ML20237F444

NRC Integrated University Grant Program Service Agreement for Fellowships, Scholarships and Trade/Community Colleges

ML20237F444
Person / Time
Issue date:	08/24/2020
From:	Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
To:
Hebron-Isreal, Nancy (415)-6996
References
Download: ML20237F444 (5)

Text

NRC Integrated University Grant Program Service Agreement for Fellowships, Scholarships and Trade/Community Colleges NRC Grant Award Number:

Students Name:

Institution Name (grantee):

This service agreement is required for all students in receipt of Federal funds, funded by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission through the grants program, under the grantee (institution listed above). This agreement confirms the students obligation for the following:

1. While under this agreement, the student must maintain satisfactory academic progress. (Specifics for each type of award are below.)

2. Upon completion of the degree or certificate program, the student will serve 6 months of employment in a nuclear-related job for each partial or full year of academic support. This requirement applies separately to each grant awarded. This employment may be with nuclear-related industries, State agencies, Department of Energy laboratories, the NRC or other Federal agencies, or academic in the students sponsored field of study. The student has 6 months after graduation to obtain a nuclear-related job. Under the terms of this service agreement, time spent participating in a cooperative education experience (co-op) or an internship will not be considered part of the post-graduation service employment requirement.

MUST CHECK WHICH TYPE OF AWARD IS BEING RECEIVED FELLOWSHIP AWARD:

• Student must consistently maintain a course load of at least 12 credit hours per semester or be classified as a full-time student in good standing (as defined by the recipient institution listed above and in accordance with the universitys policies and practices).

• Student must be matriculated in a graduate degree program that the NRC determines to be sufficiently related to a nuclear discipline. The recipient institutions grant award must outline both the content of the degree program as well as the anticipated duration of the program. If the content of the degree program is subject to material change or the student anticipates needing additional time to complete the program (e.g., to complete a thesis or dissertation), then the student and the recipient institution must immediately notify the NRC to request approval of such changes.

• At the time of application, the student must have and maintain a 3.3 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) overall and within a major for which the fellowship was approved.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD:

• Student must consistently maintain a course load of at least 12 credit hours per semester or be classified as a full-time student in good standing (as defined by the recipient institution listed above and in accordance with the universitys policies and practices).

• Student must be matriculated in a bachelors degree/major program in a degree program that the NRC determines to be sufficiently related to a nuclear discipline. The recipient institutions grant award must outline both the content of the degree program as well as the anticipated duration of the program. If the content of the degree program is subject to material change or the student anticipates needing additional Revised SA_8/13/2020 Page l1

time to complete the program, then the student and the recipient institution must immediately notify the NRC to request approval of such changes.

• At the time of application, the student must have and maintain a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) overall and within a major for which the scholarship was approved.

TRADE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD:

• Student must consistently maintain a course load of at least 12 credit hours per semester or be classified as a full-time student in good standing (as defined by the recipient institution listed above and in accordance with the universitys policies and practices).

• Student must be matriculated in a Certificate or associates degree program that the NRC determines to be sufficiently related to a nuclear discipline. The recipient institutions grant award must outline both the content of the degree program as well as the anticipated duration of the program.

• If the content of the certificate/degree program is subject to material change or the student anticipates needing additional time to complete the program, then the student and the recipient institution must immediately notify the NRC to request approval of such changes.

Citizenship Requirement All scholarship, fellowship, trade school and community college students must be United States citizens, noncitizen nationals of the United States, or have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence (i.e.,

in possession of a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of such status).

Noncitizen nationals are persons born in outlying possessions of the United States (i.e., American Samoa and Swains Island). Students must have full-time status at the recipient institution. Individuals on temporary or student visas, as well as refugees and asylees, are not eligible.

Failure to complete the requirements of this Service Agreement If a student is potentially unable to fulfill his/her service obligations, then the student and the recipient institution must immediately contact the NRC. The following will be considered a breach of the agreement with the NRC and require a student to repay the NRC for funds received under this program:

• Student fails to complete degree program;

• Student fails to consistently maintain required satisfactory academic progress as stated above;

• Student withdraws from the program;

• Student does not gain nuclear-related employment within 6 months after graduation and does not obtain a waiver from the NRC;

• Student voluntarily leaves the employment of an approved employer before completing the service requirement (6 months for each partial or full year support).

