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Financial Aid/Veterans Affair
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The Office of Financial Aid and Veteran's Affairs is located on the 2nd floor of the Myers Center. Office hours are from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, and from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, holidays excluded. During the summer months, the office closes at 12:00 p.m. on Fridays. We can be contacted at:
The Office of Financial Aid and Veteran's Affairs awards financial assistance to curriculum students in the form of scholarships, grants, and work programs. Every effort is made by the institution to help students who need assistance. Financial aid is intended to supplement, not replace, financial contributions from the student and his or her family. Financial aide is distributed at Gaston College without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability. There are two types of financial aid: gift assistance and work. Gift assistance includes grants and scholarships that do not have to be repaid provided that the student attends classes through the 60% point of the semester and maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress (see the Financial Aid Office for this information). Work is a self-help program. Work enables students to pay part of their expenses through their own earnings. The work study program gives students the opportunity to work and earn money at or above the current minimum wage. Effective July 1, 2007, Gaston College does not participate in the Stafford or Federal Direct Loan programs. There are many sources of alternative or private loans to help provide funding to students of the College. Gaston College does not endorse the use of any particular alternative loan program, but rather encourages its students to thoroughly review the programs available and to select the program that best meets their personal needs. Things to consider:
To determine which loan program is best for you, obtain the following information from the lender(s) you are considering:
Gaston College is approved by the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) to offer VA educational benefits. Students who are eligible to receive veterans’ benefits must come to the Veterans Affairs Office in Room 242 on the second floor of the Myers Center located on the Dallas Campus to complete the necessary forms before benefits can begin. Students who are eligible for VA benefits should submit a copy of their class schedule to the VA Office. It is the student’s responsibility to follow college and/or Department of Veteran Affairs regulations. Failure to do so may put the student in repayment. Gaston College’s Veterans Affairs Office must be notified of any schedule changes. In addition, if a student changes his program of study, the student must complete a Petition for Major Change form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office and also submit the appropriate DVA forms to the Veterans Affairs Office.
How Financial Aid Eligibility is Determined Gaston College uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to assess the financial condition of financial aid applicants. Information entered onto the FAFSA is analyzed according to the requirements of the U.S. Congress and federal guidelines. This ensures that all applicants are treated fairly and equitably. Such items as income, assets, family size, marital status, and number of family members in the household in college are used to determine eligibility. Results of the FAFSA indicate the amount the student and his or her family can contribute toward the student's education. Most financial aid is based on need rather than on scholastic record. Financial need is the difference between the total education expenses and what the family is expected to contribute.
How to Apply for Financial Aid Students who are entering Gaston College and are in need of financial aid are requested to follow this application procedure:
Applicants may apply for a scholarship, grant, work-study, or any combination of these. The total combined sum of these must not exceed total financial need. The awarding of aid is based on funds available. Students will be notified of their financial aid eligibility by award notification letter. The letter will state the type and amount of award. Students should retain their copy of their award notification letter for their records. If the student does not plan to enroll or use their financial aid award, the student should notify the financial aid office. In the event that a student receiving aid withdraws from the institution and stops attending all of their classes prior to the 60% point of the semester, the student will be responsible for repayment of a prorated amount of any portion of payments that were extended to the student for living expenses and that would no longer be attributed to meeting expenses related to attendance. If the student never attends a class(es), the student is not eligible to receive financial aid for the class(es) and will be responsible for repayment and billed for the aid in which you became ineligible. Students will be ineligible for future aid until repayment has been made. The student has the obligation to maintain the "Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards" as defined specifically for financial aid recipients. Failure to maintain academic progress will result in the loss of eligibility for financial aid. Eligibility may be regained unless the student has exceeded his or her eligibility to receive federal aid. Student coursework must be restricted to the major that is on file in the Office of the Registrar. Courses taken outside of the approved major may require adjustment to the financial aid award. Students are responsible for payment of repeated courses that were previously paid for by financial aid. It is the student's responsibility to:
Director of Financial Aid Kim Beam, Student Services Secretary Gwen Danner, Veterans' Affairs and Financial Aid Specialist Anita Elliott, Financial Aid Specialist Ungina Lewis, Admissions/Financial Aid Specialist, LC Joanna Relken, Financial Aid Specialist Debbie Wingfield, Work-Study/Financial Aid Specialist
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