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What Your Students Need to Know About Financial Aid Financial Aid Basics for California Community College Disabled Student Programs and Services Presented by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office and the California Student Aid Commission

Introductions Doris Keller (916) Shelly Menzel (916)

Training Goals  Enhance understanding student financial aid  Discuss how the unique needs of disabled students fit into the financial aid process  Discover how various outside disability service organizations affect financial aid packaging  Increase student participation in financial aid programs for which they are eligible

Types of Financial Aid  Gift Aid Grants Scholarships  Self Help Aid Work Study Loans Sources of Financial Aid  Federal  State  College  Private

Outreach Message to Students Apply... Don’t Disqualify Yourself!

Important Deadlines  Students can apply for Federal financial aid any time of the year  Students must apply for a Cal Grant between January 1 and March 2  September 2, 2004 only for students attending a community college  Check with your financial aid regarding “priority deadlines”

Types of Applications  FAFSA  CSAC GPA Verification  Institutional Applications  Private Applications

FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid

  Shorter processing time than paper  Less errors than paper  Immediate online assistance  Immediate confirmation of filing  Built-in edits (skip-logic)  Screen Reader friendly  Ability to sign form electronically with a PIN number obtainable at FAFSA

Application and Accessibility  FAFSA Alternate Media Braille E-text On the Web  High Tech Centers  Help from Financial aid office  Department of Rehab Counselors

CSAC GPA Verification  Required for Cal Grant only High school grades College grades  GPA Verification form Not available in alternate media Financial aid office  Submission methods Electronic upload from school Paper form from school or student

Application Timeline ApplicationFiling Period CSAC GPA Verification Fall 2003 – March 2, 2004 or September 2, 2004 FAFSA Jan 2004 through June File by March 2 or September 2 for Cal Grant consideration. Cal Grant C SupplementalMid-summer (date varies) BOG Fee Waiver FormYear round Other School ApplicationsCheck with school Private ScholarshipsCheck with source

Cal Grant C Recommendations  Supplemental Application (after FAFSA)  Occupational/Educational recommendation Teacher, Counselor, or Employer 35% of total score  Based on your knowledge Measure of student’s general academic achievement Measure of student’s ability to successfully complete the intended program

Application Advice for Students  Complete all required fields  Watch for filing deadlines  Apply early, apply often  Keep photocopies  Obtain certificates of mailing  Must list at least one California school is on FAFSA to be considered for Cal Grant

Assistance to Apply  Assess student’s ability to complete forms  Help provide needed tools Web sources Readers Special equipment Refer students to case worker Keeps files of potential sources of help

Cost of Attendance Basic Equation of Need Expected Family Contribution Student’s Financial Need

Cost of Attendance  Tuition & fees  Room & board  Books & supplies  Transportation  Miscellaneous personal expenses

Help Determine Specific Costs  Research cost of attendance at preferred schools  Work with student to determine amount needed for: Special needs at college Transportation Medical bills

Expected Family Contribution  Measure of family’s financial status  Calculated at the federal level using family income and asset data on FAFSA  Used to determine student’s overall financial aid need

What is Professional Judgment?  Adjustments may be made only on a case-by-case basis  Decisions are made at the discretion of the financial aid office Change may not affect eligibility for financial aid  Changes are allowed in the following areas: Student’s budget (cost of attendance) Independent/Dependent status Income/Asset information

Examples of Possible P.J. Adjustments for Disabled Students  Added transportation costs Adapted vehicle service  Costs for Special equipment Computer software/hardware Typed Text (TTY)  Costs for Assistive services Note-taking services Interpreters

Help Request Professional Judgment  Identify extra costs  Suggest documentation to gather  Financial aid office may require completion of additional forms  Discuss process with student and parents  Practice making the request

Gift Aid  Pell Grant (need based)  Cal Grant (need & merit based)  BOG Fee Waiver (need based)  FSEOG (need based)

Time is Valuable…Prioritize! 1.Apply to institution 2.Apply for basic financial aid 3.Search and apply for scholarships Less than 5% of total financial aid Students should focus first on applying for scholarships they have the best change of getting

Scholarships Sources  Parent’s/Students employers  Faith based groups  Community based groups  Medical providers  Care providers  Associations for persons with disabilities

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities  They are out there….it is just a matter of finding them!  Disabled students scholarship list  Scholarship Search Sites

Scholarship Searching on the Web  Access a search engine (Google, Dogpile, Yahoo, etc.) In search box type “Scholarships, ___” Insert (one at a time) everything that describes student  Type(s) of disability  Heritage  Hobbies  Family interests  Etc.

