Financial Aid Handbook - Elizabethtown College

Dollars & Sense
FINANCIAL AID HANDBOOK
FOR ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE
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www.etown.edu

TABLE OF
contents
2 Accepting Your Package
2 Award Guidelines
3 Loan Entrance Counseling
3 Outside Scholarships/Aid
3 Billing and Financial Aid Guidelines
4 EFC and Financial Aid Eligibility
4 Financial Aid Package
4 Institutional Grant Ineligibility
5 Financing Options
6 Alternative Loan Options
6 Adjustments and Cancellations
6 Appeals Process
6-7 Financial Aid Policies
7 Reduced Income
7 Study Abroad/Affiliated Programs
8-9 Terms and Conditions
9 Definition of an Academic Year
9-10 Satisfactory Academic Progress
11 Rights and Responsibilities
12 Campus Employment
12 Official College
Communication Policy
12 2013-2014 Calendar
13 Verification Information
14 Attention New Students
nice to
serve you
financial
aid office
Your Award Letter has been personally prepared by one of our financial aid counselors.
The types and amount of aid awarded are calculated with regard to financial need,
institutional policies, federal and state regulations and available levels of funding.
Your counselor will remain with you throughout your education. This allows us a better
understanding of your particular circumstances as we work with you.
Please notify our office if there are dramatic changes in your family’s financial
circumstances during this next year so that we may explore other federal, state and
institutional options as the need arises.
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etown.edu/finaid

Accepting
Your Package
Your financial aid package has
now been determined and you
have received a Financial Aid
Award Letter listing the amount
and type of financial aid that you
are being offered. As a first-year
student, you have until May 1
to accept your package. If you
decide to accept the offer, please
sign the copy of the original
Award Letter and any other
required documents, and return
them to the Financial Aid Office.
If you do not reply according
to the above guidelines, your
financial aid award may be
rescinded. If you need additional
time, please ask for an extension
by contacting our office. You will
receive notification any time a
change is made.
award
guidelines
Please read this entire handbook for a complete explanation of the parts of
the Award Letter and a description of the types of aid you have been awarded
and the responsibilities that go with them. Also, carefully review your Award
Letter, using the following guidelines:
• Check for accuracy of your personal information (name, address, etc.) and
correct any errors.
• Note the type of aid awarded. Examine your responsibilities for funds
awarded in the Terms and Conditions of Financial Aid Awards on page 8.
Our estimate of funds you may receive from federal and state programs is
based on our best professional judgment; however, since the College does
not control the awarding of these funds, final amounts may differ from the
estimate, and the College may be unable to make up the difference. You
should realize that your eligibility for Federal Pell Grant may not be identical
at institutions of similar cost to Elizabethtown College.
• Indicate if you accept or decline. You may decline part of the aid awarded
by crossing out the aid not desired.
• If you do not wish to borrow the Federal Direct Loan, you should cross the
loan off on the Award Letter.
• Please contact a member of the Financial Aid Office to resolve any
additional questions you may have.
• Sign, date and return your financial aid award letter. If you are a first-year
student, the deadline in May 1; returning students must return it within
14 days of receipt. Extensions are not encouraged but will be granted if
circumstances warrant.
• An updated Award Letter supersedes all previous letters.
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Loan Entrance Counseling
First-time borrowers of Federal Direct Loans and Perkins
Loans are required to complete online entrance counseling.
Instructions for completing entrance counseling for Direct Loans
and Perkins Loans will be sent to you.
Outside Scholarships/Aid
After receiving an official financial aid package from
Elizabethtown College, a student may be the recipient of an
outside scholarship, award or grant. Elizabethtown College
policy states: The first $1,000 in outside scholarships or awards
received will not reduce the amount of institutional gift aid. In
cases where a student receives more than $1,000 in outside
awards, the College will reduce its institutional need-based gift
aid (i.e. Trustee) by 50% of the scholarship(s) received in excess
of $1,000.
This policy allows the students to benefit from the outside
scholarships and, at the same time, the College is able to
maintain the parameters of its program. In some cases, the selfhelp
component of the package (job or loan) also may need to
be reduced. Merit-based scholarships (Presidential, Provost,
Dean’s) are not reduced by outside scholarships but could
be reduced by late receipt of VA benefits or tuition benefits.
Federal law requires that the Financial Aid Office must be
notified in writing of any outside awards, including loans. A
copy of the letter from the outside organization is preferable.
Important note: Outside loans may also have an impact on
the financial aid package.
Contingent upon the financial profile remaining the same, needbased
gift aid will return to the original level of funding if outside
scholarships are not renewed in subsequent years. Information
on how to obtain outside scholarships is available on the
Financial Aid section of the College’s website.
