| Applying for Aid |
|
| Awarding |
|
| Disbursement |
|
Applying for Aid
Q: Who should
apply for Financial Aid? [top]
A: Any student who is seeking financial assistance to attend college.
Q: What types of Financial Aid are available at SHU? [top]
A: The following types of aid are available:
▪ Federal Pell Grant: Need-Based
▪ Michigan Tuition Grants: Need-Based
▪ Federal Stafford Student Loans: Need-Based
▪ PLUS Loans: Credit-Based (Parents of Undergraduate Students)
▪ Academic Scholarships: Merit-Based (Applies to
Full-Time Main Campus Students ONLY)
▪ Federal Work Study: Need-Based (Applies to
Full-Time Main Campus Students ONLY)
Q: How do I
apply for Financial Aid? [top]
A: Follow the step by step instructions at the Financial Aid page on the Siena Heights site.
Q: How do I determine my dependency status for financial aid eligibility? [top]
A: Students are considered either independent (self-supporting) or dependent.
To be considered independent, one of the following conditions must be
met:
▪ Students who were born before January 1, 1984
▪ Students who are veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
(does not include active duty)
▪ Students who are orphaned or were wards of the court
until the age of 18
▪ Students who have legal dependents other than a
spouse
▪ Students who are a graduate or professional student
▪ Students who are married
Students who do not qualify as independent must provide parental information on
the FAFSA application.
Q: Do I have
to re-apply for Financial Aid every year? [top]
A: Yes. The FAFSA application covers one academic year consisting of the fall,
spring, and summer semesters.
After your first year at SHU, following the instuctions for returning students.
Q: What do I need to do to obtain a student loan? [top]
A: After completing the
FAFSA and other steps in the financial aid checklist, you must complete the
application for
the Stafford Student Loan, the Entrance Counseling Exam, and the Master
Promissory Note (MPN).
For further
information about applying for a loan,
follow the Stafford Loan
Application Process.
Q: How can I apply for Work Study? [top]
A: Full-Time Main Campus
Students [ONLY] must file a FAFSA before March 1, and have financial need to receive
Work Study.
Q: How do I
apply for Summer Aid? [top]
A: Complete the Summer Loan Request Form and submit to the Financial Aid Office. You
must have a FAFSA on file
for the CURRENT academic year in order to be awarded summer financial aid.
Q: When should
I complete my FAFSA for the following academic year? [top]
A: You may apply anytime after January 1st for the upcoming academic year. It is
best to apply when your
federal tax return for the prior year has been
completed. The priority deadline for filing the FAFSA is March 1.
Q: Is Financial Aid available for
international students? [top]
A: Generally, students who are not U.S. citizens
are not eligible for financial aid. Students MUST be classified as U.S. citizens
or as
eligible non-citizens in order to receive aid. Students are considered eligible
if one of the following conditions applies:
1) U.S. permanent resident with a "Green" card, I-151, or I-551, 2) Conditional
permanent resident
Q: Why was my
application selected for verification? [top]
A: The Federal Processor randomly selects applications for verification. If your
file is selected for verification, the Financial
Aid Office will request copies of your (and your spouse or parent's, if
applicable) prior year's tax return, W-2, and a signed
verification worksheet. This information MUST be submitted in order to move
forward with the financial aid process.
Awarding
Q: What are the factors that determine need? [top]
A: In addition to annual income, other factors that determine need include family
size, number of family members
in college, age of older parent, savings, investments and various allowances to
income and assets.
Q: How many semester hours must I be enrolled in to qualify for Financial
Aid? [top]
A: You must be enrolled and continue to be enrolled in at least 6 semester hours of
graded academic coursework.
Q: Do I need
to be admitted to Siena Heights University before I receive financial aid? [top]
A: Yes. A student MUST be fully accepted to the university for financial aid to be
disbursed. For additional information about the admissions process, contact the
admissions office or the degree completion center you attend.
Q: How will I know when my financial aid has been awarded? [top]
A: You will receive an award letter. A student's award package is also viewable in
their student account through the online registration system.
Q: Do I have
to accept the full amount of aid awarded? [top]
A: No. If a student does not
borrow a full amount of the loan, they must submit a loan request form
indicating how much they would like to borrow.
Q: Can I receive financial aid from more than one
institution? [top]
A: No. Financial aid is only available through one
institution.
Q: Why is my
aid different than what I was awarded at another school? [top]
A: Financial aid can be different from one institution to another for numerous
reasons. Institutions have different costs of attendance which can change a student's eligibility for need based financial aid
as well as institutions can receive varied allocation amounts from federal programs.
Q: Are my
financial aid awards guaranteed? [top]
A: No. Your award may be changed if:
▪ the amount of hours you are enrolled in changes
during the semester (due to drop or withdrawal)
▪ tuition/fees are adjusted and/or paid by another
source
▪ satisfactory academic progress is not achieved
▪ income is estimated on the FAFSA (correct the
data by referring to your federal tax return for the appropriate year)
▪ your EFC changes based from corrections to
your FAFSA
▪ grade status changes - freshman to
sophomore, sophomore to junior
▪ change in funding at the federal, state, or
university level
Please contact the Financial Aid Office IMMEDIATELY if one of these
circumstances should occur. In some instances,
aid that has been disbursed
may have to be repaid.
Disbursement
Q. How
does my financial aid pay my bill? [top]
A. Financial
aid received will be credited to the charges owed on your student account. If
financial aid is in excess of the total charge, you will receive the excess through your HigherOne Refund Card.
Q. Can
I use next semester's financial aid to pay for this semesters charge? [top]
A. No, charges
must be paid for in the semester they are accrued.
Q. How and when will I receive my
refund? [top]
A: Refunds (whether from a loan refund, dropping a course, etc.,) are disbursed
through the HigherOne Refund Card. New students will receive their HigherOne Card in the mail upon registering for their course.
HigherOne will contact the student through email when the refund has been processed to the HigherOne Card.
Q: What
happens if I drop or withdraw from a course? [top]
A: Contact the
Financial Aid Office immediately!
Q: Can I view my financial aid information online? [top]
A:
Yes. You can view your financial aid information through your student account in
the Online Registration System. Please contact the Registrar's Office or your advisor for assistance if you are not
sure how to access your student account.
Q: When do I have to
begin payment on my student loan? [top]
A: You will begin payment on your student loan 6 months after graduation or non
attendance in college coursework or enrollment is less than 1/2 time.
Q: How do I
obtain a deferment on repayment of my student loan? [top]
A: Submit your deferment form from your lender to the Registrar's Office. The Registrar's Office
will verify your enrollment and submit the form for processing. Continue payment on your loan until you receive confirmation of
deferment.