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Financial
Aid
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire offers financial
assistance through scholarships, grants, loans, and student work
experience. The majority of this assistance is awarded based on financial
need. There are, however, resources available through scholarships,
unsubsidized loans, and student employment for students who do not qualify
for need-based aid.
Financial need is based on the student’s educational
expenses and the contribution that is calculated using the financial
information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
For detailed information on financial aid, visit the UW-Eau Claire
Financial Aid homepage at:
http://www.uwec.edu/finaid/.
HOW
TO APPLY
All students must complete the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to apply for financial
aid. The FAFSA is required in order to apply for all need-based
programs as well as for the Direct Unsubsidized Ford Loan, and the
Parent Loan for undergraduate students. Prospective students may
obtain a FAFSA from their local high school or library. Most
UW-Eau Claire continuing students who applied for financial aid in
the previous year will be sent renewal information by the
Department of Education to apply for the next academic year.
Students who do not receive a renewal application by January 31
should obtain a standard FAFSA from the Financial Aid office or
apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Reminder: The Blugold System is a resource for specific
information about current financial aid status and financial aid
disbursed on students’ accounts.
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DEADLINES
Students must reapply each year they wish to be
considered for financial aid. To assure first consideration for
funding, the FAFSA should be submitted by April 15. Late
applications will be considered only for residual amounts.
Students who apply late or who do not turn in the required
additional paperwork need to be prepared to pay their
institutional charges by the due date if their financial aid is
not available.
A separate financial aid application is required
of students attending Winterim or Summer Session. This application
is available through the Blugold System. Students who do not have
access to the Blugold System may pick up an application at the
Financial Aid office.
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ENROLLMENT
STATUS
Students must be enrolled at least half-time to
qualify for most kinds of aid, although undergraduate students who
have very high need may qualify for a small Pell Grant at less
than half-time status.
Students participating in a full-time equivalent
internship may be considered for aid as a full-time student even
though actual enrolled credits are less than full-time. Costs of
attendance for financial aid will be calculated on actual tuition
costs.
Students admitted as Special Students are not
eligible for financial aid.
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STANDARDS
OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
FOR FINANCIAL AID
Federal regulations require students to maintain
satisfactory academic progress toward a degree in order to receive
financial aid. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is required
to develop and apply a consistent and reasonable standard of
satisfactory progress for all students receiving federal financial
aid. These standards are applied to all periods of attendance,
regardless of whether or not a student has received financial aid
in the past. A complete copy of the University of Wisconsin-Eau
Claire’s Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy is
available in the Services and Standards handbook. There are three
standards or components of satisfactory progress:
Standard for Grade Point Average
Students need to maintain a resident GPA of 2.00
according to the University’s Academic Standing and Progress
policy.
Standard for Minimum Credits Completed
Students must successfully complete 67 percent of
their enrolled credits. Failing a class or maintaining an
incomplete in a class is not considered successfully completing
the class.
Standard for Maximum Time Frame
Undergraduate students may receive financial aid for a maximum of
180 attempted credits when enrolled in degree programs which have
a published minimum requirement for graduation of 120 credits.
Attempted credits are credits the student was enrolled in at the
end of the tenth day of classes, plus all accepted transfer
credits. A degree program that requires more than 120 credits is
an exception, and financial aid may be further extended. An
additional 90 credits of financial aid eligibility is allowed for
undergraduate students seeking a second degree. Graduate students
are allowed 54 credits, which represents three years of full-time
enrollment.
Monitoring Procedures and Reestablishment
Options
These standards are monitored once per year at the end of spring
semester using Registrar’s information. Future financial aid will
be denied for students who fail to meet the standards of academic
progress.
Students may reestablish their financial aid
eligibility by earning an academic standing which meets the above
criteria. Students with extenuating circumstances that prevented
them from making satisfactory progress are encouraged to describe
and document those circumstances in writing. Their appeal will be
reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee to determine
whether financial aid eligibility should be reinstated. Students
will be notified of the appeal decision in writing.
