B
unifinancialaid n fin-aid@uni.edu
The mission of the Office of Student Financial Aid is to provide access to financial resources in a fair, sensitive and confidential manner; to inform and educate students and families about their financial options; and to continually improve services so students may take full advantage of their educational opportunities. The Office of Student Financial Aid is committed to promoting and maintaining integrity, accuracy and timeliness in compliance with applicable law, regulations and policies that govern federal, state, institutional and private funds in order to serve the maximum number of UNI students.
Our awarding philosophy is based on the recruitment goals and objectives of the university’s strategic enrollment plan. Students with the greatest need will receive a larger proportion of available gift aid. Typically, need-based gift aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, providing assistance to as many students as possible. In compliance with federal regulations, the total financial aid awarded will not exceed the student’s cost of attendance.
The Board of Regents, State of Iowa includes access, affordability and student success as one of the priorities for the 2010-2016 Strategic Plan. The Office of Student Financial Aid is actively involved in working to achieve Goal #1: Iowa’s public universities shall be affordable to all academically qualified Iowa residents. Progress to date:
1. Financial Literacy a. A campaign called “Live Like a Student” (LLS) began in the fall of 2010. The purpose is to educate students to make responsible decisions regarding money.
Methods of delivery thus far are: non-credit financial literacy classes, group/ organizational workshops, marketing tools and one-on-one money management counseling. To date, more than 2,000 students have participated in LLS activities.
b. By offering bilingual financial aid information sessions in Spanish and putting together new bilingual publications, we are expanding literacy efforts to secondary students and parents.
c. A new fall 2011 initiative is to work closely with admissions to identify firstgeneration students and provide targeted counseling telephone calls related to financial literacy throughout the academic year.
2. Active participant in the Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher
Education (TEACH) Grant. In the 2010-2011 academic year, 414 (392 were Iowa residents) students received a total of $1,572,048. Most were needy students who were able to reduce loan indebtedness by receiving the TEACH Grant instead of loan funds.
3. All students requesting private education loans are required to participate in comprehensive loan counseling. Our private loan volume has gone from $15.3 million in 2007-08 to just under $3.0 million in 2010-11, an 81 percent decrease.
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Final rules were published on Oct. 29, 2010 and were effective on July 1,
2011 with the exception of verification which takes effect July 1, 2012.
These are the last regulations of the Higher Education Opportunity Act
(HEOA). Although there are rules which are specific to the administration of Title IV Federal Student Aid, a number of topics apply to campus policies and operations beyond the scope of the Office of Student
Financial Aid. Below is a partial list of the new regulations which impact
Title IV funding.
n State Authorizations – The institution of higher education must be legally authorized by the state in which it offers its programs
(including distance education).
n Incentive Compensation – Institutions may not provide any commission, bonus or other incentive payment, based directly or indirectly upon success in securing enrollments or award of financial aid, to any person or entity engaged in any student recruitment or admissions activity or making decisions regarding the award of Title IV funds.
n Credit Hour Definition - This regulation defines credit hour and establishes procedures that accrediting agencies must have in place to determine if an institution’s assignment of credit hour is acceptable.
n Misrepresentation – The institution may not misrepresent to students, prospective students, state agencies, accreditors, the general public and the U.S. Department of Education the nature of its educational programs, its financial charges or the employability of its graduates.
n Gainful Employment – The institution must provide students and prospective students with each eligible program’s debt levels, graduation rates and job placement rates. The new rules also require that institutions provide information to the Department of Education about students enrolled in programs, program graduates and placement rates.
n Evaluating the Validity of High School Diplomas – The institution is to develop and follow procedures to evaluate the validity of a student’s high school diploma if the institution or the Secretary of
Education has reason to believe the diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education.
n Written Agreements Between Institutions – The institution is to disclose to students or prospective students written agreement between institutions, as well as consortium agreements that provide for a portion of a program to be offered by another institution.
2 n Satisfactory Academic Progress – There is a new structure and consistent approach to evaluating the student’s academic work for the purpose of determining ongoing eligibility for Title IV program assistance, while providing flexibility to institutions in establishing their own policies.
n Retaking Coursework – Regulation allows for a previously passed course to be repeated once and count toward a student’s full-time enrollment status and award aid. Institutions may also count toward enrollment status and award aid for any class failed that the student needs to retake due to academic requirements of the program.
However, if the student previously passed the course then failed the course, the student will not be allowed to retake the course for the third time with aid.
n Return of Title IV Fund and Attendance – This regulation clarifies when a student is considered to have withdrawn from a payment period or period of enrollment and defines the circumstances under which an institution is required to take attendance for the purpose of calculating return of Title IV federal student aid funds. For example, if the student receives all Fs, the institution must determine if the student completed the coursework or stopped attending.
n Timely Disbursement for Books & Supplies – Institutions must provide the means for eligible Title IV students to purchase the necessary books and supplies by the seventh day of the payment period.
n Verification of Information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – New rules revise the process of verifying information on a student’s FAFSA, reducing the burdens on students and institutions by taking advantage of the Internal
Revenue Service data. To allow time for institutions to prepare, the implementation date of the regulation will be delayed until July 1,
2012.
n Loss of eligibility for subsidized loans for graduate and professional students as of July 1, 2012.
n Termination of direct loan borrower repayment incentives to encourage on-time repayment of loans.
n Monitoring period changes from two to three years, beginning with the 2009 cohort, the calculation will be borrowers who default in the federal fiscal year or by the end of the next two federal fiscal years and a three-year transition period for sanctions.
n Pell maximum award remains $5,550 for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Minimum award remains 10 percent of maximum, but the bumpup for students whose calculated award is at least 5 percent of the maximum but less than 10 percent has been eliminated. Duration of eligibility is reduced from 18 full-time semesters to 12 full-time semesters.
n Qualifying income for the Automatic Zero EFC determination is reduced to $23,000 from $31,000.
n Interest subsidy during the six-month grace period is eliminated for new Stafford Loans made on or after July 1, 2012 and before July 1,
2014.
unifinancialaid n fin-aid@uni.edu
Due to economic hardship at the state level there has been an 18 percent cut to state funding received by UNI students. Cuts have occurred in funding levels in programs such as the All Iowa Opportunity
Scholarship program, the Iowa Grant program, National Guard Education
Benefits and the elimination of the Iowa work-study program.
