Financial Aid Office

Transcription

1 Wentworth Military Academy and College Financial Aid Office You may contact the Wentworth Financial Aid Office at: (660) or (800) Wentworth Military Academy and College Financial Aid Office 1880 Washington Avenue Lexington MO FAFSA School Code # Complete the FAFSA at

2 APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID Students should complete the online FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at prior to April 1 st each year. Additional school choices may be added later through the FAFSA correction process. RECORDS FOR FAFSA COMPLETION IRS Tax Return Transcripts W-2 forms and other records of money earned Records of untaxed income (veteran s non education benefits, child support, or other assistance) Current bank statements Business and farm records Records of stocks, bonds, and other investments Note: Students may apply for aid even if the tax return is not yet filed. However, providing estimated income information on the application often results in selection for verification. A free Tax Return Transcript is available upon request at or by calling FINANCIAL AID AWARD LETTER The FAFSA results are transmitted to the Financial Aid Office within a few days after the student submits the online application. Other documentation may be requested the school has to review about one in every three applications for accuracy. The student may need to provide federal tax forms and complete a verification worksheet. Students with special circumstances that might affect the amount their family is expected to contribute to the cost of education may request consideration for professional judgment from the Financial Aid Office. Once the student s aid eligibility is determined, Wentworth will send an award letter listing the types and amounts of aid available. The student is asked to mark through or reduce loan amounts as desired, sign the award letter, and return to the Financial Aid Office. If requesting loans, the student must: (1) return a signed Award Letter indicating the loan amount(s) accepted, (2) complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and (3) entrance counseling online at studentloans.gov 2

3 TEXTBOOKS AND SUPPLIES Students may order books and supplies through the virtual bookstore ecampus. Financial aid recipients can utilize this process and charge the order to their student account. If the student chooses not to order books through ecampus, they will receive any excess aid (minus tuition, fees, room and board) at the time of disbursement. FINANCIAL AID DISBURSEMENT Financial aid funds are applied to student accounts during the third week of the term. Excess aid checks are mailed within 14 days of when funds are credited to student accounts. SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS Federal regulations require that a student be making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward earning a degree in order to receive federal financial aid. All recipients of federal financial aid program funds (Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Direct Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans) are subject to these standards for renewal of financial aid eligibility. Students applying for financial aid must be in compliance with the SAP policy prior to completion of the award letter process and disbursement of federal and state financial aid funds. State financial assistance programs (Access Missouri) may require different standards of satisfactory academic progress. SAP evaluation is based upon the total coursework (including transfer hours) as it appears on the student s academic transcript. An official transcript is required from all previous institutions that a student has attended. This includes a final high school transcript (with ACT/SAT scores) or GED, and transcripts from all other colleges attended. Wentworth College does not offer noncredit or remedial courses that would be eligible for financial aid. Wentworth College does not use Incomplete as a measure of completion on the transcript. Courses will either be graded (including a failing grade) or display as Withdrawn. Courses from which the student has officially withdrawn, but on which financial aid was earned, will be counted as attempted and go against the pace and percentage of completion measurement. Withdrawn courses will not count against the GPA. Hours of repeated courses are counted as hours attempted, both when originally taken and when repeated. These total hours are also calculated within the pace and percentage of completion determination. 3

