Arkansas Department Of Higher Education

Date Updated: February 2008

IMPORTANT NOTE: This information is current as of the date this site was updated and is provided for informational purposes only. The eligibility requirements and rules governing the programs administered by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education are subject to legislative and regulatory amendments subsequent to the date this site was updated. Please e-mail the Financial Aid Division at finaid@adhe.edu if you should need further information.

General Information

The Minority Masters Fellows (MMF) Program provides forgivable loans to African-American, Hispanic, Asian American, and Native American students seeking a master’s degree in education in a field other than administration.

MMF recipients may receive $1,250 per three (3) graduate credit hours enrolled, with a maximum award of $3,750 per semester. The maximum lifetime award is $7,500. Students may receive funds until they have received the maximum award of $7,500, or until they complete their master’s degree, or for a maximum of three (3) years, whichever comes first.

MMF recipients must commit to teaching full-time in an Arkansas public school or public institution of higher education for two (2) years for total forgiveness of the loan. This shall be in addition to any teaching obligation the fellow may have to fulfill based on receipt of other ADHE forgivable loans received in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.

Eligibility Requirements

An Applicant must:

be an African-American, Hispanic, Asian American or Native American;
be a bona fide Arkansas resident for at least six (6) months prior to the application deadline;
be a citizen of the United States or permanent resident alien;
be enrolled in an Arkansas public or independent 4-year institution;
have received a baccalaureate degree and be admitted to an approved master's level education program in a field other than administration;
have a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average on a 4.00 scale (or its equivalent);

Priority is given to returning applicants, former recipients of the Minority Teacher Scholars Program, and applicants who completed their baccalaureate degree within the past two (2) years.

For continued eligibility, the recipient must complete a new MMF application and:

meet the above eligibility requirements
maintain a 3.00 cumulative grade point average on a 4.00 scale in courses funded by this program.

MMF Recipient’s Teaching Obligation

MMF recipients must teach full-time in an Arkansas public school or public institution of higher education for two years to receive total forgiveness of their loan. MMF recipients who do not teach full-time in an Arkansas public school or public institution of higher education, or who discontinue their studies prior to completing their program of study, shall go into repayment.

The MMF forgivable loan must be repaid if the recipient does not enroll as a full time college student, fails to complete an approved teacher licensure program, or does not fulfill the required teaching obligation. MMF does not guarantee recipient’s employment.

Applications available beginning February 8, 2008, and are due June 1, 2008.