Financial aid handbook

              UNCG
Financial Aid
Handbook
2011 - 2012
UNCG Financial Aid Offi ce 2
Websites and Abbreviati ons 3
Financial Aid Checklist 4
Interacti on with the Financial Aid Offi ce 5
UNCGenie 5
The Applicati on Process
Filing the FAFSA and FAFSA Informati on 6
Quality Assurance Program and Verifi cati on 7
The Award Process
Award noti fi cati on 8
Accepti ng/Declining Awards 8
Loan Informati on 9
The Payment Process
Financial Aid and your bill 10
Return of Funds policy 11
Financial Aid Programs
Federal, State and Insti tuti onal need-based aid 12
Merit Awards program 13
Work Study Program 13
Enrollment Status and Eligibility
Credit hour requirements 14
Graduate Students 14
Second Degree Students 14
Transfer Students 14
Determining Need Based Eligibility
Cost of Att endance 15
Expected Family Contributi on 15
Sati sfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy 16-17
Financial Aid for Summer or Study Abroad
Summer Financial Aid 18
Study Abroad 18
Calendar 19
Table of Contents
Offi ce Locati on
723 Kenilworth Street,
Greensboro, NC, 27402
Mailing Address
Financial Aid Offi ce
P.O. Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
Telephone: (336) 334-5702
Fax: (336) 334-3010
email: fi naid@uncg.edu
htt p://fi a.uncg.edu
Offi ce Hours:
M,T,W,F 8am-5pm, TH 8am-4pm
Counseling Hours:
M,T,W,F 8am-4:30pm, TH 8am-3:30pm
Summer Hours:
M-F 10 am-5pm
UNCG Federal School
Code
002976
Other UNCG Contact Numbers
Cashiers &
Students Accounts Offi ce.....
Admissions...........................
Graduate School..................
University Registrar’s Offi ce.
Housing & Residence Life.....
Dining Services.....................
336-334-5831
336-334-5243
336-334-5596
336-334-5946
336-334-5636
336-334-5976
The Financial Aid Offi ce Staff :
Deborah Tollefson, Director of Financial Aid
Bruce Cabiness, Associate Director of Financial Aid for
Operati ons
Bill Zahn, Associate Director of Financial Aid for Compliance
Lisa Benatti , Assistant Director of Financial Aid for Loans
Amy Berrier, Assistant Director of Financial Aid for
Operati ons
John Lucas, Assistant Director of Financial Aid for EDE/QAP
Yolanda McLean, Assistant Director of Financial Aid for
Scholarships
Sarah Shearer, Assistant Director of Financial Aid for Grants
Debra Slade, Assistant Director of Financial Aid for
Public Relati ons
Dana Banker, Financial Aid Verifi cati on Counselor
Eddie Drew, Financial Aid Counselor
Cathryn Garrett , Financial Aid Counselor
Kelli Hand, Financial Aid Scholarship Counselor
Aminah Harris, Financial Aid Counselor
Chrystal Lewis, Financial Aid Counselor
Roberta McDevitt , Senior Financial Aid Counselor
Chris Ratliff , Financial Aid Counselor
Cathy McGuire, Administrati ve Assistant
Valerie White, Loan Coordinator
The UNCG Financial Aid Offi ce (FAO) staff is here to
assist you with the aid applicati on process. We have
a professional staff ready to help with all of your
fi nancial aid inquiries. Our offi ce is located on the
UNCG campus at the corner of Spring Garden Street
and Kenilworth Street.
UNCG Financial Aid Offi ce
2
Contact Information
htt p://fi a.uncg.edu - The UNCG Financial Aid Offi ce Home Page contains scholarship informati on, Federal Work-Study
informati on, Sati sfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy informati on, and links to everything in this handbook.
www.fafsa.gov - The FAFSA on the Web site allows you to fi le a FAFSA on-line.
www.studentaid.ed.gov - The U.S. Department of Educati on Offi ce of Post-secondary Educati on’s Web Site off ers useful
informati on for students. Here you will fi nd an online version of The Student Guide, federal school codes, informati on on
tax incenti ves, and more.
www.ft c.gov - The Federal Trade Commission Web site contains informati on regarding scholarship scams to avoid and
how to recognize them.
www.irs.gov - The IRS site provides valuable tax informati on for students, including descripti ons of tax incenti ves for
higher educati on expenses, such as the Hope Scholarship and the Lifeti me Learning Credit.
www.students.gov - This web site is the student gateway to the U.S. government. It off ers informati on on planning and
paying for college.
www.dl.ed.gov/borrower - This is the website for Federal Student Direct Loan informati on and applicati on.
Scholarship Searches:
www.fastweb.com
www.collegeboard.com
www.collegenet.com/mach25
FAO
FAFSA
EFC
COA
DRN
FWS
LRF
MAP
MPN
PLUS
QAP
SAP
SAR
Financial Aid Offi ce
Free Applicati on for
Federal Student Aid
Expected Family Contributi on
Cost of Att endance
Data Release Number
Federal Work Study
Loan Request Form
Merit Awards Program
Master Promissory Note
Parent Loan for Undergraduates
Quality Assurance Program
Sati sfactory Academic Progress
Student Aid Report
Useful Websites and Common Abbreviati ons
3
New Students
􀀻􃬠 Complete Immunizati on Requirements
• Immunizati on requirements must be completed and cleared with Student Health Services prior to the
payment deadline in order to use fi nancial aid to reduce the student bill. Contact Student Health Services at
(336) 334-5340 to complete this requirement.
􀀻􃬠 Complete the Financial Aid Response Form if Necessary
• Use this form to report less than full-ti me enrollment as well as changes in full year enrollment. The
Financial Aid Response Form is also used to decline or reduce awards.
􀀻􃬠 Complete Loan Entrance Counseling (Only required for fi rst ti me borrowers)
• All new or transfer students must complete loan entrance counseling. You can sati sfy this requirement by
completi ng the entrance interview module at www.studentloans.gov.
􀀻􃬠 Complete and submit the Master Promissory Note (MPN)
• If you are receiving a Federal Student Loan and/or a PLUS Loan, you must complete the MPN in order for
the funds to disburse to UNCG. The MPN can be completed at www.studentloans.gov.
• PLUS Loan funds will not defer the student bill unti l our offi ce receives confi rmati on of a completed Master
Promissory Note and the loan has been approved.
All Students
􀀻􃬠 Go online to accept awards
• All students must go online via UNCGenie, read and acknowledge the Terms and Conditi ons, and accept their
awards, including federal student loans. You may accept full or parti al amounts of the student loan as well as decline
loans via UNCGenie. See Page 8 for instructi ons.
Financial Aid Checklist
4
􀀻􃬠 Complete the Free Applicati on for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Visit www.fafsa.gov to start the process. The FAFSA is available January 1st
for the upcoming academic year. UNCG’s Priority Deadline is March 1st.
􀀻􃬠 Complete any outstanding fi nancial aid requirements
• All incomplete requirements can be viewed via UNCGenie. If you have
been selected for Verifi cati on, please make clear copies of all requested documents
and turn them in to the Financial Aid Offi ce as soon as possible. Make sure all tax
returns and other forms are signed.
􀀻􃬠 Receive Award Lett er Email Noti fi cati on
• Once the FAFSA is received and all awarding requirements are met, you will
receive an award lett er email noti fi cati on. Your offi cial award lett er can be viewed
via UNCGenie.
􀀻􃬠 Review Sati sfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP) and locked hours
• The Sati sfactory Academic Progress Policy is a federal policy that can
prevent students from receiving fi nancial aid due to sub-standard academic
progress. Your SAP status is based on your hours of enrollment at the end of
Drop/Add (usually the fi rst week of classes).
All forms* can be printed
from our website at
htt p://fi a.uncg.edu under
"Important Forms"
* The Master Promissory
Note is not available through
the UNCG website. It is
available through the U.S.
