Student
Center Building - Enrollment Services
GENERAL
INFORMATION
The purpose of
financial aid at Clayton State University is to provide
assistance to students who otherwise could not afford to attend college. Clayton State has established the guideline
that the primary responsibility for financing a college education lies with
students and their families. Thus the
needs of an individual student for financial assistance are determined by the
difference between what the student and the family can be expected to
contribute and the actual cost of attending Clayton State University. The Office of Financial Aid is part of the Office of Enrollment
Services. A student’s family
contribution will be determined by completing the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA forms are
available from most secondary school counselors and from the Office of
Financial Aid at Clayton State University (STC-217). Students may also apply via the official
Clayton State University website (www.clayton.edu). Carefully follow all directions. This website also contains useful information
about all financial aid programs, eligibility requirements, and a calendar of
events.
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Detailed standards for academic progress
and financial aid eligibility are available in the Office of Financial Aid. All students
receiving financial aid should be aware that these standards for retaining aid
are in addition to the academic standards expected for continued enrollment.
Current regulations and procedures for Financial
Aid programs established by the Federal and State governments or other outside
agencies supercede any provisions of this chapter.
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FEE
PAYMENT FOR STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL AID
Students receiving financial aid must
closely follow procedures as indicated by the Office of Financial Aid and the
Bursar’s Office in order to make sure that their financial aid is credited to
their accounts at class registration time each semester. Payment procedures are explained in the
published Schedule of Classes and in printed materials provided by the Office
of Financial Aid. A student who
neglects to follow proper payment procedures may find that the courses that he
or she registered for have been dropped for non-payment.
FEDERAL
GRANT PROGRAMS
Federal
Pell Grants
The
Federal Pell Grant Program is designed to provide financial assistance to those
who need it to attend post-secondary educational institutions. Federal Pell Grants are intended to be the
“floor” of a financial aid package and may be combined with other forms of aid
in order to meet the full costs of education.
The amount of a Pell Grant is determined on the basis of an applicant’s
and his or her family’s financial resources.
Every student is encouraged to apply for the Pell Grant.
To apply for a
Pell Grant, a student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA).
Federal Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grant
The
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a grant that is
available to students who demonstrate financial need. To apply for the FSEOG, a student must complete the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid and request that the information be sent to
Clayton State University. Federal Pell Grant recipients will be
given priority for the FSEOG.
FEDERAL
WORK-STUDY PROGRAM
The work-study
program is a federal financial aid program that provides part-time jobs to
students with financial need.
Work-study positions are available in most on-campus offices. There are also mentor positions in local
elementary schools.
Since funds are
earned, no repayment is necessary. To
determine eligibility, students must complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate academic year. Additional information is available at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/financialaid.
LOAN
PROGRAMS
Federal
Stafford Loan Program
Students who
meet certain income criteria may borrow Stafford Loans from banks and other
lending institutions that participate in the Stafford Loan program.
Before a
student’s eligibility can be determined for a Stafford Loan, the student must
complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The student must request that information
from the FAFSA be sent to Clayton State University. The amounts that an undergraduate student
may borrow vary according to dependency status and year in college. If a student indicates that he or she is
interested in borrowing, the Financial Aid Office will determine maximum
eligibility.
Stafford
Loans made to students by lending institutions are guaranteed by the Georgia
Higher Education Assistance Corporation (GHEAC). If a student has borrowed from the Stafford Loan Program prior to
October 1, 1992, the interest rate on a Stafford Loan is 8% the first four
years of repayment. If the student
still owes any money on the Stafford Loan after four years, the interest rate
increases to 10%. If a student borrowed
from the Stafford Loan Program for the first
time after October 1, 1992, the interest rate is variable. The current interest rate for new borrowers
may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid at Clayton State University. All interest on a Stafford
Loan is paid by the United States federal government while the student is
continuously enrolled in school on at least a half-time basis.