Billing and Financial Aid
Guidelines
• Costs for the academic year are equally divided between the
Fall and Spring Semesters.
• Bills for the Fall Semester will be mailed by July and payment
will be due August 1.
• Bills for the Spring Semester will be mailed in early December
and payment will be due January 1.
• Elizabethtown College scholarships and grants, Federal
Grants, PHEAA Grants and other state grants, as well as
Perkins and Federal Direct Loans for students, will appear on
the bill as a credit (half of the award per semester).
• All other financial aid may not appear on the bill. We ask
that you refer to your latest Financial Aid Award Letter and
subtract half of each type of financial aid received, with the
exception of Federal Work-Study, from the amount due on
your bill. Remit the difference by the due date.
– Private Outside Scholarships/Loans—Find out from
the source of your private outside scholarships if the
amount will be split between two semesters or paid to
the College all at once. Deduct the proper amount from
the amount due on your invoice. Send the Financial Aid
Office a copy of your outside scholarship letter. (See
Outside Scholarships on this page for details.)
– Monthly Payment Plan—Contact the Business Office
regarding the details of the College’s payment plan
option. Deduct the proper amounts from the amount
due on your bill. Once you have established your total
contract amount for the year, you can deduct half of the
total contract from the amount due on your tuition bill for
each semester.
• Any student who has not paid his or her bill by the due date
is assessed a late fee by the Business Office. The late fee
will not be charged if arrangements have been made for
deferral of an amount anticipated from a governmental or
outside source. Any student whose payment arrangements
are not complete before validation/check-in is not permitted
to register.
• Financial aid for current or future semesters cannot
be used to pay past semester debts.
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Your Financial Aid
Package
Expected Family Contribution
(EFC) and Financial Aid Eligibility
Financial aid is funding that colleges, donors and government
agencies make available to students to bridge the gap between
a family’s federally demonstrated ability to pay and the cost to
attend college.
Elizabethtown College uses the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) to assist the Financial Aid Office in
determining each student’s need. An Expected Family
Contribution (EFC) is determined by using a fair and uniform
analysis system taking into account a family’s income, selected
assets, household size, number of dependents enrolled in
college and unusual expenses.
Institutional Grant Ineligibility
There are three reasons why a student might be ineligible for
institutional grants.
1. The student does not demonstrate financial need
as determined by the College’s need analysis.
2. The student’s need is met from outside sources (such as Pell
Grant, state grant, etc.).
3. The student applies after the deadline date.
When all information has been submitted, a financial
aid counselor verifies the accuracy of the data
reported and begins to assemble the financial
aid “package.” The package may comprise a
combination of scholarships, grants, loans and
employment. The exact composition of a package
depends upon several factors. The extent of
financial need and the availability of funds are prime
considerations. Academic record, date of admission,
and the date on which the financial aid application
was filed may also affect the composition of the
financial aid package.
The Financial Aid Office determines eligibility for
each category of financial aid and assigns awards
appropriate to need. Federal regulations prohibit a
student from receiving grant, loan and job earnings in
excess of demonstrated need.
If your need increases, your package may be
increased if funds are available. If your need
decreases, a corresponding decrease in your
package will be calculated. Items such as number
in college and estimated reductions in current year
income will be verified mid-year and may cause
changes to your aid package.
In general, to be eligible for Title IV (Federal financial
aid authorized under Title IV per the Higher Education
Act of 1965) student financial aid you must:
• Be enrolled or be accepted for enrollment in a
degree-seeking program leading to a recognized
educational credential
• Not be enrolled in elementary or secondary school
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Be a citizen, national, permanent resident or other
eligible noncitizen
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress
• Not be in default on Perkins, Federal Loans for
students or Federal PLUS Loans at any institution
• Not owe a repayment of Pell, SEOG or
SSIG at any institution
• If required, register with the Selective Service
• Have determination of eligibility or ineligibility for
Pell Grant
• Not have borrowed in excess of loan limits
• Have need, as defined by individual program
requirements
• Meet any other program-specific criteria
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Financing Options:
Monthly Payment Plan
Not a loan, but rather a way to spread invoice
balance over 10 consecutive equal payments
ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT
Student and parent
AMOUNT
Up to the cost of education minus all other
financial aid received
FEES
$55 annual enrollment fee; no interest
PAYMENT TERMS
Begins in May and ends in February
(period of 10 months)
What type of Loan to Borrow
DIRECT STUDENT LOAN
Eligible Borrower
Amount*
Interest Rate/Fees
Repayment Terms
Other
Student
$5,500 Freshman
(up to $3,500 subsidized)
$6,500 Sophomore
(up to $4,500 subsidized)
$7,500 Junior
(up to $5,500 subsidized)
$7,500 Senior
(up to $5,500 subsidized)
Fees of 1 percent.
