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Catalog - Coastal Carolina University

FINANCIAL AID

The purpose of financial assistance programs is to assist undergraduate and graduate students who would be unable to attend college due to lack of money.  Financial aid available for Coastal students is derived from federal and state government sources such as grants, work-study, loans, scholarships, and Veterans Administration Benefits. Additional scholarships are provided by Coastal Carolina University, along with other funds available through private and public sources. The Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veteran Affairs is the source of information regarding these programs.

To determine whether or not a student is eligible for federal student financial aid programs, the student and his/her family must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by April 1 each year for priority consideration. The University expects students and their families to share primary responsibility to meet the costs of college. Students under the age of twenty-four are considered to be dependent on their parents unless conclusive evidence of independence from parental support is received and approved by the Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veteran Affairs. Attending graduate school is considered as evidence of independence.

In order to participate in federal student financial aid programs, Coastal Carolina University is required by federal regulation to maintain a financial aid office that coordinates the delivery of all funds from all sources to students. All students who receive aid in addition to federal student financial aid are required to report the amount and source to the Financial Aid Office by August 1 each year. Students must complete an application for financial aid every year.

OPERATING PRINCIPLES

Coastal supports the following principles:

  1. The primary purpose of a financial aid program should be to help provide financial assistance to students who, without such aid, would be unable to attend college.
  2. The family of a student is expected to make a maximum effort to assist the student with college expenses. Financial assistance from colleges and other sources should be viewed only as supplementary to the efforts of the family.
  3. The student who receives federal financial assistance must maintain satisfactory academic progress in a program of study.
Specific Authorizations

As applicants' financial aid files are completed, funds are awarded and the students are notified by mail. A complete application for financial aid consists of a processed needs analysis document, loan applications, and other documents requested for verification.

Veteran Education Benefits

Eligible veterans can receive assistance by applying for educational benefits through Coastal's Veteran Affairs Office. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs is the only agency that can determine eligibility for and award this benefit. You can determine if you are eligible by calling the VA Regional Office at 1-888-442-4551. You must then contact Coastal's Veteran Affairs Office to obtain the appropriate forms for certification.

Students receiving VA educational benefits are expected to maintain satisfactory progress towards a degree. Normal standards of progress, as stated in the Catalog, are applicable to VA students. Veterans or eligible persons must take courses that are essential to their degree program and cannot receive VA benefits for courses that are not essential to their program of study, or for repeating courses in which they have earned a satisfactory grade, or for courses which are graded on a Pass-Fail basis. To receive benefits for an Independent Study, approval must be obtained from the S.C. Commission on Higher Education prior to certification for the term.

Once enrollment has been certified, the VA student is responsible for reporting any updates or changes to his/her enrollment status to the Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veteran Affairs. This includes the dropping and/or adding of classes and complete withdrawal from the University. Failure to do so may result in the termination of benefits and possibly an overpayment situation.

The following is a synopsis of VA Program Chapters:

Chapter 30: The Montgomery G.I. Bill ("New" G.I. Bill). This program provides educational benefits to individuals entering military service after June 30, 1985. A certified copy of your DD 214 is required. Those with remaining entitlement under Chapter 34 ("Old" G.I. Bill) may be eligible under Chapter 30.

Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation for Service-Disabled Veterans. This pro- gram is for individuals who have a compensable service connected disability, and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs determines that training and rehabilitation services are needed to overcome an employment handicap.

Chapter 32: Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP). This is a volun- tary contributory matching program for individuals entering service for the first time after December 31, 1976 and before July 1, 1985.

Chapter 35: Dependents Educational Assistance Program. This program is for dependents (spouse or children) of individuals who die or are permanently disabled from service-connected causes.

Chapter 106: Montgomery G.I. Bill - Selected Reserve. This program is available to members of the Selected Reserve, including the National Guard. A form DD 2384 (NOBE) is required.

