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Tuition Stipends

As of August 15, 2000, the University of Hawai'i at Manoa (UHM) and the Hawai'i Department of Education (DOE) agreed to issue stipends to students enrolled in the B.Ed., Post-bac, and M.Ed. programs in Special Education. The recipient understands that this tuition stipend is being awarded as part of an effort on the part of the UH and DOE to address the shortage of qualified special education teachers in Hawaii. Therefore, upon completion of all program requirements, the recipient is expected to actively pursue licensure as a special education teacher and teach special education in the DOE.

Criteria

Students who wish to be considered for stipends must meet the following criteria:

  1. Accepted into a Special Education program at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
  2. Resident of the state of Hawai‘i
  3. Not already licensed in Special Education
  4. Submitted a completed, signed and notarized official Commitment Letter

Conditions

Conditions: Acceptance of the stipends is in acknowledgement of the following conditions:

  1. The total amount of the stipends received under the Agreement is considered income by the IRS and is, therefore, taxable. 1099 forms will be issued and reported to the IRS at the end of each calendar year.
  2. Only programs leading to licensure in special education have stipends attached. Stipend payments will be issued to the student at the beginning of each semester. The amount has been pro-rated according to the number of special education credit hours required for each program across the number of semesters scheduled for each program.
  3. If a student is required to repeat a course for any reason (no pass, withdraw after the official drop date, etc.), the student will receive no additional stipend.
  4. Commitment to teach as a special education teacher in the DOE as follows:
    • a minimum of three years for the dual preparation and post-baccalaureate programs, or
    • a minimum of five years upon completion of all M.Ed. program courses

Breach of Contract

Should the recipient voluntarily terminate his/her educational program before completion or be dismissed from the program, the recipient shall be required to repay the DOE the entire amount of tuition assistance received within one year from termination and/or dismissal. In the event the recipient fails to repay this amount; the matter will be referred to the Department of the Attorney General for collection.
 
Should the recipient accept employment as a special education teacher in a Hawaii public school, but fail to remain employed for the required minimum number of years, the recipient shall be required to repay the DOE a percentage of tuition assistance received, determined by the recipient’s years of service as a licensed special education teacher, within one year from the last day of employment as a special education teacher.

For More Information

Check out our Tuition Stipend FAQ's.
 
Contact:
Marly Wilson
(808) 956-8450
marlyw@hawaii.edu