Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I still have a balance on my account? It even still says I have tuition due.

The PSA Scholarship covers only up to base tuition (+ $2500), but does not cover other costs of attendance like academic fees, housing, meals, books, or parking passes.

Even if the amount remaining on your account after the PSA Scholarship is disbursed is listed as “Tuition UG Resident / Non Resident”, the amount remaining may not be covered by your scholarship . The scholarship is disbursed into your account and often will cover smaller charges, but the total amount due to you for being a part of the NGSC has already been awarded.  One way to double check that the PSA Scholarship has been fully disbursed is to look at the “Payments” on your myFinances page.

Hurray, I have money left over in my account! Can I use this money to buy a parking pass or books?

Sure! Though the PSA Scholarship covers the calculations we went through above, the money is deposited into your account as one lump sum each semester. It does not go to specific charges, it just goes to cover the overall charge of the account. The money that is leftover in your account after all your charges for tuition and fees are subtracted you are free to spend as you like.

It looks like we will still need additional money to cover other costs of attendance. Should we accept our Direct Loans/Parent PLUS Loans? How much should we accept? Can we accept some of it and not all?

PSA staff are not qualified or trained to give advice about financial aid and loans. Please reach out directly to Financial Aid – they have folks trained in how to respond to these types of questions: https://students.asu.edu/contact/financialaid.

I see lots of fees in My Accounts. Are these mandatory? Can I get any of these taken off?

For any questions about specific fees, please contact ASU Billing: https://students.asu.edu/tuitionandbilling

I’m thinking of graduating early and starting my Masters degree here at ASU. Will my PSA Scholarship cover my graduate school tuition?

Potentially, yes. Students who graduate early and do not use all eight semesters for undergraduate purposes may use the remaining semesters of eligibility towards an approved master’s program (excludes MBA or law). Their scholarship amount would remain the same as what they were receiving their last semester of undergrad, and does not get recalculated to graduate level tuition. This is in accordance with the New American University Award standards.

When a student applies for graduate school at ASU, we ask them to fill out the Early Graduation Form to notify us and start the conversation. Students receiving the PSA Scholarship as a graduate student must first complete the cross sector leadership certificate before starting their graduate program (unless in a 4+1 program) and must remain engaged in the program’s experiential learning components (internships/activities).

What NGSC events do I need to attend? What events can I skip? 

Throughout your 2 or 4 years at the NGSC, you’ll see annual mandatory and optional events. Students should attend mandatory events as skipping them will impact your program's standing. 

Optional events are not required, however, highly encouraged as they offer valuable information, resources, or networking opportunities that complement your NGSC experience. 

What are each of the mandatory events I need to attend? 

Fall:

• Year 1 Retreat & MT Kickoff

• Mission Team Kickoff

Spring

• NGSC Leadership Conference

• Mission Team Showcase @ Change the World

What do I need to wear/bring to each mandatory event?

A detailed email will be sent prior to each major event, i.e. Retreat, MT Kickoff, workshops, to provide information, context, and required preparation, if any. 

What are the mandatory events for Spring?

Students should refer to their Program Map for spring dates. Location and time will be released during winter break for Spring events. 

What do I need to do on Airtable?

• Periodically check whether your requirements are being met. e.g. Logged activities and event attendance.

• Update all essential information as they change

  • Personal Information, such as phone number, dietary needs, shirt sizes

  • Projected Graduation Date

  • Academic Level

  • Major & College

  • NGSC Certificate Course Progress

What if my records are incorrect?

• Fields with an outline allow you to change the information directly. e.g. T-shirt size, Major, College, Graduation date. You may change these fields directly without requesting any permission from staff. 

• Fields without an outline will require a staff member's approval for changes. Click on the "Request Record Update" button on your Student View homepage. Submit any relevant information for the information to be processed. 

*Information provided should be clear and detailed. Statements such as "My Internship is not showing up" is unclear. Providing any helpful details such as the internship title, type, and date submitted will allow staff to retrieve any lost information. 

When do I start my titled leadership role? 

Students outside of the NGSC Leadership Team may start their leadership position at any time. However, it is strongly encouraged to wait until the completion of your first year in the NGSC. This will allow you time to build a strong foundation before jumping into your titled leadership role. Students pursuing a position on the NGSC Leadership Team are eligible to serve their second year in the program.  

