Financial Aid 101

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Exploring Scholarship Opportunities
Finding out about and applying for scholarships can be a time consuming and complex activity, which is why the SUNY Ulster Financial Aid Office prepared the booklet, Exploring Scholarship Opportunities. This booklet is available as a PDF which you can download and print by clicking here. The booklet is approximately 25 pages.

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Financial Aid Forms Center
Click here for a selection of Financial Aid forms you can download.

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Six Easy Steps
To download and print any of the following forms and applications, click on the name.

1. Complete the applications:

• Free Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Application
  (For more information: www.fafsa.ed.gov)
• Express TAP Application (ETA) for full-time students (Note: The link to this application will appear upon completing the FAFSA application above.)
• Aid for Part-Time Study Application (APTS) for part-time students
• SUNY Ulster Financial Aid Application/Verification Form
• Federal Stafford/Unsubsidized Stafford Loans: Master Promissory Note (Note: This form is available in the Financial Aid Office.)
• Educational Opportunity Program Application
• Veterans Application for Educational Benefits
• You will need copies of tax returns to file some of these applications. For instructions on how to get copies from the IRS, click here.

• Federal income tax returns--signed (including W-2s and all pages)
• New York State income tax returns (signed) (for APTS)
• Untaxed income documentation (see worksheets A & B of FAFSA)
  • Social Security benefits
  • Workmen's Compensation benefits
  • Department of Social Services statement of benefits
  • Child Support received (separation/divorce agreement, Court documents, Family Court papers, notarized note, etc.)
  • Wages not listed on a W-2
• Other income documentation (not listed above)

• Federal Stafford/Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
  (www.mapping-your-future.org)
• Federal Perkins Loan
  (www.mapping-your-future.org)

• Hiring Authorization form
• I-9 and W-4 (with appropriate documentation)
• Work Study Award Letter (if student is work/study eligible)
• Student Aides: must complete the SUNY Ulster Financial Aid Application (but it is recommended that all students complete the FAFSA , the Express TAP and/or APTS application)

• Provide a copy of DD 214 and/or other documentation

6. Provide all required applications by the deadline dates.

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WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID?

To qualify for financial aid, an applicant must

• be a U. S. citizen or permanent resident or other eligible non-citizen (a New York resident for state financial aid programs i.e. TAP, APTS and EOP);
• be admitted to SUNY Ulster in a (financial aid-eligible) program of study;
• have a high school diploma, a General Education Diploma (GED);
• maintain federal and NYS satisfactory academic progress in a course of study;
• not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a repayment on a federal grant, or have borrowed the maximum aggregate limit in the federal student loan programs;
• be registered with Selective Service (males, if required); register at www.sss.gov;
• have a valid Social Security Number; find out about applying at www.ssa.gov;
• not be disqualified due to a conviction for a drug-related offense (federal financial aid);
• certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes.

Non-financial aid eligible programs include (programs with less than 24 credits):

• Animal Science Office Assistant
• Database Management
• Direct Care Practice
• Network Administrator (18 credit)

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CHECK YOUR FINANCIAL AID STATUS

Matriculated and registered students can check their individual financial aid status by using BANNER ONLINE, which provides information about student financial aid status including information/documentation required.

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IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID POLICIES

WITHDRAWALS FROM CLASSES:

If a student withdraws from classes, the student may be required to repay a portion of any federal or state financial aid that was received for use during that period. A complete refund of tuition and fees will be issued if you cancel your registration before the first day of classes. Once classes begin, refunds are prorated based on the official date of withdrawal (or non-attendance) from class(es). If you drop hours or withdraw from the college, or if an express semester class is cancelled, the student may be responsible for all or part of any unpaid charges. If you are eligible for an amount of earned aid not yet received, you will be contacted by the Student Accounts Office. Refund monies are distributed back to financial aid accounts in accordance with federal and state regulations. Contact the Student Accounts Office with refund and calculation questions at (845) 687-5099.

WITHDRAWAL FROM COLLEGE:

Financial aid recipients withdrawing from the College MUST secure a clearance signature from the Financial Aid Office. This requirement is to ensure that all matters regarding financial aid awards, refunds, and student loan obligations are taken care of prior to leaving the College. Students not contacting the Financial Aid Office will be billed for any refund overpayment received, and will be unable to re-enroll until such time that the overpayment has been returned to the U. S. Department of Education (or the college in some cases). Students with Federal Perkins Loans and Federal Family Education Loans (Stafford and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans) must complete an exit interview at www.mapping-your-future.org. (You will find the interview by selecting "Student Loan Counseling Interview" from the Site Menu on the left side of the page.)

NON-ATTENDANCE:

If a student fails to attend class(es), the student may be required to repay a portion of any federal or state financial aid that was received for use during that period. In some cases, financial aid awards are cancelled, and the student would be required to repay the financial aid award(s).

OVERAWARDS:

It is the student's responsibility to advise the Financial Aid Office of all scholarships, outside awards, or other resources that the student may receive. If at any time it is discovered that the student has been overawarded financial aid, the student is responsible for repaying the amount that exceeds your eligibility regardless of the reason for the overaward.

VERIFICATION:

Students/parents sometimes make errors on their application. Colleges are required to have procedures for verifying the reported information.

A Student Aid Report can be selected for verification:

• by the U.S. Department of Education
• by the college

Students must supply required verification documentation by the specified deadline date. If students are unable to supply the information by the deadline date, students should contact the Financial Aid Office.

Required Verification Items include:

• household size
• number in college
• adjusted gross income
• U.S. taxes paid
• certain types of untaxed income and benefits
  • Social Security benefits
  • Child Support
  • IRA/Keogh deductions
  • Foreign income exclusion
  • Earned income credit
  • Interest on tax-free bonds
  • TDA/TSA

Other items may be included.

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CHANGES IN FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Students may request consideration of their financial aid awards due to unusual/exceptional circumstances above and beyond the student's/parents' control, such as loss of employment, divorce/separation/death of parent, loss of untaxed income (social security benefits) and loss of unemployment benefits.

Such requests must be made in writing along with all required documentation, and must explain in detail, any changes, which have occurred since the original application for financial aid. Requests for reconsideration are reviewed and students are notified in writing. Most reviews are based on the 2006 annual income. Changes go into effect at the end of the 2006 calendar year.

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APPLICATION DEADLINES