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:
(­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 ."