Department of Educati on.
www.studentloans.gov
Please Note:
Some Helpful Hints
Your Name and Student ID Number
Make sure that these two items are on every
document submitt ed to the FAO on your behalf.
Update Your Mailing and Email Addresses
Your UNCG email is the primary means by which the FAO will communicate news and informati on. Check it
oft en so that you receive important fi nancial aid informati on. You can update this informati on via UNCGenie.
Respond to Requests for Informati on Promptly
The sooner you send us required informati on, the sooner we can conti nue processing your fi nancial aid
applicati on. If you do not send us requested informati on in a ti mely manner, your aid may be canceled or its
disbursement delayed. Do not wait unti l the beginning of the semester to take care of fi nancial aid paperwork
and questi ons.
Our professional staff is available to help you with
the fi nancial aid process. To make your visit with a
counselor producti ve, complete any required forms
before your visit and bring all other required
documentati on along with a picture ID.
Contacti ng Us By Phone
You can reach us by phone at (336) 334-5702.
We are happy to assist you with any fi nancial
aid questi ons you may have. In order to discuss
your confi denti al fi nancial aid informati on (award
amounts, your SAP status, etc.) you must enter your
Student ID number and UNCG PIN when prompted.
Without the ID and PIN the informati on that we
can give you is limited. During summer months and
at the beginning of each semester, our phones are
especially busy. UNCGenie will have much of the
informati on that you need. The FAO keeps students
informed via email while handling as many calls as
possible.
Confi denti ality
The Family Educati on Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
(FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment,
prohibits the release of a student’s educati onal
records (including award informati on) to parents,
spouses, or other parti es without the writt en
permission of the student (or Student ID & UNCG
PIN authenti cati on if calling on the phone). If
students wish to release their records to another
party, they can submit a notarized Informati on
Release form to the FAO. This form must be
reviewed and approved before any informati on is
released. The student’s authorizati on to release
their informati on must be submitt ed on a yearly
basis, and may be revoked by the student at any
ti me. The Informati on Release Forms are available
at the FAO.
UNCG has an electronic network called UNCGenie.
UNCGenie can be accessed and printed by going to the
UNCG Home Page at www.uncg.edu. You will need
your Student ID Number and UNCG PIN to access your
account.
With UNCGenie you can check:
1) Financial aid award informati on
2) Acti ve messages you may have from the Financial Aid
Offi ce by going to the Overall Status link
3) Outstanding fi nancial aid requirements by going to
the Eligibility link
4) Locked hours for Sati sfactory Academic Progress and
your current SAP standing
5) Student account through the UNCGenie Student
Account Center including fi nancial aid that has been
applied to your account and/or your balance due
You can also use UNCGenie to:
• Change your mailing and permanent addresses
• Check your registrati on and enrollment
If you have been admitt ed, you can go to
accounts.uncg.edu to acti vate your email and other
computer accounts.
Your Interacti on with the UNCG Financial Aid Offi ce
5
The Magic of UNCGenie
Step One: Apply for Aid
To apply for most types of aid, students must complete a
2011-2012 Free Applicati on for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This
applicati on must be completed every academic year and can be
done electronically at www.fafsa.gov. The priority fi ling date for
the FAFSA is March 1st.
For questi ons about the FAFSA and your applicati on status
contact the FAFSA processor at 1-800-433-3243.
FAFSA on the Web Applicati on
The FAFSA should be completed online at www.fafsa.gov. The
student (and a dependent student's parent) must sign the FAFSA
electronically with a PIN, or the student can print, sign, and mail a
signature page. A student or parent without a PIN has the opti on
to apply for a PIN, receive it instantly, and immediately use it to
sign the FAFSA.
NOTE: To complete a paper FAFSA a student must request a copy
from the Department of Educati on by calling 1-800-433-3243 or
by printi ng a copy from htt p://www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov
and mailing the paper copy to the Federal Processor.
If you have questi ons about the FAFSA call 1-800-433-3243. If you
have a hearing disability call the TDD number at 1-800-730-8913.
FAFSA Renewal
You must fi le a FAFSA for each academic year in order to be
considered for federal, state & insti tuti onal aid. January 1st is the
earliest you can begin fi ling the FAFSA for the upcoming academic
year. March 1st is the UNCG priority deadline for fi ling the FAFSA
for maximum aid considerati on, however, you can sti ll fi le the
FAFSA aft er this date.
• File your FAFSA by March 1st.
This is UNCG's priority deadline and gives you
fi rst considerati on for the aid programs that are
awarded on a fi rst come fi rst serve basis.
Please note: The federal processor must receive
the FAFSA by March 1st.
• Dependent vs Independent Student Status:
Your answers in Step 3 of the FAFSA determine if
you are dependent or independent for purposes
of fi nancial aid. If you answer "no" to all of these
questi ons you are a dependent student and must
provide parental informati on, even if your
parents do not claim you on their tax return
and/or you do not live with them. If you answer
"yes" to at least one of these questi ons you are
considered independent and do not have to
provide parent informati on.
• Reporti ng Income:
You may esti mate your tax informati on in order
to fi le the FAFSA by March 1st. You are required
to update the FAFSA informati on aft er fi ling your
(or parent) tax return. Pay special att enti on to
the tax line numbers given for certain questi ons.
These will guide you to the correct fi gures from
your tax forms to use when completi ng those
questi ons.
• FAFSA Signatures:
Be sure you submit signatures with the FAFSA.
Without appropriate signatures your applicati on
will be rejected. If you are a dependent student
(see above) you must submit a parent signature.
• UNCG School code: 002976.
Be sure to include the UNCG school code when
you complete the FAFSA so that we can receive
the informati on.
• Housing status:
Be sure you enter the correct housing code.
Otherwise, your fi nancial aid award may be
incorrect and have to be recalculated.
Student Aid Report (SAR)
The Student Aid Report provides a copy of all the informati on you
provided on the FAFSA. If you submit an applicati on or correcti on
and do not receive a SAR, you should contact the federal processor
at 1-800-433-3243 to check on the status.
Once you receive or are able to view your SAR, review all the
informati on to make sure your applicati on has been processed and
that all informati on is accurate and complete. If you need to make
correcti ons, you must submit them yourself at www.fafsa.gov. If you
have diffi culty while processing your correcti ons, contact the
Federal Processor at 1-800-433-3243.
Check the Informati on Release secti on of your SAR to be sure UNCG
(school ID number 002976) is listed as a school to receive your
informati on. If UNCG does not receive your FAFSA informati on, we
cannot award you fi nancial aid. We receive an electronic record
of your SAR automati cally, if you listed UNCG on the FAFSA. To add
UNCG as a recipient of your informati on, contact the Department
of Educati on at 1-800-433-3243. You will need to know the Data
Release Number (DRN) located on the front of your SAR to do so.
Remember that your FAFSA is a snapshot of your status as of the
date you complete the applicati on. If you make a mistake you can
correct the error but cannot update or add new informati on.
The APPLICATION Process
6
Tips for Filing the FAFSA
Step Two: Complete Your File
Aft er fi ling a FAFSA, you must complete your fi le with the UNCG
Financial Aid Offi ce. There are a variety of documents that you may be
required to submit. Unti l we have all required documents, we cannot
award you fi nancial aid. All requests for informati on will be sent via
e-mail. If necessary, we will correct your fi nancial aid applicati on based
on this documentati on.