Loans may be
repaid in monthly installments six months after graduation or withdrawal from
school. Students who are awarded a
Stafford Loan must complete a Loan Acceptance Form.
Loan checks will
be held for thirty days after classes begin for first-time, first-year
borrowers. These students must see
their financial aid counselors to arrange to have fees deferred until their
student loan checks are released.
Federal
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program
The
Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program is a program for students who do not
qualify, in whole or part, for the subsidized Stafford Loan Program. The only
difference between the Stafford Loan and the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is
that the federal government does not pay
the interest on the loan while the student is enrolled in school, during the
six-month grace period, and during periods of deferment or repayment. There are two ways for a student to pay the
interest while enrolled in school, during the six-month grace period, and
during a period of authorized deferment:
1. The
student may make monthly or quarterly payments to the lender, or
2.
the student and the lender
may agree to add interest to the principal of the loan, but not more often than
quarterly. All other aspects of the
Stafford Loan Programs apply to the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program.
Loan checks will
be held for thirty days after classes begin for first-time, first-year
borrowers. These students must see
their financial aid counselors to arrange to have fees deferred until their
student loan checks are released.
Federal
PLUS Loans
The PLUS Loan
Program provides educational loans to parents on behalf of the dependent
undergraduate son or daughter. PLUS
loans are available at the discretion of lending institutions to eligible
borrowers and are guaranteed by the Georgia Higher Education Assistance
Corporation for residents of Georgia or other guaranteeing agencies for
non-residents.
The maximum
amount that a parent may borrow for the PLUS Loan Program will vary and will be
determined by the Office of Financial Aid.
PLUS Loans are
available at a variable interest rate not to exceed ten percent (10%), and
borrowers must begin repayment 30 days after the loan is disbursed. PLUS Loan checks will be sent to the
University.
PROMISE
Teacher Scholarship Program
The
PROMISE Teacher Scholarship Program is funded by the Georgia Lottery for
Education and is a component of the HOPE Scholarship Program. The PROMISE
Teacher Scholarship provides forgivable
loans up to $3,000 per academic year for direct and indirect educational
expenses for a maximum of two years.
A student is eligible
to enter the PROMISE program only during his or her junior year. The student
must have at least 60 and no more than 90 semester credit hours. Also the
student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.60 based on the
4.00 grade point scale. In addition, the student must be a declared education
major and be accepted into a teacher education program leading to an initial
teacher certification. Students must
commit to teach as an employee of the Georgia public school system within 12 months
of graduation.
Applications for
the PROMISE Teacher Education Program are available at the Teacher Education
Office at Clayton State University.
Emergency
Loans
A student may apply for an emergency loan
to cover all or part of the cost of in-state tuition and fees in the event that
the financial aid award is delayed through no fault of the student. To apply for an emergency loan, a student
must be in good academic standing with the University and must not have had
returned checks or previous financial problems with the University. A copy of the guidelines and an application
may be obtained from Enrollment Services in Room 217 of the Student Center.
Veterans
Services
The
Veterans Affairs Office assists eligible veterans in utilizing their
educational benefits to the fullest advantage.
Federal, state, and institutional policies and procedures concerning
standards of progress (i.e., attendance, length of program, and specific
classes pursued) are currently in effect for all students receiving veteran
benefits. Veterans enrolled or planning
to enroll at Clayton State University should contact the Veterans
Affairs counselor in the Office of Financial Aid to obtain information and
apply for benefits.
PROCEDURES FOR
APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL
AID
A. Required
Documents
1. Complete the
Clayton State University General Financial Aid Application and
return it to the Office of Financial Aid.
2. Complete
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and send it in the
preaddressed envelope to the processor. You must list Clayton State University as one of the colleges you plan to attend. Clayton State's
school code is 008976. You may also
apply via the Web at www.clayton.edu. Select the appropriate academic year. Carefully follow all directions.
3. You
must be accepted for admission to Clayton State University before
a financial aid award can be made.
