Study Abroad Financial Aid Challenges Megan Melbourne & Jill Rayner

Agenda About University of North Georgia Study Abroad challenges Federal Aid challenges State Aid challenges Military Aid challenges Systems challenges Discussion on Best Practices

UNG Facts Designated as a State Leadership Institution and The Military College of Georgia. More than 20,000 students Offers more than 100 programs of study ranging from certificate and associate degrees to professional doctoral programs. Five campuses Single mission focused on academic excellence and academic and co-curricular programs that develop students into leaders for a diverse and global society.  Formed through the consolidation of North Georgia College & State University and Gainesville State College in January 2013. 

UNG Abroad 428 UNG students studied abroad in 2017-2018 Academic Year: 3 Fall term: 28 Spring term: 187 (63 study abroad + 44 cadet programs) Summer: 290 Program Breakdown: 24 Faculty-led programs 6 Cadet Exchanges 14 Partner Programs 3 Third Party Provider Partners

The University of North Georgia

Center for Global Engagement Terminology + Payment Styles Ways to Go Abroad: Faculty-Led Exchange Full Exchange Tuition Only Direct Enrollment Paid through CGE Paid directly through provider Consortia Cadet Programs Cadet Conferences Cadet Exchanges

Challenge Background

Challenges Can you relate to these challenges: New language for all of us to learn Student who played us against each other Students who go back to back trips Students who are gone for more than one term Students/Parents who call and say my child is starving Students who never told financial aid they were going anywhere until they can’t pay for their trip

Team meeting Center for Global Engagement Financial aid Veteran benefits Business office Scholarship/Foundation All key players at the table to talk issues

Reports sent to Financial aid Query watch report Military Financial aid counselors Query application report Financial aid counselors

Updated Student Form

Team site Cost sheets for all programs Terminology used by both teams List of students applications List of students approved with dates List of students who went List of students who did not go or dropped out

Financial Planning Cost Sheets for programs Terra Dotta Payment Schedules Cost of Attendance (COA updates) Map out when aid is coming in Scholarships applications Student Money Management Center

Federal Aid Disbursement not in time to make deposits/ payment Limits to Aid Year –Round PELL grant – must be 6 hours UNG loan funds

State Aid HOPE/ZELL – tuition equal to cost if program taken at HOME school SAL loans – good resource For direct exchange when tuition removed from BANNER, watch your BANNER rules

Military Aid Veteran Benefits – different chapters Know who gets paid school/student When they get paid Using place holder courses Must be on plan of study and approved

Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 Under Chapter 33, VA will pay: • Home school’s tuition and fees • Books and supplies • Monthly housing allowance based on the home school’s address *** In order for VA to pay any additional fees specific to the Study Abroad program, the Study Abroad option must be required for graduation VA will not pay: • Costs related to travel (airfare, lodging and meals) • Third party charges Schools that charge a flat rate for all charges must be able to break down the amounts charged for tuition, lodging, meals, etc., so that the correct amount can be reported to VA. If the school is unable to provide a breakdown of the charges, no amount should be reported to VA SCO 1718 page 39

Rate of Pursuit RoP by dividing the number of credit (or credit hour equivalents) being pursued by the number of credit considered to be full-time by the school. The resulting percentage is the student’s RoP. Examples: If full-time is12 credits, then RoP: • 6 credits (or credit equivalents) is 50% (6  12 = 50%) • 7 credits (or credit equivalents) is 58% (7  12 = 58%) The housing allowance is paid if the student’s RoP is more than 50%. Rate of pursuit determines whether a student receives or doesn’t receive the housing allowance.

GI Bill CH 1606 Monthly allowance based on Full-time etc. Paid to student Must call in/online attendance

Tuition Assistance GoArmyEd Courses must be approved before classes start or semester starts Cannot switch classes after approved

Scholarship Beware of scholarships that pay “tuition” Impacts HOPE/Zell CH 33 benefits, TA, Georgia National Guard service loan

Refund preference Financial aid refund issued to student Will they have access Discover card Personal Account Check mailed home

Grade delay SAP No Passing Grade HOPE/Zell calculations – CHEC system TA reporting to GoArmy

FAFSA Setting up aid for new year 2019-2020 Verification

What we learned….. Communication

Questions?

Our information Megan Melbourne, Study Abroad Advisor Megan.Melbourne@ung.edu 706-867-2833 Jill Rayner, Director Financial aid and Veteran Success jill.Rayner@ung.edu 706-864-1688