Quality Assurance Program (QAP) and the
Verifi cati on Process
UNCG parti cipates in the Quality Assurance Program (QAP). Through
QAP we review student informati on and ask them to provide
documentati on of their fi nancial status. QAP allows the Department
of Educati on and the UNCG FAO to ensure the accuracy of informati on
used in fi ling for Federal Title IV funds. The FAO will noti fy you if you
have been selected for this program. If selected, you must provide the
required informati on to receive fi nancial aid. If this process reveals
errors in the data used to determine your eligibility for fi nancial aid,
the U.S. Dept of Educati on requires UNCG to recalculate and/or
resubmit your informati on for reprocessing. If you fail to provide
informati on necessary to complete QAP/Verifi cati on we cannot award
you fi nancial aid. If you already received an award we may be required
to cancel your federal and need-based aid for the award year. You will
be responsible for the repayment of those funds, due upon noti fi ca-ti
on. Do not provide documentati on unless it is requested by UNCG.
QAP/Verifi cati on Documentati on
QAP document requirements may include, but are not limited to:
(1) A UNCG Verifi cati on Worksheet; (2) A signed, complete copy of
Federal income tax forms for student, parent, and/or spouse (including
all schedules, worksheets and additi onal forms fi led); (3) W-2 and 1099
forms for student, parent, and/or spouse; (4) Documentati on of asset
informati on, untaxed income, and Social Security benefi ts; (5) A copy
of birth certi fi cate or driver’s license; (6) Documentati on of a house-hold
member’s enrollment status at another post-secondary school.
Social Security Number (SSN) Documentati on
If you fi le your FAFSA listi ng the wrong SSN, you must correct this on
your applicati on and submit these correcti ons to the Federal Processor. If you have changed your legal name, you must
update your Social Security record and apply for a new card from the Social Security Administrati on. You must then send a
copy of the new card to the FAO before you can be awarded. Make sure that you also give UNCG your correct name when
you apply for admission.
Other Documentati on Requirements
Please be aware that someti mes the need for additi onal documentati on arises in the midst of the fi nancial aid process.
We cannot conti nue processing your applicati on unti l we have all the informati on we need. As we review informati on, the
status of your fi le may change and you may be asked to provide such documentati on as, but not limited to: (1) A copy of
marriage certi fi cate or separati on documents; (2) A copy of your Social Security Card; (3) United States Citi zenship and
Immigrati on Services (USCIS) documentati on; (4) Proof of Selecti ve Service Registrati on; (5) Death certi fi cates.
Special Circumstances
In some instances, the UNCG FAO can consider highly unusual circumstances that are not refl ected by informati on provided
on the FAFSA. However, the UNCG FAO is very conservati ve and adheres to all federal guidelines. We can someti mes make
allowances for the death of a parent or spouse, separati on of parents, separati on of a student and spouse, job loss, or similar
situati ons. If you wish to report a special circumstance, contact the FAO for the appropriate Professional Judgment forms.
Extensive supporti ng documentati on will be required before your situati on is reviewed. Do not send any informati on
regarding special circumstances to the federal processor. They will not respond to personal lett ers nor forward the
informati on to the Financial Aid Offi ce.
The APPLICATION Process
7
Tips for the Verification Process
The UNCG FAO will noti fy you if you are
selected for the QAP/Verifi cati on process.
If selected you must submit additi onal
documentati on. To prevent delays in
processing your fi nancial aid PLEASE NOTE:
1) Dependent students must submit parent
informati on as well as student informati on.
2) Independent students must submit
spousal informati on if married as well as
student informati on.
3) Copies of the tax returns must be signed
(even if fi led electronically).
4) Copies of the tax returns should include all
forms and schedules used to complete the
return.
5) Turn in all W2's/1099's used to complete
the return including social security benefi ts
and pension and annuity distributi ons.
6) Do Not leave blanks on the Verifi cati on
Worksheet. Enter zero or NA if it doesn't
apply.
7) Amounts reported on the Verifi cati on
Worksheet for Savings/Checking and for
Asset/Investment net worth should be as of
the date you fi led the FAFSA, NOT current
balances.
You can also decline awards using the
Financial Aid Response form.
Complete Secti on C: Declining Awards,
sign the form and return it to the Finan-cial
Aid Offi ce.
Note: Once funds are declined they may
not be available at a later date. Funds
may be depleted or it may be determined
that you are no longer eligible for a fund
previously awarded to you. The FAO is
not liable once you decline an award.
Step Three: Receive Your Award
Aft er you have fi led the FAFSA, have met the basic eligibility requirements, and have completed your fi le, you will receive
an award noti fi cati on email at your UNCG email with instructi ons on how to view your award online via UNCGenie. When
you receive the award noti fi cati on and go online to view your award you should verify the accuracy of:
The Award Process
Step Four: Accepti ng and/or Declining Awards
Accepti ng and/or Declining Awards
To accept/decline your fi nancial aid awards you must log in to
UNCGenie and accept the awards on-line:
1. Log in to UNCGenie using your University ID and PIN
2. Select "Financial Aid"
3. Select "My Award Informati on"
4. Select "Award by Aid Year"
5. Select 2011-2012 Academic Year from the drop down box
6. Read and accept the Terms and Conditi ons
7. Select tab Accept Award Off er
In order to accept the full loan amounts, select Accept from the drop
down box, then select Accept Full Amount All Awards
In order to accept parti al loan amounts, select Accept from the drop
down box, enter the parti al amount you would like to accept in the Ac-cept
Parti al Amount box, then select Submit Decision
In order to DECLINE student loans, select Decline from the drop down
box, then select Submit Decision
8
Award Revisions
a. Outside Resources: The award lett er should include any outside scholarships or loans, ROTC scholarships, vocati onal
rehabilitati on benefi ts, tuiti on waivers, merit awards, graduate scholarships or fellowships, etc.
b. Enrollment Status: If you are enrolled less than half-ti me, you may be ineligible for various grants, scholarships, and Fed-eral
loans. Your award may need to be revised. Complete the FInancial Aid Response form if you will enroll in less than
full ti me hours.
c. Residency Status: Make sure that you were awarded based on the correct residency status (in-state, out-of-state).
d. Housing Status: Make sure you were awarded with the correct housing status (on campus, with parents or relati ves, or
off campus).
e. Semester / Term: Make sure that you were awarded based on the correct semesters (Fall and/or Spring). If you are
att ending only one semester, your award should be based only on that semester.
f. Grade Level: Make sure you were awarded based on the grade level you will be in at the start of the academic year.
Note: Any discrepancies should be reported immediately to the FAO as it could potenti ally result in a change in your
award.
Award Revisions: Your award may require revisions, oft en due to additi onal informati on, changes in hours of enrollment,
failure to maintain academic progress, withdrawal from classes or outside aid received. Any revised award overrides all
previous off ers of aid. This someti mes means that you may have to repay funds already received. Contact the Cashiers
and Student Accounts Offi ce for informati on on the Return of Funds Policy.
Federal Student Aid Loans:
As of July 1, 2010, the U.S Department of Educati on became the
sole lender for federal educati on loans. UNCG now awards and
process all Staff ord and PLUS loans through the Direct Lending
Program.
Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans
The Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is awarded according to dem-onstrated
fi nancial need. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest
during periods of deferment (while in school), or during the grace
period.
The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is awarded regardless of a
student's demonstrated need. Interest begins accruing from the
date of disbursement. By making interest payments while in school,
a student can avoid capitalizati on of the interest. When interest is
capitalized, it is added to the principal amount of the loan upon
which further interest charges are based.
Federal Direct PLUS Loans
Federal Direct PLUS Loans are federally sponsored loans that par-ents
can obtain to help pay the cost of educati on for their depen-dent
undergraduate children. PLUS loans feature low interest rates
and long-term repayment opti ons. While parents of all income
levels are eligible a credit-worthiness evaluati on is required.
Parents may borrow up to the cost of att endance less any other
aid received by the student annually. In order to obtain a PLUS
loan at UNCG, the student must fi rst complete the Free Applica-ti
on for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Based on the student’s FASFA
informati on, the Financial Aid Offi ce will determine the maximum
amount of PLUS loan eligibility. Parents may opt to borrow less
than the maximum amount awarded. To initi ate the PLUS loan bor-rowing
process, a Federal Direct PLUS Loan Request form must be
submitt ed to the Financial Aid Offi ce each academic year.