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SCHOLARSHIPS
Qualified UW-Eau Claire students are awarded a
combination of federal, state, university, and private
scholarships on the basis of academic excellence or special
talent. Some scholarship programs also specify financial need as a
requirement of eligibility. Award amounts and student eligibility
requirements vary depending on the individual scholarship
criteria.
UW-Eau Claire Foundation, Inc., Scholarships
and Other Named Scholarships and Awards: UW-Eau Claire
Foundation awards over $1 million each year to UW-Eau Claire
students. Detailed information on scholarships is available on the
Financial Aid office homepage.
Tuition Remission: Wisconsin Statutes
provide for awarding a limited number of scholarships to students
who are not residents of Wisconsin. These awards range in value
and can be up to the difference between resident and nonresident
tuition.
Remissions for Nonresident Students:
Students who are not residents of Wisconsin are considered for
tuition remission by submitting the FAFSA.
Remissions for International Students:
Undergraduate international applicants are considered for an
annual award ranging from $2,000-$4,000. Awards are based on
academic merit and financial need, which is information provided
in the admission application. No separate application is
necessary.
Private Scholarships: Many private
scholarships are sponsored by civic organizations, clubs,
industries, and businesses. Students should contact their local
high school counselors or principals for information about private
scholarship programs available in the local community. The UW-Eau
Claire Financial Aid office homepage features links to free
scholarship search services. Visit this site at
http://www.uwec.edu/FinAid/.
A collection of private scholarship information is also available
in the Financial Aid office.
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GRANTS
A grant is gift
assistance and does not have to be repaid. Various grants are
awarded to students who establish a high financial need as
determined by federal and state guidelines.
Federal Pell Grant:
The Federal Pell Grant is a federal aid program designed to be
awarded to high need students. It may be combined with other forms
of aid in order to meet a student’s total financial need.
Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA): Native American students with one-fourth or
more American Indian blood, as certified by the appropriate Indian
Agency, may be eligible for BIA funds. Students should contact
their respective tribes and the UW-Eau Claire Financial Aid office
to obtain proper application materials and instructions.
Federal
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG): This
federal grant program is available to students establishing an
exceptionally high financial need. It is used to supplement other
types of aid in meeting a student’s total financial need.
Wisconsin Higher
Education Grant (WHEG): Wisconsin Statutes provide for the
awarding of grants to residents of the state who can establish a
high financial need. The value of these awards will vary with the
financial need of each recipient.
Students who are not
Wisconsin residents should contact the agency in their home state
regarding the availability of state grant monies for attendance at
out-of-state schools.
Wisconsin Indian
Assistance (WIA): Native American students who are residents
of Wisconsin and have one-fourth or more American Indian blood, as
certified by the appropriate Indian Agency, are eligible for WIA
funds if they show a financial need. Blood certification and WIA
eligibility will be required only once; after a student has
received an initial award at UW-Eau Claire, eligibility will
continue, based upon an annual evaluation of financial need.
Lawton
Undergraduate Diversity Retention Grant: These grants are
awarded to students who demonstrate financial need, are Wisconsin
or Minnesota residents, have completed their freshman year with a
resident GPA of 2.00 or higher, and can increase under-represented
ethnic student enrollment.
Talent Incentive
Program (TIP): These are need-based grants available to low
income Wisconsin residents. Students may receive up to $1,800 per
year for a maximum of five years. Students must complete an
application for TIP which includes additional selection criteria.
For an application or additional information, contact the UW-Eau
Claire Financial Aid office or your local Wisconsin Educational
Opportunity office.
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LOANS
Federal Direct Ford
Loan: Degree seeking students who are enrolled at least
half-time and who demonstrate financial need are eligible.
Depending on need, students may borrow up to $2,625 as a freshman,
$3,500 as a sophomore, and $5,500 as a junior or senior, not to
exceed a total of $23,000 as an undergraduate. There is no
interest charged while the student is enrolled at least half-time.
Six months after leaving school, or falling below half-time, the
borrower begins payment. The interest rate for Federal Direct Ford
Loans varies from year to year but currently cannot exceed 8.25
percent per year. Information on the interest rate, set each July
1st for the following year, is available from the Financial Aid
office.