Apply for Scholarships  Include everything requested and: Color photo of student Personal statement/essay Copy of transcripts with highest grades highlighted Completed application Letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, medical staff, parents, caregiver Table of Contents

Submit Scholarship Application  Include originals when possible or xerox originals only Ask for multiple copies of everything  Bind all pages into colorful theme or report folder  Mail in flat envelop

Self Help Aid  Work-study (need based)  Perkins Loan (need based)  Subsidized Stafford Loan (need based)  Unsubsidized Stafford Loan (non- need based)  Plus Loan (non-need based)

Ability to Benefit  High school diploma  General Education Development (GED) certificate  Pass an approved "ability-to-benefit" test er/other/2002-3/090402a.html er/other/2002-3/090402a.html Testing accommodations dependent on test publisher

Enrollment Status  Can be a factor in type or amount of financial aid awards  Federal statutory definition for financial aid purposes 12 units per term = full-time  Reasonable accommodation Allowing reduced course load from academic standpoint is OK Counting reduced course load as full- time for financial aid is not allowable

Satisfactory Academic Progress  Required for federal and state aid  As defined by the school within federal guidelines  Some discretion allowed financial aid office for “special circumstances”  Services of DSP&S help students maintain SAP

Other Potential Requirements  Demonstrated financial need  Citizenship  State of residency  School of attendance  Type of program student is attending  Type of degree student is pursuing  Minimum GPA requirements  Other…

WORKING TOGETHER Sharing resources for the greater benefit of students

Department of Rehabilitation  Who is eligible for benefits? Individuals with physical or mental impairment that results in an impediment to employment  Applying for services Apply for Federal financial aid first Website:  Rich-text application format .PDF application format

Department of Rehabilitation  Individualized Plan for Employment  May cover cost of training Tuition, fees, books & supplies  MOU with CASFAA  Financial aid office coordinates benefits

Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)  Social Security Administration Program  Excludes from SSI or SSDI eligibility calculation income and resources that are used toward the achievement of a vocational goal

Constructing a PASS Plan  Allowable expenses Tuition, fees Books, supplies Assistive equipment child care tutoring, testing, counseling  Application available from SSA Office or at

Advice for Coordinating Services  Be aware of filing periods  Make financial aid office aware of special circumstances  Encourage/Assist completion of PASS (if applicable)  Encourage/Assist in applying for Department of Rehab benefits (if applicable)  Communicate with financial aid office

OUTREACHING TO STUDENTS Ways to make students aware of the help they may be eligible for

Develop College-Going Attitude  Encourage all students to go to college  Administer aptitude tests  Establish and keep records  Work with parents/caretakers  Work up profile for each student How special needs might affect college attendance Academic requirements to be met

Getting the Word Out  Work with associates in earlier grades  Work with students, parents, caretakers  Develop a strategy for each student College-going attitude Plan for academics and finances Other benefit resources  Maintain records

Getting the Word Out (cont.)  Identify students with special needs  Work with all teachers to provide information and resources  Learn about potential benefits  Maintain/modify strategy for each student  Work with other outreach professionals

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES For disabled students

Federal Aid Resources  Audio The Student Aid Guide  Braille Publications FAFSA application The Student Aid Guide Funding Your Education Repaying Your Student Loan

Keeping Yourself Current  NASFAA  U.S. Department of Education  California Student Aid Commission  Chancellor’s Office DSPS & Financial Aid pages

HEATH Resource Center  Information exchange on postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities Accessibility Career development Classroom adaptations Financial aid 

Disabled Student Services in Higher Education List Serve  Mailing list discussion of issues relevant to students with disabilities in higher education. the legal responsibilities of institutions under the ADA how to meet the physical and academic needs of disabled students and how to fund such services.  To subscribe to the list, write to with subscribe DSSHE-L in the message body.