By the beginning of First Term in July 2009, Brigham Young University Hawaii will have absorbed its International Work Experience Scholarship (IWES) program into I-WORK — the International Work Opportunity Return-ability Kuleana — and added several significant enhancements, including:
- All current BYUH international students and new international applicants can apply for the I-WORK program. "Under IWES only those from our 'original target area' qualified," BYUH Assistant Controller Rebecca Harrison [pictured at upper right] explained to faculty and staff at a meeting in the Aloha Center Ballroom on February 27.
- "Married I-WORK students will have their housing and insurance covered by the program. Under IWES the married students were responsible to pay their own housing and insurance."
- "I-WORK includes a 50 percent grant and a 50 percent forgivable loan," she said. "Under IWES it was all a grant. Families will also continue to participate in helping fund their students' education at BYUH, taking into account the economic conditions in their home countries."
"Under I-WORK we are providing more aid to more students. Little else has changed," Harrison emphasized. She explained that the Hawaiian word kuleana, which means "stewardship or responsibility," focuses on the international students' commitment to return to their home regions with the abilities and experiences to succeed. She also noted the university has received approval from legal counsel to use the acronym I-WORK, which is similar to the name of a suite of Apple™ computer applications.
"The mission of I-WORK is also basically the same as IWES: To provide assistance to international students who need financial support, so they can return and provide Church leadership in their international regions," she said. Brian Blum, CPA, BYU-Hawaii Director of Financial Services/Controller, added that in addition to "fostering return-ability, I-WORK teaches our students the importance of working and contributing to the costs of their education."
"The generosity of donors has enabled us to increase the funds allocated to this program and, thus, have provided additional funding to help even more international students and minimize the impact on married ones," he said.
"The grant portion is handled just like a scholarship, and the forgivable loan element reinforces the commitment international students make to return home," Harrison continued.
"For example, those who return to their target regions, after a six-month grace period to get established, will have 25 percent of the loan forgiven for each year they remain in their home target area." Supporting documentation will be required.
"Those who don't fulfill their commitment and decide to stay in the U.S. will have a student loan to pay back, just like most of our domestic students who take out Stafford Loans to pay for their education." She explained the loan balance currently amounting to approximately $4,500 a year. Interest of 4% will not start to accrue on the loan balance until after the six-month grace period.
Harrison said international students under the I-WORK program would continue to also:
- Enroll each school year for 14 credit hours for two semesters, and six credit hours for two of the mid-year terms.
- Maintain good grades.
- Work 19 hours per week for 45 weeks, and 40 hours per week for seven weeks.
- Live in on-campus housing.
- Complete an annual endorsement that they are in compliance.
She also noted each I-WORK student would be eligible to remain on the program for a total of three years — enough time to complete 120 credits, which is the number required for all bachelor's degrees at BYUH. "I-WORK students needing more time to complete their degrees after that might qualify for other scholarships, or will have to arrange alternative funding. There will be some adjustment for maximum time on the program while we are making the transition to the new academic calendar," Harrison said.
For example, international students needing more than one year's help with English language proficiency will be encouraged to use the distance-learning classes the university is developing.
Harrison also said participating I-WORK students who marry U.S. citizens and remain in the U.S. will be placed on a "six-month probationary status with no payback required during that time plus a reduced family contribution." Those funds and that time could then be "applied toward changing their visa status so they can qualify for federal aid such as PELL grants and Stafford loans."
"Most of these conditions are already part of the IWES program," she continued. "The additional changes will enable the university to accomplish its mission of educating the students and having them return home."
In response to questions from the faculty and staff, Harrison replied:
- I-WORK will include international students who are not currently on IWES.
- The new forms are already being used and are available online.
- International students are not legally allowed to conduct "cottage-industry" or home-based businesses, such as fixing up and selling cars.
- I-WORK students who need rides off-campus are encouraged to work with friends or Church leaders. Security and the health center help provide emergency medical transportation.
- After meeting the PCC needs, I-WORK students with a year or less to go before graduation are eligible to work on campus.
- Extensions will be allowed to serve missions. Other extensions will be submitted to the appeals process.
Harrison said information on the I-WORK program has already been disseminated to Church leaders in the international target areas, "and BYU-Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright and the Admissions Office staff have been communicating the principles of the program and the importance of return-ability."
A mandatory meeting for IWES students will be held on March 7 in the McKay Auditorium to discuss these changes. For more information, contact the BYUH Financial Aid & Student Accounts Office in Lorenzo Snow Building 180, phone 808-675-3706 or e-mail financialservices@byuh.edu.
— Photo by Mike Foley