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Enrollment / Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program

MEMBERS
Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program

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The Cowlitz Tribe views vocational certificates and college or university degrees as an investment in both the Tribal member and the future of our Tribal community. To encourage Cowlitz students in their pursuit of a vocational certificate or college or university degree the Cowlitz Tribe offers a Tuition Assistance Award Benefit and an Educational Costs GWE Benefit.

Tuition Assistance 2024 - 2025

 

Tuition Assistance Award Benefit

Tuition and tuition related fees are awarded to enrolled Cowlitz tribal members attending an accredited vocational school, college, or university. Cowlitz Tribal funding will support one of each of the following certificates or degrees:

  • Vocational Certificate
  • Associate Degree
  • Bachelor Degree
  • Master Degree
  • Doctorate Degree

Funding for the program is approved by the Tribal Council each academic year and is dependent on availability of Tribal funds.

Educational Costs GWE Benefit

Beginning in the 2023-24 academic year, this GWE Benefit for Dually enrolled High School/College Students may be used for additional educational costs.

GWE Benefit for Testing costs to obtain a GED (General Education Diploma) (New)

Beginning in the 2021-22 academic year, this Educational Costs GWE Benefit will be available to all Tuition Assistance Award recipients in the first education term of the student's academic year.

This annual benefit for educational costs may be used for, but is not limited to, books, computers, calculators, musical instruments, sports equipment, supplies for studies, tutors, clothing, room and board, and transportation to and from school.

If you are a high school graduate or have a GED and are enrolled in a certificate or degree program at an accredited vocational school, college, or university and are not receiving Cowlitz Tuition Assistance; you may be eligible for the Educational Costs GWE Benefit.

For more information, contact the Tuition Assistance Office at tuitionassistance@cowlitz.org or call Carol Burnison at 360-353-9588 or Carissa Cothren at 360-353-9497.

 

General Welfare Exclusion Act Benefit

On August 3, 2019, the Cowlitz Tribal Council approved the inclusion of the Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program as a tribal benefit under the General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 (Act). This approval acknowledges the tuition and tuition related fees provided by the Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program meet the requirements of the Act, are not taxable, and are not subject to IRS information reporting requirements. Select the link below for Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 IRS instructions.

IRS Instructions—Tuition and Other Educational Benefits Provided by Tribes, Form 1098-T

The Education Committee and hundreds of Cowlitz students who have received this award, thank the Cowlitz Tribal Council and General Council for their support.

Gregg Ford, Chair
Ellen Harju, Vice-Chair
David Iyall, Secretary 

Education Committee Members: Karissa Lowe, Becky Lowe, David Iyall, Dave Reichel, Dave Littleton, Tricia Bliss, Katie Kenyon-Appelt, Mikayla Lawrence, and Carol Robertson

Lead Tuition Assistance Coordinator: Carol Burnison

Tuition Specialist: Carissa Cothren

Education Committee Mission Statement and By-Laws - April 10, 2021
Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program | Policies and Procedures - December 3rd, 2022

2024–25 Academic Year (May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025) APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN - Jan 10th

 

 

For Student Housing Assistance – Call 360-864-8720 or email at housing@cowlitz.org

 

FAFSA Update for 2024-25 Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Applicants

Cowlitz Education Committee has been following the challenges students are facing in their effort to complete the 2024-25 academic year FAFSA.

The bumpy rollout of the new simplified FAFSA form and the U.S. Education Department's failure to update the tables used to calculate a students’ families’ eligibility based on inflation have delayed the release of data to schools and made it impossible for students to correct their FAFSA form.

The Education Department's January 30, 2024, update predicts it may take until March to provide the data needed to determine financial aid eligibility.

Do not delay submitting your Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Application. We are making a onetime exception based on the circumstances. "We will accept 2024–25 applications without the FAFSA confirmation while the FAFSA application issue is ongoing." We will process the application and notify you when your application is approved.

When the FAFSA application issues are resolved we will ask you to submit the FAFSA confirmation including your Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Grant Eligibility.

This only applies to the 2024-2025 academic year.

Please follow this link to an article that will provide more detailed information about the FAFSA application.

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/personal-finance/fafsa-financial-aid-new-delaysprocessing-error-corrections-rcna136408

If you have questions, email us at TuitionAssistance@cowlitz.org or call Carol Burnison, Lead Tuition Assistance Coordinator, at 360-353-9588 or Carissa Cothren, Tuition Specialist at 360-353-9497

 

Students applying for a Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award are urged to seek other outside sources of funding for their educational costs. Links to scholarship programs and other educational opportunities are provided below.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Have questions about Enrollment / Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program?

Must be an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe who has graduated High School or obtained a GED. Applicant must be pursuing Post-Secondary Education in an Accredited and or Licensed degree or certificate program that results in a degree or certificate. The Tuition Assistance award pays tuition and mandatory fees only. Applicants must submit a complete Tuition Assistance Application packet and be approved by the Education Committee. Cowlitz funding will support one Associates, one Bachelors, One Masters, 1 Doctorate and one Certificate. Funding is based on the certificate or degree program you are enrolled in. Lifetime limits apply to all awards. The Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program does not have the spending authority to pay on past educational debt.

  • Applications are available on-line (insert application) and complete application packets are to be emailed to: tuitionassistance@cowlitz.org.
  • An application packet must contain the following: Application, Educational Goals sheet, Copy of Cowlitz Tribal id, Most recent transcripts and a current FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR).
  • Each academic year, a GWE Educational Benefit of $1000 is available. Education staff will send you the application after your first term tuition payment is submitted by you.

“General Welfare Exclusion Act Benefit -On August 3, 2019, the Cowlitz Tribal Council approved the inclusion of the Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program as a tribal benefit under the General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 (Act). This approval acknowledges the tuition and tuition related fees provided by the Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program meet the requirements of the Act, are not taxable, and are not subject to IRS information reporting requirements. Select the link below for Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 IRS instructions. (Tuition and Other Educational Benefits Provided by Tribes, Form 1098-T | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov))

Our Locations
Cowlitz Indian Tribe
1055 9th Ave, Longview, WA 98632, or
PO Box 2547, Longview, WA 98632
Phone: 360-353-9588, 360-353-9497
Email: cburnison@cowlitz.org, msmith@cowlitz.org
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 – 5:00
Contact

About

The legacy of an ancient people in southwest Washington is rich with descendants who manage a growing portfolio of health, education, scientific research, housing, transportation, development, elder care, conservation and legal issues. The Cowlitz Tribe is a growing force in community building in what are now Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis and parts of Pierce, Skamania and Wahkiakum Counties, a vast territory occupied by numerous Cowlitz villages prior to non-Cowlitz exploration and seizure. Today, an elected Tribal Council is composed of professionals adept at managing multiple programs and projects.