After all requested information is received and reviewed, your eligibility for financial aid will be determined and you will be notified by e-mail about reviewing and accepting your financial aid. To assist you in understanding your financial aid award, an Award Guide is available. If you continue to have questions after reviewing the Guide, please feel free to contact the Financial Aid Office.
Guide to Your
Financial Aid Award
Types of Financial Aid
The following types of financial aid may be part of your financial aid award.
1) Grants are gift assistance and do not need to be repaid. Grants are targeted to the highest need students.
2) Tuition Waivers are a form of gift assistance and are awarded based on financial need or special population status, such as veterans' status.
3) Scholarships are primarily based on academic merit or special talents, although some scholarships take financial need into consideration. Students should bring any scholarship checks they receive to the Financial Aid office as soon as possible to ensure the scholarships will be on their accounts by the time bills are due. In some cases, scholarships may result in the reduction of other need-based aid – primarily loan or work study.
4) Loans must be repaid. Unlike other aid types, loans must be accepted or declined. There are two main kinds of loans –subsidized and unsubsidized.
Subsidized Federal Student Loans – interest is waived and no payments are required while student is enrolled for halftime or more.
Unsubsidized Federal Student Loans – interest begins to accumulate once loan is disbursed, although payments on the loan are not required while student is enrolled for halftime or more.
Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS Loans) – unsubsidized loan in parent's name; payments and interest begin 60 days after final disbursement for the year. Deferment is available upon request.
Private Alternative Loans – private interest-bearing loans; terms vary based on the various loan products.
5) Federal Work Study is offered to students who demonstrate financial need. A work study award is an option to work, not a requirement to work or a guaranteed job. Work study positions are available on-campus and in community service positions off-campus. An online job board which posts work study jobs, along with non-federal positions (open to all UW-Eau Claire students) on-campus and off-campus can be found at: www.uwec.edu/finaid/employment .
Reporting Additional Resources
The Financial Aid office should be notified of any additional financial resources or benefits (e.g. scholarships, tuition reimbursements, etc.) the student will receive during the 2011-12 academic year that are not already listed as part of their financial aid award. When students accept financial aid in Self Service, there is an option to "Report Other Financial Aid." Additional resources may require an adjustment to other need-based aid but every effort will be made to ensure the adjustment is as advantageous as possible for the student. Typically, loan or work study amounts are reduced first.
Enrollment Status
Students should verify that aid is awarded for each semester that they plan to attend and that enrollment status on the Financial Aid Notification (fulltime, halftime, less than halftime) is accurate. Changes in enrollment status could affect the amount of financial aid eligibility. The final financial aid award for each semester will be based on the number of credits the student is enrolled in on the tenth day of classes.
Disbursement of Aid
Financial aid is disbursed into students' accounts starting the first week of classes. Grants, loans, and scholarships are applied to university charges, and any remaining amount is disbursed to the student. The Business office offers two options for receiving financial aid refunds. Additional information is available at: http://www.uwec.edu/bussvs/busoff/finaidDist.htm
- Loans – If students accept loans as part of their financial aid, they will be given additional information and instructions about completing a promissory note for the loan, unless they have already signed a master promissory note. Loan funds cannot be disbursed until the semester has begun and a signed promissory note is on file. In addition to completing the prom note, students who are borrowing under a loan program for the first time must complete the loan entrance counseling. See the loan section of the Financial Aid Web site for details: http://www.uwec.edu/finaid/aid/loans.htm
- Employment – Paychecks for all student employment, including work study, are based on hours worked and are not disbursed as a lump sum on the student's account at the beginning of the semester. Students receive their paychecks biweekly and must arrange to have them directly deposited through the Student Payroll Office (Schofield 219).
Cost of Attendance
Tuition and university housing are direct charges that are paid to the university and for which students will receive a bill for the semester. Estimated basic costs for 2011-12 are $8,024 for tuition and fees for fulltime undergraduate resident students and $5,950 for basic on-campus room and board charges.
Indirect costs such as off-campus housing, personal expenses, supplies, and travel must also be considered when estimating the total cost of attendance. The
For more details about estimated costs, see the "Costs" section of the
If your financial aid and other resources cannot meet your expenses, you may want to review "Need More Money?" at http://www.uwec.edu/finaid/costs/moremoney.htm
Special Circumstances
Students and families who have extenuating circumstances that affect their finances or experience a significant change in their financial situation may request a review of their financial aid eligibility. Students (or parents) are encouraged to explain those circumstances in writing, and a counselor will review the situation for a possible award adjustment. Students and families are always welcome to make an appointment with a counselor to discuss the situation directly.