4 The minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress are evaluated at the end of each semester for currently enrolled financial aid recipients by the following criteria: Financial Aid Warning/Suspension-GPA Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA based on the total number of credit hours attempted (both Wentworth and transfer hours are considered). SAP evaluations are made at the end of each financial aid payment period (semester). Financial aid recipients whose cumulative GPA drops below 2.0 (or who transfer in with a cumulative GPA below 2.0) will be placed on Financial Aid Warning. Once placed on Financial Aid Warning, the student will have one semester to achieve a 2.0 cumulative GPA. If during that semester the student does not achieve a cumulative 2.0 GPA, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension. If placed on Financial Aid Suspension, the student is required to take at least 12 hours at their own expense and achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 before financial aid will be reinstated. Financial Aid Warning/Suspension -Pace and Percentage of Completion Financial aid recipients may be placed on warning or suspension as a result of not being on pace to complete their degree. Federal regulations mandate that the maximum timeframe for undergraduate programs of study be no longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program. Thus, students must successfully complete at least two-thirds of the credit hours attempted during each payment period. At Wentworth, 64 credit hours are required to earn an associate degree. This means that 96 hours is the maximum on which students may be eligible for federal financial aid while completing all requirements for graduation. Example: Pace is equal to the cumulative number of hours successfully completed divided by the cumulative number of hours attempted. If a student has attempted 30 hours and completed 25 hours, his pace would be 25 divided by 30 or 83%. He/she is still on pace to graduate. However, if 30 hours are attempted and only 18 are successfully completed, that equals 60% --- a pace that is below the required 67%. In addition, if a SAP review indicates that a student cannot complete his program with 96 credits, all financial aid must stop. Example: If a student has attempted 70 hours (110% of 64) and only completed 30 hours, he/she would still need 34 hours to earn his degree. The 34 hours needed plus the 70 already attempted total 104 hours. Thus it is impossible for him/her to complete the program in the 150% (or 96 hours) timeframe allowed and no more financial aid could be awarded. 4

5 Appeal Process/Probation Students who have been placed on Financial Aid Suspension may appeal their suspension status. An appeal must include (1) a detailed explanation of the circumstances which contributed to a student not being able to make the required satisfactory progress and (2) an explanation of what will change during the next term that will bring the student into SAP compliance. The appeal is made in writing to the Financial Aid Office and the decision is final. If successfully appealed, the student s SAP status will change to probation for the next payment period. The student may receive aid for that payment period. Upon completion of the probation period, the student must have achieved the 2.0 cumulative GPA and the required percentage of program completion to retain financial aid eligibility. Failure to do so will return the student to a financial aid suspension status. However, an option to remain on probation for one more payment period may be granted if the student is successfully following an approved academic plan. Notification to Student A student will be notified in writing at the time he/she is placed in a financial aid SAP warning, suspension, or probation status. The student will also be notified when successfully emerging from any of those statuses. Change of Major and Degree Program Students must be enrolled as degree seeking in order to qualify for federal and state financial aid programs. In , Wentworth College added the Associate of Applied Science degree as a student option. Students who choose to switch majors from the Associate of Arts degree to the Applied Science degree (or from Applied Science to the Associate of Arts) may have credits attempted and grades earned that do not count toward the new major. In these instances, uncounted credits attempted and grades earned will not be included in the SAP determination. However, such an allowance is limited to changing majors one time (students cannot avoid the SAP policy by changing majors more than once). Earning a Second Degree The above policy also applies to students who choose to earn both degree options at Wentworth. 5

6 TOTAL WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASSES A student is required to follow official procedures when withdrawing from all classes. For the Lexington campus, contact the Student Services Office for instructions. If withdrawing from classes at Cameron, Heritage, or Lamar, contact the respective site-coordinator for instructions. EFFECT OF EARLY WITHDRAWAL ON TITLE IV AID The law specifies how Wentworth Military Academy and College must determine the amount of Title IV program assistance that a student has earned if withdrawing from school. The programs covered by this regulation include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Stafford and PLUS Loans, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). When a student withdraws from all classes during a payment period, the amount of Title IV program assistance that has been earned up to that point is determined by a specific formula. This calculation incorporates a last date of attendance. Wentworth College requires its instructors to take attendance for each class session. Attendance is recorded in Wentworth s student information database and the Financial Aid Office relies on that system to determine the date the student last attended. If the student or parent received (or WMA received on their behalf) less assistance than the amount that was earned, the student may be able to receive those additional funds. If the student received more assistance than was earned, the excess funds must be returned by the school. If the student did not receive all of the funds earned, a post-withdrawal disbursement may be available. If it includes loan funds, Wentworth must obtain permission before disbursement. The student may choose to decline some or all of the loan funds rather than incur additional debt. Wentworth may use all or a portion of post-withdrawal grant funds to cover remaining school tuition, fees, and room/board charges. There may be Title IV Funds scheduled to be received that cannot be disbursed after the student s withdrawal because of other requirements. For example, first-time borrowers who did not complete the first 30 days of the term before withdrawal cannot receive any Direct Loan funds. 6

