New Economy Technology Scholarship (NETS) FAQ

General

Will GED and homeschooled students be eligible for New Economy Technology Scholarship (NETS) awards?

Yes.

  • A GED or homeschooled student will be eligible to apply for NETS. A recipient must be a high school graduate.
  • Diplomas issued by correspondence schools, distance learning, foreign entities (or other countries), or the U.S. Military are not acceptable; such students must obtain a GED.
Must a current year NETS recipient reapply for subsequent years?

Yes. A renewal student must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the new year by August 1st of the year in question. However, renewal students who received NETS funds in the previous year are not required to file a NETS Application and Master Promissory Note.

Since an applicant must file for Federal Pell and State Grants, which are need-based, is the NETS award need-based?

No. Although the State Grant and Federal Pell Grant are subtracted from the student's total educational costs to determine the amount of the NETS award (see educational cost details below), the award is not need-based. The student does not have to be eligible for either a State Grant or Federal Pell Grant in order to be eligible for NETS funds. In addition, no income or asset data is used in determining eligibility for funds in the NETS Program.

Components of educational costs:

  • Academic year and summer term full-time enrollment—tuition, fees, room, board and an allowance for books.
  • Part-time enrollment—tuition and fees.
If a student receives NETS funds, and his parents move out-of-state, is the student no longer considered a Pennsylvania resident for purposes of this scholarship?

The student retains eligibility as long as he/she remains a Pennsylvania resident. This differs from the Pennsylvania State Grant residency guidelines.

If I move, must I notify PHEAA?

Yes. The NETS Application and Master Promissory Note requires NETS recipients to keep PHEAA informed of any changes to your name, address, and telephone number during the term of the scholarship and during any periods of employment, deferment and repayment.

Can an applicant appeal an Agency decision on NETS eligibility?

Yes, a student wishing to appeal denial of NETS eligibility should write a letter explaining in detail why they think an exception to Agency policy should be made in their case. The letter should include the student's name, address, social security number or account number and the student's signature. The letter should be sent within sixty (60) days of the date the student receives the denial notice.

PHEAA
New Economy Technology Scholarship Program
State Grant and Special Programs
P.O. Box 8157
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8157

Can a student receive NETS funds during a term of internship or co-op?

NETS recipients who are participating in an internship, work experience or co-op activity for a term (regardless of whether this activity will be used to meet the SciTech internship requirement) are eligible for the NETS award for only those terms during which the student will earn full credit toward the student's academic credential. SciTech recipients must be enrolled on a full-time basis, defined as 12 semester credits or the equivalent.

How do I apply?
  • First-time applicants must complete an application packet (142 KB PDF) which consists of the NETS Application and Master Promissory Note.
  • Renewal applicants who received funds the previous year must only complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) External Link by August 1.
  • Applicants 18 years or older can apply online. The online application for the academic year is generally available in January.

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Approved Programs

Where can I find changes to the approved list of programs for the current academic year?

Each year the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) consults with the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board (PAWIB) to determine the new program content areas critical to the economic growth of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for purposes of the NETS Program. PAWIB identifies high priority occupations and PDE identifies academic programs which would prepare for those occupations.

To view a complete list of the 2010-11 approved NETS Program content areas, please see the NETS Program brochure (148 KB PDF).

If a student is in an approved course of study, receives NETS funds, then changes to another approved course of study, does the amount awarded still remain a scholarship (and not convert to a loan)?

Yes. The student should ensure that the new course of study is approved for NETS funds before the change takes place so that eligibility will be maintained. To view a complete list of the 2010-11 approved NETS Program content areas, please see the NETS Program brochure (148 KB PDF).

A change to a non-approved major will result in conversion of all NETS funds received to a repayable loan.

If a student enrolled in an approved major decides to enter Teaching (in the major field) as a profession, does this meet the employment obligation? Does student teaching in the major field meet the internship requirement for SciTech Scholarship recipients?

Yes. Teaching in the approved major does meet the post graduation work requirement and student teaching can fulfill the internship requirement for these students. However, a major in Education is not an approved program of study for NETS funds.

Why is Nursing not an approved program of study for the NETS Program?

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) consults with the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board (PA WIB) to determine the list of approved programs for the NETS Program. Although Nursing is a critical occupation for the Commonwealth, other programs address the need for nurses.

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Internships

NOTE: Although an internship may be related to the student's major, the same internship/work experience may not meet the NETS Employment guidelines associated with the work obligation.

If a SciTech student is in an approved major, completes a work experience/internship, and then applies for the NETS Program, can that work experience meet the internship requirement of the program? Would an internship in another major field qualify?

Yes. A work experience completed prior to application for the NETS Program can serve as meeting the internship requirement provided it meets the internship guidelines. If a student completes an internship in a qualifying major and then changes to another approved major, another internship in the new major is not required.

The SciTech work experience/internship guidelines indicate that the student's institution can determine the length of the work experience. Is there a minimum time frame? How many weeks?