In June of 2009, the Board of Regents, State of Iowa created the Access and Affordability Advisory Committee to propose strategies which address the Board’s goals to (1) lower the average student debt upon graduation and (2) increase the participation of low-income students at the public universities in Iowa. In February of 2010, the Board of Regents approved the following proposals from the Access and Affordability
Advisory Committee. Progress toward proposals, as reported at the April
2011 Board of Regents meeting, are listed in bold .
1. Create and adequately fund a need-based state grant program dedicated to students attending public universities. (No change)
2. Fund the Iowa work-study program at no less than the fiscal year
2000 level. (No change)
3. Develop strategies for collaborative lobbying efforts to increase federal student aid funding opportunities for Iowa public universities. (No change)
4. Maintain Iowa public university undergraduate tuition set-aside rates at no less than current levels. (UNI is maintaining 15 percent tuition set-aside overall and increasing resident undergraduate to 73 percent)
5. Establish a priority to raise funds for need-based and merit-based scholarships. (Imagine the Impact Campaign has generated more than $40 million for student scholarships, with more than 200 new scholarships created.)
6. Increase four-year graduation rates of students.
(Increased from
35.9 percent to 37.7 percent.)
7. Add financial education staff, as needed, to the financial aid department who are specialists in financial education and debt counseling for students, especially those students who must rely on loans to finance their education. (Two graduate assistants (one
FTE) were added for the fall 2010 to assist with the “Live Like a Student” campaign including teaching sections of the noncredit classes and assisting with TEACH grant counseling.)
8. Require all undergraduate students, including transfer students, to complete a financial education component as part of their firstyear experience. (Strategies used: summer orientation literacy sessions, “Live Like a Student” campaign, non-credit course, online CashCourse and providing resources for the freshmen first-year experience “Cornerstone” course)
Funding and staffing needs continue to be affected at the institutional level by the economy and institutional policy.
n 13 staff (12 FTE), 1 graduate assistant and 31 student employees as of fall 2011.
n One staff dedicated to working on the new student information system.
n Need-based tuition set-aside allocation for FY12 increased by 14 percent to $4.6 million.
n Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) general fund operating budget allocation decreased by 3.3 percent from FY10 to FY12.
1. New Student Information System implementation
2. Financial literacy with focus on reducing private loan debt
• “Live Like A Student” campaign
• Private Education Loan counseling
• Promoting TEACH Grants
Overall Costs (up 1.2%)
Tuition/fees
Undergraduate resident ...................................................................$ 7,350
Undergraduate non-resident ........................................................$16,106
Graduate resident .................................................................................$ 8,418
Graduate non-resident ......................................................................$17,352
Room/board ..................................................................................................................... $7,426
Books/supplies ................................................................................................................ $1,054
Transportation to and from home ....................................................$900 to $1,200
Personal expenses ......................................................................................................... $2,146
Total undergraduate resident cost of attendance ..................................$18,876
Total graduate resident cost of attendance ................................................$19,944
The average net price is determined by taking the cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships received. Student loans, hometown scholarships, student work awards and parent loans are also available to assist with funding the net price.
2007-08
$12,909
2008-09
$13,286
2009-10
$13,620
2010-11
$13,701
Average net price per Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for first-time, full-time undergraduate students.
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Total Aid Disbursed ......................................................................................... $133,627,082
87 Percent Disbursed to Undergraduates ....................................... $116,849,933
13 Percent Disbursed to Graduate ....................................................... $16,777,149
Total Aid Recipients (Unduplicated) ................................................... 11,288
Resident Aid Recipients ........................................................................ 10,416
Non-Resident Aid Recipients ............................................................ 868
Percent of Students Who Received Aid ............................................. 85.5%
Percent of Students Who Borrowed .................................................... 66%
Percent of Students with Grants/Scholarships .............................. 64%
Percent of Students Employed on Campus ..................................... 30%
Percent of Students with a Pell Grant ................................................. 30%
TSA 1 as Percent of Tuition ........................................................................... 18.7%
Percent of TSA to Students with Need ............................................... 70%
Percent of First-time, First-generation Students. ........................... 18.5%
Percent Receiving Aid .................................................................................... 86%
Resident Aid Recipients & Percentage ........................................ 9,220 for 88%
Non-resident Aid Recipients & Percentage ............................... 618 for 67%
Percent with Gift Aid ...................................................................................... 64%
Percent with Student Loans ....................................................................... 70%
Average Aid Accepted .................................................................................. $11,165
Average Need ..................................................................................................... $10,424
Average Grant/Scholarship ........................................................................ $4,990
Average Student Loan ................................................................................. $6,894
Average Parent Loan ...................................................................................... $8,046
1
Tuition Set-Aside (TSA) are dollars generated from tuition revenue to be used for student aid.
