Important Financial Aid Info
If you still owe a bill for the Spring semester, you may apply for a 2012-13 Federal Direct Student Loan to cover your balance.
Follow these simple steps:
- Download and complete a 2012-13 Loan Request Form. Only complete this form if you have loan eligibility on Web Access under Financial Aid by Term.
- Complete ALL steps on the loan request form including the online entrance counseling session and Master Promissory Note.
- Submit the Loan Request Form to the Financial Aid Office (the Loan Request Form cannot be turned in until you have completed all steps).
The deadline to complete ALL loan application requirements is THURSDAY, MAY 9th at 2 p.m.
Got questions? Contact an Enrollment Associate at Student Central in the Gordon Student Center or call the financial aid office directly at 498-2291.
It’s Financial Aid Time! Are you planning to attend or return to OCC in the Fall or even this Summer?
It’s time to complete your FAFSA application for the 2013-14 school year! It all starts by completing your FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov.
New York State Residents – please remember to click the link at the end of the FAFSA to apply for New York State TAP. If you forget to click the link, wait 3 business days after you submit your FAFSA and apply direct at www.tapweb.org.
To get more information, review the step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process!
You can also watch this informational video for tips on how to fill out the FAFSA, and click the link for help in completing the IRS Data Retrieval process within the FAFSA.
Did you know Financial Aid can be available to students in the summer? Learn more about Summer classes and financial aid.
If you need in-person help completing your FAFSA, there are group sessions available with a financial expert. You can also call the Financial Aid Office at (315) 498-2291.
Remember
You will need all of your and your parent’s (if you are under 24) biographic and financial data. Have that information ready before you start the FAFSA. You can download our “How to Apply for Financial Aid Form” or pick it up at Gordon Student Central.
Can I Check the Status of My Aid Online
Yes! Specific information regarding your financial aid, including missing documentation, is available by logging onto WebAccess and selecting My Documents. If the financial aid office needs information from you, it will be listed on My Documents and the status will say PLEASE PROVIDE.
We encourage students to bring any requested documentation to Student Central in person so that a member of the financial aid team may provide personalized service at the counter. When mailing or dropping off forms or paperwork, please allow up to 15 business days for processing.
Work Study Over the Summer
Positions are available for students interested in work study over the summer. To be considered for summer work study, you must be matriculated and in good academic standing. You must also have a 2013-14 FASFA on file to be considered for summer work study. You do not need to be enrolled in summer classes to participate in the work study program; however you must be returning for at least six credit hours in the fall semester.
If you are interested, please stop by the Student Central service counter to complete the summer work study request form.
Things to Consider before Registering
Students can not be awarded financial aid for classes that do not count toward their degree or certificate program requirements.
If a student is enrolled in courses that do not count toward his degree, those courses cannot be used to determine enrollment status and aid eligibility. All registered courses must apply to the student’s program as a general education requirement, a major requirement, or elective (whether restricted or free elective).
There is one exception to this under the New York State TAP program when the student is in his final term of study: if the student needs fewer than 12 credits to graduate, other courses may be included to determine full-time status even if not required to complete graduation requirements.
Repeating Coursework May Impact Financial Aid
Students who repeat courses they have taken previously either at OCC or another institution and received a passing grade for that coursework, may have an adjustment or denial of one or more of their financial aid programs. This may impact both federal and state aid programs. To maintain full-time status for financial aid, a student’s coursework must be for at least 12 credits without the repeated class. An exception may be made for state aid if the student did not meet the minimum grade requirement for that class for graduation.
- Federal Aid, including student loans, will pay for a student to repeat a course only once, regardless of the student’s previous grade.
- State aid (TAP) will only pay for a repeated course if it is required to have a higher grade for graduation in the student’s particular degree program.
If a student’s program does not require them to earn a higher grade for graduation, but the student is being advised to repeat coursework for academic reasons, it may be advisable for the student to be enrolled in at least 12 credits of new coursework (in addition any repeated courses) in order to maintain his/her full time status.
Students can be referred to Student Central for questions or may call (315)498-2291.
Recent Changes to the Student Aid Programs
You should be aware of a number of new requirements for the federal student aid programs which include changes to the Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Pell Grant Program. Most of these changes were effective starting with the 2012-13 school year.
Please review the changes that could impact your financial aid for the upcoming academic year and in the future.
If you have any questions please visit Student Central or call Financial Aid.