Interest rate is fixed at 6.8 percent.
Repayment begins six months after
leaving school; 10-year standard
repayment.**
Students whose parents are denied
a PLUS Loan may be eligible for
additional amounts.
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION
LOAN OPTIONS
Direct Parent PLUS Loan
Private Education Loans
Please be sure to review:
• Your family financial plan
• Interest rate (fixed or variable)
• Fees
• Repayment terms
• Deferment or forbearance options
*Subsidized loan amounts are based on financial need.
** Interest on unsubsidized loans begins at disbursement.
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Additional Education Loans
After taking into account the Monthly Payment Plan and Direct Student Loan,
students and parents may find the need for additional financing. Two main
sources to consider are the Direct Parent PLUS Loan and/or private education
loans.
Parents of dependent undergraduate students may borrow the Direct Parent
PLUS Loan for which the U.S. Department of Education is the lender. The
maximum loan amount is the student’s cost of attendance less any financial aid.
Students whose parents are denied a Direct PLUS loan can borrow additional
unsubsidized Direct Student Loan.
A private education loan is offered through a bank or another lending institution.
For those families that choose to borrow a private education loan, keep in mind
that it is usually beneficial to obtain a co-borrower. Having a creditworthy coborrower
can significantly reduce the rates and fees for most borrowers.
Appeals Process
If you feel that your financial aid is insufficient,
or if your special circumstances require an exception
to financial aid policy, you may appeal your award
in writing.
Adjustments and Cancellations
The Financial Aid Office is responsible for administering all financial aid funds
in accordance with Federal and State regulations and institutional policies.
Therefore, we reserve the right to review and, if circumstances warrant, adjust
or cancel awards at any time during the year. A student aid offer, an accepted
award or a portion of such may be voided for any or a combination of any of the
following reasons:
• Falsification of information on financial aid documents
• Failure to fulfill the satisfactory academic progress requirements
• Failure to enroll or remain in attendance
• Failure to report changes in financial resources or other circumstances
affecting the calculation of the financial aid award
• Use of financial aid for expenses that are not educationally related
• Failure to sign required documents (statement of educational purpose,
promissory note, etc.)
• Changes in program guidelines after financial aid has been offered
• Unexpected cutbacks in funding levels
• Verification of sibling enrollment or reduced income that changes
financial need from initial time of application
Financial Aid Policies
• The primary responsibility for financing the
student’s education rests with the student and the
student’s family.
• The College holds in strict confidence all family
financial information and considers any financial
aid award to be a confidential matter between the
College, the applicant and the family. The College
does not release information concerning individual
financial aid awards and considers it inappropriate
for aid recipients to do so. Information regarding
student rights under the Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act (FERPA) is available from the
Office of Registration and Records.
• Financial aid awards are made for one academic
year and are divided equally between the Fall and
Spring Semesters.
• Merit-based aid is limited to eight semesters (10
semesters for Occupational Therapy majors).
Institutional aid for subsequent semesters is solely
based on demonstrated need.
• The College does not award institutional aid to a
student who already holds a bachelor’s degree.
• A student must be enrolled on a full time basis
in the traditional daytime program (12–18 credit
hours a semester) to be eligible for all institutional
financial assistance. Students who enroll for
less than 12 credit hours in a semester may still
be eligible for funding from State and Federal
programs.
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• Students continue to be eligible for financial aid in subsequent semesters as
long as they meet program requirements, demonstrate financial need, and
maintain satisfactory academic progress.
• A student’s financial aid award may change in value and form from year
to year, depending upon changes in the family circumstances and the
availability of funds.
• Elizabethtown College reserves the right to make changes in the amount
and type of a student’s financial aid at any time during a year in which the
student receives additional, unanticipated assistance from an outside source,
the number in college changes, or the College receives information about
current family income which varies from the income reported. Such changes
are made to protect the equity of financial aid awards and to meet mandated
federal program requirements and eligibility.
• A student who is or could be eligible to receive tuition remission/exchange
benefits is ineligible for any other College-administered gift aid.
• Changes in a student’s housing status will change a student’s eligibility for
need-based aid from the College.
• Late applications are considered only if funds are available.
• Refund Policy: If a student withdraws or changes credit hours or room and
board status after the beginning of a semester, the student is obligated to
pay for actual room and board charges for the semester. Tuition charges are
refunded* on the following basis:
First Week 75%
Second Week through Third Week 50%
Fourth Week 25%
Beginning of Fifth Week
No Refund
*Title IV recipients are refunded according to the Higher Education Amendments of
1998. The exact provisions of this policy are available in the Financial Aid Office or the
Business Office upon student request. (Institutional aid upon withdrawal will be
reduced by the same percentage as is refunded to the student.)