7 If the student or parent receives (or Wentworth receives on their behalf) excess Title IV program funds that must be returned, Wentworth must return a portion of the excess equal to the lesser of: 1) institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentages of funds, or 2) the entire amount of excess funds Using the Return to Title IV Funds (R2T4) formula required by the U.S. Department of Education, the Financial Aid Office will determine the respective aid amounts to be returned and inform the student by letter. Any amount of unearned grant funds that must be returned is an overpayment. The maximum amount of a grant overpayment that the student must repay is equal to one half of the grant funds received. The student must make arrangements with the school or Department of Education to return unearned grant funds. Loan funds (including PLUS loans that the parent borrowed) are returned or repaid in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. Students who have questions about Title IV programs can contact the Wentworth Financial Aid Office or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at FEDAID ( ). Information is also available online at Wentworth Refund Policy/Amounts Owed The requirements for Title IV program funds after withdrawal from classes are separate from the Wentworth refund policy. Therefore, students may still owe funds to Wentworth to cover unpaid institutional charges. Wentworth may also charge the student for any Title IV program funds that the school was required to return but had already been applied to the student account. 7

8 STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Students should understand that they have the following rights and responsibilities to consider in choosing a school to attend. RIGHTS: I have a right to ask a school The names of the accrediting and licensing organizations About the academic programs (instructional, laboratory, physical facilities, and faculty) The cost of attendance, and the refund policy to students when classes are dropped What financial assistance is available (federal, state, and institutional aid programs) Procedures and deadlines for submitting financial aid applications How financial aid recipients are selected How my financial need is determined and the cost of education How much of my financial need has been met How and when financial aid will be paid To explain each type and amount of assistance offered in my financial aid package If I receive a Federal Direct Stafford Loan: what the interest rate is, total amount to be repaid, when repayment begins and how long, and what cancellation or deferment provisions apply To reconsider my aid package if I believe an error has been made or if circumstances change How the school determines if I am making satisfactory academic progress and what happens if I am not What facilities and services are available to the handicapped RESPONSIBILITIES: It is my responsibility to Review all information about a school s programs before enrolling Pay attention to the accuracy my application and filing deadlines Provide all documentation, corrections, and requested information Notify the school immediately if information changes (name, address, attendance status, etc.) Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms I have signed Complete entrance and exit counseling for my loans Repay my loans so that future students may receive an education Understand the school s refund policy 8

9 TYPES OF AID OFFERED Pell Grant Federal Pell Grants do not have to be repaid. Eligibility for the award is based upon the results of the FAFSA and enrollment status. FSEOG Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are available in small amounts to a limited number of students who are eligible for the maximum Pell Grant award. Priority is given to eligible students based upon the FAFSA filing date. Students who apply prior to March 1 are more likely to be considered for this award. FSEOG is offered until all funds annually available to Wentworth have been accepted. Access Missouri Grant Funds are provided through the Missouri Department of Higher Education. To receive an Access Missouri Grant, a student must submit a completed FAFSA before April 1, have an expected family contribution of less than 12,000, be a Missouri resident, and attend full-time at a Missouri postsecondary institution. Federal Direct Stafford Loans Subsidized Loans are based upon financial need as determined by the FAFSA, and require at least half-time enrollment. The federal government pays the interest on the subsidized loan while the student is in school. The borrower must begin repayment of principal and interest six months after graduation, withdrawal, or dropping below half-time enrollment status. Unsubsidized Loans are available to students regardless of financial need. Maximum loan amounts are determined according to dependency status and grade level. Interest on the unsubsidized loan accrues while the student is in school and is capitalized at the time of repayment. The borrower must begin repayment of principal and interest six months after graduation, withdrawal, or dropping below half-time enrollment status. Federal Direct PLUS Loans PLUS Loans enable parents to borrow funds to pay the educational expenses of dependent undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time. Interest on a PLUS Loan begins to accrue at the time of disbursement. Parents may choose to defer payments while the student is enrolled at least half-time, but the interest will continue to accrue and capitalize. 9

