catalog 05-06.indd - Undergraduate Admissions - Gallaudet University

Enrollment Informationpost office box or via campus e-mail once the semester hasstarted. Students need to check their paper mail and e-mailfrequently in order to get essential information from thisOffice. Financial aid will be delayed or terminated if studentsdo not respond to requests for information or other requiredactivities sent to the post office box or through Gallaudet e-mail.Gallaudet post office boxes, addresses, and e-mail accountsare maintained in Gallaudet’s central database, andthis information determines where our communications aresent. Students must be sure that this information is currentand accurate. Any changes to this information should bemade through the Registrar’s Office.University Financial Aid Refunds toInstitutional and Title IV ProgramsWhen a student leaves the University during a semesterduring which federal or institutional aid has been received,some or all of the financial aid received may have to be cancelled.The amount of aid which must be cancelled (refundedto the federal/institutional program) is calculated on a proratabasis according to the length of time (in days) a studenthas been enrolled. For example, if the semester is 110 days inlength and a student withdraws on the 28th day, the studenthas attended 39% of the semester, and has “earned” 39% ofhis/her aid. (110 divided by 28 = 39%) The remaining 61%(unearned amount) of the financial aid must be cancelled.In this example, a student who receives a total of $5,000 infinancial aid will keep $1,950 (39%). The remaining $3,050will be refunded to the financial aid program source. If all orpart of the financial aid was given to the student as a financialaid refund, the student may be responsible for repayinga portion of this “unearned” financial aid. Required financialaid refunds to Title IV Programs will be made in the followingorder: Federal Stafford and Plus Loans, Federal PerkinsLoans, Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, and other Title IVassistance.Please be aware that the above required policy governingthe return of financial aid funds as a result of student withdrawalis different than the University’s policy for refundsof University charges. Financial aid refunds may be requiredeven though there may be no reduction to the student’scharges. Please read the section titled, “Refunds AfterWithdrawal from the University” for further information onadjustments to University charges.Application DeadlinesThe Financial Aid Office accepts applications at anytime before or during the academic year; however there arepriority deadlines that are enforced for the awarding of anyinstitutional grants and scholarships. The deadlines typicallyare the first Friday in July preceding the academic year(for students enrolling the fall semester), and the secondweek of January (for students who were not enrolled in thefall semester and are planning to enroll in the spring). Forthe 2005-2006 academic year, these priority deadlines areJuly 1, 2005, and January 13, 2006. Funds are awarded ona first-come, first -served basis; so it is important to applylong before the priority deadlines. Institutional funds may beexhausted before the priority deadline dates.Applications received after the priority deadline dates willbe reviewed for federal grant, work study, and loan eligibility(if a loan request has been made).OverawardsThe Financial Aid Office is charged with the responsibilityfor compliance with federal aid program guidelines, whichinclude ensuring that students do not receive more aid thanthat for which they are eligible (exceeding the “financialneed” amount). In some cases where a student has beenawarded financial aid and other financial assistance receivedexceeds the financial need amount, the Financial Aid Officemust reduce or cancel any aid it has awarded to avoid “overawards”of federal aid.Students who are awarded institutional grants, andsubsequently receive departmental assistantships, stipends,VR support, waivers, or outside assistance, may have theirinstitutional grants reduced. Institutional grants are limited,and if awarded without knowledge of “other” assistance, maybe reduced to make grant funds available to students who donot receive such other assistance.It is essential that students notify the Financial Aid Officeof any assistance expected or received from outside sources(private scholarships, VR); or from other University departmentsor offices (such as tuition scholarships/waivers,stipends, grants, or other assistance/scholarships) in order todetermine what effect, if any, this assistance will have on aidawarded by the Financial Aid Office.Types of Financial AidIn order to establish eligibility for Title IV Programs,such as Federal Pell Grant, Federal College Work-Study(FWS), Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant(FSEOG), Federal Perkins Loans, and Federal (subsidizedand unsubsidized) Stafford Loans, a student must be enrolledin a degree-seeking program at Gallaudet. The student mustmeet the requirements of U.S. citizenship. All of the federalprograms are need-based. In order to receive assistance fromthese programs, the student must:* Be making satisfactory progress toward the completionof his or her field of study.* Not be in default on a Perkins or Stafford Loan.* Not owe repayment on a Pell Grant or Perkins Loan.Federal Pell GrantPell is a grant (gift aid) to undergraduate students. Thisprogram is limited to students who have not yet received abachelor’s degree. The grants vary in amount depending onthe student’s eligibility index number, costs of attendance,enrollment status, and on authorized funds. The Pell grant isdesigned to meet a percentage of a student’s cost of attendance.Federal College Work-Study (FWS)This program is designed to assist students who mustearn part of their education costs by working part time. Theamount a student can earn under FWS is determined on thebasis of need and the amount of funds available in the program.Federal College Work-Study students are paid on anhourly basis every two weeks. The salary begins at minimumwage and can be increased depending on the nature of the joband the job requirements. Eligibility for this program is determinedby the Office of Financial Aid, while all job placementassistance is handled through the Academic Advisingand Career Center.Federal Supplemental Educational OpportunityGrant (FSEOG)This program is a grant or gift awarded by the school toindividuals who have “exceptional financial need.” Grantsare limited to students who are enrolled at least half time in adegree-seeking program.12