Gap of responsibility: 18 St. Michaels students denied college scholarships

ST. MICHAELS, Ariz. – Eighteen St. Michaels Chapter college students were denied scholarship assistance for the fall 2023 semester because of incomplete applications. Additionally, the chapter’s budget was on hold for two months, and students were not notified of their scholarship status until early December.

Michaels chapter officials seemed to lack communication with college students that their application packet would not be reviewed until the budget was approved.

According to the Administration Service Center under Navajo Nation Division of Community Development program manager Jaron Charley, the fiscal 2024 budget was tabled by a community member for two months. He said ASC has no authority over how the budget is used, and if the community tables it, they cannot authorize any actions.

However, Charley said fiscal 2023 carryover funds were approved in October 2023, which is what the chapter is operating on now.

Despite the delayed budget and applications not being reviewed until Nov. 30, 2023, the chapter did not extend the application deadline of Sept. 30, 2023, or notify students. When students and parents contacted the chapter to ask about the scholarship funding, it came up short.

The scholarship assistance is available annually, depending on the chapter’s budget. The scholarship assistance allows the chapter to fund eligible students. Full-time students receive $1,000, and part-time students receive $500.

The scholarship assistance helps students relieve some financial barriers each semester they apply. Upon applying, students submit documentation to show they are an enrolled student at a college/university, a registered voter in their community, an enrolled tribal member (CIB), a copy of their official transcript, a copy of their class schedule, and so forth.

However, out of the 49 applicants who applied for fall 2023, 18 were denied, including Kyle Etsitty and Aloynna Yazzie. Both students currently attend the University of New Mexico in Gallup.

According to both students, when they were notified by phone that their application was denied, they were encouraged to apply for the Spring semester. However, both students needed funding for the fall semester, and it is what they initially applied for.

The Navajo Times reached out to the chapter numerous times to request information to verify a few things, such as the itemized budget report for June through November and the agendas and meeting minutes report. However, the chapter did not share any reports with the Times.

The Times contacted ASC for Fort Defiance senior program and project specialist Patricia Begay; however, ASC program manager Jaron Charley has been the primary person responding.

Shortcoming service for students

Charley confirmed that both students’ applications were received and stamped on Sept. 11, 2023, at 2:05 p.m. and Sept. 21, 2023, at 4:34 p.m.

However, both students were notified by phone on Dec. 1, 2023, by the chapter’s office assistant, William Jones, and notified their applications were denied.

When the two students questioned the chapter, they were told to speak with Begay, which, according to the students, they have been communicating with since December.

However, both students felt it was unfair and wrong to deny their application when they were told it was completed by Jones when they both dropped it off at the chapter in person.

According to Etsitty, Jones told him his packet was denied because it was missing a voter registration card and he was not a registered voter, which was one of the required documents. However, Etsitty showed a copy of his voter registration dated and signed Oct. 1, 2021.

According to Yazzie, Jones told her packet was missing her official transcript. On the day she dropped off her application on Sept. 21, 2023, Yazzie spoke to Jones and informed him that her school would send her official transcript to the chapter’s email.

That same day, Yazzie called the chapter to follow up on her application and transcript and confirm if her application was completed. Jones reviewed her application while he was on the phone and told her, “Yes, I see your transcript was sent. Everything is turned in.”

Yazzie shared a screenshot confirming her official transcript was sent to the chapter.

But is that enough proof to justify that both students, and possibly others, turned in their application packets on time but were still denied?

According to the ASC office, they are working with those who were denied and are offering to assist them with their Spring semester applications in person.

However, scholarship mishaps in the chapter are not uncommon. Yazzie was denied last year with a similar experience when the chapter told her they lost her voter registration card, so she was not funded for that semester.

Delays and miscommunication

According to Jones, the chapter was jam-packed when asked why students were not notified regarding the budget.

“Like I said, they are adults. And we are very busy here at St. Michaels Chapter,” Jones said. “Like I said, the students are all grown adults, and this world is not all completely fair.”

Jones reiterated that the students had three months for the scholarship application period and said it was up to the students to make sure they turned in all documents.

“We can’t be calling them up, chasing them down, asking them for all these documents they didn’t turn in because they didn’t meet it on the deadline date,” Jones said. “They should have turned in all their documents with a complete application. They would’ve gotten their award.

Amidst delays and miscommunication about completed packets, the ASC office claims it would be unfair to students who did submit completed packets on time to fund those that were denied, which they advised the denied applicants to submit their applications for the Spring semester as soon as possible.

In a forwarded email from Begay to Charley, Begay states, “Students were denied due to incomplete applications by the due date. There was a reconsideration for the fall. However, the chapter is currently accepting applications for the spring semester. The students who were denied for fall have the opportunity to apply now. It is unfair to the students who complied with the policies and were awarded.”

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