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans are federally sponsored loans
that are available to graduate students who have borrowed up
to their annual or aggregate limit under the Federal Student loan
program. Graduate PLUS loans feature low interest rates and long-term
repayment opti ons. While graduate students of all income
levels are eligible, a credit-worthiness evaluati on is required.
Graduate students may borrow up to the cost of att endance less
any other aid received by the student annually. Students must
fi rst apply for all Federal Student loan eligibility before a Graduate
PLUS loan can be awarded. In order to obtain a Graduate PLUS loan
at UNCG, a student must fi rst complete the Free Applicati on for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Upon request, the Financial Aid Offi ce
will then determine the maximum amount of a student’s Graduate
PLUS loan eligibility. To initi ate the Graduate PLUS loan borrowing
process, a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Request form must
be submitt ed to the Financial Aid Offi ce.
Note: All Federal Loans require the completi on of a Master Promis-sory
Note. Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized, and Direct
Graduate PLUS Loans require both the Entrance Counseling and the
Master Promissory Note. These can be completed at
www.studentloans.gov.
1) You have gone on-line via UNCGenie to
accept your loans.
2) You have a Master Promissory Note (MPN)
on fi le with Direct Lending at
www.studentloans.gov. The MPN is a legal
agreement the student must sign when bor-rowing
an FSA loan. Parents and/or graduate
students must also complete a MPN for a
Federal PLUS loan as well.
3) You have completed a Loan Entrance Coun-seling
session at www.studentloans.gov. This
is an online questi onnaire that addresses your
rights and responsibiliti es as a borrower. The
Financial Aid Offi ce will be noti fi ed automati -
cally upon completi on.
Federal Student Aid Loan Borrower
Rights and Responsibiliti es:
Student borrowers should be aware of the
following rights and responsibiliti es.
1) Loans must be repaid.
2) Borrowers may be eligible to receive
multi ple loans under one Master Promissory
Note.
3) Loan money must be used for authorized
educati onal expenses.
4) An originati on fee may apply to each loan
under a MPN and will be deducted prior to
each disbursement.
5) It is the borrowers responsibility to noti fy
the Direct Loan Program of changes in per-sonal
informati on, such as name, address,
etc.
6) Loan repayment begins aft er a 6 month
grace period. Borrowers will receive noti fi ca-ti
on when the fi rst payment is due.
7) The federal government determines all
interest rates for federal loans on July 1st of
each year.
8) Defaulti ng on federal loans will result in
legal acti on against the borrower and will be
reported to credit bureau(s).
The Award Process
9
So that we can
process your
Federal
Student Loans
be sure:
Fall 2011 - due late July 2011
Spring 2012 - due early Dec. 2011
Tuiti onPay Payment PLAN:
This is an interest-free alternati ve to paying your
college expenses in one lump sum.
To enroll in the payment plan contact Tuiti onPay at
1-800-635-0120 or visit Tuiti onPay online at
www.tuiti onpay.com.
For questi ons regarding payment please contact the
Cashier's Offi ce at 336-334-5831.
1) You have been awarded aid and have
completed all required paperwork prior to
the bill being generated.
2) You have no holds on your account
based on immunizati on or prior
balances.
3) You are in good academic
standing and making sati sfactory
academic progress.
Step Four: Pay Your Bill
The UNCG Cashiers and Student Accounts Offi ce sends bills via
e-mail to the student UNCG e-mail in July (for Fall semester)
and in November (for Spring semester) to students who have
pre-registered.
If you have questi ons about your bill, contact the Cashiers
Offi ce at (336) 334-5831. You will receive a separate bill for
each semester’s tuiti on and fees. You must pay the amount due
before the deadline or your classes will be cancelled. Paying
the minimum amount due before the deadline will confi rm
your registrati on.
Note: If you do not pre-register, a bill may not be sent to
you. You can print out a copy of your fee assessment from
UNCGenie.
The PAYMENT Process
Using Financial Aid to Defer Your Bill
Even though you must pay your bill before the semester
begins, your fi nancial aid funds cannot be disbursed unti l
the semester starts. However, certain types of fi nancial
aid can be used to reduce part or all of your charges. Your
bill should show that your aid has been subtracted from
your charges, as long as you have been awarded fi nancial
aid and completed the necessary paperwork before the bill
was generated. To see what you owe or if you are con-fi
rmed for a parti cular semester, please visit the UNCGenie
website, via the link at www.uncg.edu.
It is very important that you complete the fi nancial aid
applicati on process and all necessary paperwork before
bills are printed. Otherwise, your fi nancial aid will not be
listed and you will be required to pay the bill in full.
Some types of fi nancial aid cannot be used to reduce the
charges on the bill. This includes but is not limited to: out-side
scholarships for which funds have not been received,
and military aid or benefi ts.
Emergency Loans
The FAO has a limited loan fund available to enrolled
students for assistance in meeti ng unexpected
expenses due to emergency. You must go online via
UNCGenie to apply for an emergency loan. You may
apply for only one emergency loan per semester. You
will be contacted via your UNCG email address
concerning the status of your applicati on.
If your loan is approved, you will need to come to
the FAO and pick up an approval noti ce to take to the
Cashier’s Offi ce to receive your funds. There is a $5
processing fee that will be taken from the funds you
receive from the Cashier’s Offi ce.
If you have outstanding fi nancial requirements or have
already received an emergency loan for the current
semester, you cannot apply for an emergency loan
through this process.
If you cannot receive a loan through the online
process, you may visit the Financial Aid Offi ce and
complete an applicati on and appeal for considerati on
of your circumstances.
Note: You will not receive an emergency loan the
same day you apply. The applicati on (and appeals)
takes 24 -48 hours to process.
10
Financial Aid will
be refl ected on
your billing
statement and
reduce the
balance due if:
Bill Due Dates:
Return of Funds Policy
UNCG has a federally mandated Return of Funds Policy
that governs the return of Title IV funds disbursed to
students who completely withdraw from the University.
Title IV funds include: Federal Direct Subsidized and
Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal
Direct Graduate PLUS Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, Fed-eral
Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educati onal
Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Federal Academic
Competi ti veness Grants (ACG), Nati onal SMART Grants,
Federal TEACH Grants, and Federal Work Study (FWS).
If any student completely withdraws from UNCG, he or
she must return unearned student aid. Unearned aid
is the amount of disbursed Title IV aid that exceeds the
amount of Title IV aid earned. During the fi rst 60% of
the semester, a student earns funds in direct proporti on
to the length of ti me he or she remains enrolled. The
period of ti me during which a student is enrolled is the
percentage of aid earned by the student. A student who
remains enrolled at or beyond the 60% point is deemed
to have earned all aid for the term. Students who have a
Federal Direct Student Loan, subsidized or unsubsidized,
and drop below half-ti me status must complete an Exit
Interview at www.dl.ed.gov/borrower.
The percentage of the period that the student remained
enrolled is determined by dividing the number of days
the student att ended by the number of days in the
enti re semester. Calendar days are used in the
determinati on of percentages. Breaks of 5 days or longer
are excluded in the calculati ons. If the amount of Title
IV funds disbursed is greater than the amount of Title IV
funds earned by the student, a return of Title IV funds is
necessary. Both UNCG and the student may be respon-sible
for returning a percentage of the unearned aid.
Students who fi nd that they must withdraw from UNCG
should do so by dropping all courses through UNCGenie.
Students who drop all courses are considered to be
withdrawn from the University and must seek
reacti vati on or readmission through either
Undergraduate Admissions or The Graduate School in
order to return to UNCG in subsequent terms.
For further clarifi cati on, please consult the UNCG Return
of Funds Policy available from the Cashiers and Student
Accounts Offi ce or the FAO.
