Applications for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) are due:
  • August 1 for fall semester
  • December 1 for spring semester
  • May 1 for summer semester

The NFLP is a service cancelable loan available to DNP and Ph.D. students who plan to teach after graduation. Students apply annually for a loan to cover tuition costs, books, fees, and software. Students who apply annually will have all expenses covered for their doctoral degrees, including the project and dissertation credit hours. However, this loan does not fund costs for living expenses and travel.

Application

To apply for the NFLP, students must:

  • Be enrolled full-time or part-time in the DNP or Ph.D. program;
  • Agree to take at least two nurse education classes as electives or in addition to the established program of study
  • Be in good academic standing;
  • Meet citizenship requirements;
  • Must NOT be in default on other Federal loans; and
  • Complete the ONLINE NFLP Application.
  • Candidates must also complete FAFSA online to be considered for funds.

Funds are awarded through the UAH Office of Financial Aid, and students must accept the award and sign promissory notes before funds are placed in student accounts by the Bursar’s Office.

Enrollment

Students who take courses according to their programs of study are eligible to apply annually for the NFLP. Students who request a leave of absence are not eligible to receive the NFLP during that period but can restart the NFLP when they return. Students who received the NFLP but become inactive in the program must start repayment of the NFLP at the prevailing interest rate.

Application/Reapplication Process

This form will be filled out new once and only once. Afterwards you will be assigned a Tasks within Kuali Build for you to reapply annually for each academic year. Important Note: Do not start a new applications. Instead, access your existing NFLP application document via Kuali Build My Documents or your Document Dashboard to manage all NFLP-related activities.

All NFLP applicants no matter where you are in the progress of you education must apply once using the NFLP Application.  


Steps for annual Reapplication to the NFLP Program:

  • Log in to Kuali Build: Access your account at Kuali Build and navigate to My Documents or the Document Dashboard.
  • Locate Your NFLP Application: Find your existing NFLP application document in the list of tasks or documents.
  • Select the Appropriate Academic Year: Within the application, locate the Pick a Task dropdown and select the appropriate academic year for your reapplication upcoming Academic Year.
  • Complete and Submit: Update any required information, review your submission for accuracy, and submit the reapplication task as instructed.

Please save a copy of your reapplication document for your records, as you will need to refer to it for future loan requests or updates. Ensure that the email address listed with UAH Financial Aid is current, as you will need to accept the award before funds are disbursed to your student account. For summer semester loans, log in to Banner Self Service to acknowledge enrollment in summer courses, as this is an additional required step.

Required HEARTLAND ECSI Forms

The following forms, sent by the Loan Processor, are required for each loan:

Please ensure these forms are completed accurately and submitted as instructed by the Loan Processor. Make sure that however you sign your forms that are submitted to Heartland ECSI (our loan processor), you use the exact name for all future forms.

Post-Cancellation Forms (Post-Graduation)

After successfully graduating, you may be eligible to submit the following forms:

  • EXHIBIT D: Certification of Employment Form (Student must submit annually (for 4 years) after completing each year of successful employment as a Nurse Faculty. Must be signed by employer, and UAH CON Authorized Official, then submitted to Heartland ECSI by student)
  • EXHIBIT E: NFLP Request for Partial Cancellation (Student must submit annually (for 4 years) after completing each year of successful employment as a Nurse Faculty. Must be signed by UAH CON Authorized Official, then submitted to Heartland ECSI by student)
  • EXHIBIT G: NFLP Request for Postponement of Installment Payment (Student must submit annually, but may submit this in the first year while in their grace period prior to completing a year of employment as a Nurse Faculty. Must be signed by UAH CON Authorized Official, then sent to Heartland ECSI by student)

Optional Forms (as needed)

The following forms may be used as needed:

  • EXHIBIT F: Due Diligence Form (Internal Compliance Form used if you are requesting loan deferment under specific circumstances such as active duty in a branch of the military, participation in Peace Corp, or enrollment in a degree program after graduation form our DNP or PhD program)
  • EXHIBIT H: NFLP Deferment Form (Must be submitted to UAH CON and signed by an Authorized Official then sent to Heartland ECSI by student)
  • EXHIBIT J: Forbearance Request Form (Must be submitted to UAH CON and signed by an Authorized Official, then sent to Heartland ECSI by student)

We encourage you to review these requirements and consider: What steps can you take now to ensure all necessary forms are organized and ready for submission? Keeping your contact information within the Kuali Form Document updated and checking your email regularly for communications from the Loan Processor will help streamline the process.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Dr. Lenora Smith lenora.smith@uah.edu.

Graduation

The NFLP is 85% cancelable under the following conditions:

  • Students complete the doctoral program and the required education courses.
  • Alumni take full-time nurse faculty employment in one of three ways:
    • Employment as a full-time faculty position in an accredited school of nursing;
    • Employment as a part-time faculty member at an accredited school of nursing in combination with another part-time faculty position or part-time clinical preceptor/educator position affiliated with an accredited school of nursing that together equates to full-time employment; or
    • Designation of nurse faculty in a joint nurse faculty appointment serving as full-time advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) preceptor for an accredited school of nursing, within an academic-practice partnership contract.
  • The loan is canceled over a 4-year-period is as follows: 20% of the principal and interest may be canceled upon completion of each of the first, second, and third years of full-time employment, which, after three years, totals 60%, followed by the cancellation of 25% of the principal and interest upon completion of the fourth year of full-time employment.
  • Repayment of the remaining 15% of the loan balance and interest is postponed during the cancellation period. NFLP loans accrue interest at a rate of 3% per annum beginning 3 months after graduation (per PHS Act Section 846A (c)(6)(A)) for loan recipients who establish employment as nurse faculty.
  • Failure to get employment as described above will result in an interest rate change to the prevailing rate.