosigner, if applicable.

(l) An applicant shall notify the commission staff immediately of a change in the institution to be attended, the dates of attendance, the program of study, or attendance status from that stated on the original application.

Notes

20 AAC 18.030

Eff. 1/1/81, Register 77; am 11/8/2000, Register 156; am 4/6/2018,Register 226, July 2018; am 8/16/2024, Register 251, October 2024

Authority: AS 14.44.035

AS 14.44.040