May a Principal Fellow be employed while participating in the program?
Part-time employment is allowed during the first year of the program as long as it does not interfere with meeting the obligations of the PFP and does not exceed 20 hours per week. Employment during the second year of the program is not permitted due to the full-time internship.
What about my health insurance, State retirement, and teaching license experience credit?
If, as a Principal Fellow, you are on leave from a State-paid position, your health insurance will continue to be paid by the State. Your retirement account is held in abeyance, although you may choose to contribute while in the program or buy back the two years after returning to service. Principal Fellows can earn one year of experience credit on their license for the year spent in the full-time internship.
THE SCHOLARSHIP LOAN
What are the responsibilities of the State Education Assistance Authority?
The State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA) performs all of the fiscal functions necessary to administer the scholarship loan program including: rule making, disbursement, receipt, and determination of the acceptability of service repayment.
How is the scholarship loan paid to the student?
First year Fellows currently receive $15,000 at the beginning of each semester (fall and spring) of the first year. The second year Fellows currently receive at the beginning of each semester (fall and spring) 1/2 of (60% of a first year assistant principal salary as paid on the state salary schedule + $4,100). No payments are made during the summer. The funds are sent to the financial aid office at the Principal Fellows campus where tuition and fees are deducted and the balance is issued to the student. The issue of the balance may come as late as October for the fall semester and February for the spring semester.
These funds are separate from the 40% of a beginning assistant principal salary as paid on the state salary schedule the second year Fellow also receives across the ten month second year internship, which is not a part of the scholarship/loan.
Is the scholarship loan taxed?
Neither the Principal Fellows Program nor SEAA function as tax advisers. It is recommended that you obtain and review IRS Publication #520 “Scholarships and Fellowships” and consult with your tax adviser.
How is the scholarship loan repaid?
The scholarship loan is repaid through service as a school-based administrator (assistant principal or principal) at a North Carolina public school. A Principal Fellow is expected to serve as an administrator for a minimum of four (4) years. Service Repayment must begin within six (6) years of graduating from the MSA program. If the Service Repayment terms are not met, the Principal Fellow will repay in cash at 10% interest.
Can the scholarship loan be transferred from one university to another?
Under certain circumstances, the scholarship loan may be transferred from one university participating in the PFP to another participating university.
What is the purpose of the Principal Fellows Program (PFP)?
The program, which is funded by the General Assembly, was established to ensure that highly qualified educators are able to earn the Master of School Administration (MSA) degree in two years on a full-time basis and to provide a cadre of well-trained administrative candidates to all North Carolina public school systems.
What does the scholarship loan provide?
First year Fellows receive $30,000. This amount is divided in half and dispersed from the NC SEAA twice per year to each Fellows campus financial aid office at the beginning of each semester. Tuition and fees are subtracted from the amount. The balance can be accessed by Fellows for remaining expenses.
Second year Fellows receive 60% of current beginning assistant principal monthly salary multplied by 10, plus $4,100. This amount is divided in half and dispersed from the NC SEAA twice per year to each Fellows campus financial aid office at the beginning of each semester (fall and spring). Tuition fees are subtracted from the amount. The balance can be accessed by Fellows for remaining expenses.
Separate and in addition to the scholarship loan, second year Fellows receive 40% of current beginning assistant principal monthly salary multiplied by 10. The money will be allotted from the NC Department of Public Instruction to each Fellows internship school system. Each Fellow will receive a monthly check from the school system of the amount less all applicable taxes.
What is the role of the Principal Fellows Commission?
Commission members, who are appointed according to North Carolina General Statute 116-74.4, have the responsibility of approving university sites for the program, determining the selection criteria, establishing the method of selection, and selecting the recipients to receive the scholarship loans scholarship loans.
Where do I obtain an application for the Principal Fellows Program?
Applications are available on the NC Principal Fellows Program website, beginning approximately July 1, of each year for the January deadline of the following year.
What is the timeline for submitting an application?
Applications for the next academic year are available in July and the deadline for submission of a completed application is mid January. Selection is in the spring and recipients are notified in early May. For example, to apply for the scholarship loan to assist you with the MSA program which begins Fall 2009, the application is made available July 1, 2008, and is due by the posted deadline in January of 2009.
Must I meet all application criteria and requirements to be considered for the Principal Fellows Program?
Yes, the criteria are minimums and all must be met for a candidate to be eligible for consideration to receive the scholarship loan.
Must I also apply to graduate school at the university I wish to attend?
Yes, the PFP application is for the scholarship loan only. A candidate must apply, and be unconditionally admitted, to an MSA program as an eligibility requirement for the PFP. The timelines and deadlines for admission to graduate school at the universities vary from campus to campus and may be different from the PFP.
What obligations must I meet as a Principal Fellow?
One must be enrolled full-time and remain in good standing in an MSA program at a university participating as an approved Principal Fellows Program site, complete a full-time internship in a public school during the second year of the program, and participate in professional development activities provided by the PFP.
What are the requirements of the full-time internship?
One must be enrolled as a full-time graduate student (9 hours minimum) and serve as a full-time intern in a public school during the second year as a Principal Fellow. While serving as an intern, Principal Fellows receive a stipend in addition to the scholarship loan. The stipend is paid by the Department of Public Instruction. The amount is set by the General Assembly.
What are professional development activities?
Activities that are supplementary to the MSA program with a focus on leadership development. Professional development activities are offered at the state level through the PFP office to all Principal Fellows and are also offered by the individual university programs.
Am I required to take a leave of absence from my school district?
Principal Fellows are required to be enrolled as full-time students during the first year of academic studies and to participate in a full-time internship during the second year. These requirements necessitate taking a leave of absence or resigning from a full-time position.
What are the application requirements?
To be considered for the PFP scholarship loan, each applicant must meet the following criteria:
1. Be a domiciliary (legal resident) of North Carolina ;
2. Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution;
3. Have at least a 3.2 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 hours of study, graduate work;
4. Be unconditionally admitted as a full-time student in the first year of the two year Master of Administration program at one of the participating UNC institutions by the date the Principal Fellows Commission selects the recipients;
5. Have completed no more than two courses that apply toward the master’s in educational administration;
6. Have a minimum of four (4) years of successful teaching experience or other relevant experience;
7. Provide evidence of leadership and management potential;
8. Provide evidence of communication skills;
9. Be willing to practice at an approved site in NC as a full- time administrator for four (4) years, within six (6) years of completing the master’s degree, or repay in cash the amount received through the Principal Fellows Program plus interest at a rate of 10%.
For additional information on the NC Principal Fellows Program requirements and application criteria, click here or call:
Caroline Green North Carolina Principal Fellows Program
(c) 2008