News
From UConn Student Financial Aid Services
Contents |
Important Dates & Deadlines
7/15/2009 - 1st payment plan installment is due for fall semester
8/1/2009 - Fall semester bills are due for undergraduate students
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| Financial Aid Calendar |
July News
2009-2010 Fee Bill Information
For undergraduate students, the fall semester bill is due by August 1. Make arrangements now to cover any remaining fee bill balance to avoid being charged a late fee.
- The University of Connecticut offers an Installment Payment Plan. Consider financing all or a portion of your expenses using this tool. Additional information about the plan can be found on the Bursar’s website http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/payment_plan.html.
- If a parent is interested in borrowing a Federal Direct PLUS loan, the dependent student should accept the PLUS loan eligibility award in the financial aid package. The parent borrower will then need to complete a Federal Direct PLUS Loan Information Form and if the loan is approved, a Federal Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note(MPN). More information is available at http://financialaid.uconn.edu/index.php/2009-2010_PLUS_Loans.
- If additional loan funds are required to meet educational expenses, visit our website: http://www.financialaid.uconn.edu/altloan for further information regarding alternative financing options. To allow adequate processing time, alternative loans should be applied for directly with the selected lender 30-60 days prior to the fee bill due date. We strongly recommend that you exhaust all of your federal loan eligibility before applying for an alternative (private) loan.
REMINDER
For your financial aid to appear as an anticipated deferral on your fee bill, the following steps must be completed:
- You have taken action on all of your financial aid awards via the Student Administration System. Be sure to report any outside scholarships you are receiving. You should also contact the Bursar's Office to request a deferment for any outside scholarships.
- Check your status via the Student Administration System. Submit all documentation requested by the Office of Student Financial Aid Services.
- If you have accepted a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, you have completed a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the Federal Direct Loan Program. If you are a first-time borrower at UConn you have also completed Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling.
- If your parent is taking out a Federal Direct PLUS Loan he/she has submitted the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Information Form and has completed a Federal Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN).
- You have notified the Office of Student Financial Aid Services of any scholarships that you are receiving (either by entering the scholarship on the Financial Aid Action page in the Student Administration System or by submitting a copy of the scholarship documentation to the office).
- You have notified the Bursar's Office of any scholarship you are receiving by requesting a scholarship deferment and faxing proof of your scholarship to (860) 486-5234.
Please remember your fee bill can change at any time. Changes can be caused by changing registration, dropping health insurance, completing aid processes and partial payments. Please be sure to review your fee bill on a regular basis for the most current information.
Other processes to complete online:
Summer Financial Aid
- Summer Federal Pell Grants will not be disbursed until after July 23rd regardless of enrollment.
- All summer charges, regardless of due date, will be paid prior to the issuance of any refunds. Please plan accordingly.
June News
Federal Stafford Loan Information
- All Federal Stafford Loan borrowers at UConn must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the Federal Direct Loan Program.
- First-time Stafford Loan borrowers at UConn must also complete Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling.
Fee Bill Information
For your financial aid to appear as an anticipated deferral on your fee bill, the following steps must be completed:
- You have you been offered an aid package, and have accepted the aid you were offered via the Student Administration System.
- You have submitted all of the documentation that we have requested to complete your file. Login to the Student Administration Systemand click on the Items Required/Received link to determine which documents are still required.
- If you have accepted a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, you have completed a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the Federal Direct Loan Program. If you are a first-time borrower at UConn you have also completed Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling.
- If your parent is taking out a Federal Direct PLUS Loan he/she has submitted the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Information Form and has completed a Federal Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN).
- You have notified the Office of Student Financial Aid Services of any scholarships that you are receiving (either by entering the scholarship on the Financial Aid Action page in the Student Administration System or by submitting a copy of the scholarship documentation to the office).
- You have notified the Bursar's Office of any scholarship you are receiving by requesting a scholarship deferment and faxing proof of your scholarship to (860) 486-5234.