Federal Direct
Unsubsidized Ford Loan: Available to students who may not
qualify for any, or may qualify for only part, of the regular
(subsidized) Federal Direct Loan. In any year, the combined
amounts of subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Direct Ford Loans
cannot exceed the loan limits for that grade level. An independent
undergraduate or graduate student has additional Federal Direct
Unsubsidized Ford Loan eligibility. An independent student may
borrow up to the potential grade maximums listed above plus a
potential $4,000 for freshman and sophomores and $5,000 per year
thereafter as an undergraduate, and a potential $10,000 per year
as a graduate student.
This loan allows
students to defer making payments on the principal of the loan
while they are in school, but students are responsible for paying
the interest on the loan once the money is disbursed. Students can
choose to either pay the interest while they are in school or have
it added to their principal to be repaid after they are no longer
in school, understanding that allowing the interest to accumulate
may be an expensive option.
Federal Perkins
Student Loan: The amount of this loan is determined by the
availability of funds and the student’s financial need. Repayment
must be completed within a ten-year period at the rate of five
percent per annum interest, beginning nine months after the
borrower ceases at least half-time enrollment. A borrower of
Perkins Loan may have all or part of his/her loan (including
interest) canceled for engaging in public service such as
teaching, law enforcement, service in the Peace Corps or ACTION,
or service in the military. Contact the Business office for
specific cancellation criteria.
Federal Direct
Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS): This loan is
available to parents of dependent undergraduate students. The
maximum loan amount that can be borrowed is the difference between
the cost of attendance and other financial aid received. Financial
need is not a criterion.
Repayment on principle
and interest begins within sixty days of the final disbursement.
The interest rate is variable from year to year but currently
cannot exceed nine percent per year. Federal Direct PLUS
applications are available from the Financial Aid office.
Student Educational
Loan Fund (SELF): Minnesota residents who have first exhausted
other sources of financial aid may apply for the SELF loan.
Undergraduate students may borrow up to $4,500 per year as
freshmen and sophomores; juniors and seniors up to $6,000 per
year; and graduate students up to $9,000 per year. The interest
rate may vary quarterly throughout the life of the loan, and a
credit worthy co-signer is required. Quarterly payment (interest
only) begins 90 days after disbursement, and continues as long as
the student is in school. At termination of study, monthly payment
(interest only) begins and continues for up to 12 months. On the
13th month out of school, monthly payments of both principal and
interest begin or the student may make two additional years of
interest-only payments. Students interested in obtaining this loan
should contact the Financial Aid office.
Short Term Loans:
An endowment fund in excess of $300,000 was established, and the
interest income is available for short-term loans to students.
Loans must be used for educationally related expenses, not to
exceed $200. Loans are to be repaid within four weeks with no
interest or service charges.
Ombudsman
The Department of Education has established an ombudsman to work
with student borrowers to informally resolve any loan disputes or
problems. If you have concerns about the terms of your loan that
cannot be resolved by talking to your lender, you are encouraged
to contact the Ombudsman Customer Service Line at 1-877-557-2575.
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EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
Employment
opportunities are available through the University and in the
local community. Available positions are posted on the UW-Eau
Claire Financial Aid Web site at
http://www.uwec.edu/Finaid/employment.
Work-Study and
University Employment: The University provides both Federal
Work-Study (FWS) and University-sponsored employment opportunities
for students. FWS is available for students who demonstrate
financial need, and eligibility for this program must be obtained
before beginning employment. FWS positions offer a wide range of
opportunities and are available in most departments across campus.
Community service placements are an option under FWS. UW-Eau
Claire also offers a substantial University-funded student
employment program, referred to as Non-Federal student employment.
All currently enrolled students are eligible to seek employment in
the Non-Federal positions, and financial need is not a criterion
for employment. Students may work up to 40 hours per week.
Off Campus
Employment: Many positions are available in the local
community. Employers often call the University to list job
vacancies and those positions are posted on the online Job Board.
Over 400 students are placed in community employment through these
listings each year.
