How to Apply for Aid

Rights and Responsibilities    top

It is the student's responsibility to:

• Be familiar with the financial aid application procedures including application forms and deadlines. This information is available from the financial aid office.
• Return all forms properly filled out within the prescribed time limits. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of any aid offered.
• Notify the financial aid office of any changes in the parents' or the student's financial situation. The student's financial aid package will be adjusted to reflect any changes.
• Notify the financial aid office of any private scholarships or awards that the student receives during the academic year.
• Notify the financial aid office of any change that reduces a student course load to less than full time (12 credit hours).
• Honor all agreements, including repayment provisions on any loans, made with the college and/or any other lending institutions.
• Provide all forms requested by the financial aid office for the purpose of verification of family income, family size and similar matters.
• Reapply for financial aid each academic year. The college will make every effort to continue aid to those students who demonstrate financial need.
• Maintain eligibility for federal financial aid programs. To maintain eligibility, the student must be enrolled at least half time (6 credit hours) in an approved program (New York State financial aid programs require full-time enrollment-12 credit hours) and be in good academic standing. To be in good academic standing a student must be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree and must be pursuing an approved program of study.

It is the student's right to:

• Know how financial need was determined.
• Know how decisions regarding financial aid were made.
• Appeal any decision made by the financial aid staff.
• Know how financial aid that has been awarded will be distributed. Generally, financial aid will be paid to the student in two equal installments, the first during the fall semester, and the second during the spring semester. The student will be billed each semester for tuition, fees, room and board. If the student's bill has not been paid, one half of the total award will be deducted from each semester's bill. If the bill for the semester has been paid, the student will receive a refund equal to one half of the total award.  No aid can be deducted from the bill until it has been completely processed.
• Select the lender for their Stafford loan.
• Know what portions of the financial aid must be repaid and the annual interest rate.
• Know the college's refund policy.