Percent with Aid ................................................................................................... 87%
Percent with Gift Aid ......................................................................................... 73%
Percent with Student Loans .......................................................................... 63.4%
Average Aid Accepted ..................................................................................... $11,321
Average Need ........................................................................................................ $8,146
Average Grant/Scholarship ........................................................................... $5,252
Average Student Loan ...................................................................................... $5,589
Average Parent Loan ......................................................................................... $8,000
Percent Receiving Aid ....................................................................................80%
Resident Aid Recipients & Percentage..........................................1,203 for 83%
Non-Resident Aid Recipients & Percentage ............................. 247 for 68%
Percent with Gift Aid ......................................................................................66%
Percent with Student Loans .......................................................................42%
Average Aid Accepted ..................................................................................$11,570
Average Need .....................................................................................................$10,155
Average Grant/Scholarship ........................................................................$3,4562
Average Student Loan ...................................................................................$11,844
399 Assistantships from federal, state, private and institutional resources
unifinancialaid n fin-aid@uni.edu
$133.6 Million
Loans .........................................................................................................................$81,239,021
Grants & Scholarships .....................................................................................$40,382,207
Employment .........................................................................................................$11,163,325
Work Study .............................................................................................................$ 842,528
8,623 awards totaling $19.8 million
5,404 recipients
Scholarships are coordinated by several offices, including OSFA, admissions, and individual departments and colleges within the university. The UNIversity Scholarship Application (USA) is a common application used by students to apply for all undergraduate scholarships.
Scholarship administration guidelines are published annually in the
“Facts For Faculty” newsletter.
n 3,905 UNIversity Scholarship Applications n 1,519 scholarship certificates mailed to high schools of incoming new students n 2,433 hometown scholarship checks processed n 448 athletes reviewed for NCAA compliance
Scholarships by Source of Funds
Institutional ............................................................................................................$10,875,580
Private ...........................................................................................................................$3,966,202
Foundation ................................................................................................................$2,416,603
Federal ..........................................................................................................................$1,408,471
State ...............................................................................................................................$1,216,306
Federal ......................................................................................................................$96,057,333
Institutional ...........................................................................................................$26,467,788
Private ........................................................................................................................$ 6,986,912
Foundation .............................................................................................................$ 2,416,603
State ............................................................................................................................. $1,698,446
9,524 awards totaling $20.5 million
4,930 recipients
Grants are gift aid (no repayment required) generally awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need based on filing the FAFSA.
Federal Pell Grant ..............................................................................................$12,193,939
University Grants ...................................................................................................$4,652,712
Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and
Higher Education (TEACH) Grant …… ....................................................$1,572,048
National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent
(SMART) Grant ........................................................................................................... $505,745
SEOG ................................................................................................................................ $433,756
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) ................................................... $583,611
Image Grant ................................................................................................................ $333,158
Iowa Grant .................................................................................................................. $102,442
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$12,005,853 earned by 3,941 students
Graduate Assistantships ..................................................................................$2,263,480
Departmental Employment .........................................................................$8,920,512
Work Study ...................................................................................................................$821,861
Undergraduate Student Employment Averages n Average hours worked per week.............................................. 10 hrs.
n Average wage per hour ................................................................ $8.27
n Average wages earned ................................................................... $2,090
Departmental employment is available to students regardless of financial need and paid entirely by the hiring department.
Student employment coordinates Federal Work Study (FWS) including the Federal Community Service Learning (CSL) component. FWS is funded 75 percent by the federal government and 25 percent by the institution. Awards are based on financial need. CSL allows students to work at various community nonprofit agencies dedicated to improving community living.
CSL Program
Off Campus
On Campus
Reading Tutors
Total CSL
Online Job Board
Locations
12
6
1 (Lincoln
Elem)
19
Students
52
125
28
205
6
2010-2011 # of Jobs Posted
Jul-10 185
Aug-10
Sep-10
244
224
Oct-10
Nov-10
Dec-10
Jan-11
192
195
201
178
Feb-11
Mar-11
Apr-11
May-11
Jun-11
Total
Monthly Average
*Multiple positions were listed within many jobs.
184
239
254
248
245
2,589
216*
Dollars Earned
$ 83,468
$ 137,134
$ 30,190
$ 250,792
Total # of Views
39,490
65,743
43,206
32,204
30,179
28,956
37,997
27,948
36,402
42,859
35,951
35,378
456,313
38,026
Student employees are not only vital to the goals of the university but also bring creativity and a new perspective to the departments in which they work. During National Student Employment Week, the Student
Employment Office encourages campus employers to celebrate the contributions of their student workers. Free popcorn is offered in our reception lobby.
At the Student Employment
Week Reception held on April
13, 2011 the Student Employee of the Year and Employer of the
Year were recognized as well as the contributions of 31 other outstanding student employees.
Dining Services Rialto was named the Employer of the Year with
Manager Tyler Terpstra accepting the award. The Student Employee of the Year was Darion Watson, a resident assistant in Dancer Hall.
Darion has been responsible for building community in houses that includes 50 men in all stages of their college experience.
The winner of the UNI Student
Employee of the Year Award is also submitted for state, regional and national recognition. As a result of his accomplishments, Darion Watson was also named the STATE OF IOWA STUDENT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR!
This is the first time in history that a UNI student has been awarded this honor.
unifinancialaid n fin-aid@uni.edu
17,665 awards totaling $81.2 million
8,695 recipients
Federal Direct Unsubsidized .....................................................................$29,568,739
Federal Direct Subsidized .............................................................................$29,231,575
Federal Parent Loan (PLUS) .........................................................................$17,507,978
Private Education Loans ...................................................................................$2,978,234
Federal Perkins ......................................................................................................$1,731,175
Federal PLUS for Graduate Students ........................................................... $221,320
Students Receiving Loans
Undergraduate
Graduate
Parents
Numbers of
Borrowers
7,894
768
2,176
Percentage of
Students
69%
42%
NA
Average Loan
$ 6,894
$12,132
$ 8,046
Undergraduate Debt Upon Graduation (down $212)
Average Undergraduate Indebtedness . . . . . . . . $25,523
Private Education
Loan Volume
History
Percentage of Undergraduates Graduating:
With debt ....................................................................................................77.7%
Without debt ...........................................................................................22.3%
UNI’s Federal Direct Loan Cohort Default Rate ...........................................2.9%
National Default Rate ............................................................................8.8%
All Public Universities .............................................................................7.2%
State Default Rate ................................................................................11.5%
Student Staff
Front row (left to right): Jackie Rangel, Araceli Castaneda, Kelsi Jontz, Amber Irlmeier, Payton Comentino, Megan Boomershine, Jackie Weith.
