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What Your Students Need to Know About Financial Aid

Financial Aid Basics for California Community College Disabled

Student Programs and Services

Presented by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office and the California Student Aid Commission

Introductions

Doris Keller

(916) 526-8169

dkeller@csac.ca.gov

Shelly Menzel(916) 526-8013smenzel@csac.ca.gov

Training Goals

Enhance understanding student financial aid

Discuss how the unique needs of disabled students fit into the financial aid process

Discover how various outside disability service organizations affect financial aid packaging

Increase student participation in financial aid programs for which they are eligible

Types of Financial Aid

Gift AidGrantsScholarships

Self Help AidWork StudyLoans

Sources of Financial Aid

Federal State College Private

Outreach Message to Students

Apply...Don’t

Disqualify Yourself!

Important Deadlines

Students can apply for Federal financial aid any time of the year

Students must apply for a Cal Grant between January 1 and March 2

September 2, 2004 only for students attending a community college

Check with your financial aid regarding “priority deadlines”

Types of Applications

FAFSA CSAC GPA Verification Institutional Applications Private Applications

FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid

www.fafsa.ed.gov Shorter processing

time than paper Less errors than

paper Immediate online

assistance Immediate

confirmation of filing

Built-in edits (skip-logic)

Screen Reader friendly

Ability to sign form electronically with a PIN number obtainable at www.pin.ed.gov

FAFSAFAFSA

Application and Accessibility

FAFSA Alternate Media Braille 1-800-433-3243 E-text www.studentaid.ed.gov On the Web www.fafsa.ed.gov

High Tech Centers Help from Financial aid office Department of Rehab Counselors

CSAC GPA Verification

Required for Cal Grant only High school grades College grades

GPA Verification form Not available in alternate media Financial aid office

Submission methods Electronic upload from school Paper form from school or student

2004-05 Application Timeline

Application Filing Period

CSAC GPA Verification Fall 2003 – March 2, 2004 or September 2, 2004

FAFSA Jan 2004 through June 2005. File by March 2 or September 2 for Cal Grant consideration.

Cal Grant C Supplemental Mid-summer (date varies)

BOG Fee Waiver Form Year round

Other School Applications Check with school

Private Scholarships Check with source

Cal Grant C Recommendations

Supplemental Application (after FAFSA) Occupational/Educational

recommendation Teacher, Counselor, or Employer 35% of total score

Based on your knowledge Measure of student’s general academic

achievement Measure of student’s ability to successfully

complete the intended program

Application Advice for Students

Complete all required fields Watch for filing deadlines Apply early, apply often Keep photocopies Obtain certificates of mailing Must list at least one

California school is on FAFSA to be considered for Cal Grant

Assistance to Apply

Assess student’s ability to complete forms

Help provide needed tools Web sources Readers Special equipment Refer students to case worker Keeps files of potential sources of help

Cost of Attendance

Basic Equation of Need

Expected Family Contribution

Student’s Financial Need

Cost of Attendance

Tuition & fees Room & board Books & supplies Transportation Miscellaneous personal expenses

Help Determine Specific Costs

Research cost of attendance at preferred schools

Work with student to determine amount needed for: Special needs at college Transportation Medical bills

Expected Family Contribution

Measure of family’s financial status Calculated at the federal level using

family income and asset data on FAFSA

Used to determine student’s overall financial aid need

What is Professional Judgment?

Adjustments may be made only on a case-by-case basis

Decisions are made at the discretion of the financial aid office Change may not affect eligibility for

financial aid

Changes are allowed in the following areas: Student’s budget (cost of attendance) Independent/Dependent status Income/Asset information

Examples of Possible P.J. Adjustments for Disabled Students

Added transportation costs Adapted vehicle service

Costs for Special equipment Computer software/hardware Typed Text (TTY)

Costs for Assistive services Note-taking services Interpreters

Help Request Professional Judgment

Identify extra costs Suggest documentation to gather Financial aid office may require

completion of additional forms Discuss process with student and

parents Practice making the request

Gift Aid

Pell Grant (need based)

Cal Grant (need & merit based)

BOG Fee Waiver (need based)

FSEOG (need based)

Time is Valuable…Prioritize!

1. Apply to institution

2. Apply for basic financial aid

3. Search and apply for scholarships Less than 5% of total financial aid Students should focus first on applying

for scholarships they have the best change of getting

Scholarships Sources

Parent’s/Students employers Faith based groups Community based groups Medical providers Care providers Associations for persons with

disabilities

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

They are out there….it is just a matter of finding them!