How long am I required to serve in a titled leadership role? 

Students are required to serve in a titled leadership role for a minimum of one semester or 16 weeks. Students Serving on the NGSC Leadership Team must serve for a minimum of 1 consecutive academic year, fall and spring semesters. 

If I am struggling to fulfill my titled leadership role what should I do? 

Immediately contact your Student Leadership Coordinator, Leah Thompson at L.Thompson@asu.edu or any available staff member to discuss your concerns. 

Where can I find additional resources on student leadership? 

Additional leadership resources can be found during NGSC workshops, coursework, Staff, and the NGSC Leadership Library in the stadium office. Contact Student Leadership Coordinator Leah Thompson for more details.  

Is there a penalty for not completing my leadership requirement on time? 

Students are expected to complete all leadership requirements prior to completing the NGSC program. If all requirements are not met students will be ineligible for NGSC graduation and will not receive a medallion or completion certificate. 

What is a committee and what committees are there?

NGSC Student Committees are an optional experience, designed to allow students to have a voice in shaping the program. Students may explore the complete list of committees and their functions here. 

How do I sign up for a committee?

The committee sign-up form. Please note the deadline to sign up for committees above. 

Who do I talk to to get more information about a committee and its responsibilities? 

Students should reach out to the Committee Chair for more information. 

Innovation Committee Chair: Elizabeth Pardhe, epardhe@asu.edu
Communications Committee Chair: Ian Hsu, imhsu1@asu.edu
Civil-Military Committee Chair: Susanna Dodd, sjdodd1@asu.edu
Culture Committee Chair: Isabella Small, ismall2@asu.edu
Transfer [students] Committee Chair: Giselle Lagarda Duarte, glagard1@asu.edu
Ambassadors Committee Chair: Ryleigh Mangundayao, remangun@asu.edu
Admissions Committee Chair: Mia Lafratta,  mlafratt@asu.edu

For any additional information, please reach out to Leah Thompson via Email: l.thompson@asu.edu

How do the Ambassadors & Admissions Committees differ from other committees? 

Students interested in joining the Ambassadors or Admissions committee should also register for PAF 294: NGSC Ambassadors for Leadership and Service course, as it is the only committee that offers a class credit for its members. These two committees require extensive training, workshops, and commitment throughout the year.
Incoming Freshmen & Transfer students may not yet be in the system as NGSC students and thus are unable to register directly for our courses. Please email bryan.custer@asu.edu with your ASUrite, Student ID, and the course number above so he can manually place you in the course.

For additional questions on these two committees, please reach out to the Committee Chair or Kellie Martin, kelliemartin@asu.edu 

Do I have to take all the classes offered in the certificate?

All First-time freshmen are expected to take all of the 5 classes needed to receive the certificate. 

For transfer students the certificate is optional. However, transfer students are required to complete the following courses.

• • NGSC Y1 Workshops

  • PAF 215

  • PAF 315 

  • PAF 421

Can I substitute classes for the certificate?

Yes. Many colleges at ASU offer classes that are comparable to the classes required for the certificate and can also count toward your major or minor. There are classes that have already been approved for reciprocal credit, which can be viewed in the advising packet. If you would like a different class to be considered for reciprocal credit, you will need to email the class syllabus and professor’s contact information to Bryan.Custer@asu.edu. He will review the class content and let you know if reciprocal credit can be given. In some cases, an extra assignment may be required in order for a class to count. 

If I am a Barrett student, can I receive honors credit for any of the required NGSC classes?

Yes. All of the required NGSC classes offer options for honors credit. PAF 215, PAF 415, and PAF 394 automatically award students honors credit. Your instructor should have options posted in your Canvas course, or you can approach them with suggestions for an honors credit project.

If I plan to graduate early, and will be doing graduate school at ASU, can I complete the certificate post-graduation?

Technically, no. Unfortunately, once you graduate your status as a student changes, and you are no longer eligible to receive our undergraduate certificate. However, you can reapply to ASU as a non-degree seeking student and complete your certificate. If you plan to graduate early, it is strongly recommended that all five required classes be completed before you graduate. 

Are any class sections offered at the Poly or West campus?

No, we currently do not currently offer any classes at Poly or West. This is simply because there are not enough students to consistently meet the minimum enrollment requirements set by the college. Students at Poly and West have to find a time to take the required classes Downtown or in Tempe.