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Financial Aid

Financial Aid General Information

The Department of Financial Aid Services provides educational financial planning information to students and their families, delivers financial aid funds to qualified students, and offers a variety of services including scholarship search, part-time job locator service, and debt management information. The department supports institutional aid efforts for maximizing enrollment and diversity of students. Financial Aid Services is located in Room 255, Whit-more Adminstration Building, tel. (413) 545-0801, TTY/TDD (413) 545-9420. Office hours for telephone contact are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Reception hours for visitors are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

The U.S. Department of Education requires that students receiving federal financial aid meet University academic status standards ensuring academic progress toward a degree or certificate program of study. To meet the University's academic status standards, students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0. Students are expected to maintain the necessary credit hours to ensure grad-uation within 10 semesters. Failure to maintain these standards will, at a minimum, place the student on academic probationary status. If a student does not meet the University's academic status standards after a probationary period, he or she may become ineligible to receive federal financial aid. This policy is reviewed and revised periodically to ensure compliance with changing federal regulations.

Applying for Financial Aid

The University uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Renewal Application for Federal Student Aid. These standard forms are the only applications used to determine eligibility for all the need-based financial aid programs. The FAFSA is available at most high school guidance offices and college financial aid offices. The Renewal FAFSA is mailed directly from the federal government to students who filed a FAFSA in the previous year. The FAFSA is also available on the Internet at: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Students should complete the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA after January 1 for the upcoming academic year. To meet the University's March 1 financial aid deadline, mail the FAFSA to the processing center by February 15. Copies of parents' and students' federal income tax returns and other documents may be requested by Financial Aid Services. All information submitted to Financial Aid Services is held in strictest confidence.

Types of Financial Aid

Scholarships and Grants

Federal Pell Grants provide grants to students with exceptional financial need. Students pursuing their first undergraduate degree are eligible for consideration. Awards range from $400-$3,125 per year for full-time enrollment. These amounts are subject to change. Part-time degree students are also eligible.

Army ROTC Scholarships are offered for two, three, and four years and are awarded on merit to the most outstanding students who are interested in becoming officers in the U.S. Army. Scholarships range from $9,000 to $16,000 annually and pay the cost for tuition and fees. Scholarship winners additionally receive $150 per month stipend up to 10 months annually and $450 each school year for textbooks. For more information, call (413) 545-2321. The Department of Military Science also offers ten $1,000 grants each year to enrolled cadets based on merit. Applications for two- and three-year scholarships, as well as the $12,000 grants, are available in January for award during the next school year.

Air Force ROTC offers two-, three-, and four-year scholarships to qualified new and continuing college students. Scholarships start at $9,000 per year for tuition and mandatory fees. While attending school, students receive money for books and $150 in tax-free spending cash per month. For more information, call (413) 545-2437/51, e-mail:afrotc@acad.umass. edu or visit the Web page: www.umass.edu/afrotc.

MASSGRANT: This need-based grant is awarded to full-time undergradaute Massachusetts residents. Awards to qualified students with need range from $300-$1,100 per year. Out-of-state students should inquire with their state agency for similar scholarships. Part-time degree students may be eligible to receive Mass Grant if they have 6 to 11 credits.

University Awards: The University provides grants and scholarships from various sources to in-state and out-of-state students who demonstrate financial need. Award amounts range from $200 to $8,000 per year. These awards include Tuition Grants, University Scholarships, McNair Scholarships, Tuition Waivers, Traffic Fines Scholarships, and University of Massachusetts Grants.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant: A need-based grant funded by the federal government and administered by the University. Awards range from $100 to $4,000. All undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need are considered for this grant.

Tuition Waiver Programs

Waivers of tuition are available to Massachusetts residents as defined under Mass General Laws Chapter 15A, Section 19 to members of the following categories:

1. National Guard Tuition Waiver - All members of the Massachusetts Army National Guard enrolled in a full-time or part-time course of study are entitled to a waiver of tuition costs under the provisions of the Education Assistance Bill. Students participating in this program may pursue an Associate, Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral degree program as well as individual fulfillment programs.

2. Veterans - U.S. Veterans from World War II, Korean, Vietnam, Lebanese Peace Keeping Force, Grenada Rescue Mission, The Panamanian Intervention Force or The Persian Gulf. For more information, call Dianne Delisle at (413) 545-0939, University's Veteran's Assistance and Counseling Services, 425 Amity Street, Amherst, MA 01002.

