2. Assistance Provided

To participate, applicants must be eligible for low-interest, government-funded student loans. The applicant will apply for and secure these student loans to cover the cost of tuition and fees. The loan will remain in deferment until the participant has graduated. Upon graduation, Rochester Christian University will assume responsibility for repayment of the participant’s student loans under the following conditions:

1. Upon graduation, the participant will begin a 60-month service repayment period to Rochester Christian University. For each month of service, the participant will satisfy 1/60th of his/her obligation for the principal of the loans until the full 60-month obligation has been fulfilled.
2. Upon the participant’s graduation, Rochester Christian University will make the monthly payments on the participant’s student loans as long as the participant remains employed with the institution on a full-time basis for the 60-month service repayment period. Upon completion of the service repayment period, Rochester Christian University will assume responsibility for the participant’s student loans until the loans are paid in full.
3. If the participant leaves the full-time employment of the institution for any reason (including termination) during the 60-month service repayment period, then the institution will make the payments on the participant’s student loans only until the principal is paid for the pro-rated amount satisfied through the service repayment period.

   Example: A participant has a total principal of $20,000 and serves 30 months (50%) of the 60-month service repayment period prior to separation from the institution. Rochester Christian University will pay the student loans until $10,000 (50%) of the principal has been paid. Thereafter, the participant will assume responsibility for the remaining balance and payments of the student loans.

4. If the participant stops-out of the degree program and goes into repayment on student loans prior to graduation or terminates pursuit of the degree, then the participant is responsible for his/her own student loan in its entirety.
5. The maximum dollar amount of assistance related to tuition and fees that the institution will cover for each participant is $28,000.
6. The university will cover the cost of the participant’s tuition and fees only as qualifying expenses. The university does not pay costs for travel, books, research trips, or other expenses related to graduate study.
7. The participant must submit to Rochester Christian University documentation of all charges to his/her graduate account (each semester) and copies of statements from the loan provider. If the amount borrowed for student loans does not match the qualifying expenses of tuition and fees, then the institution will only pay the pro-rated amount of the loan for qualifying expenses on an amortized basis.
8. The maximum amount of course load reduction for graduate work is 24 credit hours (3 credit hours per semester). NOTE: Anyone receiving course load reduction for doctoral studies will not be eligible to receive adjunct or overload pay.
9. Participants receiving course load reduction, or who have received course load reduction and have not yet received their terminal degree, are not eligible to teach on an overload basis or to receive adjunct or overload pay, including with Accelerated Learning. The purpose of this provision is to channel energies toward degree completion. Participants are also prohibited from rendering adjunct teaching services for another academic institution during the period of graduate study and writing the dissertation.