Question and Answer

What do I have to do to receive financial aid?

• You MUST file a FAFSA, every year, at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Are there scholarships available at Hawkeye?

• Scholarship applications are available online or through the Foundation Office.
  Application deadlines are as follows: Fall - April 1 and Spring - November 1.

Where can I go to look for other scholarships?

• www.Fastweb.com
• www.finaid.org
• www.scholarship.com

What happens once I file my FAFSA?

• You may receive a letter from our office asking for additional information from you to complete your file. Return this as soon as requested so the financial aid process can continue.

  Once your file is complete, an award letter listing state, federal, and institutional aid for which you are eligible will be mailed to you (refer to the Financial Aid Handbook [pdf] for detailed information).

  Review your Award letter and the Financial Aid Handbook carefully.

What should I do to receive my Direct Loans?

1. Accept your Direct loans on SOAR.
2. Complete Entrance Loan counseling at www.dl.ed.gov.
3. Complete a Promissory Note at www.dlenote.ed.gov.

How does the Financial Aid Office communicate with students?

• Access SOAR to review your Financial Aid information and check your HAWKEYE EMAIL regularly (even during break periods).

When will I know how much I owe?

• Upon registering for classes, you should be able to view your account balance on your SOAR account. Registration statements will be mailed to you the week before classes begin in August. The statement will show the classes you are currently enrolled for and the tuition and fees associated with those classes. In addition, your estimated financial aid will be reflected. If the amount of your charges is more than your financial aid, this is the amount you are responsible for paying, (refer to the Financial Aid Handbook [pdf] for detailed information).

  *Your account must be paid in full before you will be able to register for any future terms.

How do I pay for my books?

• Once you are registered for classes you are able to charge your books to your business office account. (This is only done the week prior to the start of the semester and the first week of each semester.) If you have financial aid in excess of your tuition this can be used to pay for the books that are charged. If not, you are responsible for paying the business office.

When will my financial aid be applied to my account?

• You MUST attend classes to receive your financial aid. After the lock date each semester, your financial aid is adjusted for those classes enrolled for at that point. Approximately three weeks after the start of the semester, your financial aid will be applied to your student account.

  You will only receive financial aid for the classes you are attending. Grants for late start classes will not be disbursed until attendance is reported.

If I have to drop a class, how will it affect my financial aid?

• You must maintain Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress each semester to prevent your financial aid from being suspended, (refer the Financial Aid Handbook [pdf] for the complete Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress policy).

  Depending on the timing of your drop, your financial aid could be adjusted. Always check with the financial aid office prior to dropping classes. (Refer to the Financial Aid Handbook [pdf] for detailed information.)

What options are available if I need additional funding beyond what is provided on my Award Letter?

• For Parent Plus loan information refer to your Financial Aid Handbook [pdf] for detailed information.
• Private Student loans through banks that are NOT guaranteed (student borrower).

How do I get signed up for the federal work-study program?

• If interested, you need to complete an application. You must show financial need to be eligible. The pay rate is $7.25 per hour (refer to the Financial Aid Handbook [pdf] for detailed information).

When are Credit Balance checks (financial aid in excess of tuition, fees and books) mailed?

• The Business Office will mail them on the following dates:
  • Fall - September 18, 2009
  • Spring - February 9, 2010
  • Summer (1st 4 weeks) - June 16, 2010
  • Summer (2nd 4 weeks) - July 16, 2010
  • (Refer to the Financial Aid Handbook [pdf] for detailed information.)

What do I need to do to get financial aid for Summer classes?

• You will need to fill out a Summer financial application [pdf] after you have registered for your summer classes.

How do I apply for Financial Aid?

• See Applying for Financial Aid

How do I sign my FAFSA?

• If you use a paper FAFSA you (and your parent, if dependent) must sign the application. However, if you use FAFSA On The Web you may either use your assigned PIN number as your signature (and your parent, if dependent) or print out a signature page just prior to submitting your electronic application. Make sure that all the signatures are properly submitted or the processing center will not be able to complete your financial aid results.

What am I applying for?

• By submitting your FAFSA to the processing center you will be considered for federal and state financial aid. The types of aid programs include:
  • Grants – free funds that are not paid back
  • Work-study – employment, usually on-campus, where you are paid by a monthly paycheck
  • Loans – low interest loans usually repaid after leaving college
  • Scholarships - some scholarships are based on FAFSA results but usually require their own application and process

Do I need to apply for admission to Hawkeye before I apply for financial aid?

• No, but you will need to be admitted before we are able to finalize your award.

I don't live with my parents or my parents don't claim me on their tax returns. Do I still need to use their information on the FAFSA?

• Yes, it does not matter if you live with them or not. If you do not meet the federal definition of an Independent Student, you are required to supply parent information on the FAFSA. Read the FAFSA instructions about dependency and who is considered a parent carefully.

Should I include my step-parent's information on the FAFSA?

• If the person who is considered the parent on the FAFSA is remarried at the time of the FAFSA filing, answer the FAFSA questions about this parent and the person whom your parent married (your step-parent).

I am separated/divorced from my spouse now. How do I file for financial aid?

• You do not include your spouse's income or other information on the FAFSA. If you and your spouse filed a joint federal tax return and you need help in completing your FAFSA, bring in your federal tax return, along with your W-2s, and we can help you fill out or correct your FAFSA.

My ex-spouse has custody of our children, but I pay child support. Can I include my children on the application?

• You may include the children as part of your household on the FAFSA only if you provide more than 50 percent of the child's support. You may be required to provide documented proof of this. In most cases, if the children do not live with the student, they are not able to include the children on the FAFSA.

