Financial Aid Office

► NEW STUDENTS ► RETURNING STUDENTS ► INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

GENERAL LOAN INFORMATION UNDERGRAD & GRADUATE LOANS LAW LOANS

ADDITIONAL FORMS 2007-08 FORMS

DEFERMENTS DISBURSEMENTS RETURN OF AID POLICY

SOURCES OF AID TYPES OF AID INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS BRIGHT FUTURE SCHOLARSHIP OTHER SCHOLARSHIP OPTION PRE-PAID TUITION PROGRAM ACG/SMART FIRST GENERATION

GENERAL APPLICATION PROCEDURES NEW STUDENTS RETURNING STUDENTS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IMPORTANT APPLICATION TIPS

QUALITATIVE MEASURE OF PROGRESS QUANTITATIVE MEASURE OF PROGRESS APPEAL PROCESS

AWARD DECISIONS ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS SATISFACTORY PROGRESS PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT DEPENDENCY OVERRIDE ALTERNATIVE ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS

FINANCIAL AID OFFICE SERVICES WHAT IS FINANCIAL AID? BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS DETERMINING FINANCIAL NEED COST OF ATTENDANCE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

2007-2008 AWARD TERMS & CONDITIONS

Financial Aid Award Notice
The Award Terms & Conditions Guide contains information about your financial aid offer for the 2007-2008 academic year. The amount and type of assistance you have been offered is based on several factors: your financial need, your willingness to accept various types of aid and the availability of funds at the time that your file is completed. Your award may include other financial assistance offered by the university such as scholarships, as well as any private scholarships you may expect to receive from external sources. Please read this guide carefully to assist you in meeting the conditions of your award(s), instructions on obtaining your funds and maintaining your eligibility from acceptance of your awards to the disbursement of funds.

Log on to your FIU Email Today!
FIU does most of its business electronically, including informing you of your Financial Aid Award Notice which provides you with your awards for the 2007-2008 academic year. Be sure to have your FIU Email address active and accurate. If you do not have an FIU Email address upon admission to FIU, you will need to activate and use your assigned Email address at: www.webmail.fiu.edu. If you need technical assistance, contact the University Technology Services at 305.348.2284.

READ and REVIEW Your Financial Aid Award Notice
Please take time to read your “Financial Aid Award Notice” which contains your annual award(s). If you are a first-time aid applicant, you will receive an initial paper copy of an Estimated Financial Aid Award Notice, thereafter, all other award notices are electronically Emailed ONLY to your FIU Email address. If you are a currently enrolled FIU student, you will receive an Email notification to view the PantherSoft System for direct Online viewing of your initial Estimated Financial Aid Award Notice.

Using your Panther ID, always check your “TO DO LIST” on the PantherSoft system and your FIU Email address for missing document(s) notifications. You will receive a Financial Aid Award Notice reflecting your financial aid award package.

You have the choice to reduce or decline work-study or student loans Online. If you choose to decline the work-study or student loans offered, the awards are canceled for the entire academic year (Fall and Spring semesters). For specific instructions on viewing and responding to your financial aid award(s), visit our webpage, www.finaid.fiu.edu, and select the “Financial Aid Award – Step-By-Step Guide” link.
NOTE: If accepting student loans, you must select a lender, first-time borrowers must complete an entrance interview session and complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN), if applicable.

Quality Assurance Program (QAP)
If your file has been selected for “Verification” as stated on the response of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) you can disregard this message. FIU participates in the US Department of Education’s Quality Assurance Program. The QAP is a process of institutional verification. If selected, the Financial Aid Office would be comparing information from your FAFSA application with copies of you and your parents/spouse’s Federal tax prior to you receiving your annual Financial Aid award package.

Awards are Subject to Change
The financial aid awards on your award letter are based on an anticipated full-time enrollment (12 credits for undergraduates /9 credits for graduates) for the 2007-2008 academic year. If you are not enrolled as a full-time student for each semester, your financial aid award may be reduced or cancelled. The most common reasons for an award adjustment include changes in enrollment which reduces the cost of attendance, residency status, housing arrangements, not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress, or an over-award due to the receipt of additional aid from other sources. An award may also be adjusted due to changes or inaccuracies in the information on which your award is based. If your financial aid has been disbursed, you may be responsible for partial or full repayment of funds regardless of the reason for the adjustment.

Federal Work Study (FWS):
Student’s who have accepted the FWS and have not earned at least one dollar ($1.00) by the last day of the Drop/Add period for each semester will have the award canceled. The FWS will be canceled for the entire academic year (Fall & Spring semesters) and the award will not be reinstated.