Middle row (left to right): KaLeigh White, Sarah Zenisek, Mackenzee Quarnstrom, Kaylee Durst, Lynnae McNamee, Paula Caldwell, Lauren Hanna,
Holly Kockler, Kari Braumann. Back row (left to right): John Gogola, Mike Perez, Eric Carlson, Rachel Smithart, Matt Daniels, Skylar Mayberry-Mayes,
Jaime Sterling, Danielle Stuck, Jesse Lozano. Not pictured: Rob Henry, Beth Shaver, Emily Schippers, Kristi Wiltgen, Nicole Streets, Devin Daniels,
Janae Riley, Brandon Robinson.
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8
TOTAL
Institutional & Private Gift Aid
Institutional Scholarships/Grants
Corporate/Private Scholarships
Athletic Scholarships
Federal & State Grants
Federal Pell Grant
Academic Competitiveness Grant
National SMART Grant
Supplemental Education Opportunity
Grant
TEACH Grant
ROTC
Other Federal Programs
All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship
IMAGES Grant
Iowa Grant
Vocational Rehabilitation
Commission for the Blind
Other State Grants
National Guard
Loans
Federal Perkins
Direct Loans
Alternative Loans
Employment
Federal Work Study
Graduate Assistantships
UNI Employment
2009-2010 2010-2011 Percent Change
96
17,273
511
55
204
191
179
2
223
590
314
8
439
16,118
644
4,765
512
362
3,891
Number of
Awards
37,817
9,702
6,968
2,342
392
6,077
2,981
608
187
71
17,665
909
31
191
117
169
1
175
480
414
5
686
16,251
505
4,886
537
399
3,950
Number of
Awards
40,698
11,525
7,952
3,193
380
6,622
3,386
728
168
556,989
1,205,082
62,471
988,018
295,792
332,200
161,830
523,610
11,163
286,548
405,774
$80,608,345
845,398
75,876,571
3,886,376
$11,460,346
769,415
2,263,481
8,427,450
Value of
Awards
Mean
Award
$128,829,476 $3,407
$19,984,057 $2,060
12,017,114 $1,725
4,898,775
3,068,168
$2,092
$7,827
$16,776,728
10,882,051
491,527
573,673
$2,761
$3,650
$808
$3,068
$944
$3,838
$7,809
$2,251
$5,378
$1,628
$847
$2,925
$5,582
$1,285
$4,227
$4,667
$1,654
$4,708
$6,035
$2,405
$1,503
$6,253
$2,166
433,756
1,572,048
38,839
1,369,632
205,955
333,158
102,442
366,416
8,001
296,551
339,383
$81,239,021
1,731,175
76,529,612
2,978,234
$12,005,853
821,861
2,409,747
8,774,245
Value of
Awards
Mean
Award
$133,627,082 $3,283
$ 22,032,732 $1,912
12,649,911 $1,591
6,382,805
3,000,016
$1,999
$7,895
Number of
Awards
7.6%
18.8%
14.1%
36.3%
-3.1%
$18,349,476
12,193,939
583,611
505,745
$2,771
$3,601
$802
$3,010
9.0%
13.6%
19.7%
-10.2%
Value of
Awards
3.7%
10.3%
5.3%
30.3%
-2.2%
9.4%
12.1%
18.7%
-11.8%
$904
$3,797
$7,768
$1,997
$6,644
$1,744
$876
$2,168
$8,001
$1,695
$4,780 -26.0%
$4,599
$1,904
$4,709
$5,897
$2,457
$1,530
$6,039
$2,221
2.3%
77.9%
0.8%
-21.6%
2.5%
4.9%
10.2%
1.5%
-18.6%
31.8%
-37.5%
56.3%
-43.6%
-6.4%
-38.7%
-5.6%
-50.0%
-21.5%
0.8%
104.8%
0.9%
-23.4%
4.8%
6.8%
6.5%
4.1%
-22.1%
30.5%
-37.8%
38.6%
-30.4%
0.3%
-36.7%
-30.0%
-28.3%
3.5%
-16.4% unifinancialaid n fin-aid@uni.edu
Number of Dependent FAFSA Filers .....................................................................8,153
Number with Financial Need ....................................................................................6,041
Average Need ..................................................................................................................$9,019
Average EFC ....................................................................................................................$14,920
Average Family Income ..........................................................................................$88,086
Once the student completes the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA), results are transmitted electronically to the university.
Verification is completed on those files identified by the federal processor and any applicant with special situations. Requests for documents needed are emailed every other week with a telephone call/postcard on the opposite week until all documents are received.
Typically 90 percent of initial awards are made by the first day of the fall semester. Revisions and aid adjustments continue throughout the academic year.
n 15,005 FAFSA applications n 4,820 applications selected for verification n 13,582 students offered aid n 11,288 students with paid aid n 9,218 award revisions (e.g., additional aid, loan adjustments).
Some students had up to ten revisions.
n 239 requests for aid adjustments due to unusual circumstances.