Please remember your fee bill can change at any time. Changes can be caused by changing registration, dropping health insurance, completing aid processes and partial payments. Please be sure to review your fee bill on a regular basis for the most current information.
- Information about the University of Connecticut Installment Payment Plan is available at http://bursar.uconn.edu/html/payment_plan.html.
- If additional funding is needed to pay the fee bill, consider a Federal PLUS Loan.
Summer Financial Aid
- Students enrolled in Summer Session 1 and Summer Session 2 or in Summer Session 4 will have their loans disbursed in two even disbursements.
- Summer Federal Pell Grants will not be disbursed until after July 21st regardless of enrollment.
- All summer charges, regardless of due date, will be paid prior to the issuance of any refunds. Please plan accordingly.
May News
Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Federal regulations require our office to review the academic progress of each continuing student applying for financial aid and to determine each student’s compliance with the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Guidelines. Applicants who fail to meet the criteria will be notified by HuskyMail.
Tips for Graduating Seniors
- If you borrowed Federal Stafford and/or Federal Perkins Loans, complete Exit Counseling for each loan type.
- Use our loan calculator to estimate your monthly student loan payments.
- Educate yourself on loan repayment, consolidation, and cancellation options. Click here for more information.
- Contact your lender if you are continuing your education.
- Go to http://nslds.ed.govto find your total federal student loan debt (not including alternative loans) or to find the servicer of your federal loans. You will need your Federal Student Aid PIN to access the information.
Summer Orientation
The Summer Orientation Program begins Wednesday, May 20th for incoming students who have paid their $150 deposit. There are two sessions a week through July 2nd. A representative from the Office of Student Financial Aid Services will be speaking at each session. We encourage all students with additional questions to visit our website. The office can also be reached via email or by phone (860) 486-2819.
Loan Information
If you have accepted a Federal Direct Stafford Loan or a Federal Perkins Loan, you will be contacted via Huskymail regarding the completion of additional required paperwork. You can complete your Federal Stafford Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) now.
If your parent has chosen to borrow a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, he or she must complete and submit the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Information Form before the loan will be processed.
April News
New Loan Process for 2009-2010
Our process for obtaining federal student and parent loans is changing for 2009-2010. This new process will impact both new and continuing borrowers. Click here for more information about this change.
If you plan to borrow a Stafford Loan at UConn in 2009-2010, you can complete your Federal Stafford Direct Loan MPN now.
2009-2010 Financial Aid for Incoming Undergraduates
Financial aid award packages for newly entering undergraduates are available via the Student Administration System. Click here for instructions on accessing the Student Administration System and other university systems. Students must log into the Student Administration System (SA System) to accept or decline awards and check for any missing documents.
Awards for newly entering undergraduates are based on the information entered on your FAFSA. However, if you have been selected for verification, your award package is considered an "estimate" until the federal verification process is completed. Your award may be adjusted as a result of the verification process.
Approximately 30% of students are selected by the Department of Education to verify the data submitted on the FAFSA. If selected, you will receive a request via the Student Administration System to provide copies of certain documents.
Your Student Aid Report (SAR) will indicate whether or not your file has been selected for verification. In addition, you may access the Student Administration System to determine which documents are required. Do not send these documents unless the OSFAS requests them. The preferred method to submit requested documents is to fax them to 860-486-6629. Please allow 2 - 4 weeks for processing following our receipt of ALL required documents.
An interactive worksheet is available to assist in determining if a balance is due to the University, after all available financial aid has been applied towards your University fee bill. If necessary, students and their families are encouraged to consider alternative sources of funding prior to receipt of the University fee bill. Awards are based on estimated costs, subject to change if tuition and fees are adjusted. The worksheet is for your records only, and should not be submitted to our office.
