| FINANCIAL AID MISSION The Mission of the Financial Aid Office at Southern Arkansas University Tech is to assist students in obtaining financial resources which will enable them to pursue their educational goals; to maintain compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations; and to assist in administering an active recruiting program. APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Paper FAFSAs will not be available from the Financial Aid Office. Apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Be sure to include SAU Tech's Federal School Code: 007738 After your FAFSA has been processed you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) and the Financial Aid Office will receive an electronic version of your SAR. The Financial aid Office will send you a letter requesting any additional required documents. Your application will be reviewed for accuracy and verified as necessary. If errors are identified the Financial Aid Office will correct them for you and you will receive a revised SAR. When this entire process is complete, usually in four to six weeks, the Financial Aid Office will send your award letter to the address in the Registrar's database. Be sure that address is correct. You may also access your award information online at Check Your Financial Aid Online. PRIORITY DEADLINES Fall Priority Deadline: June 1
Spring Priority Deadline: November 1
Summer Priority Deadline: April 15 CHECK YOUR FINANCIAL AID ONLINE To check your financial aid online, click here. ELIGIBILITY The information you report on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The formula used to calculate your EFC is established by law and is used to measure your family's financial strength based on their income and assets. The EFC is used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid. Most federal student aid is awarded based on financial need. The Financial Aid Administrator calculates your cost of attendance and subtracts the amount you and your family are expected to contribute toward that cost. The remaining difference is your financial need. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS - have a high school diploma or a GED
- be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
- be registered with Selective Service, if required
- have a valid social security number
- attend a participating college
- be working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program
- be making satisfactory academic progress
- not owe a refund on a Federal grant or be in default on a Federal educational loan, and have financial need (except for Unsubsidized and PLUS Loans).
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY TECH
FINANCIAL AID SATISFACTORY PROGRESS POLICY Federal regulations require students to be making satisfactory progress toward the completion of a degree in order to receive Title IV aid. Title IV programs include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, Federal Stafford Loans for students, and Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students. Standards for satisfactory progress are outlined below: - Students must be admitted and enrolled in a degree or certificate granting program.
- Students must complete requirements for a two-year degree in six semesters of full-time enrollment. Students must complete requirements for a one-year certificate in three semesters of full-time enrollment. (Summer enrollment will not count against maximum number of semesters). Any semester of less than full time enrollment will be considered proportionately. Aid will be provided for a maximum of ten semesters.
- Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average consistent with the institution's graduation standards, as listed in the college catalog, to receive aid. Students who are suspended because of failure to maintain the minimum GPA are not making satisfactory progress and will not be eligible for aid until the minimum cumulative GPA has been earned.
- 0-29 credits - 1.50
- 30+ credits - 2.00
SUSPENDED STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE SPECIAL PERMISSION FOR REINSTATEMENT TO CLASSES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID FUNDS (See #9 below). - Students awarded aid on a full-time basis must enroll in 12 or more hours per semester and complete 10 hours with a minimum of 20 hours per year. Part-time students must complete at least three-fourths of all attempted course work. (Summer school hours may be used to fulfill the yearly minimum hour requirements.) A student's official enrollment status will be determined on the 11th day of classes. Satisfactory Progress will be reviewed each semester. Warning letters will be sent at the end of the fall semester. Ineligible aid letters will be sent at the end of the spring semester.
- Eligible transfer students enrolling for the first time at SAU Tech will be awarded Title IV aid just as any other first-time student. However, the maximum time frame of six semesters will apply to students seeking a two-year degree, and the maximum timeframe of three semesters will apply to students seeking a one-year certificate. Suspended students will not be eligible until the minimum cumulative GPA has been earned. (These changes apply to first time students at SAU Tech effective January 2003).
- An incomplete (I) will be counted as an "F" until such time as it is removed with a "D" or better.
- Developmental course work is counted toward quantitative (number of hours completed) satisfactory progress; however, developmental course work is not calculated into the cumulative GPA as college level course work.
- Repeated course work is counted toward quantitative (number of hours completed) satisfactory progress; however, the qualitative (academic) measurement is consistent with the school's policy (see school catalog).
- Students who have not met the above Satisfactory Progress Standards and who have extenuating circumstances (such as an illness of the student or the death of a family member) may submit an appeal in writing to the Financial Aid Office within 30 days of the time the student is notified of non-compliance.
- Appeals will not be considered until the Federal application for the academic year and all prior transcripts are on file in the Financial Aid Office.
APPEAL PROCESS SAU Tech's appeals committee is made up of five staff/faculty personnel. Appeals will not be considered until the Federal application for the academic year and ALL prior academic transcripts are on file in the Financial Aid Office. The committee reviews each appeal on an individual basis. - The student, once informed Satisfactory Progress has not been met, has 30 days to submit an appeals in writing to the Financial Aid Office. Appeals are for extenuating circumstances (such as illness of the student or the death of a family member). Supporting documentation must be submitted with the appeals letter.
- The letter, along with supporting documentation, is submitted to the Financial Aid Office. The appeal is forwarded to the appeals committee to review.
- The Appeals Committee meets the first Tuesday of each month as necessary to review appeals cases. (Appeals letters must be submitted a week prior to the monthly committee meeting in order to be reviewed that month.)
- The decision is returned to the Financial Aid Office.
- The Financial Aid Office informs the student in writing of the committee's decision.
- All decisions of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee are final. There is no further appeals process.
TYPICAL TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID: Federal Aid Programs
SAU Tech Institutional Scholarships
Southern Arkansas University Tech Foundation Scholarships
State and Other Aid Programs OTHER RESOURCES Here are a few links to additional information about Student Financial Aid:
Internet's largest free scholarship search: Fastweb.com
Exit Loan Counseling: mappingyourfuture.org
FinAid! The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid
Access America for Students
Educational Training Voucher Program
Forms and scholarship applications can be e-mailed to you upon request. Please contact our office.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
Academic Scholarship
Camden Noon Lion's Club Scholarship
Challenge Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students
Fire Service Scholarship
Law Enforcement Scholarship
Southern Arkansas University Tech Foundation Scholarship Application
Technology Scholarship
Forms
Federal Work Study Employment Application
Financial Aid Release Form
SAU Tech Loan Application
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