Financial Aid - Application Process

 
 
 
 

Apply for or Renew Aid

The majority of funds offered by Faulkner University carry a need-based selection criteria; this includes federally funded educational loans for students and parents.


Application Process

All Federal and State Institutional Programs

This process ensures consideration for all programs administered by the Financial Aid Office. This process is required for all federally funded student financial aid, including most educational loans for students and parents:

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . The Faulkner University Title IV Code is 001003. The FAFSA is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov , high school counselor’s offices, or the financial aid offices at colleges and universities. For the 2008-2009 aid year, the form is available now. For the 2009-20010 aid year, the form will be available after January 1, 2009.

  • Residents of Alabama should complete the Alabama State Grant Application and provide our office with 5 proofs of state residency for the last 12 months.

  • Traditional students should review the list of Scholarships and Awards for additional assistance.


Completing the Application Process

  1. After your completed FAFSA application is received by the processing system, a Student Aid Report (SAR) will be produced. The SAR will detail information from your application. If there are no questions or problems with your application, your SAR will report your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)- a number which is used to determine your eligibility for need-based student aid. Your EFC will appear in the upper right portion of your SAR. The schools listed on your application will receive electronically the information provided on your SAR. DO NOT SEND THE SAR TO FAULKNER.

  2. You may be asked to submit other types of documentation. The following are some of the most commonly requested forms:
    • Signed copies of a federal income tax return (& spouse’s return if you are married & separate returns were filed)
    • Signed copies of parents’ federal income tax returns (if you applied as a dependent student)
    • Verification Worksheet
    • Any other verification documents requested by the Financial Aid Office.
    • If you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, a letter from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs identifying the amount of educational benefits to be received for the academic year is required. (If you, as a veteran, are not eligible for educational benefits, documentation from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs indicating ineligibility must be provided. The telephone number to request information from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is 1-800-827-1000.)
    • If you have previously defaulted on an educational loan, documentation to verify that you have repaid the debt or are no longer considered in default
    • A copy of your permanent resident alien card if you are an eligible noncitizen
    • An academic program plan completed by the academic advisor if you are pursuing a second undergraduate degree
    • For males, verification of your registration status with the Selective Service. (You may be required to provide a letter from the Selective Service indicating your registration number or your exemption from registration status. The Selective Service telephone number is (708) 688-6888.)


  3. You will receive a “missing information letter” from our office if additional information is required. It is your responsibility to provide correct and complete information. Responding promptly to all requests for information prevents delays in processing.

Important Dates

Although the Financial Aid Office does not have a deadline per se , we strongly encourage you to follow the priority date schedule when applying for financial aid at Faulkner. Failure to meet these priority dates may result in your not being considered for some types of awards and/or a delay in the receipt of funds.

To receive priority, submit ALL applications by:

Entering Freshmen May 1, 2009
Renewal/Returning Undergraduates May 1, 2009
Transfer/Graduate Students May 1, 2009

Renewal/returning students who wish to be considered for financial aid must complete the FAFSA by May 1.

ALL HARD COPY AND ON-LINE FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER JANUARY 1.


Helpful Hints

The Financial Aid Office is committed to the timely and accurate processing of your application for student financial aid. In order to prevent delays in processing, we offer the following suggestions:

  • Apply early. Don’t wait until you have been accepted for admission.
  • Print your name and Social Security number on all documents submitted.
  • Respond promptly to all requests for additional information.
  • Carefully read all correspondence from Financial Aid.
  • Make sure all documents submitted are complete, accurate, and contain required signatures.
  • Set up a financial aid file and keep copies of all documents. Each time you write to your lender or school, make a copy of the letter for your file.
  • Make sure you understand the financial aid process and pay special attention to all documents concerning your loan.
  • Read instructions and follow directions carefully. Completing your FAFSA inaccurately will delay your financial aid.
  • Mail all tax forms and other documents to the Financial Aid Office even if you apply online.
  • Don’t wait until the last minute to complete the financial aid application materials. An early start will leave time to collect information, ask questions, and solve problems.


Completing the FAFSA

You may submit a FAFSA either through the internet by using FAFSA on the Web or by mailing a paper FAFSA.

FAFSA on the Web is a free U.S. Department of Education web site where you can complete the FAFSA on-line. The internet address is www.fafsa.ed.gov . If you have access to the internet, you should use FAFSA on the Web. This process submits your data directly to the U.S. Department of Education’s Central Processing System (CPS). The CPS will process your application within 72 hours. In some cases if you apply by using FAFSA on the Web, you will have to mail in a signature page before your application can be processed. Or, you can apply for a PIN number at www.pin.ed.gov and electronically sign your FAFSA on the Web by using your PIN.

If you would like to apply by mailing a paper FAFSA, you may obtain one from your high school or by contacting our office.

Help with completing the FAFSA is available from the Department of Education’s web site at
www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/FAFSA .


Read the instructions carefully when you complete the FAFSA. Most mistakes are made because students don’t follow instructions. Pay special attention to any questions on income, because most errors occur in this area. You should save all records and other materials used in completing the application because you may need them later to prove that the information you report is correct. You should make a photocopy of your application (or print a copy of your FAFSA from the web application) before you submit it.

If you apply by mail, it will take about four weeks for your application to be processed and for you to receive a SAR in the mail. If it’s been more than four weeks since you submitted your application and you haven’t heard anything, you can check on your application through FAFSA on the Web site, even if you didn’t apply using FAFSA on the Web. You can also call toll free at 1-800-433-3243.


FAFSA Tips

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required each year when applying for need-based funds. The following list has been compiled as a guide for completing the FAFSA. By adhering to these suggestions, students and parents will prevent unnecessary delays. Please note that accurate reporting and attention to detail are the key elements in completing your application.

  • You must have a completed federal tax return prior to completing the FAFSA.
  • Write only in the response areas and answer boxes on the form. Fill in the appropriate bubble for each response.
  • Do not respond with a symbol such as N/A to a question that requires a number. It could invalidate your entire application.
  • Be sure all required information has been provided on the FAFSA. If the answer is zero, fill in “0”. Leaving it blank could be interpreted as intentionally not providing a correct answer.
  • For the paper FAFSA, mail the original (not a photocopy) by first class mail to the Financial Aid Office.
  • If you are using FAFSA on the Web, make sure both the application and the signed signature page are received by the required deadline.
  • Be sure to include the federal school code for Faulkner University (001003) in Step Six of the FAFSA.
  • Pay special attention to any questions that are related to Worksheets A, B, and C.
  • Be sure to read the instructions carefully for guidance as to who is eligible for inclusion in family size and number in college.
  • Check that your full name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth are correct and legible. Errors on these items will significantly delay the processing of your application.
  • DO NOT use nicknames.
  • If your parent has been divorced of widowed and has remarried, his or her marital status is married. Parental questions (including income data) must include step-parent’s information.

Final reminders before mailing the paper FAFSA:

  • Make sure the form is complete.
  • Make a copy for your records.
  • Keep copies of your tax returns; you will be required to submit them to the Financial Aid Office.


Renewing Your Financial Aid

All applicants must reapply for financial aid annually. All financial aid awards are reviewed annually based upon:

  • the timely completion of the financial aid application process
  • continued demonstrated financial need
  • maintenance of Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • good standing at the University
  • availability of resources

Most scholarships require a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in addition to the terms listed previously in this publication.

If you applied for financial aid in 2008-2009, you should receive a PIN number from the U.S. Department of Education in November or December to resubmit electronically.