Students who attended Clayton State previously but have not attended
continuously need to apply for re-admission.
4. Other
documents, such as federal tax returns for students and parents, birth
certificates, and military discharges, may be required of some students.
B. Awarding
Procedures
1. The student submits all required documents
to the Office of Financial Aid.
2. Once
the file is complete, the Office of
Financial Aid will review it for accuracy and completeness (usually within three working weeks of the
date the file became complete). A
complete file is one that includes the following:
a. a Clayton State University
General Financial Aid Application,
b. admission to Clayton State University,
c. other documents requested by the Office of
Financial Aid (tax returns, birth certificates, etc.).
3. Students who must submit additional
information or who must make corrections will be sent a letter explaining what
they need to do to make their files complete again.
4. Students whose files are accurate and
complete will be sent an award letter explaining the types and amounts of aid
they are eligible to receive as well as directions concerning how the aid will
be disbursed to the student. Enrolled
students may receive an e-mail in lieu of a letter giving them instructions on
how to access their award information.
5. Students who are eligible for one of the
loan programs must complete a Loan Acceptance Form after they have been
awarded.
C. Applicants for Federal and State need-based
Financial Aid programs at Clayton State University must meet the
following criteria:
1.
Be a U.S.
citizen or eligible non-citizen.
2. Be enrolled in a degree or certificate
program.
3. Must be making satisfactory academic
progress in their course of study.
Students who are making satisfactory academic progress shall be
classified as eligible recipients of financial aid except as follows:
a. Students who have been suspended because of
cumulative or semester grade point averages. Eligibility for financial aid
shall be restored only after such students have returned to college for at least
one semester, completed at least six semester hours, and regained good academic
standing.
b. A student will not be eligible for financial
aid if, after enrolling in 24 or more semester credit hours, he or she has not
successfully completed 66% of those hours with passing grades. (The symbols F, W, WF, U, and I are not passing grades.)
Students who repeat courses or change their major will be required to
complete the same percentage requirements of attempted hours.
c. A
student will not be eligible for financial aid for courses that are not
required for the student’s major.
d. A student will be eligible to receive aid for
a maximum of 150% of the hours required to complete his or her major. The
symbols F, W, WF, U, and I received for courses will be included as part of the semester
hour maximum, but will not count as hours completed.
e Students enrolled in the Learning Support
Program or CPC deficiency courses will be allowed to receive financial aid
until they have attempted up to 30
semester hours of Learning Support and deficiency courses.
f. When a student's financial aid eligibility
has been suspended, the student may appeal this decision if specific
circumstances have prevented the student from meeting the Standards of Academic
Progress. The appeals process will be
as follows:
(1) The student must
complete a Financial Aid Appeal Form.
(2) The Vice President of
Student and Enrollment Services will review the first appeal and shall
determine whether the financial aid suspension is justified. The student will
be advised in writing of the decision.
(3) Second and subsequent
appeals will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. The student will be advised in writing of
the decision.
4. Must sign a statement indicating that the
applicant is not in default on a Guaranteed Student Loan or Perkins Loan.
5. Must have established financial need by
filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid for those programs requiring
need to be shown.
6. Be registered for the draft with the
Selective Service if the applicant is a male who is at least 18 years old and
born after December 31, 1959, and not a current member of the active armed
forces.
D. Disbursement:
Financial Aid is awarded for multiple semesters
but is disbursed each semester after the student has registered for
classes. Students who are eligible for
grants, scholarships, and loans will have these funds credited to their
accounts each semester.
E. Information regarding the refunding of student
fees may be found in the Financial Information chapter of this catalog.
F. The Cost of Attendance (financial aid budget)
can be found on the official Clayton State University website.
Go to www.clayton.edu.
G. The official procedures for making sure that
financial aid is credited to the student account at the time of registration
for classes are published in the Semester Schedule of Classes.