The length of the work experience/internship should be determined jointly by the employer and the institution.

The SciTech work experience/internship guidelines indicate that the supervision of the educational and work-related experiences will be the responsibility of the institution and the academic department. Is there a form which can be completed by the supervisor of the work experience?

Each institution has the flexibility to establish their own forms/guidelines related to the internship. The financial aid administrator at the school must report completion of the internship requirement to the Agency. The Agency has provided an optional form to schools for this purpose.

The SciTech work experience/internship guidelines state that internships may include co-op or work experience programs. Can a well-defined state or institutional student employment position on campus or off-campus qualify? Do work experiences with state or local government qualify?

A work-study job (a job on or off campus which is part of the student's financial aid package from the school) can fulfill the work experience/internship requirement if it meets the internship guidelines and the guidelines of the institution. The following can be included in the work experience/internship if they meet the guidelines of the institution:

  • A work study job (on or off campus that is part of the student's financial aid package)
  • Payment/academic credit for the work experience/internship
  • Work experience for a state or local government or municipality
Does a work experience that is performed in another state fulfill the internship requirement?

A work experience that is performed in another state can fulfill the internship requirement if it is with a company or firm that has operations in Pennsylvania. All internships must be approved by the postsecondary institution.

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School Certification

If a student completed a work experience in their major without school involvement, what steps should be taken to have it approved for the SciTech internship requirement?

The school must approve the work experience/internship. You may wish to print a copy of the SciTech Internship Guidelines (38 KB PDF), provide it to your academic advisor, and ask for his or her assistance. Once an official at your school has approved your work experience, the financial aid office at your school must be notified so that it can be reported to PHEAA.

What is the grade point average (GPA) requirement for NETS recipients?

First-time SciTech recipients must have a cumulative postsecondary GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of application to the NETS Program, and all recipients of SciTech and Technology Scholarships must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 to continue to receive NETS funds. The student's cumulative GPA will be checked on an annual basis (at the end of the Spring term) by the postsecondary school.

Are there any exceptions to the 3.0 grade point average (GPA) requirement for postsecondary study?

There are no exceptions to this requirement per the NETS statute.

How is a student's cumulative GPA calculated if he/she attends one institution and then transfers to another institution?

The GPA is verified according to the policy of the “transferred to” institution. While credits may transfer to the new institution, generally, grades do not.

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Employment Obligation

Does employment have to be directly related to a student's major in order to fulfill the NETS employment obligation?

Employment must be in a field related to a program approved for the NETS Program. To view a complete list of the 2010-11 approved NETS Program content areas, please see the NETS Program brochure (148 KB PDF).

Education majors: While teaching is an approved field of employment, employment must be in a field related to a NETS approved program of study.

Questions concerning approved employment should be directed to PHEAA. Contact us at nets@pheaa.org or by calling 1-800-692-7392.

NETS recipients must work one year for each year of NETS funds that were received. How is the work obligation computed?

Recipients must work full-time for 12 months for each academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarter terms) of full-time NETS funds received. Each full-time semester award carries a 6-month work obligation and each full-time quarter award carries a 4-month work obligation. Funds received for part-time terms require proportionally less employment.

Some examples:

  • Full-time student receives a SciTech Scholarship for Fall and Spring (an academic year) plus the following Summer (semester) term. Work obligation is 12 months for the academic year funds received plus 6 months for the Summer term funds received for a total of 18 months.
  • Full-time student receives a Technology Scholarship for Fall, Winter and Spring (an academic year) plus the following Summer (quarter) term. Work obligation is 12 months for the academic year funds received plus 4 months for the Summer term funds received for a total of 16 months.
  • Student receives NETS funds for 6 full-time quarter terms (two academic years) plus a half-time Summer quarter. Work obligation is 24 months for the funds received for the 6 quarters plus 2 months for the half-time Summer term for a total of 26 months.
May a NETS recipient continue their studies (in graduate school, for example) before working for a Pennsylvania company?

NETS recipients are required to begin employment within one year of completion of undergraduate studies in a field related to a NETS program of study. However, students who pursue graduate studies may obtain a deferment of the employment obligation if they begin full-time graduate study within one year of receiving their baccalaureate degree. Graduate study deferment may extend to 6 years of continuous graduate school enrollment.

Must a NETS recipient live in Pennsylvania during their work obligation?

No. Although your job location must be in Pennsylvania, you are not required to live in Pennsylvania while fulfilling the work obligation.

May a Technology Scholarship recipient continue their studies toward a baccalaureate degree and receive SciTech Scholarship funds before working for a Pennsylvania firm?

Yes. A student may receive Technology Scholarship funds while enrolled in a program of less than four years in length and then receive SciTech Scholarship funds for enrollment in a baccalaureate degree program. The Program guidelines require that the student be employed within one year of completion of undergraduate studies.

Are there exceptions to the 12-month period for finding work after graduation?

If a thorough, consistent effort has been made to find qualifying work during the 12-month period following graduation, the student should explain their situation in writing to PHEAA.

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