My spouse/parent passed away during the tax year required on the FAFSA. Do I include that income on the application?

• No, if the person has passed away, you do not provide their income information on the FAFSA.

I am getting married in the near future. Can I say I'm married on the FAFSA?

• No, you must report your marital status as of the time you fill out the application and it may not be changed. It is sometimes an advantage for a student to wait until being married to file the FAFSA since the student would be independent, but each case is different.

I can't find my tax returns. What can I do?

• You can call the I.R.S. at 800-829-1040 and request a copy of your tax account information.

I am dependent per the FAFSA instructions and my parents won't provide financial information on the FAFSA. What should I do?

• You might want to inform your parents that these are federal regulations and parent information is used only to determine your aid eligibility. Your parents would not be responsible for any loans you incur as the loans would be in your name. However, if you have a dysfunctional relationship with your parents that can be supported by third-party documentation such as a counselor, teacher, or clergy, an exception to the federal regulation may be made. If so, please contact us about a special circumstance—dependency override appeal.

Why do I have to answer question #35 about drug convictions?

• Under federal law, some students who have drug-related convictions may be ineligible for federal student aid. For help on answering question #35 on the FAFSA, please call 800-433-3243 or go to www.fafsa.ed.gov for guidance.

Do I have to apply for financial aid each year?

• Yes, an award year includes Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters, in that order. All students must apply for financial aid for each award year.

When should I apply for financial aid?

• You may not apply before January 1 prior to the upcoming award year. However, it is suggested to complete your federal tax returns (1040, etc.) as early as possible and then immediately complete the FAFSA. Some financial aid programs are limited in funding and are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis.

I was selected by the processing center to have my FAFSA information verified. What does "verification" mean?

• If you were selected for verification we are required to obtain certain documentation before we can complete your award. We will be requesting a signed copy of your, and your parent if dependent, federal tax return (1040, etc.). We do not need your state and city income tax returns. We will also need a Federal Verification Worksheet completed which will be mailed to you. Additional documents will be requested that are needed to complete your student file.

I'm currently in default on my student loans. Can I get financial aid?

• If you are in default on a federal student loan you are not eligible for any federal or state financial aid. You must make six consecutive payments on a defaulted loan and make satisfactory payment arrangements with the Department of Education to regain eligibility for aid. You must present the Financial Aid office with official notification from the Department of Education that you are no longer in default to receive aid.

How will I find out about what financial aid I qualify for?

• After we receive your FAFSA results from the processing center, collect all required documents, and correct any discrepancies, we will send you an award letter packet. The award letter will list the types and amounts of financial aid that you qualify for.

What do I do with my Award Letter?

• Please read your Award Letter and Award Letter back carefully. Use the enclosed checklist to complete your Financial Aid Award correctly.

What is Entrance Loan Counseling?

• Entrance Loan Counseling is a federal requirement to assure that students understand the basics of taking out a Stafford Loan. If you are borrowing a Stafford Loan for the first time while at Hawkeye, you must complete this exercise before we can disburse your loan. Go to www.dl.ed.gov to fulfill this requirement.

How do I complete my Master Promissory note?

• You may do so at www.dlenote.ed.gov using your FAFSA PIN number.

Can I charge books from the bookstore to my Hawkeye Bill?

• Yes, if you have received your award letter and you have enough aid to cover your tuition and fees and the anticipated book costs. If so, go to www.hawkeyebookstore.com to look up the book costs and write them down. Then, go to the Hawkeye Bookstore. If approved, you may have your book cost added to your Hawkeye Bill.

What do I do about my financial aid and my Hawkeye invoice?

• Please understand that you are responsible to contact the Business Office at 319-296-4417 about your invoice by the due date listed on the bill regardless if you have received your award letter or not. In other words, all students must contact the Business Office by their invoice due date to review payment options. Failure to do so may result in your classes being canceled.

How does my financial aid get credited to my Hawkeye invoice?

• All loans are disbursed in two payments per semester. After your bill is paid in full any excess loan funds will be mailed to you as a refund. Any excess grant funds will be mailed to you as a refund at the third disbursement. Refer to the Award Letter Insert.

Do I have to attend class to get my financial aid disbursements?

• Yes, Yes, Yes. Faculty submit attendance information to us before we disburse the aid. If you are not attending, we may need to reduce your aid amount or hold it until you are in good status in the class.

What is the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans?

• A subsidized loan is the type of loan where you make no payments as long as you are enrolled at least half-time (six credit hours). The interest and principal are deferred.
• An unsubsidized loan works the same way except you are responsible for paying the interest while enrolled in classes.

How much Direct Stafford Loan money may I borrow?

• If eligible, a student in the first year of their study may borrow $3,500 and then $4,500 after that. Since different majors at Hawkeye have different lengths of study, the grade levels may also differ. Independent students may also borrow up to an additional $4,000.

Do I have to reapply for financial aid if I transfer to another school during the award year?

• You do not have to reapply, but dollar amounts do not transfer from school to school. Check with the school you are transferring to about their process. If you are transferring to Hawkeye, using your FAFSA PIN number, add Hawkeye Community College code (004595) to your FAFSA.

I lost my job, I am cutting my hours at work so I can attend school, or I am working a different job and making less money. How does this affect my aid?

• We have a special consideration form for students to fill out when there is a dramatic change in income. It can have a significant affect in the amount of aid a student receives. Please contact our office for more information.

Financial Aid Office
Hawkeye Center - Main Campus
319-296-4020 or 1-800-670-4769 ext.4020
finaid@hawkeyecollege.edu