OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL
AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Financial aid available to graduate students through the Office of Student
Financial Aid and Scholarships consists of loan assistance and employment
opportunities.
Need-Based Assistance
By completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you
are eligible to apply for the following types of need-based federal financial
aid: (1) the William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan, (2) the Federal
Perkins Loan, and (3) Federal Work Study. March 15 is the first-priority
deadline date that has been set by the Office of Student Financial Aid and
Scholarships (OSFAS) for consideration for campus-based aid-the Federal
Perkins Loan and Federal Work Study (FWS). These funds are awarded differently
from the Federal Direct Student Loan in that the funds are sent directly
to the institution to be awarded to the most needy students directly by
the OSFAS. Funding for these programs is limited, and late applicants (after
March 15) most likely will not receive an award.
Cost of Attendance
Each year, the Board of Trustees at Ohio University determines the fixed
costs (tuition and fees, plus an out-of-state surcharge, and room and board
rates) for graduate students who live on campus. Variable costs consist
of books and supplies, transportation, personal, and miscellaneous expenses.
Variable expenses are estimated by the OSFAS and are based on the Consumer
Price Index (CPI), local survey data of local housing (off-campus apartments),
and estimated food costs. Allowances can be made for child care costs
for preschool-aged children upon request. You must provide documentation
in writing to the OSFAS for individual consideration. The combined fixed
and variable costs make up your total cost (budget) for the academic year
(three quarters).
Determining Eligibility
Graduate students are considered independent. You (and your spouse, if you
are married) are expected to assist in meeting your educational costs. Your
expected contribution is calculated from your previous year's earnings,
untaxed income, benefits, and a percentage of personal savings and assets.
The following Financial Aid Equation is used to determine financial need:
Cost of Education (budget)
(p;) Minus Expected Family Contribution
= Financial Need
Award Package
After the FAFSA need analysis and other documents have been received and
reviewed for accuracy (verified if applicable), an award offer is made to
all eligible applicants. The award package can be a combination of gift
assistance (fellowships, scholarships, graduate teaching/research associateships,
etc.), federal loans, and employment to offset costs. Not all students receive
all types of aid, but in general, the OSFAS attempts to balance gift aid
(grants and scholarships) with self-help (employment and loans) within the
limits of available funds and your eligibility. All gift aid received from
all other sources must be reported when applying for the Federal Direct
Student Loan to accurately determine eligibility. Applying before the March
15 first-priority date makes you likely to receive a more attractive package
than those who apply later.
Notification of Aid Offers
A written notification of an award offer or denial will be sent as appropriate
to all applicants. All award notifications ("Notice of Award and Acceptance
Agreement") will be sent via mail to your permanent address to be signed
and returned by a designated date. Failure to accept the award by the date
requested will result in an automatic cancellation. Applicants who are denied
traditional sources of aid are encouraged to continue in the process for
consideration for supplemental sources of assistance such as campus employment
(CSES).
Award Disbursements
Federal aid recipients must be officially enrolled through the Registrar's
Office, be free of any previous outstanding debts, and fulfill all other
requirements (financial aid transcripts, verification of the FAFSA data,
etc.) before disbursement of aid.
Disbursement of funds will vary depending on the type of financial aid awards
offered. The Federal Perkins Loan and the Federal Direct Student Loan must
have the appropriate endorsements and promissory notes signed before the
aid can be disbursed or checks issued. Federal Work Study awards are not
credited to your account because the award must be earned before being paid.
You will receive a FWS payroll check every two weeks for the hours worked
and approved by the hiring department for the pay period. Total financial
aid credits greater than the university charges will result in an overage
check being generated in the amount of the excess funds after the 14th day
of enrollment. Overage checks will be mailed to your local address to assist
you in meeting other educationally related expenses. Consult the Schedule
of Classes for more detailed information concerning actual dates of disbursement
for each quarter.