Primary situations:
–35 with medical issues
–140 with natural disaster/loss of income n 16,000 documents requested and processed n 1,776 students awarded summer aid n 1,066 student records reviewed for Return of Title IV Aid n 269 students completing consortium agreements for aid eligibility
January 2010 ......................................................... Loaded FAFSA results to system
Mid March 2010..................................................................................... Packaging of aid
August 2010 ..................................................................................... Disbursement of aid
To comply with federal regulations, all federal aid recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Students who fail to meet specified standards are suspended from financial aid eligibility.
n 1,519 students reviewed for SAP n 988 students placed on warning n 603 students suspended from aid n 223 appeals reviewed
Student employees handle the majority of the telephone calls, reception visits and emails.
n More than 35,000 telephone calls to the Call Center n Roughly 17,500 reception visits n Approximately address
7,400 emails answered on published email n
2,000+ walk-ins)
scheduled counseling appointments (does not include
9
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The OSFA takes pride in assisting with recruitment and retention efforts at the university. Staff participates in and presents information at more than 100 events in addition to another 125 presentations at various orientations.
The OSFA participates in all freshmen, transfer, graduate and international student orientations. During summer orientation, extra attention is given to making the financial aid process stress-free for families with the following services provided at each of the 10 orientation sessions : n Forty five-minute, large group parent session (150 to 200 parents per session) n Six professional staff members and two student employees available for counseling for half-day Student Services Fair with additional tables for student employment and scholarship questions n Seven student financial aid information sessions (30+ students per session) n Two TEACH Grant counseling presentations n Six computer stations with student assistance in completing master promissory notes and loan entrance counseling n Student employee assisting with “Live Like A Student” class registration
The Office of Student
Financial Aid introduced the “Live Like a Student” campaign beginning with the 2010-11 academic year. “Live Like a Student” programming was created to provide students with a broad knowledge base concerning their personal finances and to assist them in making responsible decisions regarding money.
The “Live Like a Student” initiative is designed to educate students on the importance of financial goals, budgeting, the promotion of living within their means and fostering a better understanding of how actions today will affect their financial future.
“Live Like a Student” is a free three-week (six sessions total), non-credit financial literacy seminar that is offered at a variety of times throughout the year. During 2010-11, more than 250 students completed the “Live
Like a Student” seminar. In addition, many other students had “Live Like a Student” content made available to them through academic classes, group workshops and one-onone appointments.
Financial Literacy
Month was celebrated throughout April 2011. A variety of financial literacy programming and events were made available to students. More than
200 students actively participated in Financial
Literacy Month events which included: n Financial Literacy Scavenger Hunt n Shred Days n The Psychology of Money Presentation n Purchasing Big Ticket Items Presentation n Understanding Employee Benefits Presentation n Planning for Your Financial Future Presentation unifinancialaid n fin-aid@uni.edu
The OSFA is committed to the recruitment and retention of a diverse student population. We have designated staff (two counselors and one assistant director) to work with admissions as needed with campus visits and off-site presentations. In efforts to contribute to the understanding and appreciation of diversity and what it brings to the university community, our staff has been involved in many activities. Some examples include: n Counseling minority and Jumpstart students n Multicultural Recruitment Team n Jumpstart Orientation n Diversity Town Hall Meetings n Resident Assistants Resource Fair n Multicultural Campus Visits (San Antonio; Gary, Ind.; St. Louis, etc.) n Special diversity networking luncheons n International Programs Information Sessions n International Student Orientation n UNI Up Close – Multicultural Luncheon n Black Student Union (BSU) Advising n Veteran Student Services Committee n UNI-CUE Staff Workshops n Student Support Services Workshops n Carver Scholarship Reception n Undoing Racism Workshop n Joint Diversity Committee n CHAS Multicultural Reception n Aspergers Insights Program n Diversity Advisory Committee
n Website (monitored and updated weekly) n Net Price Calculator called Estimate My Aid (electronically on website) n Calculate How Much Aid to Accept (electronically on website) n Facts For Faculty – faculty and staff newsletter (distributed electronically each semester) n Prowling for Cash – student newsletter (distributed electronically each semester) n Required reading of the Financial Aid Reference and Resource Guide
(electronically on website) n Recruitment Financial Aid Brochure (published annually) n Scholarship/Grant listings (published annually) n Parent Orientation Handbook – provided for parents during summer orientation n Miscellaneous fliers, handouts and posters (printed as needed)
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105 Gilchrist n
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Fax: 319-273-6950 n www.uni.edu/finaid
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Sue Follon Exemplary Service Award Recipients
The Sue Follon Exemplary Service Award honors employees in the
Division of Student Affairs who are committed to quality and excellence and whose efforts and achievements are worthy of emulation. Deb
Bartels, assistant director, was recognized in 2011. Tim Bakula, associate director, and Denise Parks, Clerk III, were recognized in 2012 .
Due to the large number and complexity of financial aid programs administered and the need for compliance with federal and state regulations, ongoing staff training is critical to the OSFA operation. The following are conferences, meetings/workshops and webinars attended:
Board of Regents, State of Iowa committee meetings and planning sessions; Iowa Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
(IASFAA) Conferences; Federal Student Financial Aid (FSA) Annual
Conference; Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
(MASFAA) Conference; Power of the Purse, A Financial Seminar for
Women; National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
(NASFAA) Conference; Midwest Association of Student Employment
Administrators (MASEA) Conference; National Student Employment
Association (NSEA) Conference; College Board Regional Forum;
Wisconsin Higher Education PeopleSoft User Group (WHEPSUG)
Conference; Higher Education User Group (HEUG); and Iowa College
Student Aid Commission (IACSAC) Task Force.
Tim Bakula and Denise
Parks with Terry Hogan, vice president of student affairs
Deb Bartels with
Terry Hogan, vice president of student affairs
Renae Mulder presented “Preparing Students to be Financially Sound
Graduates” at the WayUp XXV conference. Heather Soesbe presented
“Much Ado about TEACH Grants” at the HEUG conference. Tim Bakula presented “Creating Innovative Financial Literacy Programs” at the
NASFAA conference and “Financial Literacy: Providing the Training
Wheels for Life” at the IASFAA spring conference. Tim also served as a panelist for the IASFAA conference “Net Price Calculator” session.