Special Programs for MN Residents
Minnesota residents should be sure they have completed the MN Reciprocity Form for the appropriate academic year. Students may apply for reciprocity using the Web site:www.getreadyforcollege.org/ Those not approved for reciprocity will be assessed tuition at the non-resident rate.
The SELF Loan is available only to Minnesota residents. Interest must be paid on a quarterly basis and the loan requires a co-signer. Although this loan is not need-based, a FAFSA must be completed. Entrance counseling and applications are available on-line at: www.uwec.edu/finaid /aid/selfloan/index.htm.
Student Work Experience
UW-Eau Claire places a strong emphasis on quality work experiences. Over 4,400 student employment opportunities are available on-campus each year. Forty-eight percent of these positions are paraprofessional positions with job categories that include: instructional support, research, tutor, peer counselor, technology support, university outreach, and artist.
There are many reasons why students should consider working part time on-campus. Studies show that students who work part time in college (20 hours/wk or less) actually perform better academically and are more likely to stay in school than students who do not work at all.
Benefits of Student Work Experience include:
- Developing marketable job skills
- Applying academic skills in the "real" world
- Connecting with the university
- Increasing income to help offset college expenses (and reducing debt)
- Boosting future career search by establishing references and gaining experience
Types of Student Employment
On-campus
Work Study is a federally funded employment program awarded to students who demonstrate financial need. A work study award is an option to work, not a requirement or a guaranteed job. If students receive work study as part of their financial aid award, they may apply for work study jobs and are eligible to earn up to the amount of their work study award. Close to 1,000 students work under this program each year.
Non-federal Student Employment is funded through university funds that are allocated to the university academic departments or administrative offices. This type of employment is not based on financial need, and any UW–Eau Claire student may work under this program. Over 3,000 positions are available under university-funded student employment each year.
Off-campus
The university maintains a Job Location and Development Program that develops hundreds of part-time jobs in the local community each year, as well as summer positions. Those jobs are opened to any UW-Eau Claire student.
How to Find a Job
- On-line Job Board – Open positions, on- and off-campus, are posted on the on-line job board, located in the Student Employment section of the
Job Fair – A job fair is held during the first week of classes fall semester. Many students are interviewed by on- and off-campus employers at the job fair, and, as a result, many positions are filled after that first week.
Contacting Departments
Students are welcome to contact departments where they would like to work.
Some of the largest employers on-campus include:
- University Residence Halls
- McIntyre Library
- Davies Center
- Recreation
- Learning and Technology Services
- Facilities Management
- University Food Services
- University Bookstore
Hiring Procedures for On-campus Employment:
· Necessary Paperwork: Your employer will have you complete an Employment Verification Form (I-9), Federal and State Tax Withholding Forms, and a Direct Deposit Form. These forms must be completed before you can begin working. The Student Payroll office, Schofield 220, can provide assistance in completing the I-9 and tax withholding forms.
· Paychecks: You will receive payment for hours worked every two weeks. All payments will be directly deposited into your checking or savings account; no checks will be issued. Direct deposit forms can be completed by accessing www.uwec.edu/hr/forms.htm .
· Background Checks: Some jobs will require a basic background check. This will be arranged through your employer.
· Student Employment Manual – Please review the Student Employment Manual at: www.uwec.edu/Finaid/employment/studentmanual.htm for information, rules, and guidelines for student employment at UWEC. Your employer may have additional guidelines.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
In order to receive and continue to receive financial aid, students must meet the following three components of academic progress:
1) Maintain the grade point average requirements in the university's Academic Standing
and Progress Policy. (See the university catalogue.)
2) Successfully complete 67% of total enrolled credits. Failing a class or maintaining an incomplete in a class is not considered successfully completing the class.
3) Complete a degree within 150% of the published length of the degree program.
Be sure you fully understand the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements so that you do not jeopardize future aid. For a copy of the complete policy, see the Financial Aid Web site: www.uwec.edu/finaid/ (under "Policies"), or contact the Financial Aid office for a paper copy.
Important Tips
Billing Questions?
Any questions about billing should be directed to the Business office, Schofield 108, (715) 836-5907.
Change Requests
Requests for changes in your award may cause a delay in receiving your financial aid funds. Allow 10 to 15 working days for a change to be processed.
Re-apply Each Year
Students need to re-apply for aid each year by filing an updated FAFSA after January 1. Applying electronically may speed the process. Priority filing deadline is April 15.
Veterans' Information
Veterans should contact the Veterans office, located in the Records and Registration office, Schofield 128, for additional information and resources.
Tax Benefits for Education – Be sure to take advantage of educational tax credits. Information is available at: www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf
Blugold Nuggets
The parents' newsletter keeps parents informed with timely reminders and information.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
Hours: 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday
Phone: (715) 836-3373 E-mail: finaid@uwec.edu