Some exceptions:

• If a student does not complete the program but does obtain employment in an NRC-approved nuclear-related job within 6 months of leaving the program, that will satisfy the agreement.

• If a student is working in a nuclear-related position while attending school, the student may request that the NRC review the employment record to determine whether the service obligation could be reduced.

• If the institution provides funding to a student prior to this service agreement being approved by the NRC, then the student will not be approved, and the institution will be required to re-pay the funds to the NRC.

Revised SA_8/13/2020 Page l2

Waivers and Delays in Obligation Service At the discretion of the NRC, waivers and delays in service obligations can be offered for this program. In order to receive either, a student must submit a request via email to the Grants Program Manager (Eduscolar.Resource@NRC.gov).

Waivers:

• A student may request a full/partial waiver of the terms of the service agreement for the following reasons: (1) the student has encountered medical issues, (2) the student has made serious attempts to obtain employment in a nuclear-related field within 6 months of graduation but has been unable to do so, or (3) the student has encountered other hardships.

• A waiver request must be in writing (email is acceptable) and include sufficient written documentation to support the request.

• If the student requests a waiver based on an inability to obtain employment in a nuclear-related field, the student must submit at least 3 documents (rejection notices) showing that the student attempted to secure nuclear-related employment but was unable to do so.

• After reviewing a waiver request, the NRC may determine that it is not feasible for the student to fully comply with the service agreement. If the NRC makes such a determination, it may waive the service obligation, in whole or in part.

• If the requested waiver is denied, the NRC, under the provisions found in 10 CFR 15.21, may issue to the student a written request for payment. The NRCs determination on a waiver request is final and not appealable.

Delays in service obligations:

• The service obligation period may be delayed allowing the student to continue a subsequent degree program. For example, if a student receives Federal funding to earn a bachelors degree, the student may request and be permitted to delay fulfilling their service obligation upon completion of the subsequent masters degree program. Any such requests must be made to the NRC before a student enrolls in a subsequent degree program. If a student enrolls in a subsequent degree program before or without NRC approval and the NRC does not approve the request, the NRC will not be held liable for any expenses associated with the subsequent degree program. Students only incur a service obligation to the NRC for funded periods of study.

Repayment of Debt If the student and/or institution must repay the NRC, the amount owed to the NRC is a valid debt of the Federal government subject to all laws and provisions governing the administration of the debt. In accordance with Federal regulations, if payment is not received by the NRC within 30 days from notification of indebtedness, the debt becomes past due and will be subject to interest, penalties, and administrative charges incurred by the Federal government to service the debt. After 120 days of being past due, the debt will be referred to the Department of the Treasury for collection.

If a single lump sum payment is not possible, the debtor may request an installment repayment agreement. Any such request must be made in writing and sent to the NRC Office of the Chief Financial Officer (Fees.Resource@nrc.gov), along with a sufficient justification. An installment repayment agreement can be up to 3 years in length and will include all applicable interest, penalties, and administrative charges incurred by the Federal government to service the debt. Failure by the debtor to meet the terms and conditions of the installment agreement will result in the debt being referred to the Department of the Treasury for collection and subject to Revised SA_8/13/2020 Page l3

the various collection actions administered by the Department of the Treasury. For additional information, the debtor may contact the NRC Office of the Chief Financial Officer at (301) 415-7554.

Student Contact Information In accordance with the Privacy Act, the student and the institution agree to provide current student contact information to the NRC (address, phone, email, and Social Security number, if applicable) and student employment information while the student remains under the obligated service requirements. The NRC will use this student information to verify appropriate nuclear-related employment in compliance with this service obligation, and, if necessary, the NRC may use the contact information to collect a debt. Any changes in student contact or employment information should be immediately reported to EDUSCHOLAR@NRC.GOV.

Certification By accepting these Federal funds and signing this agreement, the student and the institution certifies that both the student and the institution have read this agreement and agree to all of the obligations it entails.

Signature of Student Date Signature of University Coordinator and Title Date Signature and Approval of the NRC Grants Coordinator Date Revised SA_8/13/2020 Page l4

Student Contact Information Please Print Clearly Students Full Name Students Permanent Street Address (No P.O. Box)

Students City, State and Zip Code Students Personal Email (School emails not accepted)

Students Phone Number Students Major/Degree Estimated Graduation Date Date that funding will be provided to student

• • Please attach the students most recent resume with this agreement. Incomplete agreements will not be approved.

Revised SA_8/13/2020 Page l5