Webinars conducted by the Department of Education and national associations are common practice and extremely helpful. The following are a few of the webinars observed: Private Education Loan, ELM, Federal
Loans, Iowa Financial Aid Application, NASFAA Townhall, multiple Gainful
Employment Webinars, FSA Webinar, Loan Counseling Federal Student
Aid Policy, Return of Title IV Aid, Summer R2T4 Calculations, Campus-
Based Programs, Where Financial Aid Stands, PeopleSoft training and
Program Integrity Rules.
Staff and student retreats addressed topics such as handling people under distress, de-escalating situations, students in need of counseling, communication and strategic planning.
unifinancialaid n fin-aid@uni.edu
1. ACT Institutional Data Questionnaire
2. ACT Graduate/Professional School
3. American Universities and Colleges Report
4. Barron’s Profile of American Colleges
5. Business Week
6. Board of Regents College Bound/Images
7. Board of Regents Estimated Cost of Attendance
8. Board of Regents Goals Update
9. Board of Regents Financial Aid Report and Study
10. Board of Regents Tuition Set-Aside
11. College Board
12. Common Data Set
13. Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
14. Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP)
15. IACSAC Financial Aid Report, Ethnic Diversity Report, Student
Budget Report
16. Institutional Fact Book
17. Institutional Profile Book
18. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
19. Peterson’s Annual Survey of Undergraduate Financial Aid
20. Peterson’s MBA Survey
21. Princeton Review’s “Best Value Colleges”
22. University Standards Survey
23. U.S. News & World Report
24. Voluntary System of Accountability
25. Wintergreen Orchard House
The core functions of the OSFA are:
1. Providing access to financial resources,
2. Informing and educating students and families about their financial options,
3. Improving our services so students may take full advantage of educational opportunities, and
4. Providing compliance with applicable law, regulations and policies that govern federal, state, institutional and private funds.
Core functions are monitored each year by Key Performance
Indicators available at www.ir.uni.edu/dbweb/dotnet.cfm.
Annual audit conducted by the Office of Auditor of State resulted in “no matters noted.”
The University of Northern Iowa was selected by the U.S. Department of Education for an on-site Title IV, HEA Program Review in September
2011. The program review final report indicated that the review is closed with no liabilities or unresolved issues. UNI’s eligibility and certification approval for Title IV funding is through Dec. 31, 2016.
Constitution Day – “The Constitution and Civil Liberties: Reducing
Terrorism Without Reducing Civil Liberties” sponsored by The American
Democracy Project (ADP) and the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost was held Sept. 20, 2011.
Code of Conduct for Educational Loans – Yearly email reminders to the campus community are posted on the financial aid website at www.uni.edu/finaid/code_of_conduct.shtml as required by Iowa Code.
The initial phases of implementation of the new PeopleSoft Student
Information System began in 2009-10. One staff member was pulled from our office to serve as functional lead. Business process analysis was done in 2008-09 with follow-up in 2009-10. The new system went live with financial aid in three steps: 1) loading ISIR records in January
2011; 2) financial aid awarding in April 2011; and 3) disbursement of aid in August of 2011. The next steps for 2012 include multiple term disbursements, reconciliation of funds, summer aid and student satisfactory academic progress.
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105 Gilchrist n
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Fax: 319-273-6950 n www.uni.edu/finaid
The OSFA assists with recruitment efforts by offering awards upon admission to the university.
The specific eligibility criteria for the awards are listed on the following two pages.
Annual
Award
Awarded for academic year (fall and spring)
The following are awarded at the time of admission and do not require a separate application.
RAI = Regents Admission Index. See www.uni.edu/admissions and click on New Freshmen Admission Requirements.
Distinguished Scholar Award for Iowans*
• Renewable for second year with a college GPA of 3.0 or above
$1,000 to $2,500 • Must be Iowa resident
• New graduate from an Iowa high school
• RAI of 320 or above = $2,500
• RAI of 300-319 = $1,000
• RAI of less than 300 with an ACT of 28 or above = $1,000
• Students admitted by March 1 will receive award for the following academic year
• Remaining allocation will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
Physics Scholar Award
• Renewable for three years with a college GPA of 3.0 or above
$3,500 • RAI of 320 or above or
• ACT of 28 or above
• Awarded at time of admission to the first three qualified applicants
Out-of-State Scholar Award**
Illinois Scholar Award**
Minnesota Scholar Award**
• Must maintain out-of-state residency for continued eligibility
• Renewable for three years with a college GPA of 2.5 or above
Out-of-State Legacy Scholar Award**
• Available to new graduates from an out-of-state high school for four years
• Available to transfers students for two years
• Must maintain out-of-state residency for continued eligibility
• Renewable with a college GPA of 2.5 or above
$2,500 to $3,500
$1,000
• Must be a U.S. citizen
• New graduates from an out-of-state high school
• RAI of 320 or above = $3,500
• RAI of 280 – 319 = $2,500
• RAI of less the 280 with an ACT of 28 or above = $2,500
• Students admitted by March 1 will receive award for the following academic year
• Remaining allocation will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
• Must be a non-resident of Iowa
• Must have a parent, grandparent or sibling who graduated from UNI or a sibling currently enrolled at UNI
• Must answer “yes” to question on Application for Admission regarding parent, grandparent or sibling
• Students admitted by March 1 will receive award for the following academic year
• Remaining allocation will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
• Must reside in one of the Illinois counties of Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Henry or Rock Island
• Must maintain Illinois resident status
• Students admitted by March 1 will receive award for the following academic year
• Remaining allocation will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Out-of-State Good Neighbor Award**
• Available to new graduates from specified out-of-state counties for four years
• Available to transfer students for two years
• Renewable with a college GPA of 2.5 or above
Transfer Scholar Award
• Non-renewable
$2,500
Multicultural Scholar Award