Disabled students scholarship list Scholarship Search Sites

www.finaid.org www.fastweb.com www.collegeboard.com www.fastaid.com www.collegenet.com www.collegequest.com

Scholarship Searching on the Web

Access a search engine (Google, Dogpile, Yahoo, etc.) In search box type “Scholarships, ___” Insert (one at a time) everything that

describes student Type(s) of disability Heritage Hobbies Family interests Etc.

Apply for Scholarships

Include everything requested and: Color photo of student Personal statement/essay Copy of transcripts with highest grades

highlighted Completed application Letters of recommendation from

teachers, counselors, medical staff, parents, caregiver

Table of Contents

Submit Scholarship Application

Include originals when possible or xerox originals only Ask for multiple copies of everything

Bind all pages into colorful theme or report folder

Mail in flat envelop

Self Help Aid

Work-study (need based)

Perkins Loan (need based)

Subsidized Stafford Loan (need based)

Unsubsidized Stafford Loan (non-need based)

Plus Loan (non-need based)

Ability to Benefit

High school diploma General Education Development

(GED) certificate Pass an approved "ability-to-benefit"

test http://www.ed.gov/legislation/

FedRegister/other/2002-3/090402a.html Testing accommodations dependent on

test publisher

Enrollment Status

Can be a factor in type or amount of financial aid awards

Federal statutory definition for financial aid purposes 12 units per term = full-time

Reasonable accommodation Allowing reduced course load from

academic standpoint is OK Counting reduced course load as full-

time for financial aid is not allowable

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Required for federal and state aid As defined by the school within

federal guidelines Some discretion allowed financial

aid office for “special circumstances”

Services of DSP&S help students maintain SAP

Other Potential Requirements

Demonstrated financial need Citizenship State of residency School of attendance Type of program student is

attending Type of degree student is pursuing Minimum GPA requirements Other…

WORKING TOGETHER

Sharing resources for the greater benefit of students

Department of Rehabilitation

Who is eligible for benefits? Individuals with physical or mental

impairment that results in an impediment to employment

Applying for services Apply for Federal financial aid first Website: www.rehab.ca.gov

Rich-text application format .PDF application format

Department of Rehabilitation

Individualized Plan for Employment May cover cost of training

Tuition, fees, books & supplies

MOU with CASFAA Financial aid office coordinates

benefits

Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)

Social Security Administration Program

Excludes from SSI or SSDI eligibility calculation income and resources that are used toward the achievement of a vocational goal

Constructing a PASS Plan

Allowable expenses Tuition, fees Books, supplies Assistive equipment child care tutoring, testing, counseling

Application available from SSA Office or at http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-545.pdf

Advice for Coordinating Services

Be aware of filing periods Make financial aid office aware of

special circumstances Encourage/Assist completion of PASS

(if applicable)

Encourage/Assist in applying for Department of Rehab benefits (if applicable)

Communicate with financial aid office

OUTREACHING TO STUDENTS

Ways to make students aware of the help they may

be eligible for

Develop College-Going Attitude

Encourage all students to go to college

Administer aptitude tests Establish and keep records Work with parents/caretakers Work up profile for each student

How special needs might affect college attendance

Academic requirements to be met

Getting the Word Out

Work with associates in earlier grades

Work with students, parents, caretakers

Develop a strategy for each student College-going attitude Plan for academics and finances Other benefit resources

Maintain records

Getting the Word Out (cont.)

Identify students with special needs Work with all teachers to provide

information and resources Learn about potential benefits Maintain/modify strategy for each

student Work with other outreach

professionals

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For disabled students

Federal Aid Resources

Audio The Student Aid Guide

Braille Publications FAFSA application The Student Aid Guide Funding Your Education Repaying Your Student Loan

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/bvinotice.jsp#content

Keeping Yourself Current

NASFAA www.nasfaa.org/ParentsStudents.asp

U.S. Department of Education www.ed.gov/studentaid/

California Student Aid Commission www.csac.ca.gov

Chancellor’s Office www.cccco.edu DSPS & Financial Aid pages

HEATH Resource Center

Information exchange on postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities Accessibility Career development Classroom adaptations Financial aid

www.heath.gwu.edu

Disabled Student Services in Higher Education List Serve

Mailing list discussion of issues relevant to students with disabilities in higher education. the legal responsibilities of institutions under

the ADA how to meet the physical and academic needs

of disabled students and how to fund such services.

To subscribe to the list, write to listserv@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu with subscribe DSSHE-L in the message body.