2009-2010 Financial Aid for Continuing Students
Financial aid packages for continuing students are now available for review via the Student Administration System. If you are a continuing student who has not yet received notification regarding your financial aid for the 2009-2020 school year. Check the status of your aid application at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. Make any additions or corrections as required. Financial aid award packages for continuing student awards will not be completed until all requested information is received. Access the Student Administration System to check your status.
If you have been selected for verification, submit the required documents to the Office of Student Financial Aid Services. Only submit documents if you have been notified of your selection for verification. Continuing students selected for verification will not be awarded any financial aid until all documents have been submitted and the review process is complete. Please note that all awards are based upon funds availability.
REMINDERS
- DO NOT send tax information unless requested
- DO send requested documentation in a timely manner
- Login to the Student Administration System to view required documents
- All awards are based upon funds availability
Special Circumstances
If your financial situation has changed significantly from the information you provided on the 2009-10 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and the situation falls into one of the following categories, you may be eligible to have your financial aid package reevaluated. (All awards are based upon funds availability):
- Changes in family structure (e.g., death, divorce or legal separation)
- Changes in untaxed income (e.g., social security, child support)
- Exceptional medical/dental expenses not covered by insurance
Please submit a letter outlining your circumstances to the Office of Student Financial Aid Services (OSFAS). Your situation will be reviewed, and if it falls into one of the above categories, you will receive a request for additional documentation.
PLEASE NOTE: Changes in employment (e.g., loss of job, loss of overtime, change in job) in the 2009 tax year are not eligible for consideration during the 2009-2010 academic year. All such changes will be reflected in the aid eligibility formula upon submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2010-11 academic year.
Last Date to Process 2008-2009 Loans
The last day the Office of Student Financial Services will process a 2008-2009 Federal Stafford or Federal PLUS Loan for the academic year is Monday, May 4, 2009.
March News
Financial Aid Awarding
In an effort to provide the most accurate financial aid package available, 2009-2010 financial aid packages for incoming students will be available in late March. The Office of Student Financial Aid Services will develop packages after tuition is set by the Board of Trustees on March 10, 2009. Students will be notified when their financial aid package is available via the Student Administration System. Awards for continuing student awards will not be completed until all requested information is received.
Financial aid awarding has begun for Summer 2009. All students will be notified via their HuskyMail account when their awards are available for viewing and action via the Student Administration System.
Financial Aid Verification
The federal Central Processing System (CPS) selects approximately 30% of the applications received each year for verification, a process that requires the Office of Student Financial Aid Services (OSFAS) to confirm the data supplied by the applicant and/or parent(s) on the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid Form (FAFSA). If your application is selected for verification, you will be required to submit additional documentation before your financial aid application will be processed. Click here for additional information.
New Loan Process for 2009-2010
Our process for obtaining federal student and parent loans is changing for 2009-2010. This new process will impact both new and continuing borrowers. Click here for more information about this change.
If you plan to borrow a Stafford Loan at UConn in 2009-2010, you can complete your Federal Stafford Direct Loan MPN now.
On-Time Appeals
Freshmen are automatically considered on time and should not complete an on time appeal. Continuing students who have a compelling reason for filing their FAFSA after the March 1st deadline may submit an on time Appeal form to the OSFAS for consideration. Not having tax information completed prior to the deadline is not considered a compelling reason.
Educational Tax Benefits
Educational tax benefits reduce Federal income tax liability for qualified individuals. The Hope Credit, Lifetime Learning Credit, Student Loan Interest Deduction, or Tuition and Fees Deduction are examples of tax benefits for which you may qualify, based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income and the type of expenses you have incurred.
To learn more about tax benefits for education, go to the Internal Revenue Service website at www.irs.gov or order a copy of IRS Publication 970: Tax Benefits for Education, or call TeleTax at 1-800-829-4477. You can also go to NASFAA’s 2008 Federal Education Tax Benefits Guide: http://www.nasfaa.org/Redesign/TaxBenefitsguide.html
