Financial Aid Award Notice
The Award Terms & Conditions Guide contains information about your financial aid offer for the 2009-2010 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 PANTHER 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 2009-2010 academic year. Be sure to have your Panther 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: panthermail.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 Panther mail address. If you are a currently enrolled FIU student, you will receive only an Email notification to view the PantherSoft System for direct Online viewing of your initial Estimated Financial Aid Award Notice. 
  
IMPORTANT  TASKS TO COMPLETE:
 
ACCEPTING YOUR AWARD ON PANTHERSOFT
When you accept the offer of financial aid offered in your award notice, you agree to accept and fulfill all of the following responsibilities, including the terms and conditions set by the federal, state and institutional regulations for financial aid.
 
Read the “award message” that is hyperlinked for each award offered. The messages advise you with the award description and criteria to maintain eligibility for your awards.
 
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, http://finaid.fiu.edu, and select the “Financial Aid Award – Step-By-Step Guide” link.
 
STUDENT LOANS

The minimum enrollment requirement to retain a student loan is part-time (6 credits undergraduates /5 credits graduates)

Perkins Loan - a Perkins Promissory note is required for loan disbursement. The Perkins Promissory Note  will be provided to Perkin Loan reciepients.
 
Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)
 
4 Steps to complete BEFORE the Disbursement of your Loan(s) including the Master Promissory Note (MPN)

1. Accept your "Offered" Award On-Line thru Panthersoft at http://my.FIU.edu

2. First time FIU borrowers - Complete an Entrance Counseling Seminar for your particular loan type.

3. If you do not have a FAFSA PIN (personal id number) obtain one at http://www.pin.ed.gov/ for student/parent to sign the electronic Master Promissory Note.

4. If you are a first-time Federal Direct Loan borrower, using your Federal FALSE PIN, complete and submit the electronic Master Promissory Note at: https://dlenote.ed.go

Quality Assurance Program (QAP) - Verification
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 (15 credits for undergraduates /12 credits for graduates) for the 2009-2010 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.
 
All Summer Awards are based on half-time enrollment (6 credits for undergraduates/ 5 credits for graduates) and loans are the primary source of financial assistance.
 
Revised Awards
After the drop/add (census date) period, some of your awards will be pro-rated based on your actual enrollment; Change of enrollment may cause a reduction of cost of attendance and awards.
 
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.