• Available to new graduates from high school for four years
• Available to transfer students for two years
• Renewable with a college GPA of 2.5 or above
$1,000
$2,500
• Must have 30 transferable hours with a minimum 3.25 GPA or above
• Must have graduated from high school prior to 2012
• Preference to students participating in UNI Admission Partnership Program with an Iowa community college
• Awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
• Spring and summer admits will receive award for following fall and spring terms
• Requires ethnic or racial status of African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino/Spanish, Alaskan
Native or American Indian, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
• Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Students admitted by March 1 will receive award for the following academic year
• Remaining allocation will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
Freshmen:
• New graduate from high school
• RAI of 270 or above
Transfers:
• Must have 30 transferable hours with cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
• Must have graduated from high school prior to 2012
The following require completion of the UNIversity Scholarship Application or specific website as listed
Presidential Scholar Award
• Renewable for three years with a college GPA of 3.5 or above
• 20 awards
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Award
• Renewable for one year with a college GPA of 3.0 or above
• 10 awards
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-Iowa Academic Team Award***
• Renewable for one year with a college GPA of 3.0 or above
$8,000
$1,500
$2,000
• Complete and submit UNIversity Scholarship Application for Undergraduate Students (USA) at www.uni.edu/finaid/
• Deadline: December 15, 2011
• Qualifications:
– Must rank in the top 10 percent of high school graduating class and have a composite ACT score of 29 or above or SAT-CR&M of 1280 or above or
– RAI of 335 or above
• Selection based on campus interview
• Community college GPA of 3.5 or above
• Must have graduated from high school prior to 2012
• Member of or will be inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at the community college
• Complete PTK Scholarship section on UNIversity Scholarship Application www.uni.edu/finaid/ or a paper application from the UNI Office of Admissions or the community college PTK adviser.
• Awarded to students named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Iowa Academic Team www.ptk.org/schol/allstate/
Other scholarships available by majors and departments
• More than 550 scholarships available for UNI students
• Scholarship process is competitive.
$200 to $6,000 • Check the online UNI Scholarship Directory at www.uni.edu/finaid/ for specific criteria.
• Must complete the online UNIversity Scholarship Application www.uni.edu/finaid/
• Deadline for most scholarships is February 15, 2012 14
*Not awarded in combination with Presidential Scholar Award
** Athletes may not be eligible for award according to NCAA requirements (Bylaw 15.5.3.2.2.1)
***Not awarded in combination with Phi Theta Kappa Award
† Due to limited funding you may not receive any combination of the following awards: Iowa Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), IMAGES, or the Tuition Assistance Grant unifinancialaid n fin-aid@uni.edu
STATE SCHOLARSHIPS
Annual
Award
Eligibility Criteria
Scholarships listed below require a separate application. Please refer to website listed for further information.
Roy J. Carver Scholarship
• Renewable for one year with college GPA of 2.8 or above
• 20 awards
$5,200 • Must be U.S. Citizen
• Must have graduated from an accredited Iowa high school or resided in the state for at least five consecutive years
• Must have a 2.8 GPA from UNI or community college
• Will have earned 60 hours of credit beginning of fall semester
• Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA
• Selection criteria considers those who have “fallen between the cracks;” work hard and “have been faced with unusual or debilitating circumstances in their lives.”
• Complete an application required by the Roy J. Carver Foundation at www.carvertrust.org
Iowa Academic Decathlon Award
• Renewable for three additional years with a college GPA of 3.0 or above
All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship
• Available for one year only
$2,000 for top point scorers in each of
Varsity, Scholastic and
Honor categorie s
Up to in-state tuition and fees
• For specific information, visit http://ia-ad.org/
• High School GPA of 2.5 or above
• Demonstrate financial need as determined on the FAFSA
• Priority given to participants in the federal TRIO Programs, applicants who graduated from alternative high schools/programs or homeless youth
• Complete an application required by the Iowa College Student Aid Commission at www.iowacollegeaid.gov.
• Funds limited
The following require completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
FEDERAL GRANTS
Annual
Award
Up to $5,550
Eligibility Criteria † †
Pell Grant
• Awards prorated for less than full-time enrollment
• Renewable based on EFC of next year FAFSA
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) †
• Awards prorated for less than full-time enrollment
• Renewable based on EFC of next year FAFSA and availability of funding
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)
Grant Program
• Awards prorated for less than full-time enrollment
• Maximum aggregate limit of $16,000
• For more information see www.teachgrant.ed.gov
• Renewable with 3.25 GPA or above
$1,000
$4,000
• Must have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 5273 or less as determined on the FAFSA
• Must be U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Must be undergraduate working toward first bachelor’s degree
• Must have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 1000 or less as determined on the FAFSA
• Must be U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Funds limited on first-come, first-served basis
• Must be U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Complete FAFSA; however, not based on financial need
• Score above the 75th percentile on college admissions test (ACT or SAT) or maintain a GPA of
3.25 or above
• Must be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate
• Must be enrolled in class work necessary to begin a career in teaching in an identified high-need field
• Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (ATS) to teach in a low-income school and in a high need field, full time for four academic years within eight calendar years after completed or withdrawn from the academic program. (If service obligation is not met the grant funds convert to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan that must be repaid.)