LOANS Federal Carl D. Perkins Loan

The Federal Carl D. Perkins Loan is a low interest loan to assist you in paying for your education. You may be eligible to borrow up to $6,000 a year. As a student, you pay no interest on the loan while attending school at least half time. The interest rate is 5 percent during the repayment period which begins 9 months after you leave college or cease being enrolled as at least a half-time student. These funds are limited and based on need.

To determine if you are eligible you must complete:

* Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Federal Stafford Loans (FFEL)

The Federal Stafford Loan is a low interest college loan made by a lender, credit union, or savings and loan association. These loans are insured by either the federal government or a state guarantee agency. The interest rate is variable with a 8.25% cap. For the 2002-2003 academic year, the rate was 3.46 percent.

You may be eligible to borrow up to the cost of attendance with a $18,500 maximum.  Of this amount, only $8,500 may be subsidized (no interest is charged until repayment) and the difference will be unsubsidized (interest is charged from the time of disbursement until it is paid in full).  The government will advise as to how much each category a student will be eligible for.  A graduate student may borrow up to $138,500.  The graduate debt limit includes any Stafford Loans received for undergraduate study.  These loans have a six-month grace period before repayment begins.

Applications are available in Coastal's Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veteran Affairs. To determine if you are eligible you must complete:

* Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

* Application and Master Promissory Note for Federal Stafford Loans

* Entrance Loan Counseling

South Carolina Teachers Loan

The South Carolina Teachers Loan Program was established by the State of South Carolina through the Education Improvement Act of 1984 to attract talented and qualified students to the teaching profession. This loan is cancelled by teaching in South Carolina public schools in an area of critical need.

The loan is cancelled at the rate of 20 percent for each full year of teaching in a critical subject or a critical geographic area within South Carolina. If you teach in both a critical subject and geographic area, your loan will be cancelled at the rate of 33 1/3 percent for each year of full-time teaching. The subject areas deemed critical at the time you apply will be honored when you begin teaching; critical geographic areas must be deemed critical at the time of your employment. If you decide not to teach, the interest rate on the loan is a variable rate, not to exceed 10.25 percent.

Graduate students may borrow up to $5,000 per year. This loan has a June 1 deadline and the funds are limited.

To determine if you are eligible you must complete:

* South Carolina Teacher Loan Application

Work Opportunities

There are two student employment programs at Coastal Carolina. They are the Federal Work Study Program (FWSP) and the Institutional Employment Program (IEP).

Federal Work Study Program (FWSP)

The Federal Work Study program is a federal student aid program that provides part-time jobs on campus for eligible students. Students may work up to 20 hours a week when classes are in session and up to 37.5 hours with the Office of Financial Aid's approval during times when classes are not in session up to an authorized amount of wages. Approximately 150 students are approved for work each semester. Students should seek placement in available jobs through the Career Services Office in the Prince Building.

To determine if you are eligible you must complete:

* Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Institutional Employment Program (IEP)

The Institutional Employment Program is a Coastal Carolina program that provides part-time jobs on campus for students who may or may not have financial need. There is no application for this program. Students should seek placement in available jobs through the Career Services Office in the Prince Building.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Institutions participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs are required by the United States Department of Education to establish institutional policies which define satisfactory academic progress. All students who receive federal financial aid at Coastal Carolina University are required to maintain satisfactory progress toward completion of their programs of study.

A student is considered to be making satisfactory academic progress if the student satisfies all of the following:

  1. is admitted and enrolled as a degree-seeking student;
  2. meets the University standards for continued enrollment as specified in the Academic Standing section of the Catalog. A waiver granted by the Petitions Committee for Suspensions for continued enrollment does not constitute evidence of satisfactory progress for financial aid;
  3. completes requirements for a degree within a reasonable length of time. The total number of hours attempted at any post secondary institution may not exceed the equivalent of 60 hours.
  4. earns no fewer than 75% of credit hours attempted per academic year (includes Fall, Spring, and Summer terms) based on the enrollment status determined at the end of the 100 percent refund period each semester.
  5. achieves a cumulative grade point average of 2.0. If the GPA drops below the required 2.0, the student's eligibility for continued payment of federal financial aid is subject to review.