Non-disbursement of Financial Aid
Your Financial Aid may not disburse to your
student account to reduce the balance due if any
of the following apply:
• You have not gone online to accept your awards
through UNCGenie.
• You have not turned in all required documents.
• You are not enrolled or you are enrolled for less
than half-ti me hours.
• You are not making Sati sfactory Academic
Progress.
• You have not sati sfi ed the UNCG Student Health
immunizati on requirements.
Financial Aid Repayment
You may be required to repay part or all of a
fi nancial aid disbursement:
• If you are awarded a Pell Grant for full-ti me
enrollment but at the end of the drop/add
period are enrolled less that full-ti me, your Pell
Grant will have to be recalculated. This means
that you will have to repay part of your Pell
Grant that you have already received.
Recalculati on can also include other forms of
fi nancial aid.
• If you are awarded fi nancial aid based on
full-ti me enrollment and then at the end of
the drop/add period you are enrolled less than
full-ti me, your cost of att endance is subject to
change. As a result your award may have to be
revised and you may have to repay part of your
fi nancial aid that you have already received.
If you have questi ons concerning disbursement
and/or aid repayment, please contact the UNCG
Financial Aid Offi ce.
The PAYMENT Process
11
Non Disbursement of Financial Aid
UNCG General Grants and Scholarships
UNCG General Grants and Scholarships include funds awarded by the
FAO in accordance with individual aid program criteria. Students who
want to be considered for these funds should submit their FAFSA to
the federal processor by the priority date of March 1st. Students who
fi le a FAFSA will automati cally be considered for most UNCG grants and
scholarships that are based on need/merit. These aid programs are
generally non-renewable and subject to applicant pool and fund
availability.
UNCG Departmental Scholarships
These curriculum-specifi c scholarships are coordinated by UNCG
schools and academic departments. They are generally awarded to
rising juniors and/or seniors in early spring for the next academic year.
Students wishing to apply for departmental scholarships should contact
the department of their academic major for applicati on procedures.
Outside Scholarships and Loans
Outside scholarships or resources are funds from high schools, civic
organizati ons, churches, educati onal foundati ons, Vocati onal Rehabili-tati
on programs, and other organizati ons external to the university.
You must noti fy the FAO as soon as you learn that you will receive
outside aid since these funds may aff ect your eligibility for other aid.
You must send us a copy of the noti fi cati on lett er. If your award does
not list all of your outside resources, noti fy the FAO immediately. We
will revise your fi nancial aid award if necessary.
Unless UNCG is otherwise informed by the donor, your outside
resources will be divided and applied to your account equally for the
fall and spring semesters.
Federal Aid Programs
Federal student aid programs include Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educati onal Opportunity Grants, Federal TEACH
Grants, Student Loans, PLUS Loans, Direct Loans, Perkins Loans and Work-Study. The FAFSA is the primary applicati on for
this aid. Some federal programs require a separate applicati on in additi on to the
FAFSA. For further details, consult the free booklet, The Guide to
Federal Student Aid, online at htt p://studentaid.ed.gov.
State of North Carolina Aid Programs
There are various aid programs for which residents of North Carolina may
be eligible. Most programs require that you be a legal resident of North
Carolina and fi le the FAFSA. Some may require an additi onal applicati on.
If you fi le by UNCG’s priority deadline of March 1st, you also meet the
state deadline. Detailed informati on about state programs is available
on-line at www.cfnc.org.
Types of Financial Aid:
Grants & Scholarships - Funds that are not repaid.
Usually based on merit and/or fi nancial need.
Work-Study - Funds that are earned through service during the academic period.
Based on fi nancial need.
Loans - Funds which must be repaid.
Please instruct your scholarship donor to
send your check to the UNCG FAO and to
include on the scholarship check:
• The name of the scholarship.
• The student’s complete legal name and
student ID.
• The term(s) for which the award is made.
Unless the donor instructs otherwise, the
amount of the scholarship check will be
divided and applied to your account equally
for the Fall and Spring semesters.
The FAO processes checks and forwards
them to the Cashiers and Student Accounts
Offi ce for disbursement to your student
account.
Be aware that UNCG cannot send billing
statements to outside scholarship donors.
If the donor requires a billing statement,
please provide them with a copy of your bill.
Please note that if a student with an outside
scholarship withdraws from the University,
UNCG will not return funds to the outside
donor unless asked to do so by the donor or
the student.
The UNCG FAO administers federal, state, insti tuti onal and outside fi nancial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, work
programs and loans. Most aid programs require that you demonstrate fi nancial need although some do not. All aid
awarded by UNCG & the FAO, along with applicati on informati on for each, can be accessed online at htt p://fi a.uncg.edu.
Financial Aid Programs
12
Outside Scholarships
FWS is a need-based type of aid that is taxable
income to students. Students work during the
semester and are paid through direct deposit
at the end of each month.
Note: Work study funds cannot be used to
cover your bill.
To qualify for work study you must:
1) File the FAFSA by March 1st
2) Be enrolled at least half-ti me and
3) Have documented need as determined by
the FAFSA
4) Be enrolled as a fi rst degree undergraduate
student
If you have been awarded FWS you must:
1) Accept your award online
2) Search for a positi on of your choice
If you do accept your award but do not fi nd a
positi on within the fi rst three weeks of classes,
your FWS award will be cancelled.
For a complete listi ng of Work-Study jobs:
Visit the Student Employment Offi ce's
website at www.csc.uncg.edu/seo.
Click on the SpartanCareers link.
You must contact the departments directly for
the positi ons you are interested in.
For off -campus community service positi ons,
please contact the Student Employment Offi ce
at (336) 256-0403.
If you were not awarded FWS and would like to
be considered, contact the FAO and see if you
are eligible to be placed on the waiti ng list.
UNCG Merit Awards Program
The Merit Awards Program off ers high school seniors the opportunity
to apply for presti gious academic excellence scholarships. Annual
awards range from $2,500 to full tuiti on, fees, room & board, and are
renewable for up to four years of undergraduate enrollment. Renewal
is dependent upon the student upholding academic standards set for
the awards.
Applicants must present a minimum 1800 on the combined criti cal
reading, mathemati cs and writi ng secti ons of the SAT, or a minimum
composite score of 27 on the ACT, and a minimum high school GPA
of 3.50. Awards for fi nalists require on-campus interviews, held in
late February/early March. Please note that students transferring to
UNCG from other colleges, or current UNCG students, are not eligible
for Merit Awards Program. To be considered for the Merit Awards
Program, complete a Merit Awards applicati on by January 3, 2011.
The applicati on is available on-line at htt p://fi a.uncg.edu/meritawards.
You must also be accepted for admission to the University by
January 3, 2011. A full list of available scholarships is available on the
website at htt p://fi a.uncg.edu/meritawards/scholarships.htm.
Deans’ Scholars Program
The Deans’ Scholars Program, a component of the Merit Awards
Program, off ers high school seniors four-year renewable scholarships
ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. This program emphasizes academic
achievement and is available to students in specifi c majors, such as
Nursing, Educati on, Chemistry, Religious Studies, majors within the
Bryan School of Business and Economics, and majors within the School
of Human Environmental Science. Deans’ Scholars awards will be
renewed for up to four years of undergraduate study, as long as the
student maintains a minimum cumulati ve GPA of 2.75 and remains in
good academic standing with the University. To apply, current high
school seniors must complete a Merit Awards Program applicati on.
The minimum criteria for applicants are: a minimum score of 1600 on
the combined criti cal reading, mathemati cs, and writi ng of the SAT, or
a minimum composite score of 24 on the ACT, & a minimum cumula-ti
ve high school GPA of 3.50. A full list of available scholarships is avail-able
on the website at htt p://fi a.uncg.edu/meritawards/scholarships.
htm.
