Graduate Catalog - New Jersey City University

22 GRADUATE CATALOG 2013-2016 NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
FUND/OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP
GRADUATE BENEFITS
Mr. Andrew Platizky, Director
Mr. Andrew Platizky, Director
aplatizky@njcu.edu
Opportunity Scholarship Program
Vodra Hall, Rm. 211
201-200-3355
http://www.njcu.edu/dept/OSP
The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF)
Program, known at New Jersey City University
as the Opportunity Scholarship Program
(OSP), provides financial assistance
to full-time graduate students who meet
eligibility requirements. It provides students
who are admitted to Graduate Studies at
NJCU and fit EOF eligibility requirements
with grants worth up to $2,300 per year.
To be eligible to receive an EOF Graduate
Grant at NJCU, you must be:
• A matriculated student or a student who
has the intention to matriculate
• Registered full time (9 or more credits)
• A citizen or permanent resident
• Financially eligible according to EOF
guidelines (Guidelines and the EOF
Graduate Program Payment Request
and Information Form can be found in
the EOF/OSP office.) Upon receipt of
your acceptance letter from the Office of
Graduate Studies at NJCU:
• Complete and submit the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Complete the EOF Graduate Program
Payment Request and Information Form.
These documents should then be submitted
to Mr. Andrew Platizky, Vodra Hall,
Room 211.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (LOANS)
Matriculated students must complete
a Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for
Federal Direct Stafford Loans.
In addition to completing the FAFSA for
the appropriate year, the student must:
1. Enroll as a matriculated student in a
degree or certification eligibility program
on at least a half-time basis (a minimum
of six credits in the Fall, six credits in the
Spring, and a minimum of six credits
between Summer I and Summer II);
2. Maintain satisfactory progress toward the
completion of a degree or certification;
3. Be a citizen or permanent resident of the
United States, or eligible non-citizen;
4. Not be in default of any loan made,
insured, or guaranteed under the Perkins
Loan Program, the FFEL Program, the
Federal Direct Student Loan, or the
PLUS/SLS Program;
5. Not owe a refund on a previous Federal
Pell grant or Federal Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grant Program
(SEOG); and
6. Show need of financial assistance as
demonstrated by the completed FAFSA.
7. Meet all other requirements of the federal
financial aid programs.
Non-matriculated students are not eligible
to receive federal or state financial aid
or loans, but may apply for certain private
education student loans. Please feel free to
contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional
information.
The Federal Direct Student Loan Program
enables graduate students to borrow
long-term, low interest loans to finance
their education. A graduate student may
borrow up to $20,500 annually from the
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan depending
on his/her costs and family contribution.
The interest rate is fixed and depends upon
when the student first received loan funds,
The borrower is responsible for all interest
payments on disbursed amounts while in
school.
The Federal Graduate PLUS Loans are
federally sponsored loans for independent
students attending graduate school at least
half time (6 credits) and matriculated in a
degree program. Students must submit a
FAFSA and apply for their maximum allowable
federal Direct Student Loan programs
prior to applying for a Graduate PLUS
Loan. A credit check is required.
Students in certification programs may be
eligible to receive the Federal Direct Subsidized
and the Federal Direct Unsubsidized
Loans. The Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford
Loan amount is $5,500 and the Federal
Direct Unsubsidized Loan amount is
$7,000.The Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford
Loan is a loan for certification students
that demonstrate financial need. Interest is
paid while the student is in school at least
half-time or during a period of deferment.
The interest rate is reassessed every July 1st.
The actual interest will depend upon when
a student first took out a Federal loan. The
Federal Unsubsidized loan follows the same
rules outlined above.
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
Work-study through the Federal Work-
Study program allows students enrolled
in at least 6 credits to earn their award by
working part-time at the University. Job opportunities
at different departments and offices
at the University are available. Students
may also choose to be a reading tutor in the
NJCU America Reads Program.
To apply for Federal Work-Study,
students must complete the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), be a
matriculated student, be enrolled in at least
6 credits, and have financial need.