Eligibility Requirements
All federal campus-based aid and Federal Direct Student Loan graduate recipients
must be enrolled a minimum of five credit hours.
All Title IV federal aid recipients must maintain satisfactory academic
progress as defined by the OSFAS and the university.
All federal aid recipients must comply with OSFAS procedures for adjusting
overawards if the total federal aid received exceeds the financial need.
Satisfactory Academic Progress:
Need-Based Assistance
All graduate federal aid recipients who received assistance for the first
time starting July 1, 1987, must earn a minimum of a 3.0 grade-point average
by the end of the second academic year (spring quarter) of enrollment. There
are three elements to the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements that
must be met: (1) maximum time frame during which a degree or certificate
must be granted, (2) minimum cumulative grade-point average of a 3.0, and
(3) minimum credit hours earned for the appropriate enrollment status (halftime,
three-fourth time, or full-time).
Employment Opportunities
Federal Work Study (FWS) is a need-based federal work study program
to provide part-time employment for graduate students who need additional
financial assistance to attend college. The federal government stipulates
that jobs available under the FWS program may not displace presently employed
persons or fill regular job openings, including student employment; therefore,
FWS jobs are used as a supplemental source of assistance by institutions.
Whenever possible, FWS recipients are placed in positions that coincide
with their career interest or academic majors. Students are paid at least
minimum wage. Most students are eligible to work 10 hours a week and are
paid by check every two weeks. You must report to the OSFAS at the opening
of the first quarter you have been awarded FWS to receive your work assignment.
Centralized Student Employment Services (CSES) was established by Ohio University
to provide job opportunity information for all students in a central location
on campus in the OSFAS. The service assists in hiring students for part-time
jobs, maximizes employment opportunities and job placement, and coordinates
student employment policies and procedures.
The OSFAS serves as an employment clearinghouse for job posting and referrals
for all hiring departments at Ohio University (Athens campus) and for private
(off-campus) employers as well. All employment opportunities for students
are posted when new positions are available or vacancies occur. Positions
to which students are returning will not be posted.
Graduate Assistance
You may be eligible to receive additional financial assistance from your
academic department and/or college by contacting them directly. Recipients
of graduate stipends in the form of fellowships, scholarships, and/or research
and teaching associateships will be reported to the Office of Student Financial
Aid and Scholarships by the Office of Graduate Appointments. All tuition
scholarships received will be included as part of the aid package for federal
need-based aid, if you are eligible. If you receive a loan for summer quarter
and later receive a graduate stipend, you may become overawarded according
to federal guidelines. To avoid an overaward, notify the OSFAS of all additional
resources (current and estimated when possible) when applying for the Federal
Direct Student Loan. All overawards will be adjusted by the OSFAS by reducing
the loan first and Federal Work Study as a last resort.
Financial Aid Services
Walk-in services are available to all students on a daily basis between
9 a.m. and 4 p.m. You may choose to meet with the administrator on call
or schedule an appointment with your counselor (counselor assignments are
made alphabetically by your last name). Some of the services provided by
the counselor are: (1) confirmation of financial aid for preregistration,
(2) a review of financial need and eligibility, and (3) a review of policies
and procedures for the different types of financial aid programs.
Federal regulations and institutional policies are subject to change without
prior notice. The OSFAS will attempt to keep you updated as necessary through
various media on campus and via written notices. Therefore, it is important
that you update your permanent and local addresses with the Registrar's
Office as necessary to avoid delays that may be costly.
You can obtain more detailed information on any of the financial aid programs
by contacting the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, Chubb
Hall 020, or by calling 740-593-4141 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The fax number
is 740-593-4140, and the e-mail address is financialaid@ouvaxa.cats.ohiou.edu.
Return to 1995-1997 Graduate Catalog Table of Contents
University Publications and the Computer Services Center revised this file (https://www.ohio.edu/~gcat/95-97/finance/osfas.html) April 13, 1998.
Please e-mail comments or suggestions to "gcat@www.ohiou.edu."