Community College Presidents’ Scholarship
These scholarships are awarded to students transferring from local
community colleges, based on the nominati on of their community
college President. Annual awards range from $500 to $2000 and are
renewable for a 2nd year of study at UNCG provided the recipient
upholds the academic standards set for the awards. The minimum
criteria for selecti on are: minimum of 30 semester hours of study
completed at the community college, with preference to Associate
Degree recipients, and minimum cumulati ve GPA of 3.0 for students
transferring with an Associate Degree or minimum cumulati ve GPA
of 3.5 for students transferring prior to completi on of their Associate
Degree. The community colleges that parti cipate in this scholarship
are: Alamance, Central Carolina, Davidson County, Forsyth Technical,
Guilford Technical, Piedmont, Randolph, Rockingham, and Surry.
Contact the President’s Offi ce or the Financial Aid Offi ce at the
community college you att end for applicati on procedures. The
community college usually makes their selecti ons and submits their
recommendati on to UNCG in spring prior to the student's fall enroll-ment
at UNCG.
Financial Aid Programs
13
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
Federal Graduate PLUS Loans
The Graduate PLUS Loan is for graduate and professional
students, NOT their parents. Graduate PLUS loans are
available to graduate students, on a case by case basis, who
have borrowed their annual or aggregate limit under the FSA
Loan program. Graduate PLUS loans feature low interest rates,
relati ve to market rates, and long term repayment opti ons.
Graduate students may borrow up to the cost of att endance
minus any other aid received by the student annually.
Students pursuing a graduate degree at UNCG may be eligible
for some types of fi nancial aid, including Federal Direct Stu-dent
Loans, assistantships, fellowships, and tuiti on waivers.
Academic departments nominate graduate students for
assistantships and fellowships. Some certi fi cate programs may
not be eligible for aid. Graduate students should complete
a FAFSA to apply for need-based or federal aid programs.
Please refer to our website at htt p://fi a.uncg.edu for more
informati on about graduate aid. Contact your academic
department for informati on about fellowships, assistantships,
and tuiti on waivers.
Graduate students must be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours
at the 500 level or above each semester in order to be eligible
for Federal Student Loans and for UNCG to certi fy enrollment
for a loan repayment deferment.
Students taking courses through the Graduate School who are
not yet admitt ed into a program are not eligible to receive
federal or UNCG funding. You must also be enrolled for
courses that count toward your degree.
Receiving some types of awards, including fellowships and
tuiti on waivers, may decrease Federal Direct Student Loan
eligibility.
If you are classifi ed as an undergraduate in the Fall
semester and will become a graduate student in the Spring
semester, you must noti fy the FAO in writi ng immediately of
this change. Your award will need to be revised to refl ect your
graduate status.
Students pursuing a second undergraduate degree
are limited in eligibility for fi nancial aid. Typically,
a second degree student qualifi es only for Federal
Direct Student Loans. However, students may qualify
for scholarships through their academic department
and should contact the academic department directly
for informati on.
Transfer Students
If you are transferring to UNCG, you must:
• Make sure that the UNCG FAO has received your
FAFSA informati on. Contact the Dept of Educati on at
1-800-433-3243 to add UNCG as a school to receive
it. You will need your DRN, which is on your Student
Aid Report.
UNCG's school code: 002976
Please noti fy the school you are transferring from to
cancel your aid.
If you are transferring from UNCG to another
insti tuti on, you should contact the FAO at the school
you will be att ending.
Second Degree Students
Semester Enrollment Requirements
Undergraduates:
Full-ti me status 12 or more credit hours
Three-quarter-ti me 9 to 11 credit hours
Half-ti me status 6 to 8 credit hours
Less than half-ti me status 5 credit hours or less
Graduates:
(credit hours must be at the 500 level or above)
Full-ti me status 6 or more credit hours
Half-ti me status 3 to 5 credit hours
Less than half-ti me 2 credit hours or less
Enrollment Status & Financial Aid Eligibility
Graduate Students
Credit Hour Requirements
To qualify for most types of aid students must be enrolled at
least half ti me. If you are enrolled less than half ti me you are
ineligible for federal loans and most other types of aid.
NOTE: Certain aid programs may be reduced if you are en-rolled
less than full-ti me.
14
If you are enrolled less than
half-ti me, you are ineligible for federal
loans and most other types of
fi nancial aid.
Please Note:
You must meet these guidelines in order to
be eligible for any need-based or federal
fi nancial aid. Other UNCG scholarships may
also require that you meet these criteria:
1) You must be admitt ed to or enrolled in
a degree program or approved certi fi cati on
program at UNCG. Please note that some
certi fi cate programs have not been approved
for aid eligibility.
2) You must be making sati sfactory academic
progress toward a degree. If you are not
making sati sfactory academic progress, you
may appeal your status by completi ng a SAP
Appeal form. Review the SAP policy online at
htt p://fi a.uncg.edu.
3) You must be a United States citi zen or an
eligible nonciti zen. Eligible non citi zens may
be required to present current, up-to-date,
and valid U.S. Citi zenship and Immigrati on
Services documentati on. Students on F1, J1,
J2 visas, and G series visas are NOT eligible
for federal fi nancial assistance or fi nancial aid
from UNCG.
4) You must provide all documents requested
by our offi ce or your fi nancial aid applicati on
cannot be processed.
5) You must not be in default on a federal
student loan or owe a repayment on a federal
grant at any insti tuti on or the U.S. Dept of
Educati on.
6) If required, you must be registered with
Selecti ve Service. You can register at the
Selecti ve Service website: www.sss.gov.
How Need Is Determined
Many types of aid require that you demonstrate fi nancial need
in order to be eligible. To be considered for need-based (state,
insti tuti onal, and outside) and all federal aid programs, you must
fi le a 2011-2012 FAFSA. The informati on you provide on the
FAFSA establishes whether or not you have fi nancial need.
Expected Family Contributi on (EFC)
The federal processor uses a formula known as the Federal
Methodology to esti mate your family’s ability to contribute to
your educati on. This formula, writt en into law by Congress and
reviewed each year, evaluates your FAFSA answers related to
income and assets, family size, and number of family members
in college in order to calculate your Expected Family
Contributi on (EFC). Your EFC is how much money you or your
family is expected to contribute to your educati onal expenses.
You do not pay the EFC to UNCG. It is simply used to calculate
your aid eligibility. If you have questi ons about what family
members should be included on your FAFSA, see the instructi ons
included online that are part of the applicati on process.
Cost of Att endance (COA)
Your EFC, along with the COA, determines the types of need-based
fi nancial aid for which you are eligible. The COA is an
esti mate of how much it costs to att end UNCG. It does not
refl ect your actual charges to att end UNCG. It includes
tuiti on and fees as well as an allowance for books, supplies,
room and meals, transportati on, and personal expenses. The
COA is based on a student’s status as in-state or out-of-state
(residency), housing status (living on campus, with parents or
relati ves, or off campus), and graduate or undergraduate
classifi cati on. Exact tuiti on and fees are established by the State
of North Carolina and should be available in August 2011.
Note: Your COA will be adjusted if you are enrolled less than full
ti me. It may also be adjusted for other factors such as housing
Determining Need Based Eligibility
Documented Need
A student's need is defi ned by the Cost of Att endance (COA) minus
the Expected Family Contributi on (EFC):
Cost of Att endance (COA)
– Expected Family Contributi on (EFC)
= Documented Need
The FAO will meet as much of each applicant’s documented need as
possible, given fund availability and fund requirements.
Note: You should not assume that your full need will be met.
15
Important Eligibility
Requirements
Sati sfactory Academic Progress
Both federal and state governments require each educati onal insti tuti on to defi ne standards of progress for students
seeking fi nancial aid. All students who wish to qualify for fi nancial aid while att ending UNCG will be assessed on criteria including
minimum GPA, minimum semester credit hour completi on rate, and completi on of a degree within a maximum ti me frame.
