Financial Aid FAQS
Q: How do I apply for an academic scholarship?
A: Apply for admission to Emory & Henry College and complete the application process. The Vice President for Enrollment Management confirms eligibility for an Emory & Henry academic scholarship during your acceptance process to the college based on your official transcripts and test scores, or college transcript and number of credit hours achieved if a transfer student.
Q: What is Emory & Henry College's federal Title IV Code and how do I use it?
A: Use Emory &Henry College's federal Title IV Code 003709 in the college release section of the FAFSA in order for our Centralized Student Assistance Office to receive the results.
Q: When should I file my FAFSA?
A: File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1 for the next academic year at www.fafsa.gov. Your application will be more accurate if you wait until you have accurate financial information from your federal tax return.
Q: Why is there a charge to file my FAFSA?
A: Stop! There is no charge to file the FAFSA. If you are being charged a fee you are not at the Department of Education's web site (www.fafsa.gov) web site. Go to www.fafsa.gov to complete your application at the free site. If you have any questions please call us (276.944.6105).
Q: Am I a dependent student or an independent student?
A: Are you 24 or older? Are you married? Do you have dependents for whom you pay more than half the support? Are you an orphan or ward of the court? Are you a veteran of the armed services? If you answered yes to any of the above, you are an independent student. If you did not answer yes to any of these questions, then you need to provide parental information on your FAFSA. There are new rules pertaining to students who were determined to be homeless or emancipated as a minor which may impact your status. Please contact our office.
Q: What options do I have if my parents can't/won't help?
A: Unfortunately, the ED does not make exceptions for this situation. Unless physical or emotional abuse and/or abandonment can be established, a dependent student cannot be declared independent. There are private loan options and school funds which are sometimes made available to students experiencing financial difficulties. Please see the Director of Student Financial Planning for individual assistance.
Q: What happens if I get married?
A: The ED does not allow students to change their FAFSA filing due to a change in marital status. If you have already filed as a dependant student, with your parents' information, you will not be able to change this until the following academic year. Try to plan accordingly, when possible, and wait to file the FAFSA until after your marriage. Contact the Centralized Student Assistance Office for assistance in timing your filing.
Q: Do I have to file the FAFSA every year?
A: In order to receive federal funds (including student loans) as a part of your financial aid package, you must file the FAFSA every year you attend Emory & Henry College.
Q: I was selected for verification. What does that mean?
A: One in three FAFSA applications are selected for verification by the Department of Education. If your FAFSA was selected, Emory & Henry College is required to collect a federal tax return transcript along with W-2 forms from you and your family, as well as a verification worksheet, and any other information necessary to confirm your FAFSA application. Beginning with the 2012-13 academic year, federal law prohibits us from accepting copies of tax returns. Free federal tax transcripts can be obtained by visiting www.IRS.gov or by calling 1-800-908-9946.
The verification worksheet may be enclosed with your award, sent to you under separate cover, or available online. Once you and your parent have completed the worksheet, enclosed the federal tax return transcript(s) and W-2 forms (if indicated on the worksheet), signed and dated the worksheet, you can fax those documents to us at 276.944.6884, scan them and attach them to an email (ehfinaid@ehc.edu), or mail them to the CSA Office, Emory & Henry College, P. O. Box 947, Emory, VA 24327-0947.
Q: What happens if I move off campus? Will my financial aid change?
A: Possibly. Whether you are moving off or on campus, different financial aid budgets will apply. Some financial aid may also be based on where you are living. Failure to notify the Centralized Student Assistance Office of such changes could result in aid reductions later and sudden balances due on your student account. Be sure to notify the CSA office if your housing plans change.
Q: What is the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans?
A: A subsidized Stafford loan has a government subsidy of the interest being paid while the student is enrolled in school at least half-time. Unsubsidized loans accrue interest in the student's name, which must be repaid after the student graduates, drops below half- time enrollment or withdraws from school. Neither loan requires payments while the student is enrolled at least half-time (see federal loans).
Q: How much can I borrow?
A: Loan limits for DL loans are controlled by the ED. For PLUS loans, the limit is the COA less other financial aid. For Stafford loans, the student's class level, dependency status, and ability to get a PLUS loan (for dependent students) will control the limits. The base amount of Stafford loans beginning July 1, 2007 is $3,500 for freshmen (up to 25.5 credits); $4,500 for sophomores (26 to 56.5 credits); $5,500 for juniors and seniors (57 credits or more). These funds could be either subsidized or unsubsidized based on the FAFSA. In addition to the base amount, an independent student (or dependent student whose parent has been denied a PLUS loan by their lender) can take an additional unsubsidized Stafford loan of $4,000 as a freshman or sophomore or $5,000 as a junior or senior. As of May, 2008, all students are eligible for an additional $2,000 of unsubsidized Stafford loan, regardless of dependency status.
