Money Matters. Financial Aid and Student Account Services WELCOME TO PSU!

Transcription

1 Money Matters Financial Aid and Student Account Services WELCOME TO PSU!

2 Introductions Andrew Morrow Director of Student Account Services Crystal Gaff Director of Financial Aid

3 Student Accounts Only accessible online via the myplymouth portal Go to the Services tab In the My Finances area click View my Bill The responsibility of the Student Protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) No paper bills will be sent. All billing notifications are sent to the student s plymouth.edu account (and to any account granted Bill Notification in Family Access).

4 Role Reversals A New Partnership is Forming Student Role (Driver): Share billing information with Parent/ Guardian via myplymouth portal: 1. On the myplymouth Welcome tab 2. Scroll down to Family Access & click Invite Someone 3. Select Bill Notification & Bill View (& any others you wish) 4. Check off FERPA authorization and click Grant Access Family Role (Navigator/Passenger) Respond to from system to confirm relationship & set up own myplymouth. Be aware of payment deadlines and FAFSA processes and help students stay on track.

5 Online Bill

6 Major Semester Billing Billing Schedule: Fall Bill Online: July 11, 2014 Due: August 8, 2014 Spring Bill Online : November 7, 2014 Due: December 5, 2014

7 Late Payments Pay your bill on time and avoid: Being dropped from your classes for non-payment Holds on your account that will prevent you from adding/dropping classes Late fees (1.5%)

8 Monthly Billing Miscellaneous Charges Library Fines Parking Fines Damage Charges Other New Institutional Charges

9 Payment Options Financial Aid Online E-check Credit Card or Debit Card (with 2.75% service fee) Cash, check or money order Scholarships and Third Party Payments TMS Payment Plans Combine these to best suit your financial situation.

10 TMS Monthly Payment Plan Interest Free program/not a Loan $65 Annual Enrollment Fee You decide how much to pay via the plan Sign up through Tuition Management Systems (TMS) a link to their website can be found on our Student Account Services webpage Enrollment deadlines and more options are listed on our website Monitor your online bill throughout the year and contact us should you need to adjust your monthly payment

11 Outside Scholarships & Third Party Payments PSU can bill out for outside scholarships and list them as pending payments if: All necessary information is received (see web site) AND There are no eligibility restrictions. All outside scholarships and third party payments are: Reported to the IRS as Scholarships/Grants on FORM 1098T (Note: College Savings Plan and TMS payment plans are treated as personal payments.) Are factored as a resource in Financial Aid Packaging per federal regulations This includes payments from Federal/State/Non-profit agencies, Civic/Social clubs, Private/Public businesses, Veterans benefits, etc.

12 Your initial bill will include: Your Bill Account Activity: Tuition and Mandatory Fees Room and Board Charges Course Fees (if applicable) Overload Charges (if applicable) TMS Payments* Pending Activity: Pending Financial Aid Pending 3 rd Party Payments Account Notes: TMS Payment Plan* *TMS Tuition Management Systems partners with PSU to offer monthly payment plans.

13 Online Bill

14 Account Credits... Are refunded to the student regardless of the source Must be requested by the student via the online bill Will only be processed via Direct Deposit Exception: Federally required refunds to the Parent PLUS borrower will be paid via a paper check after the end of the Add/Drop period. NOTE: Parents can release refund to the student on an annual basis. Tip: Be sure the student has a checking/savings account in his/her name and has access to the routing and bank account numbers. Are available after the Add/Drop period For textbook purchases: Approximately 5 days prior to the start of the term, account credits from financial aid (up to $600) can be transferred to your FlexCash card for use move in weekend at the campus bookstore.