• These standards are applied uniformly to all UNCG fi nancial aid applicants. If a student meets these standards, s/he is eligible to
be considered for fi nancial aid. If a student does not meet these standards, s/he is not eligible to receive fi nancial aid. Procedures
for re-establishing fi nancial aid eligibility are described in this policy statement.
• Financial aid is defi ned as all federally-funded aid programs, all state-funded student assistance programs and insti tuti onal aid
(all aid subject to federal, state, and insti tuti onal policies).
• Any term that a student earns zero hours, s/he will lose fi nancial aid eligibility immediately for the upcoming term.
In this policy, “eligible for fi nancial aid” means that a student meets the standards of the Sati sfactory Academic Progress Policy for
Financial Aid. A student must also meet all other fi nancial aid requirements in order to receive fi nancial aid.
The complete copy of the SAP Policy is avaible at fi a.uncg.edu/sap.
Undergraduate Degree Seeking Students
Requirements
Minimum GPA - Undergraduate students’ cumulati ve and semester GPA must meet University standards to conti nue as stated in
the Undergraduate Bulleti n. Students on Academic Probati on are eligible to receive fi nancial aid.
• Financial aid eligibility will be cancelled immediately for any student who is suspended or dismissed.
Percentage Completi on - To remain eligible for fi nancial aid each semester (fall, spring, summer) an undergraduate student must
earn a minimum of 67% (or a maximum of 12 hours) of the hours registered for at the end of schedule adjustment with the excep-ti
on of fi rst term undergraduate students who must complete at least 50% of registered hours at the end of schedule adjustment
(see fi nancial aid warning). These hours are considered the student’s “locked hours.”
• Schedule adjustment, also known as drop/add, typically ends on the fi ft h day of classes at 11:59 p.m. Please check the Univer-sity
Bulleti n for specifi c dates for specifi c terms (htt p://www.uncg.edu/reg/Calendar/).
• To fi nd the minimum hours required, take the number of credit hours at the end of schedule adjustment (locked hours on
UNCGenie) and multi ply it by .67.
For example: If a student had 12 hours at the end of schedule adjustment then the student would have to earn at least 9 hours
to remain eligible for further fi nancial aid (12 x .67 = 9 for federal programs you must always round up). There are some courses
that off er credit in .5 increments and those will be taken into considerati on.
Degree Completi on Within a Maximum Number of Credit Hours - Each semester an undergraduate student must also maintain a
minimum of 67% of the cumulati ve hours they have att empted to remain in good standing. An undergraduate student is eligible
to receive fi nancial aid for a maximum of 150% of the hours required for the degree. A student pursuing a undergraduate
degree is eligible to receive fi nancial aid for a maximum of 150% of the hours required for the second degree. Hours dropped aft er
schedule adjustment are included in locked hours and therefore are counted in total att empted hours for fi nancial aid.
(Please refer to full Sati sfactory Academic Progress Policy on the Financial Aid website for examples of these calculati ons.)
Failure to Meet Requirements
Financial Aid Warning – First term undergraduates: A fi rst term undergraduate student who earns between 50-67% of locked hours
will be placed on fi nancial aid warning. Prior to receiving any further fi nancial aid disbursements fi rst term undergraduate students
on warning must submit a writt en plan of academic success. The plan must include how the student is going to use on campus
and/or off campus resources to receive assistance while working on their skills and issues. The academic plan of success must be
submitt ed to and approved by the Financial Aid Offi ce. If a fi rst term undergraduate student is classifi ed as a junior or senior s/he
must also provide a graduati on plan that includes the courses needed to graduate and when each course will be taken. Students
will be referred to Student Academic Services and Faculty advisors for assistance. Students will be referred to the Student Success
Center for assistance in creati ng a plan for academic success and the Financial Aid Offi ce will provide an informati on sheet of UNCG
Campus Resources to assist students in this process. htt p://fi a.uncg.edu/forms/2011-12/11CampusResource.pdf.
Financial Aid Probati on – Students who failed to make sati sfactory academic progress, who have appealed, and have had eligibility
for aid reinstated, will be placed on fi nancial aid probati on if their cumulati ve completi on rate is less than 67%.
Appealing/Removing Financial Aid Probati onary Status – Once a student achieves a minimum of 67% cumulati ve hours, they are
considered in good fi nancial aid standing and are removed from fi nancial aid probati on. Students who are on fi nancial aid proba-ti
on may conti nue to receive fi nancial aid for additi onal semester(s) pending the following acti ons:
• Students may conti nue on fi nancial aid probati on if they successfully complete 67% of their locked hours for the semester but
do not maintain a minimum of 67% cumulati ve hours earned to remain in good standing.
• Submit a revised writt en plan of academic success – the plan must include how the student is going to use on campus and/or
off campus resources such as the Counseling and Testi ng Center, the Student Success Center, Disability Services, and others, to
receive assistance while working on skills and issues. The academic plan of success must be submitt ed to and approved by the
Financial Aid Offi ce prior to receiving any fi nancial aid disbursements.
16
Minimum GPA - Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulati ve GPA of 3.0. If the student’s graduate cumulati ve GPA falls
below the minimum standard, her/his fi nancial aid will be cancelled immediately. Financial aid will be cancelled immediately for
any student who is suspended or dismissed.
Minimum Semester Hour Completi on Rate - Each semester (fall, spring, summer) a graduate student must earn a minimum of 67%
(or a maximum of 6 hours) of the hours registered for at the end of the schedule adjustment period/drop/add which usually ends
on Friday of the fi rst week of classes at 11:59 p.m. Please check the University Bulleti n for dates for specifi c terms.
• Graduate students must enroll in at least 3 semester hours at the 500 level or above to be eligible to receive fi nancial aid.
Completi on of a Degree Within the Maximum Time Frame
• Graduate students seeking a Master’s degree must complete all degree requirements (including thesis) within fi ve academic
years from the date of fi rst enrollment.
• Graduate students seeking a Doctorate degree must complete all requirements (including dissertati on) within seven academic
years from the date of fi rst enrollment.
• A grade of IP is only sati sfactory for graduate students enrolled in thesis or dissertati on courses (699 and 799). Repeated courses
do not count toward the Overall Earned Credit Hours if no credit toward graduati on is awarded the semester it is repeated.
• Math 100 is a remedial course and a student does not receive credit for the course. Therefore MAT 100 counts towards the
Overall Att empted Credit Hours but does not count toward the Overall Earned Credit Hours. If a student is required by the Math
Department to enroll in Math 100, s/he may submit an appeal to the Financial Aid Offi ce.
• Advanced Placement, CLEP courses and grades of F, WF, W or I are not counted for SAP.
• A grade of IP is not sati sfactory for undergraduate courses.
• Repeated courses do not count toward the Overall Earned Credit Hours if no credit toward graduati on is awarded the semester
the course is repeated.
• Students enrolled in eligible licensure & certi fi cate programs may receive aid only for courses required to complete the program.
Sati sfactory Academic Progress
Graduate Student Requirements
Excepti ons to Hours Earned for Academic Progress
View Locked Hours - You may view your locked hours on UNCGenie via htt p://www.uncg.edu.
1.Log onto UNCGenie, 2.Click on Financial Aid, 3.Click onto Locked Hours for Financial Aid Eligibility, 4.Select term & click “Submit.”
Disbursement of Aid and SAP - You may be required to repay funds to UNCG if your Financial Aid is disbursed, and then
your total credit hours are reduced before the last day of schedule adjustment, or if you are marked as never att ending a course
that you received aid for att ending.
Reestablishing Financial Aid Eligibility—Extenuati ng Circumstances
The Financial Aid Offi ce will noti fy students of their failure to meet the standards of this policy. Each student must know his/her
own status, whether or not s/he receives this noti fi cati on. Students may view their SAP status via UNCGenie or by contacti ng the
Financial Aid Offi ce. Students who fail to meet the standards of this policy may reestablish their fi nancial aid eligibility at UNCG by:
• The student can earn the number of credit hours for which they are defi cient or improve their GPA without fi nancial aid.