• Withdrawal from Elizabethtown College terminates any financial aid
commitment the College has with a student.
• Students must reapply each year for all need-based financial aid. Aid is not
automatically renewed.
Reduced Income
If, after completing and submitting the required financial aid forms, the family
suffers a drastic change of income, please contact the Financial Aid Office. A
drastic change of income is defined as unemployment of the major wage earner
for a period of 10 weeks or more, divorce or separation, death of the major wage
earner, permanent retirement of the major wage earner, permanent or total
disability of the major wage earner or natural disaster such as fire or flood. In
such cases, financial aid awards may be based upon new, estimated data. This is
only possible upon the availability of funds.
Study Abroad/
Affiliated Programs
Check with the Financial Aid Office to verify
that a program you are considering is an
“affiliated” program. Affiliated programs
include American University, AustraLearn,
BCA, Nihon University, CIS, School for Field
Studies, Queens University, Northumbria
University and KCP International.
Students enrolling in a study-abroad program
must be enrolled in an affiliated program with
Elizabethtown College in order to receive
Federal, State and institutional financial aid.
Institutional financial aid is limited to the
cost of attendance for a full time resident at
Elizabethtown College.
A consortium agreement is required between
Elizabethtown College and the host school.
Credits transferred into Elizabethtown
College from study-abroad programs do NOT
affect the student’s GPA.
Credits transferred back to Elizabethtown
College often come in late, impacting
academic progress and loan level eligibility.
For Federal/State aid purposes we can’t
assume credits until they are officially posted.
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Terms and Conditions
of Financial Aid Awards
ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE MERIT-BASED
SCHOLARSHIPS—(Presidential, Provost, Deans)—These
scholarships are awarded to first-year students on the basis
of their high school academic achievements and test scores.
Students awarded Elizabethtown College Scholarships must
maintain a 2.75 cumulative grade point average in order to be
eligible for renewal of the scholarships. These scholarships are
not transferable to the summer sessions and are available for
only eight semesters (10 semesters for OT students). This money
is an outright scholarship to the student and does not have to be
repaid. This aid is listed as a credit on the College bill. Amounts
retain their original values all four years. No increases are given.
MUSIC PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIPS—These scholarships
are awarded to first-year and transfer students who are
outstanding performing musicians and who meet the challenges
of Elizabethtown’s academic environment. Scholarships are open
to music and non-music majors. Awards range in value up to
$4,000 annually and are renewable for four years.
Scholarship winners must participate in a College music
ensemble identified by the College and take private music
lessons for credit in their primary performing areas to maintain
their scholarships. Students must receive “pass” grades in the
ensembles and no less than “B-” in the lessons to remain eligible
for the scholarship.
TRUSTEE GRANT—These grants are available to students who
demonstrate financial need. A student must apply annually to be
considered for this grant. This money is an outright grant to the
student and does not have to be repaid. This aid is listed as a
credit on the College bill. The receipt of additional merit awards
or outside scholarships may impact this amount.
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN SCHOLARSHIP—These awards
are available to students who are active members of the Church
of the Brethren when they are admitted to the College. This
money is an outright award to the student and does not have to
be repaid. This aid is listed as a credit on the College bill.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE GRANT (PHEAA)—These funds are
awarded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the basis
of its financial need formula. PHEAA must have received your
FAFSA results prior to May 1 to be eligible. The figure shown is
only an estimate of your award. You will receive a confirmation
notice from PHEAA. This is a grant which does not have to be
repaid. PHEAA limits students to eight semesters of PHEAA
Grant eligibility. Students with PHEAA Grants must advance a
minimum of 24 credits per academic year in order to maintain
eligibility. This aid is listed as a credit on the College bill. Note:
Late state grants received reduce institutional need-based gift
aid by 100 percent.
OTHER STATE SCHOLARSHIPS/GRANTS—These funds
are awarded by your state on the basis of their financial need
formula. The figure shown is only an estimate of your award.
You will receive a confirmation notice from your state. This is
a grant or scholarship, which does not have to be repaid. This
aid is listed as a credit on the College bill. Note: State grants
received after the deadline will reduce institutional need-based
gift aid by 100 percent. This policy applies to all need-based state
assistance regardless of the title of the program. For example,
Delaware, Maine and others title their programs “scholarships”,
but are still need-based assistance programs.
FEDERAL PELL GRANT—These grants are funded by the
Federal government on the basis of its financial need formula.
This grant does not have to be repaid. This aid is listed as a credit
on the College bill.
FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
GRANT (SEOG)—These grants are need-based awards, federally
funded, granted through Elizabethtown College. These grants are
given to students with extremely high financial need. This money
is an outright grant to the student and does not have to be repaid.
