Questions & Answers
Click on the question to see the answer.
What forms are needed to apply for Financial Aid?
For federal student aid (Pell grant, SEOG, Work-Study) and State Aid, one must complete
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. Forms and procedures are
available at the Office of Financial Aid. You may complete the FAFSA on-line by visiting
the following web site www.fafsa.ed.gov.
When do I apply for financial aid?
The FAFSA should be filed as soon after January 1 preceding the academic year of enrollment.
For example: If you are planning on attending CVCC for the 2005-2006 academic year, you
should apply as soon after January 1, 2005 as possible. The CVCC priority deadline for
applying for financial aid is March 15, 2005.
If I need help completing the FAFSA form what do I do?
You may make an appointment with a financial aid advisor by calling 1-434-832-7814. Make
sure you bring all the necessary forms with you. If you're not sure what forms to bring ask
the Financial Aid Office. You will be expected to complete the general information sections
on the form. We will be glad to assist you will the income reporting sections.
Will the Financial Aid Office submit my FAFSA application electronically for me?
Yes. We will be glad to submit your FAFSA application for you electronically. Your are
encouraged to accurately complete the FAFSA prior to making an appointment for electronic
submission. However, if you are not sure how to fill out a particular question we will
assist you in correctly completing the form. We also ask that you submit signed copies of
your and your parent's (if applicable) federal tax returns. For more information concerning
this service please call our office at 1-434-832-7814 or toll-free at 1-800-562-3060.
What other sources of aid are available?
There are many local, state and national organizations which grant scholarship funds.
Financial Aid has a database of outside sources now available for student use on this web
site. Visit our Scholarship Search page on our web site: www.cvcc.vccs.edu/Financial Aid/Searches.asp.
Who has access to the information on the forms filed as part of the financial aid application?
Only the financial aid office staff at CVCC has access to this confidential information.
Will my financial aid award be reviewed while I am at CVCC?
Each year you will be asked to re-apply for aid by completing the current FAFSA form so
that changes in your family's financial situation and changes in CVCC's fees can be
considered.
How do I apply for a Pell grant?
When you complete a FAFSA, you are automatically considered for a Pell grant.
What do I do with the Student Aid Report (SAR) that I received in the mail?
If you listed CVCC on your FAFSA you will not need to submit your SAR to our office.
Keep the SAR for your records. However, if you did not list CVCC on your application
you must submit your SAR to our office.
If my parents are separated or divorced, do they both have to contribute to my education?
The custodial parent and current spouse, if any, must complete the FAFSA. The
non-custodial parent is not required to report information for federal student aid
purposes.
How do I become an independent student for federal aid purposes?
If you meet one of the following: are 24 years old, are a veteran of the U.S. Armed
Forces, are married, are a ward of the court, have no living parents and have no
legal guardian, or have a legal dependent who gets more than half of their support
from you. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has more details about
these categories.
What if I have a credit balance on my student account?
If you have a credit balance in your account (after tuition and, if applicable,
textbook charges have been paid) you will be mailed a check during the fifth week
of the semester.
How do I obtain a work-study job?
You must first complete a FAFSA form and a CVCC Federal Work-Study Application.
Once all current positions are filled we will start a waiting list. Students often
drop or change jobs during the year, and opportunities may arise.
When and how do I get paid for my work-study job?
You will be paid twice a month for the hours that you work. It is your money to
spend as you see fit on your education related expenses. Work-Study students are
currently paid $7.00 an hour and work 15 to 20 hours a week.
What is the difference between the Accounting Office and the Office of Student Financial Aid?
These two offices are located in different places, and are separate from one
another administratively. The Office of Student Financial Aid Services awards
grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study. The Accounting Office sends bills
and collects payments for college charges not covered by aid. The Accounting
Office also prepares your financial aid balance information to be mailed in
the form of a check to you from Richmond.
What is CVCC's Title IV School Code?
Our Title IV School Code is 004988. Make sure to list our College on your
financial aid application. If not, you will need to submit your Student Aid
Report to our office once you receive it in the mail.
If I have corrections that need to be made to my Student Aid Report, can I bring the forms into the Financial Aid Office for electronic submission?
Yes, Make all the necessary corrections and make sure you have the required
signatures on Part 2 of your SAR. Drop off your SAR along with copies of your
and your parents (if applicable) federal tax returns and we will submit the
corrections electronically. We normally receive the corrections back in about
a week.
Will I have to pay back any financial aid money if I drop out or withdraw from school?
If you receive federal financial aid and drop out or withdraw from school
during the first 60% of the semester you may be required to repay a percentage
of the aid that you received. You will be notified by mail if you owe a
repayment of federal funds back to the U.S. Department of Education.
If my or my family’s current year income will be drastically lower than last year’s income what do I do?
Contact the Financial Aid Office and request a Reduced Income Statement Form.
Complete and submit the form to the Financial Aid Office for consideration.
Often projected year income can be considered. These considerations are made
at the family’s request and on a case by case basis.
What is my Data Release Number (DRN)?
Your Data Release Number is a four-digit number assigned to your application
by the U.S. Department of Education and printed on the top right corner of
your Student Aid Report (SAR). Anyone wanting to receive or change your FAFSA
information must have your DRN in order to do so. Do not give out your DRN to
anyone unless you have agreed to give him or her access to your FAFSA information.
What is a PIN?
Formerly known as the Electronic Access Code (EAC), a PIN is the code that
you need to: Sign your FAFSA electronically; Retrieve your Renewal FAFSA
information over the Internet; File your Renewal FAFSA using the FAFSA on the
Web site; Access the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) web site and
view information about other federal student aid you may have received. Your
PIN is similar to the PIN you use to access your bank account. To protect the
privacy of the information you are submitting, you must keep your PIN secret.
If you need a PIN, have lost or forgotten your PIN, or if you think someone
else knows your PIN, you can request a new one at www.pin.ed.gov/.
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