Calendar 2005-2006 - The University of Akron

66 The University of Akron 2005-2006
bursed in the following order: Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Subsidized Stafford
Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, PLUS Loans, Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grant, and LEAP funded programs.
Depending on the situation, withdrawal dates are determined in one of the following
ways:
• The date the withdrawal is processed by the Office of the University
Registrar
• The date the student is officially dismissed from the college.
• The last date of documented academic attendance or course work.
• In the case of unofficial withdrawals (students receiving all “F” grades), it is
the midpoint of the period of academic enrollment or last date of documented
academic attendance or coursework.
• Students who never attended classes will be required to repay all student
aid funds received.
Once students have attended past the 60% point of the payment period, all federal
financial assistance is considered earned.
Please inquire in the Office of Student Financial Aid if you need additional
information on the refund policies.
Eligibility for Aid as it Applies to
Certain Classifications of Students
Transfer Students
The University of Akron Office of Student Financial Aid will use the National
Student Loan Database (NSLDS), eliminating the need to request individual financial
aid transcripts (FATs) for most Title IV student aid applicants. If a student is
transferring to the University during the academic year and has received a Federal
Pell Grant and/or OIG from the prior school, the student must:
• Request a duplicate Student Aid Report from Federal Pell Programs. This
duplicate Student Aid Report must be sent to the Office of Student Financial
Aid before any funds can be disbursed to the student. Instructions for receiving
a duplicate Student Aid Report can be obtained from the office.
• Have the former Financial Aid Office provide a transfer request to have the
OIG transferred to The University of Akron. Federal Perkins Loans, Federal
College Work-Study Programs, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Grants, and scholarships do not automatically transfer. The student must reapply
for these programs at The University of Akron.
Graduate, Law, and Postbaccalaureate Students
A graduate or professional student who has already received a bachelor’s degree
can apply for the Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. The
Federal Pell Grant, Ohio Instructional Grant and Federal Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grant cannot be received. Post-baccalaureate students can only
apply for Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. Graduate assistantships
are available through various graduate departments. A graduate fellowship and
other graduate awards are distributed by the Graduate School; therefore, a separate
application is required.
Guest Students
A guest student is one who is taking classes at The University of Akron but will
receive the degree at another institution. Contact the Office of Student Financial
Aid for written instructions on how to receive financial aid.
International Students
A student in the United States on a student or other temporary visa is not eligible
for any state or federal financial aid. Application for scholarships, short-term loans,
and some types of employment may be made.
Veterans
A veteran may be eligible to receive educational benefits through the Veterans
Administration and should contact the Veterans Office at (330) 972-7838.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
It is your right as a student to know and understand all aspects of your financial
aid award. It is also your responsibility to follow all rules of each program. We
anticipate that the information contained in this Bulletin will assist you with your
questions regarding financial aid.
Installment Payment Plan
The University offers an Installment Payment Plan (IPP) to the student who needs
temporary help in paying tuition and housing. Information and applications are
available through the Office of Student Accounts, (330) 972-5100.
Inquiries
Since the process of applying for financial aid may at first seem complicated, it is
suggested that families contact a high school counselor or a University financial
aid officer for additional information. Direct inquiries to: Office of Student
Financial Aid, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325-6211; Phone: (330)
972-7032 or (800) 621-3847. The Office of Student Financial Aid is located in the
Student Services Building at the corner of Buchtel Avenue & College Street. We
look forward to working with you.
Standards of Satisfactory
Academic Progress
Financial Aid recipients are required to be making Satisfactory Academic Progress
toward completion of their educational programs as determined by the Office of
Student Financial Aid. This is true whether or not student financial aid has been
received previously. A copy of the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress
Policy may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Family Education Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA)
A student has a right to:
• Inspect and review education records pertaining to the student;
• Request an amendment to the student’s records; and
• Request a hearing (if the request for an amendment is denied) to challenge the
contents of the education records on the grounds that the records are inaccurate,
misleading, or violate the rights of the student.
The parent or eligible student has a right to:
• Inspect and review the student’s education records;
• Request the amendment of the student’s education records to ensure they
are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy
or other rights.
• Consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the
student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure
without consent.
• File with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures
by the school to comply with the requirements of FERPA; and
• Obtain a copy of the school’s FERPA policy.
Disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information
• FERPA regulations list conditions under which “personally identifiable information”
from a student’s education record may be disclosed without the student’s
prior consent.
• Disclosure may be made to authorized representatives of the U.S. Department
of Education, the Office of Inspector General, or state and local education
authorities. These officials may have access to education records as a part of
an audit or program review, or to ensure compliance with Student Financial
Assistance program requirements. (Representatives of the Department
include research firms that are under contract with the Department to conduct
studies of financial aid procedures, using student information provided by the
schools selected for the study. The term also includes the Student Financial
Assistance program public inquiry contractor.)
• Disclosure may be made if it is in connection with financial aid that the student
may receive, a request from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for access to a student’s records.
Such a request may be granted only if the student information is needed to
determine the amount of the aid, the conditions for the aid, the student’s eligibility
for the aid, or to enforce the terms or conditions of the aid.
• Disclosure may be made to the student’s parent, if the student is dependent
on the parent, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. If the student
receives more than half of his or her support from the parent, under the IRS
definition, the student is a dependent of the parent. (Note that the IRS definition
is quite different from the rules governing dependency status for the
Student Financial Assistance programs.)
• Disclosure may be made to organizations that are conducting studies concerning
the administration of student aid programs on behalf of educational agencies
or institutions.