This aid is listed as a credit on the College bill.
FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM (FWS)— You are offered
an opportunity to seek on-campus employment as part of your
financial aid package. The amount indicated is the maximum
you will be allowed to earn under the FWS Program during the
academic year. Students are paid at least minimum wage for
each hour of work completed. For example, if your work award
is $1,500, you would have to work approximately seven hours
a week during the academic year to receive your full $1,500 at
minimum wage per hour. Job interviews are conducted when
students arrive on campus in the fall. Students may not use the
Work-Study award as a credit against their bill. Rather, students
may use these work earnings for books and spending money.
Due to supply and demand changes, on-campus Work-Study
jobs cannot be guaranteed. The Work-Study award, therefore,
is not listed as a credit on the College bill. If on-campus
employment is not obtained, the student may inquire with Career
Services for off-campus employment opportunities.
FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN—This loan is federally funded
and granted through Elizabethtown College to Freshman or
Sophomore students who have high financial need. This loan
is interest-free during college. Repayment begins nine months
after the student leaves college. A simple 5-percent interest rate
applies, with up to 10 years to repay the College at $40 per month
minimum principal due. The College will mail first-time borrowers
promissory notes and other required forms to be signed prior to
the start of classes. This aid is listed as a credit on the College
bill.
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Federal Direct Loan (Subsidized and
Unsubsidized)*
As part of your financial aid package, Elizabethtown
College recommends federal Direct Loans for students.
All students who wish to use Direct Loans must file a Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine
eligibility.
The maximum Direct Loan limits are set by the U.S.
Department of Education. Dependent undergraduate
students may borrow: $5,500 for freshmen, $6,500 for
sophomores, and $7,500 for juniors and seniors. Grade
level is determined by successful completion of credits.
Students who demonstrate financial need, as determined
by federal regulations, may qualify for a portion of their
Direct Loan to be subsidized.
In addition to the amounts listed above, dependent
undergraduate students whose parents are denied
a Direct PLUS loan and independent undergraduate
students may borrow an additional $4,000 a year for their
freshmen and sophomore year and $5,000 a year for their
junior and senior years in the unsubsidized loan program.
All Direct Loan funds will be multiple-disbursed via
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and made payable to
the school. Disbursements are scheduled for the end of
the first week of classes in each semester. Interest on the
unsubsidized portion of the loans will begin to accrue
from the date of disbursement. Subsidized loans will
begin to accrue interest when the student drops below
half-time status. Both Direct Student Loans have a fixed
interest rate of 6.8 percent. Fees of 1 percent will be
deducted from the gross amount of the loan. This aid will
be listed as a credit on the College bill.
Repayment on Direct Loans will begin six months after the
student drops below half-time status. Further information,
including sample loan repayment schedules, can be
obtained by visiting the financial aid website at www.
etown.edu/offices/financial-aid.
DIRECT PARENT LOAN FOR UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENTS (PLUS)*
You must complete a separate application for this loan. All
students whose parents apply for a Direct PLUS Loan are
required to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA). Under this program, eligible parents may borrow
up to the cost of education minus other aid. Repayment
can be deferred until six months after the student
graduates.*
There is no in-school federal interest subsidy on these
loans. The interest rate is fixed at 7.9 percent. Fees of
four percent will be deducted from the gross amount
of the loan. Direct PLUS loans are multiple disbursed
and payable directly to the school via Electronic Funds
Transfer (EFT). Disbursements are scheduled for the end
of the first week of classes each semester.
* An application must be submitted for
in-school deferment.
Definition of an Academic Year
At Elizabethtown College, an academic year requires a minimum of 30
weeks instructional time. A full-time student is expected to complete at
least 24 credits during an academic year.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
The Financial Aid Office has established the following policies and
procedures stated to fulfill the requirements expressed in the Higher
Education Act (HEA) as revised effective July 1, 2011. The Satisfactory
Academic Progress (SAP) policies and procedures of Elizabethtown
College are reviewed when changes at the federal or institutional level
require review to ensure compliance with Federal Regulations. All
Elizabethtown College students applying for Title IV federal aid must
meet the stated criteria regardless of whether or not they previously
received aid.
Policy Requirements – The HEA revised section 668 contains
updated regulations concerning Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Section 668 requires that an institution establish, publish and apply
reasonable standards for measuring a student’s ability to maintain
Satisfactory Academic Progress.
The federal programs governed by these regulations include Federal
Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study (FWS), Federal Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Perkins Loan, Federal
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford
Loan, Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS).