These hours may be earned at UNCG or they may be earned at another insti tuti on and transferred to UNCG for any term aft er the
defi ciency occurs. Students should get prior approval from the University Registrar’s Offi ce to ensure that courses taken at another
insti tuti on will be accepted at UNCG.
• The student can appeal if there were circumstances beyond the student’s control that prohibited the student from keeping the
standards of this policy, and those circumstances are now resolved. Student may submit a writt en appeal with documentati on the
Financial Aid Offi ce, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the last day of schedule adjustment (usually the fi ft h day of class).
Appeals must include a detailed descripti on of the extenuati ng circumstances that occurred during the semester in which the
student failed to meet this policy. The appeal must include all necessary documentati on to support the existence of the circum-stances
described and evidence that the circumstances have been resolved. The plan must include steps being taken to ensure
sati sfactory academic performance, including a writt en plan for academic success in the coming academic term; for juniors and
seniors, this plan must include a course program for graduati on. Events/circumstances that merit an appeal include, but are not
limited to: Personal or family emergency Unanti cipated, serious medical diffi culty (excluding chronic conditi ons – students are
responsible for properly balancing school work with known chronic conditi ons) Serious psychological diffi culty
Students seeking to re-establish fi nancial aid eligibility remain ineligible to receive fi nancial aid assistance or deferment of payment
unti l the appeal process is complete and a decision has been made by the Financial Aid Offi ce. Students should be prepared to pay
tuiti on, fees, and other educati onal expenses unti l s/he has been approved to receive fi nancial aid.
Aft er the credit hour defi ciency or extenuati ng circumstance is resolved, the student must submit a writt en appeal including a writ-ten
plan for academic success requesti ng the Financial Aid Offi ce to review their eligibility to receive fi nancial aid.
• Appeals received aft er the last day of drop/add will not be reviewed unless the student is currently enrolled for the term.
17
Financial Aid for Summer Session
All students who wish to receive fi nancial aid for Summer
Sessions must fi le a separate UNCG Summer Session
Applicati on for Financial Aid by April 22, 2011. This
applicati on is available through UNCGenie in March. You
must have also fi led the current academic year FAFSA
and completed all necessary paperwork by the summer
applicati on deadline in order to receive an award for
Summer.
Limited fi nancial aid is available to students att ending
Summer Session at UNCG. Most students can only receive
Federal Student or PLUS loans that are based on their
remaining eligibility from the current award year. You must
have made sati sfactory academic progress at the end of
the Spring semester to be considered for Summer aid.
For most types of summer aid, including federal loans, you
must be enrolled at least half ti me. Summer Session course
work is subject to the Sati sfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Policy for Financial Aid Eligibility.
Study Abroad and Financial Aid
UNCG students taking courses abroad through a UNCG
program are generally eligible to receive fi nancial aid. Study
abroad students must follow the same aid applicati on steps
as other students. If you plan to study abroad, you should
complete all required fi nancial aid documents, including loan
promissory notes, as early as possible to assure that your aid
disbursement is not delayed.
Before going abroad, leave signed copies of your federal tax
return, all W-2s, and 1099s with a parent or your designated
representati ve in case they are requested by the FAO. Please
be sure to provide your parent or designated Power of
Att orney with your UNCG Student ID and UNCG PIN in order
for them to obtain informati on on your account. It is your
responsibility to make arrangements for receiving your mail
while you are away.
If you plan to conti nue att ending UNCG and to receive
fi nancial aid for the next academic year, you will need to
make arrangements to complete the fi nancial aid
applicati on process from abroad. To avoid delays in
receiving your Fall semester aid, complete the FAFSA
before March 1st and respond promptly to all
correspondence from the FAO.
Financial Aid for Summer or Study Abroad
Sati sfactory Academic Progress & Study Abroad
Minimum Semester Hour Completi on Rate
Students who parti cipate in study abroad during any term
will be evaluated for Sati sfactory Academic Progress at the
end of the summer term.
Each academic year study abroad undergraduate students
must earn a minimum of 67% (or a maximum of 12 hrs) of
the hours registered for (locked hours) at the end of
schedule adjustment.
Each academic year study abroad graduate students must
earn a minimum of 67% (a maximum of 6 hours each term)
of the hours registered for (locked hours) at the end of
schedule adjustment. Locked hours will be added together
for fall, spring, and summer terms when evaluati ng for SAP
at the end of summer.
Other Conditi ons—Study abroad students (undergraduate
and graduate) must comply with all other applicable
sati sfactory academic progress (SAP) standards except
those noted in this secti on. Students who receive an OIT
travel grant ONLY will not be subject to the terms and
conditi ons of the sati sfactory academic progress policy.
Grades must be posted by July 31. These extended
deadlines apply only to students in exchange programs.
Students in departmental study abroad programs must
have their credits posted by the end of the UNCG term.
Any student whose credits are not posted by the deadline
or who did not make Sati sfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
will have subsequent fi nancial aid canceled and will have to
immediately repay any fi nancial aid received for the current
academic year. You may appeal your SAP status.
For more informati on regarding fi nancial aid eligibility for
study abroad, please contact the FAO. For informati on
about individual study abroad programs, contact the UNCG
Internati onal Programs Center at (336) 334-5404.
18
Please Note:
January 1, 2011
January 3, 2011
March 1, 2011
Mid-March, 2011
April 22, 2012
May 12, 2012
Late July 2011
August 26, 2011
November 2011
December 2011
January 13, 2012
May 17, 2011
August 26, 2011
December 3, 2011
January 9, 2012
March 1, 2012
April 15, 2012
Deadline for Merit Awards Program Applicati on. High school seniors must be offi cially admitt ed to
UNCG by this date in order to apply for Merit Awards.
Spring enrollment hours are locked on the last day of Schedule Adjustment for Sati sfactory
Academic Progress (SAP) purposes.
Your 2011-2012 FAFSA must be received by the federal processor by this date in order for it to be a
“Priority Applicati on.” The 2011 UNCG Summer Session Applicati ons for Financial Aid are available
online through UNCGenie.
The FAO begins awarding for the 2011-2012 academic year for admitt ed and conti nuing students
whose fi nancial aid fi les are complete.
Deadline for 2012 UNCG Summer Session Applicati ons for Financial Aid. You must have also fi led a
2011-2012 FAFSA and submitt ed all required documents for Summer Session by this date.
Noti fi cati on sent to students who have not met the SAP Policy for Financial Aid Eligibility.
Payment due to the Cashiers and Student Accounts Offi ce for Fall semester charges. Students must
be awarded and have completed all paperwork in order for fi nancial aid to be applied toward their
charges. Exact date available from Cashiers and Student Accounts Offi ce.
Fall enrollment hours are locked on the last day of Schedule Adjustment for SAP purposes.
First day to fi le a SAP Appeal for Fall 2011 semester.
Last day to fi le a SAP Appeal for Fall 2011 semester.
First day to fi le a SAP Appeal for Spring 2012 semester.
Last day to fi le a SAP Appeal for the Spring 2012 semester.
FAFSA PDF version will be available for download for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Payment due to the Cashiers and Student Accounts Offi ce for Spring semester charges. Students
must have been awarded and completed all paperwork in order for fi nancial aid to be applied
toward their charges. Exact date available from Cashiers and Student Accounts Offi ce.
First day to fi le a SAP Appeal for Summer Session 2012.
Last day to fi le a SAP Appeal for Summer Session 2012.
2011 - 2012 Financial Aid Calendar
2011 - 2012 Sati sfactory Academic Calendar
19
Earliest date you may fi le a FAFSA for the 2011-2012 academic year.