Student Eligibility for Federal Title IV Financial Aid Programs

Cindy Butler District Director of Student Financial Aid Metropolitan Community College

Federal Title IV Student Financial Aid Programs  Federal Pell Grant  Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)  Federal College Work-Study  Federal Perkins Loan  Federal Family Education Loan Program and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program  Subsidized loans  Unsubsidized loans  Parent loans

Student Eligibility for Title IV Federal Financial Aid  Regular student in eligible program  Elem/secondary enrollment  Academic qualifications  Satisfactory academic progress  Enrollment status  Drug convictions  Incarcerated students  Conflicting information  Change in status

Regular Student in an Eligible Program  Regular student is enrolled/accepted for enrollment for purpose of seeking degree/certificate  Documented at time of admission  FA Office must be notified if student leave program

Regular Student in an Eligible Program  Remedial coursework: may receive federal aid for up to 30 credit hours or 900 clock hours.

 ESL doesn’t count against remedial limits  Preparatory coursework: may have loan eligibility  Teacher cert: may have work-study and loans

Elementary or Secondary Enrollment  If still enrolled, not eligible.

 Pursuing a GED, not considered enrolled in high school

Academic Qualifications

 High school diploma, or  GED, or  Completed home schooling; or  Passed an Ability to Benefit test

Satisfactory Academic Progress

 Qualitative standard (i.e. grades)  Quantitative standard (i.e. credits)

Enrollment Status

 At least half time for loans  Can be less than half time for Pell and Campus-Based

Students Convicted of Possession or Sale of Drugs  Federal or state conviction  Self-certification  Rehab program

Incarcerated Students

 Federal, state or local facility  Not half-way house or home detention  May have limited eligibility

Conflicting Information

 Internal system to review/share information  Must reconcile inconsistencies before disbursing aid

Change in Status

 Gain eligibility  Pell/campus based: entire payment period  Stafford/PLUS: only when became eligible  Lose eligibility  No federal funds  SAP  Regains eligibility when again meets standard

Specific Educational Programs

 Correspondence courses  Telecommunications courses  Students studying abroad

Citizenship

 Data match with Social Security Administration  U.S. citizens and nationals  U.S. lawful permanent residents  Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau  Eligible no citizens

Citizenship

 U.S. citizens include:       50 states District of Columbia Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Guam Northern Mariana Islands  All U.S. citizens are nationals but some nationals are not citizens:   American Samoa Swain’s Island

Citizenship

 Eligible no citizens  U.S. (lawful) permanent residents  Refugees  Persons granted asylum  Conditional entrants  Persons paroled into the U.S. for at least a year  Cuban/Haitian entrants

Citizenship

 NON-Eligible no citizens  Family unity status (used to be eligible)  Temporary residents (used to be eligible)  Legalization or Special Agricultural Worker program  Individuals with nonimmigrant visas  Work visas  Students  Visitors  Foreign government officials

NSLDS Financial Aid History

 Data match with National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)  Ineligible if  In default or owes an FSA overpayment  Exceeded annual or aggregate loan limits  Has property subject to judgment lien for a U.S. debt

Social Security Number

 Data match with Social Security Administration  Must resolve any issues with SSA match  Messy if students provides wrong SSN  Name must match  Master Death File (05-06)  Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau

Selected Service

 Data match with Selective Service System  If required to be register, must be registered  Can register on FAFSA or SAR  If not required to register, FAO must document status

Federal Aid Program-Specific Requirements Each federal aid program has specific requirements that must be satisfied.

Packaging Financial Aid Awards

Federal grants are often the basis of a financial aid package, followed by grants and scholarships from other sources (state, institutional, private).

Work-study and loans are included as requested and as eligibility allows.