Award Information

An award letter informs you of the aid you are eligible to receive for attending ASUMH and will be emailed once the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid has awarded any type of assistance to the student. Initial awards assume the student will be enrolled full-time (12 or more credit hours per semester) for the entire school year. Awards for Summer are based upon actual enrollment levels as reported on the required Summer Financial Aid Application.

Except under certain circumstances, an award letter does not require a response. The following list provides circumstances under which an award letter should be signed and returned to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home.

• The award includes a Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan which the student originally requested but now wants to decline or reduce and accept the award. This loan must be repaid, borrow only what you need.

• The award includes a Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan which the student originally requested but now wants to decline or reduce and accept the award. This loan must be repaid, borrow only what you need.

• The award is for fall and spring but the student expects to complete the current degree or certificate before the spring semester begins.

• The award needs to be declined because the student will not be attending Arkansas State University-Mountain Home.

• The award does not include additional aid from other sources which the student expects to receive. Receiving additional assistance not listed on this award letter may result in a reduction in the aid listed. Please provide a list in writing of the names and yearly amounts of the additional aid from other sources you expect to receive and if the amounts will be split between fall and spring.

Federal Grants are awarded based upon need as determined by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity (SEOG) Grants do not have to be repaid as long as you complete the hours you are enrolled in to receive these funds. For more information on the grants available at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home go to Types of Aid under grants.

The following award offers require additional actions to be taken by the student.

Federal Direct Stafford Loan (Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized)

• A Federal Direct Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling must be completed before receiving a Federal Direct Stafford Loan. The Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling are available online at studentloans.gov.

• If you have received funds from a Federal Direct Stafford Loan in the past, completing another Federal Direct Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note is not necessary, however you MUST complete the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling.

• For more information on the Stafford loan program go to studentloans.gov and types of aid.

Federal Direct Stafford Loans are considered a debt which must be repaid and are not excused in bankruptcy.

WORK STUDY, VETERANS, BOOK VOUCHERS, and PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIPS

Work Study - Work Study is not awarded unless a student qualifies for work study and has been offered a job. Prior to each semester the ASUMH student body is emailed asking for students interested in doing work study to come to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid to sign up. The list of students is provided to the campus departments that have positions available. The departments conduct interviews, make their selection and provide that information to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid which then awards the work study to the student.

Veterans Benefits - Veterans Benefits can be impacted by assistance from other sources that is specifically designated to pay for the same . Contact the Veteran’s Administration Benefits Representative in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at Arkansas State University – Mountain Home for further assistance. Additional information can be found at Veterans Info under veterans benefits.

Book Vouchers - Assistance with the purchase of text books and supplies is available to financial aid recipients who qualify through the Book Voucher program. For details see the schedule of classes for each semester or visit Book Vouchers.

Private Scholarships - Private funding from outside entities that are not individually listed on an award letter can be listed as Miscellaneous Private Scholarship. This could be comprised of one or more scholarships that have been reported to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

OTHER AWARD INFORMATION

Enrollment Requirements - Initial Federal Financial Aid awards are based on the assumption you will be enrolled full-time which is 12 credit hours or more per semester. Less than full-time enrollment reduces your eligibility for the aid awarded.

• The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds you are eligible to receive is based upon your actual enrollment.

• Federal Stafford Loans require at least half-time enrollment which is at least 6 credit hours.

• Federal Work Study requires at least three-quarter time enrollment which is at least 9 credit hours.

• Other types of aid may also be reduced or eliminated depending upon their individual awards enrollment requirements. Go to scholarships.adhe.edu for enrollment requirements on programs offered by the state of Arkansas, such as the Arkansas Academic Challenge.

Any time your plans for enrollment change, for any reason, you are responsible for informing the Arkansas State University-Mountain Home Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid in writing.

Priority Consideration Deadline - The priority consideration deadline is June 1st before the beginning of the fall semester. Receipt of ALL required paperwork by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at Arkansas State University - Mountain Home before the priority consideration deadline is the best way to ensure the availability of an award in time to meet the expenses related to attending college.

Tuition and Availability of Refunds - The earliest availability of refunds of any federal financial aid, over and above all costs charged by the Office of the Cashier and agreed to by the student, is approximately one month after the first day of classes. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home is not responsible for meeting student deadlines for payment that are imposed by the Cashier or any other entity.

Contact the Office of the Cashier for further information about bill payment and to set up Direct Deposit for fast and convenient access to any available refunds.

Attendance and Withdrawing (Officially or Unofficially*) - Withdrawing, officially or unofficially*, from courses at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home can result in a requirement for the student to repay all or a portion of Federal financial aid received for attending that semester.

• Withdrawing from all courses during a semester, officially or unofficially*, can result in repayment of all or a portion of any:

• Federal Financial Aid received for the withdrawn semester.

• Veterans Educational Benefits received for the withdrawn semester.

• Withdrawing from one or many courses can affect eligibility for:

• Federal Financial Aid in the future based upon the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.

• Aid from sources other than Federal Financial Aid in the future based upon their individual continuing eligibility criteria.

• Students withdrawing from any or all courses will be contacted by mail if a determination is made that any repayment of any aid to Arkansas State University – Mountain Home is required.

• It is the responsibility of the student to know and understand individual continuing eligibility criteria for all types of assistance received.

• Withdrawing from any or all courses at Arkansas State University – Mountain Home, officially or unofficially*, affects your eligibility for any aid not disbursed prior to the date of withdrawal.

• Individual consequences vary from person to person.

• Counselors are available in the Arkansas State University – Mountain Home Office of Financial Aid for discussion of individual consequences.

• Loan borrowers withdrawing from all courses or dropping to less than six credit hours at Arkansas State University – Mountain Home, officially or unofficially*, during a semester must complete Exit Counseling online at studentaid.gov.

• * Unofficial withdrawal is when a student stops participating in a course without official notification to the Admissions office.

Summer - Awards for summer are based upon actual enrollment levels as reported on the required Summer Financial Aid Application. The amount of aid available for enrollment in summer courses can be limited based upon the amount of aid received during the school year during this award year so you may want to consider borrowing less during the fall and spring semesters so you will have money available to attend summer courses.