STATE GRANTS
Annual
Award
$1,000
Eligibility Criteria
• Must have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 0 as determined on the FAFSA
• Must be an Iowa resident
Iowa Grant †
• Awards prorated for less than full-time enrollment
• In the event that available state funds are insufficient to pay the full amount of each approved grant, the Iowa College Student Aid
Commission has the authority to administratively reduce the award
• Renewable based on EFC of next year FAFSA and availability of funding
IMAGES †
• Available for four years for new graduate from an Iowa high school and two years for transfer student
• Awards prorated for less than full-time enrollment
All Iowa Opportunity Foster Care Grant
• Awards may be for up to full cost of attendance after other state, federal and college/institutional funding
INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS
Tuition Guarantee Program for Iowans
• Four year commitment of full tuition and fees provided through a combination of federal, state and institutional grants and scholarships
Tuition Guarantee Program for Multicultural Community College Iowans
• Two-year commitment of full tuition and fees provided through a combination of federal, state and institutional grants and scholarships
Tuition Assistance Grant †
• Awards prorated for less than full-time enrollment
• Renewable based on EFC on next year’s FAFSA
Up to $2,000
Up to full cost of attendance
• Demonstrated financial need as determined on the FAFSA
• Requires ethnic or racial status of African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino/Spanish, Alaskan
Native or American Indian, Asian Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
• Must be an Iowa resident
• Priority given to student participants in College Bound activities
• Funds limited on first-come, first-served basis
• Must complete the FAFSA
• Must have been in foster care; see eligibility criteria at the Iowa Student Aid Commission website at www.iowacollegeaid.gov
Annual
Award
Eligibility Criteria
Tuition and fees • Must be an Iowa resident
• New graduate from an Iowa high school
• Must have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined on the FAFSA of 1000 or less throughout four years for continued eligibility
Tuition and fees • Must be an Iowa resident
• Must have 30 transferable hours from an Iowa Community College
• Must have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined on the FAFSA of 5273 or less through two years for continued eligibility
• Requires ethnic or racial status of African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino/Spanish, Alaskan
Native or American Indian, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
$1,000 • Must have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 7000 or less as determined on the FAFSA
• Students admitted by March 1 will receive award for the following fall term
• Remaining allocation will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
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† Due to limited funding you may not receive any combination of the following awards: Iowa Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), IMAGES, or the Tuition Assistance Grant
† † Annual award and eligibility criteria subject to change pending federal regulations
105 Gilchrist n
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Back Row (left to right): Juanita Wright, assistant director; Elizabeth Minard, financial aid counselor; April Schmiesing, department secretary; Liz Hoium, graduate assistant; Evie Waack, financial aid counselor; Denise Parks, scholarship processing clerk; Andrea Krakfa, processing clerk; Tammi Dean, processing clerk. Front Row (left to right): Joyce Morrow, director; Jackie
McAndrew, graduate assistant; Renae Mulder, financial aid specialist; Heather Soesbe, associate director; Deb Bartels, assistant director; Jennifer Bell, financial aid counselor; Tim Bakula, associate director.
unifinancialaid n fin-aid@uni.edu
Service & Programs
2+2 Programs
Accounting 5-year Program
Carver Scholarship
Classification Changes
Community Service Learning
Consolidation
Consortium Agreements
Default Prevention
Dependency Questions
Federal Loan Issues
Financial Aid Academic Progress Review
Foundation Scholarships
Grade Level Changes
GRE Fee Waivers
Hometown/Off Campus Awards
Job Board
Jump Start Program
Live Like A Student Campaign
MAP-Works (Making Achievement Possible)
Multicultural Relations (In-state students)
Multicultural Relations (Out-of-state students)
National Student Exchange
NCAA Athletic Grant Compliance
Non-Degree Students
Office Communication & Customer Service
(reception/telephone/email)
Outreach Coordination
Private Loans
Publications
Residency Status Changes
Scholarship Directory
Scholarship Processing Training
Special Situations
State Scholarship/Grant Programs
Student Employment
Student Information System
Study Abroad Programs
Summer Orientation
TEACH Grant
UNIversity Scholarship Application
Veteran Assistance
Website
Jennifer Bell
Elizabeth Minard
Tim Bakula
Renae Mulder
Denise Parks
Renae Mulder
Jennifer Bell
Renae Mulder
Evie Waack
Heather Soesbe
Elizabeth Minard
Renae Mulder
Deb Bartels
Juanita Wright
Renae Mulder
Tim Bakula
Primary Contact
Elizabeth Minard
Deb Bartels
Renae Mulder
Deb Bartels
Evie Waack
Deb Bartels
Elizabeth Minard
Elizabeth Minard
Tim Bakula
Deb Bartels
Tim Bakula
Denise Parks
Deb Bartels
Denise Parks
Renae Mulder
Evie Waack
Juanita Wright
Tim Bakula
Jennifer Bell
Jennifer Bell
Juanita Wright
Elizabeth Minard
Juanita Wright
Deb Bartels
Jennifer Bell
Tim Bakula
Elizabeth Minard
Back-Up
Denise Parks
Elizabeth Minard
Tim Bakula
Elizabeth Minard
Tim Bakula
Deb Bartels
Juanita Wright
Elizabeth Minard
Jennifer Bell
Renae Mulder
Elizabeth Minard
April Schmiesing
Denise Parks
Tim Bakula
Jennifer Bell
Elizabeth Minard
Tim Bakula
Juanita Wright
Jennifer Bell
Tim Bakula
Denise Parks
Elizabeth Minard
Tim Bakula
Tim Bakula
Deb Bartels/Tim Bakula
Renae Mulder
Juanita Wright
Juanita Wright
Denise Parks
Tim Bakula
Juanita Wright
Tim Bakula
Joyce Morrow
Tim Bakula
Jennifer Bell/Elizabeth Minard
Elizabeth Minard
Denise Parks
Juanita Wright
Student Tech
105 Gilchrist n
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Fax: 319-273-6950 n www.uni.edu/finaid
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105 Gilchrist Hall
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614-0024
319-273-2700
Fax: 319-273-6950 www.uni.edu/finaid unifinancialaid n fin-aid@uni.edu