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RETURN
OF FINANCIAL AID FUNDS
WHEN A STUDENT WITHDRAWS
When a student
withdraws from the University during the semester, federal
regulations require that the University determine whether a
portion of the student’s federal financial aid (other than
work-study) must be returned. The amount of aid the student may
keep when withdrawing is in direct proportion to the length of
time the student remained enrolled during the semester. If the
student was enrolled for 20 percent of the semester before
withdrawing, 80 percent of the federal financial aid must be
returned to the aid programs. If the student stays through 50
percent of the semester, 50 percent of the aid must be returned.
Once the student completes at least 60 percent of the semester,
the student may keep 100 percent of the aid received.
Consequently, if a
student withdraws before completing at least 60 percent of the
semester, the student may owe a repayment. The student will be
billed for any balance owed as a result of returning the financial
aid funds, and the university will notify the student of the
dollar amount owed.
Any financial aid that
must be returned to the federal aid programs will be used first to
reimburse loans received for the semester and then grant funds.
The specific repayment
priority is:
-
Unsubsidized Ford
Loan
-
Subsidized Ford Loan
-
Perkins Loan
-
Parent’s Loan for
Undergraduate Students
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Pell Grant
-
Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grant
-
Other federal aid
programs
Examples of the refund
calculations are available in the Financial Aid office. Actual,
individualized calculations are done in the Business office.
For state funds,
institutional funds, and outside resources:
Financial aid received from state, institutional, and outside
resources is not part of the federal return of funds repayment
calculation. If remaining funds are available from the
institutional refund after the federal return of funds
requirements are satisfied, the remaining refund will be
distributed in the following priority order:
-
State aid programs
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Institutional
programs
-
Outside financial
aid resources, if appropriate
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Student
Credit Drop (but
not withdrawal from the University)
If a student drops credits before financial aid has been
disbursed, the aid must be adjusted, if necessary, to correctly
reflect the current enrollment status before aid can be disbursed.
If a student changes enrolled credits after aid is disbursed,
resulting in a change in the student’s eligibility, aid will be
adjusted. This could result in a student having to repay some of
the aid received for the term.
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FUNDS
FOR PURCHASING A COMPUTER
Students may be eligible for additional loan funds
to cover the purchase or rental of a computer. Contact the
Financial Aid office for details of this policy.
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ADDITIONAL
SOURCES OF FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE
Graduate Students:
Graduate students are eligible for scholarships, fellowship
assistantships, loans, and employment programs. Contact the office
of Admissions (attention: Graduate Admissions), UW-Eau Claire, Eau
Claire, WI 54701, or call (715) 836-4733 for application
procedures for graduate student financial aid.
Veterans
Administration Grants, G.I. Bill Benefits, National Guard Tuition
Grants, Wisconsin Veterans Grant, Veterans’ Work Study: A
Veterans Counselor is available in Schofield 128 for students
seeking information or assistance with these programs.
Vocational
Rehabilitation: Various financial programs are available to
students who qualify. Further information is available from area
Vocational Rehabilitation offices.
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UW-Eau
Claire Foundation Scholarships and Awards
The UW-Eau Claire Foundation provided more than $1
million in scholarships, grants, and awards to UW-Eau Claire
students in 2003-04. Several hundred different awards are
available, all provided through the generosity of alumni and
friends of the university.
Information about the various scholarships,
including amounts, award criteria, and application and awarding
deadlines is now available on the Financial Aid office Web site.
Each scholarship has different eligibility requirements, so check
the information on each scholarship in which you are interested.
To access this information, go to
www.uwec.edu/finaid.
Awards are listed alphabetically by title and also
by department. Follow the application instructions for each award.
For more information about a specific scholarship or the
application procedure, contact the department responsible for the
award as listed in the criteria on the Web site. For other
scholarship related questions, contact Melissa Vogler, Financial
Aid Counselor, at (715) 836-3373 or
voglermm@uwec.edu.
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National
Merit Scholarship
The National Merit Scholarship is awarded to all
new freshmen who are National Merit Finalists and who specify
UW-Eau Claire as their first choice. The scholarship is in the
amount of resident tuition and fees for the academic year.
Renewable for four years. High school guidance counselors can
advise regarding the application process.
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