Important
Notice Concerning Refunds for Students on Financial Aid
Beginning Fall Semester
2000, Clayton State University is required to implement the new United States Department of
Education’s Return of Title IV Aid Policy for managing federal financial aid
funds.
The most important aspect
of the new federal policy is that the date of withdrawal will determine how
much of the original aid award the student actually “earned.” If the student is found to have earned less
aid than was actually received, the student will be required to repay the aid
that was disbursed on their behalf.
Please refer to the Financial Information chapter of this catalog, the semester Schedule of Classes, and your financial aid award letter for further details.
HOPE
Scholarships. The HOPE Scholarship Program, funded by the
Georgia Lottery, provides financial assistance to Georgia residents who have
achieved academic excellence. HOPE will pay for tuition and HOPE-approved
mandatory fees. Students will also
receive a stipend for books.
Students at
Clayton State University may qualify for the HOPE Scholarship in
several ways.
Freshmen
entering Clayton State qualify for HOPE if they graduated from high school with
a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 in a college preparatory curriculum or
a 3.20 cumulative grade point average in a non‑college preparatory
curriculum. Other students enrolled in a degree program will qualify for HOPE
if, after attempting 30 credit hours, they have a cumulative grade point
average of 3.00 or better. Students
enrolled in a degree program will also qualify for HOPE if, after attempting 90
credit hours, they have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or better.
HOPE Grant
Program. Clayton State University offers a variety of one‑year certificate programs. Most
students enrolled in these certificate programs qualify for HOPE Grants. There
is not a grade point average required; however, the student must satisfy the
Standards of Academic Progress policy at Clayton State University.
HOPE GED
Program. Georgia residents who earned a General Education
Development (GED) high school equivalency certificate awarded by the Georgia
Department of Technical and Adult Education after June 30, 1993, may receive a
one‑time $500 HOPE award. This can be used toward tuition, books, and
other education‑related expenses.
Students must use the HOPE GED award within 24 months of the date of the GED
certificate. HOPE GED recipients may also qualify for assistance through other
selected components in addition to the $500 award.
Applying for HOPE
Programs.
Students must apply through the Clayton State University Office of Financial Aid for all HOPE
Programs. Visit the office on the upper
level of the Student Center or go to www.clayton.edu.
Clayton State University offers outstanding students a wide variety of academic
scholarships. These scholarships are funded by the Clayton State University Foundation, the Spivey Foundation, and other private sources. Most
scholarships are awarded based on a student’s academic achievement, aptitude,
and involvement in school and community activities. Some academic scholarships
are available to students regardless of their major, and others are for
students majoring in particular fields.
Students in the Clayton State University Honors Program are eligible for scholarships funded
by the Clayton State University Foundation, Inc. (See the
heading below.)
PROCEDURES
TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
Clayton State University scholarship packets are available in late fall each
year. The priority application deadline
is in April for the upcoming academic year.
Some scholarships, such as Spivey Music Scholarships and private
scholarships, have different application deadlines and require a separate
application.
Some
scholarships require demonstration of financial need as well as academic
potential. The Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed when any merit-based scholarship is based
on financial need.
Scholarship
applicants who meet the qualifications to apply for the Clayton State University Honors Program are strongly encouraged to do so. See the next
heading in this catalog.
More information, including details about specific scholarships,
is available at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/financialaid.
The Honors Program at Clayton State University is
designed to help academically talented students get “a step ahead.” Honors
Program students enroll in special enriched sections of Core Curriculum courses
such as Critical Thinking and American Government in an International Context.
In addition to
the special class sections, Honors Program students have many opportunities for
leadership training, community service, and close contact with key business and
government leaders in the Atlanta region.
Students
admitted to the program will be awarded an ongoing scholarship. Honors Program students are also encouraged
to apply for HOPE scholarships, which may be awarded in addition to the Honors
Program Scholarship.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
To be eligible to apply for the Honors Program, an entering student must complete the foundation Honors Program scholarship application and meet the following