Western Carolina University
Program Assessment Plan
Office of Financial Aid
Assessment Plan for 2006- 2011
Primary Contact Name/Info:
Nancy B. Dillard, Director
227-3188
Program Mission Statement:
The mission of the Office of Financial Aid is to facilitate the educational experience of students by eliminating the
barrier of access due to financial reasons. The Office of Financial Aid strives to provide exemplary service to
students while exercising responsible stewardship of federal, state, and institutional funds.
The Office of Financial Aid will provide all eligible students with the most attractive financial aid package possible
considering the student's eligibility, expected family contribution, and all applicable regulations for the awarding and
disbursement of financial aid.
Statement on Alignment of Program Mission w/ University and/or Division Mission:
By removing financial obstacles, the Financial Aid Office allows students to focus on educational pursuits and the
freedom to become more engaged in learning.
Program Goals/Objectives:
- Provide students with current and accurate information on the types and amount of aid available
- Assist students in completing and understanding the financial aid process
- Disseminate accurate and timely information about the financial aid process
- Promote informed decision-making by students and their parents about educational financing
Western Carolina University
Program Assessment Plan
Office of Financial Aid
Assessment Plan for 2006- 2011
Intended Outcome
Students will file all financial
aid paperwork by the
published deadlines.
Curricular and/or CoCurricular Experiences
Method(s) of
Assessment
A larger percentage of current
students will have the FAFSA filed
by the priority filing deadline of
March 31st
The Director will chart the number
of retuning students each year that
meet the priority filing deadline for
each academic year
Results of Assessment
for 0607 1670
continuing students filed
the FAFSA by March
31st
for 0708 2497 filed the
FAFSA by March 31st
-
Can not compare until spring 2008
-0607 98% of needy
freshmen and 96% of all
needy undergraduates got
gift aid. Average gift
package was $4702 for
freshmen and $4383 for all
undergraduates
-
Can not compare until spring 2008
for 0607 1193
continuing got UNC
Need Based and 614
got NCTGR or SEOG
for 0607 1927 total
students got UNC and
969 total got NCTGR or
SEOG
-
-
-
Students will receive the
maximum amount of gift aid
available.
Student will learn the
importance of early filing for
financial aid
Students will receive a greater
percentage of gift aid, adjusted for
cost increases
A larger percentage of students
will receive grant funding by the
UNC system
The Director will monitor the
amount of aid available and
awarded and get unaccepted gift
aid rewarded to students prior to
the start of the academic year.
The Director will chart the number
of continuing students who receive
state funding for each academic
year
Implementation Plan
-
-
-
-
Provide and advertise
opportunities for
students to get help
with the FA process
Communicate with
students who have not
started the FA process
and encourage to do so
cancel aid packages for
students who withdraw
their admission
application on a weekly
basis to make those
funds available to other
students
repackage students
according to completion
date to add unused gift
aid
Provide and advertise
opportunities for
students to get help
with the FA process
Communicate with
students who have not
started the FA process
and encourage to do so
Provide examples of
how aid packages
change for late filers
Western Carolina University
Program Assessment Plan
Office of Financial Aid
Assessment Plan for 2006- 2011
Students will be better able to
fully engage in their academic
learning
A larger percentage of students
will have their financial aid in place
prior to the payment deadline and
will not have to be burdened with
administrative activities when they
report to school
The Director will monitor reports
from the Student Accounts Office
to show the number of students
who are dropped for non-payment
for each semester payment
deadline.
Can not begin until Fall 2007
- Get statistics from Student
Accounts office giving the number
of continuing students whose class
schedules are cancelled for nonpayment