10 Students borrowing their first Federal Direct Stafford Loan through Wentworth must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). In order to complete and electronically sign the MPN at the student will need to provide: Their Federal Student Aid PIN. This is the PIN number used to sign the FAFSA. Please visit the Department of Education PIN site at for more information. Full name, social security number, date of birth, and driver s license information. Make sure all information is entered correctly. If it does not match the school s records, Wentworth will not receive notice of your MPN completion. Names, addresses, and phone numbers for two references. Reference information is used by the Department of Education if they are unable to contact you following graduation or dropping below half-time status. Your first reference should be a parent if possible. The 2 nd reference must be at an address that is different from both yours and your parent s addresses. The student will receive an confirmation from the Department of Education when they are finished. Students that are applying for their first Federal Direct Stafford Loan at Wentworth must also complete Entrance Counseling at They will again log in using their Federal Student Aid PIN. Scholarships Please contact the Wentworth Office of Admissions to determine what WMA scholarships may be available to you. If you have been awarded a scholarship from another organization for attendance at Wentworth, the Financial Aid Office should be notified. Search for scholarships online: Fastweb.com provides free access to a searchable database of more than 1.5 million scholarships. Sallie Mae offers a free scholarship database including approximately 3 million scholarships at CollegeAnswer.com. There are a number of other free scholarship search engines available also including Schoolsoup.com, ScholarshipsOnline.org, and StudentScholarships.org 10

11 FINANCIAL AID OFFICE CODE OF CONDUCT The primary goal of Wentworth Military Academy and College s financial aid staff is to help students achieve their educational potential by providing appropriate financial resources. This document provides a set of principles that serves as a common foundation for an acceptable standard of conduct. In compliance with requirements of the Higher Education Opportunity Act as signed into law on August 14, 2008, Wentworth Military Academy and College provides the following Code of Conduct regarding student loans: Wentworth Military Academy and College: Makes this general statement regarding private education loans: Most Wentworth College students find that a combination of Title IV federal aid, including Title IV loans, provides the funding needed to attend Wentworth. The terms/conditions of Title IV Loans may be more favorable than private education loans. Wentworth does not endorse nor suggest any private education loan. Should you want to pursue that option, please search the internet for available private education loan lenders. Does not ever recommend private education loan lenders to college students or their parents, or maintain any list of such lenders. Prohibits employees of the financial aid office, or any employee who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to educational loans, from taking a gift from a lender worth more than a nominal value. Prohibits employees of the financial aid office, or any employee who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to educational loans, from entering into any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide lender services relating to educational loans. Prohibits employees of the financial aid office, or any employee who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to educational loans, who serves on an advisory board (or commission or group) relating to educational loans established by a lender or group of lenders, from receiving anything of value from the lender or group of lenders in connection with serving on such advisory board. Prohibits external lenders employees, representatives, or agents from providing staffing services to the financial aid office. Prohibits external lenders employees, representatives, or agents from identifying themselves to students of WMA or their parents as employees, representatives or agents of the financial aid office. 11

12 Wentworth Military Academy and College: May process private loan applications brought to us by and at the request of a student or parent depending on eligibility for such a loan Requires Stafford Loan borrowers to complete Entrance and Exit Counseling according to federal regulations. Stafford loans will not be disbursed until Entrance Loan Counseling has been completed. Upon withdrawal or dropping below half-time enrollment status at Wentworth Military Academy and College, all Stafford Loan borrowers are sent reminders for and specific directions to complete the necessary Exit Loan Counseling. 12