Q: My award lists a Perkins loan. What is that and how do I get it?
A: Currently, if you have a federal Perkins loan, that is a subsidized (interest paid by government while the student is enrolled at least half-time in a degree program), low-interest (fixed 5 percent) loan which must be repaid in the future. For information about the program, see the CSA Office web site on federal loans. You will be directed at the appropriate time to complete your online promissory note and entrance counseling for your Perkins loan.
Q: What's a PLUS loan and how do I get one?
A: A PLUS Loan is a Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students; therefore, only a parent (not grandparent or legal guardian) may apply. Graduate students may have some eligibility for a Grad PLUS loan and should contact our office for more information. For more about PLUS loans see federal loans. PLUS loan payments start after the loan is fully disbursed each year (usually around end of February, first of March for full academic year loans), they have a slightly higher interest rates than Stafford loans, and they are also subject to default and origination fees, which are not usually covered by the lender or guarantor. However, the interest rate is usually much lower than private alternative loans for students. Parents can borrow the remaining funds needed, including extra for books and personal expenses. Parents have an option of requesting a forbearance for their PLUS loan payments while their student is enrolled at least half-time. Interest would still accrue and there is a time limit to the length of forbearances, but it would be another option for managing payments.
Q: How will my financial aid be paid to me?
A: Your financial aid will be divided equally between semesters and released to your student account following the end of the registration drop/add period each semester. No funds can be credited until they are actually received from the source whether federal, state, or outside scholarship agencies. Your level of enrollment and continuing eligibility must be confirmed before funds are released to your account. All financial aid, except for your student employment earnings, will be disbursed by the Accounts Receivable Coordinator directly to your student account. Your student employment earnings will be paid to you if time cards are submitted in a timely manner each pay period.
Q: I'm only enrolled part-time. Am I really getting all of this financial aid back?
A: Not necessarily. Our office will not make adjustments in your financial award for part-time enrollment until the end of the registration drop/add period, as you may be working to reach full-time status and maintain eligibility for the aid shown on your award notification. During that time, your billing statement will only show charges for part-time enrollment and may indicate a credit balance based on full-time aid. Your aid must be adjusted for your level of enrollment before a refund can be calculated. Please notify the CSA Office in writing as soon as possible if you are planning to enroll in fewer than 12 credit hours in a term so that we may adjust your financial aid to match your plans.
Q: When will I get my excess loan funds refunded to me?
A: Read here to learn when to expect refund checks from our office.
Q: I have a federal work study position listed on my award notification. Do I have to take a job? Where will I work?
A: No, in fact, it is your responsibility to obtain a position. Your award notice will indicate your eligibility; however, you must complete all necessary employment eligibility paperwork with the E&H Human Resources Office and locate a student employment position using the online service (details). You must work sufficient hours to earn the amount indicated on your award notification. Remember, this is a real job - if you work, you will be paid; if you do not work, you will not be paid. Your earnings will be paid to you following regular submission of your time sheet.
Q: I don't have a federal work study position listed on my award notification. Does that mean I can't have a job on campus?
A: If a federal work study position is not listed on your award notification, you are not eligible for a job at this time. However, you may become eligible after the beginning of the semester if the students with awards do not take the necessary steps to secure student employment, or if you have skills that cannot be filled by another student (details).
Q: Do my grades have any effect on my financial aid?
A: Yes! Financial aid is subject to satisfactory academic progress. This is both a qualitative (GPA) and quantitative (number of hours) measurement. The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Requirement is separate from the academic warnings, probation, and suspensions issued by the Dean of Faculty. Detailed information is also available in each year's catalog
Q: I want to withdraw from a class. Will I lose any financial aid?
A: Not necessarily, but it will depend on when you withdraw. If you withdraw from a class before the end of drop/add period at the beginning of each semester, as long as you are still full time (12 semester hours), it will not effect your financial aid. If you withdraw after the end of drop/add, you will still be charged for the hours, even if you drop below full time. That will not have any effect on your financial aid for that semester, but too many withdrawals after drop/add can have a serious effect on aid eligibility. Our office can only aid you for hours attempted up to 150 percent of the program length. See The SAP Requirement for details.
Q: What if I need to leave E&H before graduation?
A: You need to be sure to follow proper procedure for exiting the College by checking out through the Dean of Students Office and visiting all required offices, including the CSA Office.