15 Take-Aways Start Payment Planning Now Complete Family Access Watch plymouth.edu For Billing Info No Paper Bills will be sent Visit our Student Account Services Website for Information Still have questions? We re here to help! Come see us our tables on the green Visit our office, 108 Speare Building Call ; Toll Free:

16 PSU Financial Aid Team SPEARE Administration Bldg. Garden Level, Room 108 This presentation is online

17 PSU FINANCIAL AID ONLINE PAPERLESS PROCESS Services Tab myfinances My Financial Aid myplymouth Choose aid year from the drop down box in upper right and click go What you will find: Messages Financial Aid Award Action Required Cost of Attendance Scroll through page for all info

18 FOR STUDENT SUCCESS FREQUENTLY ACCESS PSU campus account myplymouth Share information with FAMILY (student is driver set up Family Access Channel; Invite Someone ) You are only able to provide access to financial aid online to your parents listed on the FAFSA form

19 COMPLETE FAFSA ANNUALLY by March 1 st even if Tax returns are not complete Use ESTIMATED tax information & UPDATE once completed Preferred FAFSA Process - ***IRS Data Retrieval***

20 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS TWO final steps: ENTRANCE LOAN COUNSELING MASTER PROMISSORY NOTE (MPN) -links found on myplymouth: Action Required -REMINDER PROVIDED AT ORIENTATION CHECK-IN; DID YOU RECEIVE THE ENVELOPE? 1.073% fee deducted

21 Two types: Federal Direct Student Loans SUBsidized: Interest does not accrue while the student is in school UNsubsidized: Interest begins to accrue at time of disbursement interest rate fixed at 4.66% REPAYMENT BEGINS AFTER STUDENT GRADUATES, WITHDRAWS FROM SCHOOL OR DROPS BELOW HALF- TIME (Note: 6 MONTH ONE-TIME GRACE PERIOD)

22 Federal Direct Student Loans ANNUAL STUDENT MAXIMUMS: combination of Subsidized and Unsubsidized OR all Unsubsidized depending upon FAFSA results First Year 0-23 Credits: $5,500 2 nd Year Credits: $6,500 3 rd Year and beyond 48 + Credits: $7,500

23 Federal PERKINS Student Loan (if eligible) TWO final steps: ENTRANCE LOAN COUNSELING MASTER PROMISSORY NOTE (MPN) (links found on myplymouth: Action Required) Interest rate fixed at 5% Potential loan forgiveness opportunities REPAYMENT BEGINS AFTER STUDENT GRADUATES, WITHDRAWS FROM SCHOOL OR DROPS BELOW HALF-TIME (NOTE: 9 MONTH ONE-TIME GRACE PERIOD)

24 Federal DIRECT Parent Loan (PLUS brochure in Parent Packet) PSU identifies maximum eligibility (COA-STUDENT S AID) Steps to complete on PSU FA website: 1. Parent Loan Request Form 2. MPN for Direct PLUS (Authorizes Credit Check) If denied additional Federal Direct Student Unsubsidized Loan awarded ($4,000/$5,000) Fee deducted with every disbursement Prior to October 1, % October 1, 2014 and after 4.292% Fixed 7.21% interest rate Payments begin 60 days after final academic year disbursement, OR PARENTS MAY: AFTER first disbursement - -Request Forbearance from Direct Borrower Services -Pay accrued interest/principal while in Forbearance, or -Allow interest to be capitalized

25 ALTERNATIVE Student Loans (aka Private Loans) FAST Choice Loan Comparison Tool offered through Great Lakes available on the PSU Financial Aid Website (Undergraduate Loans) Loan is Based on Creditworthiness Usually requires a co-borrower Usually lower fees/rates with co-borrower VARIABLE or FIXED rates (MASS/MEFA; CT/CHESLA; VT/VSAC) Some loans require in-school interest payments

26 Student Employment Annual Federal Work Study award IS NOT applied to your bill Student is responsible for securing position Working on campus is encouraged Convenient & creates relationships with PSU Faculty, Staff and Community Provides spending (or savings) money Additional learning/work experience STUDENT EMPLOYMENT FAIR DAY 2; HUB COURTROOM 12:30-1:30 Financial Aid Website STUDENT EMPLOYMENT - Available positions (Not all available positions are posted online) Hiring Departments and contact information

27 Standards of Satisfactory Progress policy (SAP) Number of years enrolled Annual completion rate 150% of Program maximum To graduate in FOUR years (EIGHT SEMESTERS), must average credits per semester Books - Use personal/summer savings to purchase

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29 MORE. PSU limits merit awards to 4 years for full-time students Summer and Winterim terms provide a great opportunity for students to get ahead or catch-up (online or on-campus) PSU Advancement scholarship opportunities (start process early February; deadlines vary)

30 BEST WISHES & WELCOME TO PSU!! PLEASE VISIT: $MART and ASK CAITLYN Facebook Pages