Satisfactory Academic Progress
standards include the following:
Maximum Time Frame (MTF)
Maximum Time Frame (MTF) is defined as the required length of time
it will take a student to complete a degree program based on the
appropriate enrollment status. Federal regulations allow a student
to be eligible to receive federal aid up to 150 percent of the time that
it would normally take to complete a degree. MTF is calculated for
all aid applicants whether or not they previously received aid. All
course credits in which a student enrolls or transfers to the College
(including AP credits) are included in the MTF calculation, regardless
of the number of degrees a student chooses to obtain. All hours
are considered when determining the MTF calculation for a degree.
Grades that are considered course credit hours attempted and
completed in the calculation of maximum time frame include: A, A-, B+,
B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, I, P, NP, TR, W, WF. Proper withdrawal from
classes or a class during the “withdraw-without-record” period will not
affect maximum time frame.
For a student, 150 percent of the course credit hours that it would
normally take to complete a Baccalaureate Degree is 187.5 course
credit hours. This is determined by multiplying 125 course credit hours
by 150 percent. For a student seeking a degree, the student may
remain eligible through 187.5 course credit hours of enrollment. If the
187.5 course credit hours maximum time frame limit is exceeded while
pursuing a degree a student is no longer eligible for federal financial
aid. (For an Associate Degree, the 150 percent is 96 course credit
hours or 64 credits x 150 percent.)
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Minimum Completion Percentage (MCP)
The Minimum Completion Percentage is the percentage of
coursework that a student must earn during enrollment. This
component requires Elizabethtown College students to earn
passing grades in at least 67 percent of their cumulative course
credit hours attempted. Day students must properly withdraw
from a class prior to the end of the fourth week of classes for
that class to not be considered in calculation of the minimum
completion percentage.
Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
Students must satisfy the qualitative portion of Satisfactory
Academic Progress regulations by maintaining the minimum
cumulative grade point average accepted as described below.
• 1.7 after up to 18 credits have been completed but before 19
credits have been completed
• 1.9 after 19 credits have been completed but before
35 credits have been completed
• 2.0 between the time that 35 credits have been completed
and the student graduates
Proper withdrawal from day classes during the first four weeks of
a term will not affect the cumulative GPA. Incomplete courses do
not earn credit or influence the GPA in the semester in which the
course is incomplete; however, they are counted once they are
completed.
Basic Requirement:
Federal regulations require students applying for or receiving
federal financial aid to maintain satisfactory academic
progress toward their degree. These standards are applied to
Elizabethtown College institutional aid recipients as well. To
measure progress, the Financial Aid Office evaluates a student’s
academic record at the completion of each semester, reviewing
both the quantitative (the maximum time frame and completion
rate) and qualitative (cumulative grade point average) as a
student pursues his or her degree. Failure to meet these
standards will result in the suspension of financial aid eligibility,
which may include federal, state and institutional aid.
Repeated Coursework: Students may repeat a previously
passed course one time and maintain financial eligibility,
assuming all other academic progress requirements have been
met. Repeated course work counts toward the 150 percent
completion time frame.
Consequences of not maintaining
Satisfactory Academic Progress
The following statuses refer to Financial Aid Warning and
Suspension not academic probation.
Financial Aid Warning:
The first time a student fails to meet the SAP standards as
defined in the first column, the student will be placed on
financial aid warning. The student will remain eligible for
financial aid during the warning period.
Financial Aid Suspension:
If, after being placed on financial aid warning status, the student
fails to maintain the standards of SAP as defined in the first
column, the student will be placed in a suspension status and
will immediately lose financial aid eligibility.
Maximum Time Frame Suspension:
If the student fails to meet the maximum time frame standards
as defined in the first column, the student will be placed in
a suspension status and will immediately lose financial aid
eligibility.
Summer Semester:
Credit hours attempted during the summer semester will be
included in the calculation of SAP standards just as any other
period of enrollment. If a student is in a warning status after the
Spring Semester, then the summer will count as the warning
period and the student will lose eligibility for the Fall Semester if
standards are not met by the end of the Summer Term.
Returning Students (including those on approved Leave of
Absence (LOA) or Medical LOA):
Returning students are evaluated on a continuing basis from
acceptance (if out for more than a year) or enrollment. If SAP
standards have not been met, as detailed in the first column,
the student may be placed on warning (first SAP violation) or
suspension (subsequent violation). Students on suspension may
appeal and must follow the appeal process provided to them at
the time of their financial aid suspension.
Reinstatement of Eligibility:
Financial aid eligibility may be reinstated when a student has
removed all SAP deficiencies acquired during all periods of
enrollment or caused by transfer credits and their federal
financial aid eligibility for academic reasons is restored.
Reinstatement is not a status granted in regard to an appeal.
