Cowlitz Tribal Education | Tuition Assistance Program
CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund — Student Aid
Information for Students
The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IHE/Student Aid provides funding to institutions to provide emergency financial aid grants to students whose lives have been disrupted, many of whom are facing financial challenges and struggling to make ends meet.
Students cannot apply for assistance directly from the U.S. Department of Education but should contact their institutions for further information and guidance.
Institutions have the responsibility of determining how grants will be distributed to students, how the amount of each student grant is calculated, and the development of any instructions or directions that are provided to students about the grant.
The funding opportunity number is ED-GRANTS-041020-003. If you have questions concerning this program, please submit them via e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.., or by phone at 202-377-3711.
To Our Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Recipients:
We want you to know the Education Committee and staff understand the challenges that COVID-19 has placed on your education plans, especially this current term.
Cowlitz Tribal support is here during these challenging times. The Education Office is open and staff can be reached by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 360-353-9588.
Stay in touch...update us on how COVID-19 is affecting your education plans, changes in enrollment, refunds of Cowlitz paid tuition, and any other issues you are facing.
Practice social distancing and stay safe, we will get through this together.
Gregg Ford, Chair
Celine Cloquet, Vice-Chair
David lyall, Secretary
Education Committee Members: Karissa Lowe, Becky Lowe, Mike Iyall, Suzanne Donaldson, Dave Reichel, Dave Littleton, Joan Iyall and Timi Russin
Tuition Assistance Coordinator: Carol Burnison
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 and are not taxable and are not subject to IRS information reporting requirements.
At this time, the Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program is limited to assistance for tuition and tuition related fees for Tribal members attending an accredited vocational school, college, or university. Funding for the program is approved each academic year and is dependent on availability of Tribal funds.
For IRS instructions regarding this Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 benefit, select the link below.
IRS Instructions—Tuition and Other Educational Benefits Provided by Tribes, Form 1098-T
The Education Committee and the hundreds of Cowlitz families who have received this award appreciate the support of the Cowlitz Tribal Council and the members of the Cowlitz Tribe.
Education Committee Mission Statement and By-Laws
Education Committee Policies and Procedures-REVISED September 7, 2019
Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program
Tuition and tuition related fees are awarded under the General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 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
Students applying for a Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award are urged to seek other outside sources of funding for their educational costs.
To assist you, links to scholarship programs and other educational opportunities are provided below.
2019-20 Academic Year (June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020) — 2019-20 application is now closed
The 2019-20 academic year funding will provide assistance for tuition and tuition related fees to Cowlitz students in accredited full-time or part-time vocational, undergraduate, and graduate programs.
2019-20 Request for Payment Form
2020-21 Academic Year (May 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021) Funding Available -- Apply Now!
2020-21 Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Application Packet
2020-21 Request for Payment Form
Tuition and tuition related fees are awarded under the General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 to enrolled Cowlitz Tribal members attending an accredited vocational school, college, or university.
If you have questions, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Carol Burnison, Tuition Assistance Coordinator, at 360-353-9588
To assist you, links to scholarship programs and other educational opportunities are provided below.