• Employment as a full-time nurse faculty at an accredited school of nursing (i.e., baccalaureate or higher degree, associate degree or diploma schools of nursing)
• Employment as a part-time faculty member at an accredited school of nursing in combination with another part-time faculty member role
• Employment as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), where the FNP is a full-time preceptor for nurse practitioner students. The health facility will need to sign off on the Certification of Employment form or the loan recipient will need to show proof of the educator role with documents such as the job description when submitting the annual loan cancellation paperwork. Additionally, the School of Nursing for which the FNP is a preceptor will need to sign off on the Certification of Employment form.
• Combination of positions such as a full-time or part-time role in a health care setting where the role has some component of providing education to nurse practitioner students AND teaching as an adjunct at a school of nursing at least once a year. The educational component in a health care setting will include serving as a clinical preceptor. The role does not need to include “educator” in the title. The health facility will need to sign off on the Certification of Employment form or the loan recipient will need to show proof of the educator role with documents such as the job description when submitting the annual loan cancellation paperwork. Additionally, the School of Nursing for which the FNP is a preceptor will need to sign off on the Certification of Employment form.

To be eligible to receive an NFLP loan, a borrower must:

• Be a citizen or national of the U.S., or a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and its territories.
• Have no judgment liens entered against him/her based on the default on a federal debt.
• Be enrolled as a student in good standing in the DNP program at Belmont.
• Maintain "good academic standing" according to Belmont while enrolled in the DNP program.
• Be a full-time student in the Belmont DNP program.
• Students must maintain enrollment for a minimum of two consecutive terms/semesters (either full-time or part-time) during an academic year while receiving the NFLP loan support.
• The NFLP is not a need-based program, but a FAFSA must be completed each year that funds are requested in order to document citizenship and lack of any liens or default on a federal student debt.

Belmont will make NFLP loans to eligible students for the cost of tuition, fees, books, lab expenses and other reasonable education expenses (excluding stipend support, i.e., living expenses, transportation cost, room/board, and personal expenses).Belmont will offer full support or the amount requested by the student to cover the full or partial tuition and fees on a first-come-first-serve basis for an academic year until funds are expended.

• An NFLP loan may not exceed $35,500 per student for any academic year and not to exceed five years of support to a student.
• Subject to availability of funds and the recipient maintaining good academic standing, the loan will be made annually for the period required to complete the course of study.
• The borrower must sign a promissory note prior to disbursement of loan funds in any term that NFLP funds are to be received.
• In addition to NFLP support, students may receive support from other Federal programs provided that the funds are not used to cover the same costs.
• Belmont must conduct and document an entrance interview for each academic year during which the student receives an NFLP loan.

Up to 85% of the principal and interest of an NFLP loan can be cancelled over a consecutive four-year period as follows:

• Upon completion by the borrower of each of the first, second, and third year of full-time employment as a faculty member in a school of nursing or nurse practitioner preceptor, 20% of the principal and interest on the NFLP loan will be cancelled, as determined on the first day of employment, and
• Upon completion by the borrower of the fourth year of full-time employment as a faculty member in a school of nursing or nurse practitioner preceptor, 25% of the principal and interest on the NFLP loan will be cancelled, as determined on the first day of employment.

The NFLP loan is repayable over a ten-year period beginning nine months after the borrower completes the Belmont DNP program, ceases to be enrolled as a student in the Belmont DNP program, or ceases to be employed as full-time nurse faculty or nurse practitioner preceptor. Interest accrues as follows:

• The NFLP loan will bear interest on the unpaid balance at the rate of 3% per annum beginning three months after the borrower graduates from the Belmont DNP program.
• The NFLP loan will bear interest at the prevailing market rate if the borrower fails to complete the Belmont DNP program or fails to serve as a nurse faculty member or nurse practitioner preceptor for the consecutive four- year period. (Each quarter, a prevailing interest rate is determined by HHS.)

Applying for Admission
To be considered for NFLP, you must complete an application for admission to the DNP program at Belmont, be admitted, and submit an enrollment deposit, all no later than mid-May prior to Fall entry.   Only students who have paid an enrollment deposit will be considered for the NFLP, if and when Belmont receives funding for the program.  More information about applying for admission.

Applying for NFLP Consideration
Once admitted and after an enrollment deposit is submitted to secure your seat in the entering class, you must officially notify Belmont via email of your interest in being considered for the NFLP, if funded.  Notification must be sent to gradnursing@belmont.edu.  Please note: Students selected to participate in the NFLP will be required to forfeit any previously awarded Belmont scholarships, including scholarships awarded for academic merit.

Applying for Loan
If selected to participate in the NFLP, the following items must be completed:

• Complete a FAFSA and enter Belmont’s code, 003479.  FAFSA should be completed before selection to the NFLP.
• Print and complete the NFLP Loan Application; submit to Belmont’s Student Financial Services (SFS).

After Applying for Loan
Student Financial Services will review your application for completion and confirm your eligibility.

• An award letter will be sent to you indicating the amount for which you qualify. It must be signed and returned to SFS in order for your loan to be disbursed.
• You must attend an in-person entry counseling session with a staff member in SFS.
• You will sign a promissory note at that session and review your Rights and Responsibilities as a NFLP borrower.
• Loan funds will be disbursed at the start of each semester or the completion of the process described above.