IMPORTANT POINTS TO KNOW

• You MUST apply for financial aid every academic year! You must apply before March.

• You apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Enter Ivy Tech Community College’s school code (009924).

• Verification: Some applications are selected for an accuracy review called verification. If you are selected for this process, you will also be required to complete a Verification Worksheet and provide photocopies of the tax forms for individuals whose incomes were included on your application. If you have been selected for verification, your online account will reflect the need for these additional items.

• Federal eligibility matches: The federal processor matches your name and social security number with a variety of federal agencies like Social Security, Department of Homeland Security, Selective Service, National Student Loan Data Systems and Department of Veteran Affairs. If any discrepancies or questions about your information occur, you will be asked to provide additional documents to confirm your eligibility for federal assistance. The federal processor will notify you of the results of these matches and whether additional information is required.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

To file a FAFSA online, I must have a PIN (Personal Identification Number). How do I get a PIN?

A PIN can be requested at www.pin.ed.gov . It will be emailed to the student within 1 to 5 days or mailed within 7 to 10 days.

What if I don't have PIN?

You can still complete the FAFSA online and when you get to the certification page , print it and mail right away to the address listed on that page. It will take 1-5 days to get there and be processed.

Is it too late to apply for financial aid for the fall semester?

If the 2007-2008 FAFSA has not been filed by August 1, you to contact the Bursar's office to make payment arrangements and file the FAFSA as soon as possible.

Will financial aid cover EMT, QMA, CNA, or Real Estate classes?

No. Financial aid is not for short-term training. It is for degree-seeking students only.

When are student loan applications due?

By the end of the second week of classes.

I tried to file a FAFSA online and was told that I would have to pay $49.95. Do I have to pay to apply?

No. If that happens, you are at the wrong website address. FAFSA website is www.fafsa.ed.gov .

What do I need to do to change my school code for state aid?

Go to www.ssaci.in.gov . The school code is 009924.

What do I need to do to change my “school code” for federal aid?

Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov . The school code is 009924 .

When will the Ivy Tech Grant Scholarships be mailed out?

Notification of scholarship are mailed around the end of July.

How can I check the status of my financial aid?

Go to www.ivytech.edu/eastcentral/ . Click on Campus Connect . Click on Enter Student Services and click on Financial Aid and you will be able to view your financial aid status.

I tried to check my financial aid online but nothing was in the system. What should I do?

Check with the financial aid office for assistance. There may be additional items that were not submitted to the financial aid office.

I don't have access to a computer and/or do not understand what is in the system. What should I do?

Computers are available for use in many places around campus and in our computer labs as well. If you find that you need help, you may stop by the financial aid office and someone will be available to assist. Computers are also available in your local libraries.

How do I use my financial aid to pay tuition or books?

a. You must have completed all steps before the priority deadline (Friday before classes begin).
b. If you were late, you may not defer tuition or book charges until everything is complete.
c. Review your online student account or award notification to make sure you actually have been awarded. If you have no award, you cannot charge books or tuition.
d. Make sure you are registered for your classes and you are in a degree-seeking program.
e. Make sure your financial aid will cover your entire tuition bill. If it does not, you will be responsible for paying the difference. If you have enrolled as a less than full-time student, your award amounts will be reduced, so be sure to consider this.
f. Some programs cover tuition only, in which case you may need to buy your own books. If your programs are not limited tuition only, you may charge your books and tuition to your account.

The bookstore will have information about the amount of financial aid you have available and will allow you to charge your bookstore purchase against the expected financial aid.

WARNING: You must be attending each class as of the first day. If you decide you will not attend a class, you must drop the class prior to the drop refund deadline or you will be held responsible for paying the tuition. If you do not attend class or your eligibility for financial aid changes, your financial aid may be cancelled and any tuition or bookstore charges you made will be your responsibility to pay.

How will I get the remainder of the money I do not use?

1. If your financial aid is more than the charges owed, the remainder or “ credit balance ” will be issued to you in the form of a check. The Bursar's Office will mail the check to your address listed in the Student Information System (SIS) approximately 6 weeks after the semester begins. Please be sure to check the address listed in SIS and update if necessary. Addresses are officially changed by notifying the Records Office.
2. You may check the status of your credit balance by going to www.ivytech.edu/eastcentral/ and login to Campus Connect. Click on Enter Student Services and click on View Account Balance . Please note that no information about refunds will be provided over the phone.
3. Student loans are sent to the college by your lender. The lender will provide you with an estimated disbursement schedule. The schedule is only an estimate and actual funds may not arrive on that date. Most loans are electronically transferred. The college will credit the loan funds to your account within 3 days of receipt. If the loan funds credited are more than the charges on your account at that time, the remainder or “credit balance” will be issued to you in the form of a refund check which will be mailed. No exceptions . Checks can be expected about 7-10 days after disbursement.

How many Hours must I take?

For federal Pell grants and SEOG, your award is based on the amount of enrolled hours. The hours are based as follows:

12 credit hours or more full time
9-11 credit hours ¾ time
6-8 credit hours ½ time
1-5 credit hours less than ½ time

21ist Century Scholarship Awards and State Grants (Frank O'Bannon Awards), students MUST be at least full time i.e., 12 credits.

Enrollment in classes as well as class attendance will be confirmed before aid is paid to your account. If you have withdrawn from any classes, missed the first day, or have not attended regularly, your aid will be cancelled. If this happens, you will be responsible for any charges on your account.

What if I cannot attend all of my classes?

Important notice! If you withdraw or stop attending all of your classes, you may be required to repay a portion of the financial aid that was awarded to you.

1. Abandoning classes . Do not simply stop going to class. Make sure you talk with a Financial Aid advisor!
2. If you must withdraw from any of your courses, your aid could be affected . You must meet academic progress requirements to continue receiving aid, and withdrawing from classes will affect this. Again meet with a financial aid advisor!
3. Dropping all classes .
   1. If you officially drop your classes before the end of the 100% refund deadline, tuition charges will be reversed and you will not be eligible for any financial aid.
   2. You will be required to return or pay for any books purchased using financial aid.
   3. Courses dropped prior to the 100% refund deadline will not appear on your academic transcript.
   4. To benefit from the 100%refund period, you must take official action to drop classes.
4. If you withdraw from your classes after the 100% refund deadline.
1. No tuition will be refunded.
2. The courses will appear on your academic transcript.
3. If you withdraw from all classes within the first 60% of the term, or if your stop going to classes, a prorated portion of your aid MUST be returned to the federal program.
4. You will be billed for the amount of aid you must repay.
5. “ Holds ” will be placed on your record until your bill is paid in full.

If you have a student loan, the grace period prior to repayment will begin on the last date you attended classes. Information about your student loan will be sent to you. Repayment will begin 6 months after the last date of attendance.