Transfer students will be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid at the time of enrollment unless the total number of hours attempted at all graduate schools exceeds the equivalent of 60 hours.

If a student's ability to meet these standards is affected by extenuating circumstances, he/she may appeal this determination. Information concerning the appeals process is available in the Office of Financial Aid.

Refunds/Repayments

Students are academically and financially responsible for their course registration and must terminate enrollment in classes which they do not intend to complete. To drop a course, the student must complete a Registration form available from their adviser. To completely withdraw, the student must complete a University Semester Withdrawal form available from the Office of the Registrar. Refund refers to the amount of money used to pay institutional charges that the institution must return to the student and/or to the financial aid programs after the student has withdrawn or dropped courses. Repayment refers to the amount of any cash disbursement made to the student that the student must repay to the school after the student has withdrawn or dropped courses. For students who receive Title IV Federal funds, a copy of the Return of Title IV Funds Policy worksheet is available in either the Office of Financial Aid or the Bursar's Office. The student should refer to the Fees and Expenses section of this catalog for specific refund schedules.

Policy for Withdrawal Refunds

Students who withdraw from the institution will be given a refund on the basis of either 1) University refund calculation (students who do not receive Title IV Federal Financial Aid), or 2) University refund calculation and Return of Title IV Funds Policy (students who receive Title IV Federal Financial Aid). Both refund calculations conform to federal regulations set forth by the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (Public Law 105-244 approved on November 1, 1999).

The Return of Title IV Federal Funds Policy applies only to students at the University who are recipients of Title IV Federal Financial Aid. A copy of the Return of Title IV Funds Policy worksheet is available in either the Office of Financial Aid or the Bursar's Office. The University policy applies to all other students who withdraw from the institution.

The refund schedules are published in the Master Schedule of Classes for each semester. Any financial aid for which the student was eligible prior to withdrawal, but which has not been disbursed, will be cancelled and returned to the source.

Distribution of Refunds/Return of Funds

If a student receives Title IV (federal) funds from more than one source, the University will distribute the refund based on the following mandated priorities:

1) Unsubsidized FFEL/Direct Stafford Loan

2) Subsidized FFEL/Direct Stafford Loan

3) Perkins Loan

4) Other Title IV programs

Repayments for Withdrawals

Repayment refers to the amount of any cash disbursement made to the student that the student must repay to the school after the student has withdrawn. Any student who owes a repayment will be billed by Coastal Carolina University's Bursar's Office, and have a hold placed on the academic record which prohibits graduating, obtaining a transcript, or registering for classes. The student is also prohibited from receipt of any further disbursement of Title IV aid at any institution.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Coastal Carolina University offers a limited number of scholarships which are awarded to eligible students who are accepted to the University.  To apply or be considered for scholarships as a new or continuing student you must be admitted to Coastal Carolina University and submit the completed Application for Graduate Scholarships, if required, by March 1. As there are a limited number of awards available, not all students who meet the minimum criteria will be awarded a scholarship.

The total of all scholarships and financial aid awards cannot exceed the cost of attendance as determined by the Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veteran Affairs. Scholarship award amounts may vary each year dependent on donor contribution. The awarding of all scholarships is dependent upon available funding.

For more information, contact:
Scholarship Coordinator
Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veteran Affairs
Coastal Carolina University
P. O. Box 261954 Conway, SC 29528-6054
Telephone: (843) 349-2308 1-800-277-7000, ext. 2308
E-mail: scholar@coastal.edu
www.coastal.edu

GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

The Chicora Rotary Graduate Scholarship (award based on funding)
R. Grant and Elizabeth Singleton Graduate Scholarship (award based on funding)
The Eric Schuck-Kolloen Fund for Advanced Studies (award based on funding)

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