3. Native Americans - Native Americans from tribes recognized by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Contact the Native American Students Support Program, room 11, Bartlett Hall, tel. (413) 577-0980 for details.

4. Senior Citizens - Persons over the age of 60. Contact the Bursar's Office, 215 Whitmore Building, for details.

5. Armed Forces - An active member of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or National Guard) stationed and residing in Massachusetts. Contact the University's Veteran's Assistance and Counseling Services, 425 Amity Street, Amherst, MA 01002.

Need-Based Loans

Federal Perkins Loan: A need-based loan administered by the University. Repayment begins six months after graduation or 6 months after the borrower ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. The repayment period is 10 years at 5 per cent interest. Awards range from $200 to $3,000 per year.

Massachusetts No Interest Loan: This is a need-based loan offered by the University and funded by the eligible state residents. To be considered, students must be taking at least 12 credits and have filed a FAFSA with Federal Student Aid Programs. No interest is charged and there are no origination fees. Repayment begins six months after graduation or withdrawal from school and may not exceed 10 years. The minimum monthly payment is $50.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Subsidized Loan: A need-based federal loan administered by the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The application and promissory note for this loan are completed at the school. Eligibility for this loan is determined by completing the FAFSA or the Renewal FAFSA. First year students may borrow as much as $2,625; second year students may borrow up to $3,500. Students who have completed two years of undergraduate study may borrow up to $5,500 for each year thereafter. The federal government pays the interest on the subsidized loans while you are enrolled in school and during your six-month grace period after graduation or withdrawal from school. The federal government will allow at least ten years to repay this loan and offers several flexible repayment plans.

Employment Programs

Federal Work-study Program: A need-based program providing students with part-time employment in a variety of on-campus departments and off-campus agencies. Awards range from $1,200 to $1,600. Students are paid weekly and use these funds to help with personal expenses or other educational costs.

Job Listing Service

The Office of Financial Aid Services/Student Employment Office provides students with current listings of on- and off-campus jobs. This service is designed to assist students in finding temporary, part-time, and seasonal jobs to help meet their educational costs. Jobs are posted outside of Room 243 in the Whitmore Administration Building and on Financial Aid Services' Home Page at: http://www.umass.edu/umfa

Alternate Loan Programs

There are several loan programs available to supplement financial aid or to assist families who do not qualify for federal, state, campus- based or private funds.

William D. Ford Federal Direct

Unsubsidized Loan

This loan is available to all eligible students, regardless of family income or financial need. Students must complete the FAFSA or Renewal Application to be considered for this program. Interest for the Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan accrues from the day the loan is disbursed. The promissory note for this loan is completed with the University's Financial Aid Office. Borrowers may receive both the subsidized and unsubsidized loans for the same loan period, although the combination of both cannot exceed the following loan limits:

Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program offers loans up to the cost of attendance minus financial aid per academic year to qualified parents of undergraduate dependent students. The interest rate is variable and repayment begins 60 days after the second disbursement.

Mass Plan: A credit based, fixed- or variable-rate loan available through the Massachusetts Education Financing Authority (MEFA). Parents may borrow the total cost of education minus any financial aid received. For an application, contact MEFA, tel. 1-800-449-MEFA.

Additional Services

Financial Aid Services' Home Page

Financial Aid Services maintains a home page on the World Wide Web (a global computer information network). Helpful information is available on a variety of topics, including financial aid application procedures, student employment, and loan information. Access to the Financial Aid Home Page is available at: http://www.umass.edu/umfa

Scholarship Search Services

fastWEB Scholarship Search

fastWEB (Financial Aid Search through the Web) provides students at the University free access to a scholarship search via the Internet. This search service provides information on scholarships, grants, and funds for which you may be eligible from a database of over 400,000 sources. When you initiate a scholarship search, an electronic mailbox will be created for you. As new scholarship opportunities arise that match your eligibility, the information will be automatically forwarded to your electronic mailbox. Access to the fastWEB program is available through the Financial Aid Home Page. Please refer to the previous section for information on the Financial Aid Home Page.

Payment Plan

Academic Management Services (AMS): Allows students and their families to budget tuition and fee expenses over a ten-month period. For program details, contact AMS, tel. 1-800-556-6684.

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