Students who regain eligibility by completing required
coursework must notify the Financial Aid Office in order to have
their progress reevaluated and financial aid reinstated. After
eligibility has been established, any aid will depend upon the
availability of funds and other aid eligibility criteria.
10

Rights and Responsibilities
Student Rights: Students applying for financial aid
have the right to:
• apply for all funds
• review their financial aid file
• accept or decline any aid offered
• appeal cancellation of financial aid
• review the rules, regulations manuals and
policies pertaining to financial aid
• make an appointment to meet with a
member of the Financial Aid Office
• know what financial aid programs are
available at Elizabethtown College
• know the deadlines for submitting
applications for each of the financial aid
programs
• know how financial aid is distributed, how
decisions on that distribution are made and
the basis for these decisions
• know how their financial aid was
determined—this includes how costs
for tuition and fees, room and board,
travel, books and supplies, personal
and miscellaneous expenses, etc., are
considered in their budget.
• know what resources (such as parental and
student contributions) are considered in the
calculation of financial need
• know how much of their financial
need has been met
• apply for supplemental financing in a timely
manner after aid has been determined
• request an explanation of the various
programs in their financial aid package
• know the College’s refund policy
• know what portion of the financial aid they
receive must be repaid and what portion
is gift aid—if the aid is a loan, they have the
right to know the rate of interest, the total
amount that must be repaid, the length of
time for repayment, and when repayment
begins.
• know how the College determines whether
they are making satisfactory academic
progress and what happens if they are not
Student Responsibilities: Students receiving financial aid must assume
responsibility for maintaining their aid from semester to semester. If the following
criteria are not met, financial aid will be cancelled. Students must:
• complete all application forms accurately and submit them on time to the
proper office or agency
• provide correct information—in most instances, deliberately misreporting
information on a financial aid application is a violation of law and may be
considered a criminal offense which may result in indictment under the U.S.
Criminal Code.
• return all additional documentation, verification, corrections and/or new
information requested by either the Financial Aid Office or the agency to
which they submitted their application
• be responsible for reading and understanding all forms they are asked to
sign and for keeping copies of all financial forms
• accept responsibility for all signed agreements
• be aware that if they are convicted of a drug-related offense, they may lose
eligibility for federal student aid and they may be liable for returning any
financial aid received during a prior period of ineligibility
• perform the work that is agreed upon in accepting a College employment
assignment
• maintain satisfactory academic progress
• notify the Financial Aid Office when family financial circumstances change
• be aware of the College’s refund policy
• notify the Counseling Center when withdrawing from the College and
complete an exit interview with the Financial Aid Office
• submit a written request to the Financial Aid Office if they wish to review their
financial aid file
111

Campus Employment
Campus employment consists of two programs: Federal
Work-Study and campus jobs.
Federal Work-Study includes community service jobs and
institutional employment. Priority for jobs is given to students
with demonstrated need under the Federal Work-Study Program.
All students are paid at least minimum wage per hour. Students
are paid by direct deposit every other week.
All students are encouraged to complete employment forms
upon entering college so that they are able to begin work at any
time during their time at Elizabethtown College. Students must
complete an I–9, W–4, Direct Deposit Authorization form and
Workers Compensation form before working on campus. These
forms are available at orientation in the summer. Also, direct
deposit through a bank is a condition of employment.
All students must interview for their jobs. Campus jobs
are posted on the College’s Student Employment website.
Employment is not guaranteed; however, students who are
flexible and persistent usually are able to find work.
All supervisors and student employees are expected to
follow the College’s Employment Statement of Rights and
Responsibilities, which is available on the Student Employment
webpage. Failure to meet supervisor expectations may lead
to dismissal of the student from the job. If a serious infraction
of campus regulations is involved, the student may not be
permitted campus employment for a designated period of time.
Official College
Communication Policy
Students and faculty and staff members in the residential/day
program should expect to receive official Elizabethtown College
communications through:
• College-issued email addresses
• College-issued campus mailboxes
Members of the campus community should check these modes
of communication frequently for important information from
the institution. On some occasions, communications may also
be sent via U.S. mail to a permanent home address or a home
telephone number via the information individuals provide
annually to the College.
2013-2014
Calendar (tentative)
Fall 2013 Semester
August 1
August 22
August 25
September 2
October 7-8
October 9
October 16
October 20
November 11-15
November 28–29
December 9–13
Payment Due
New Students Arrive
Returning Student
Spring 2014 Semester
Validation/Check-In
Labor Day–No Classes
Fall Break–No Classes
Monday Schedule of Classes
Mid-Term
Homecoming
Registration Week
Thanksgiving Recess
Final Exams
January 1
Payment Due
January 12
Validation/Check-In
January 20 Martin Luther King Day -
No Classes
March 3-7
Spring Break–No Classes
March 10
Mid-Term
April 18-21
Easter Recess–No Day Classes
April 21
Monday Evening Classes Meet
May 5-9
Final Exams
May 17
Commencement
12

Verification Information
Verification is a federal process, which requires the
institution to check the accuracy of the information a
student and/or a student’s parents have given when
applying for federal financial aid. Information is verified
by securing additional documentation or, in some cases,
a signed statement attesting to the accuracy of the
information provided.
