Seventy Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs college students are in danger of losing Oregon Tribal Student Grant funding unless they complete their applications before the September 30 deadline, tribal officials warned this week.

The Oregon Tribal Student Grant (OTSG) provides financial support to Native American students enrolled at Oregon colleges and universities. According to CTWS Higher Education Coordinator Gerald Smith, students who applied through the local CTWS Tribal Scholarship are fully compliant — but a significant number of other applicants have incomplete files with the Oregon Student Assistance Commission (OSAC).

What Students Need to Do Now

Smith is urging all students who applied directly through the state for the OTSG — but have not received confirmation that their application is complete — to take action immediately. The two most common missing items are:

  • FAFSA documentation
  • Tribal Verification paperwork

Students can check their application status and submit missing documents by logging in at OregonStudentAid.gov or by calling OSAC directly at (541) 687-7400.

"If you applied for this grant and haven't heard confirmation that your application is complete, don't wait. Log in and check now — this money is available for you." — Gerald Smith, CTWS Higher Education Coordinator

Deadline Is Firm

With fewer than three weeks remaining before September 30, the window to act is narrow. Smith emphasized that the deadline is firm — students who miss it will not receive OTSG funds for the current academic year.

Students who are unsure whether they applied through the CTWS Tribal Scholarship or directly through OSAC should contact the CTWS Higher Education office before navigating the state system on their own.

Why It Matters

The Oregon Tribal Student Grant was created to reduce financial barriers for tribal members pursuing higher education — a population that historically has faced disproportionate obstacles to college completion. Losing access to grant funding mid-semester could put a student's enrollment at risk.

Approximately 70 students are currently flagged as having incomplete applications. Tribal officials are asking family members, community workers, and educators to help spread the word, particularly to students who may not be checking their college email regularly at the start of the semester.

For more information, contact the CTWS Higher Education office on the Warm Springs Reservation.