The stated purpose of verification is to reduce error rates
in applicant reported data and to assure, to the maximum
extent possible, that eligible applicants receive the correct
amount of financial assistance.
A certain number of Free Applications for Federal
Student Aid are selected for verification by the federal
government. Some applications are selected purely at
random; others are selected based on questionable
answers to application questions. The selection criteria
are established by the U.S. Department of Education and
the Financial Aid Office does not know why a particular
person has been selected. If a student’s application is
selected for verification, the school the student plans to
attend is required to collect certain information in order to
verify the accuracy of the student’s application. In addition,
the College can (and does) select students for verification.
For selected students, there are a number of items that
must be verified. For a dependent student, these items
must be verified for the student and parents. For an
independent student, they must be verified for the student
and spouse. The items to be verified are set annually by
the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, conflicting
information in a student’s file must always be resolved.
The documents necessary to verify these items are determined by
Elizabethtown College.
Corrections to the application data, which result from verification, will be
made through the institution’s need analysis software and submitted to
the U.S. Department of Education’s central processing system (CPS), if
necessary. Applicants will be informed of any specific actions they must
take to correct the application data.
No deadlines are established for the submission of verification documents.
An award will not be sent; aid will not be disbursed to the student; and
federal loans will not be originated until verification is complete. No
professional judgment changes can be made to a student’s record until
they have completed the verification process and the school has submitted
verification corrections to the CPS.
Receipt of a final financial aid Award Letter constitutes notification to the
student that verification has been completed. Receipt of an estimated
financial aid Award Letter does not constitute such notification.
If, for some reason, an award was sent prior to verification, a revised
award will be sent if the award changes due to verification. If the amount
of the revised award is less than the original award and the student is
now ineligible for aid that was disbursed, the student will be responsible
for repaying the amount of the overpayment. The student also will be
responsible for repaying the amount of any aid disbursed if he or she fails
to complete the verification process. For more detailed information on the
verification process, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
113

Attention
New Students
What Happens Now...
❍ Send your $200 matriculation deposit to the
Office of Admissions by May 1, 2013, to enroll at
Elizabethtown College.
❍ Return one copy of your financial aid Award
Letter to our office by May 1, 2013, indicating if
you plan to accept or decline the offer of
financial aid.
❍ Review the “Financing Your Education”
brochure for information on the various
programs available to your family.
❍ By June, the Financial Aid office will certify
your Direct Loan, and you will receive
instructions on how to complete a promissory
note.
❍ You will receive information on how to complete
Direct Loan and Perkins Loan entrance
counseling requirements, if applicable.
❍ You will receive your bill for the Fall Semester
by July. Payment will be due August 1.
❍ Check www.etown.edu/studentemployment for
on-campus job openings.
❍ On August 22, 2013, you will arrive for fall
orientation and your Elizabethtown experience
officially begins!
What Happens Later...
Financial Aid information for the 2014-2015
academic year will be mailed to your home in
February 2014 so you may reapply for financial
aid. Award notification will begin after spring 2014
grades are posted.
14

Resources
Federal & State Aid Offices
FAFSA Processing • 1-800-433-3243
Direct Loan Customer Service • 1-800-557-7394
PHEAA Grant Division • 1-800-692-7392
Scholarship Search Websites
www.fastweb.com
www.collegeboard.org
www.finaid.com
Elizabethtown College Financial Aid Office
717-361-1404
www.etown.edu/finaid
Paul M. Cramer, Vice President for Enrollment
Elizabeth McCloud, Director of Financial Aid
Christopher Mowl, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Eric Kopp, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Kathleen Metcalfe, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Andrea DeLuca, Financial Aid Counselor, CCEDL
Sally Lindsey, Administrative Assistant
Julie Houseal, Administrative Assistant
Elizabethtown College Admissions Office
717-361-1400
www.etown.edu/admissions
Debi Murray, Director of Admissions
Paula F. Orenstein, Associate Director of Admissions/
Transfer Counselor
David L. Stewart, Assistant Director of Admissions/
Coordinator of Multicultural Recruitment
Lauren C. Deibler, Assistant Director of Admissions
Jeremy Matula, Admissions Counselor
Kaitlin A. McCaffrey, Admissions Counselor
www.etown.edu
430-0213