• Apply for Financial Aid ^[1]
• Eligibility ^[2]
• Pell Guideline Orientation ^[3]
• Award Letters ^[4]
• Cost of Attendance ^[5]
• Disbursement of Funds ^[6]
• Evaluation Schedule ^[7]
• Attendance Standards ^[8]
• Progress Standards ^[9]

Introduction

Ogden-Weber Tech College is a campus of the Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT). All information identified below is consistent with the policies and procedures designated by UCAT. Since all Title IV eligible UCAT campuses are approved separately to provide financial assistance, some differences in delivery methods among campuses may occur.

Eligibility

Federal Title IV Financial Aid is available for students who demonstrate financial need. It is meant to assist students in completing an eligible certificate program. When receiving financial aid, students and their families are expected to assume some responsibility for meeting the cost of education. The expected contribution (EFC) is determined by income, assets, number of dependents and other relevant information.

In order to qualify for financial aid, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
2. Have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED).
3. Maintain satisfactory progress and attendance in the program as determined by the tech college.
4. Must be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible training program.
5. Cannot be in default on any federal loan or owe repayment on any grant at any school previously attended.
6. Male students between the ages of 18-26 are required to register with the Selective Service and must certify that this has been done or request it can be done at the time of application.

Types of Aid

The tech college participates in the Pell Grant program, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), State Grants and Federal Work Study. The tech college does not participate in the federal student loan program.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

To apply for federal student aid, first apply for a federal PIN number at U.S. Department of Education – PIN Web site (www.pin.ed.gov).

Once you have a pin, fill out the Free Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) at:  http://www.fafsa.gov/ ^[10].

In order for your information to come to this college, you must enter a school code. Our code is:  015526

CLICK HERE FOR THE FY13-14 STEPS FOR APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID ^[11]

What happens next?

You will receive an e-mail from the Department of Education informing you that your application has been processed. You will contact our office 10-14 days AFTER submission of your FAFSA. Please call our number:  801-627-8327. This is a message phone. Please leave your name and number stating you have received your FAFSA results. We will return your call within 12-24 hours.

Financial Aid Guideline Orientation – New Students

New students must attend a Financial Aid guideline orientation once assessment has been done. This orientation will discuss disbursement of funds, evaluation schedule, progress and attendance guidelines. After attending the session, the student will be able to enroll if all necessary paperwork is complete. Once enrolled, the Financial Aid Office will package the award and send an award letter to the student.

Award Letters for New Students

If you are eligible for financial aid, the Financial Aid Office will package your award and provide you with an award letter. This process could take up to 30-45 days after you activate your grant. You must activate the grant process by contacting the office in person. Four conditions must be met in order for you to activate your award:  (1) you must be eligible; (2) you must have met with the Financial Aid Office and started school; (3) all paperwork must be completed (4) you must have attended the Financial Aid orientation. Awards cannot be packaged prior to your start date because award packages must be date defined.

Award Letters for the New Award Year for Current Students

Every year, a new FAFSA application has to be submitted. Once continuing students have applied, the student will receive an appointment in late spring to process the new year application. Depending on the accuracy of the data submitted by the applicant on the FAFSA, additional paperwork may or may not be necessary. Once the appointment has taken place, the Financial Aid Office will send an award letter to the student. Certain conditions have to be met in order to receive an award letter:  1) the student must be eligible for federal funding; 2) the student must have an active schedule 3) all required paperwork must be submitted and confirmed by the Financial Aid Office. This process can take up to 60–90 days.

Cost of Attendance

The following is an estimated cost of attendance budget for students attending a 900-hour program. These costs are based on an average cost per program so actual costs may vary.

Disbursement of Funds

In keeping with federal grant regulations, the tech college pays federal grant funds in increments called payment periods.  Payment periods are defined by federal regulation and are determined by your program length, the academic year of your program, and for students receiving aid in more than one year, the remainder of the program. The tech college provides two installments in a payment period. The first disbursement is made at the beginning of the student’s program; the other installment is half way through the payment period. Once the student qualifies for a disbursement, all accrued tuition, fees and book charges (if charged to the account) will be paid. If there are funds remaining after these charges have been paid, the school will release the remaining funds in the form of a check. Because the disbursement will not be made prior to your school attendance, the tech college will provide vouchers.  In addition, if the student has adequate eligibility, a book voucher can also be provided.

Evaluation Periods

The Financial Aid Office evaluates student eligibility at the end of each month. An evaluation paper (Attachment A) is attached. After all direct costs of schooling are paid out of the disbursement; any residual funds will be mailed to the student 15-20 days after the evaluation period ends.

Return of Title IV Funds – Post withdrawals

All disbursements represent payment made in advance of training. Dollars are not earned until you have completed both the attended hours and competency hours attached to each payment period. If you withdraw before completing the hours you have been paid for, you are at risk for overpayment with the Department of Education or may owe money to the school. Funds owed the school that are not paid back will be invoiced directly to you. If the school owes the student for hours attended, a post-withdrawal will be sent to the Fiscal Office. After all outstanding charges are paid, the student could receive a residual disbursement.

Attendance Requirements

The tech college requires 80% attendance per month. Attendance is important, because school costs are assessed by the scheduled hour, and lower attendance means your cost for tuition will increase. Students who fall below this standard two months in a row will be suspended. A warning will be mailed to the student after the first low month of attendance.

Once you have been suspended, you can regain eligibility by attending the necessary 80% in the month you were suspended. A total of 40 scheduled hours are required for your attendance in your suspended month. At the beginning of the next month, you may visit with the Financial Aid Office. Your attendance will be checked, and if you meet the 80% guideline (and your progress is at or above guideline), you will be reinstated.

If you leave school on low attendance, when you return you will be required to pay for the month before being eligible again for Title IV funding.

Progress Requirements

The tech college progress standard requires that you be able to complete your program in no more than one and one-half times the length of the program. In order to accomplish this, your cumulative progress must be 67%. For example, at scheduled hour 675, you must have completed 450 hours or more of competency and attended hours. If you fail to have 450 hours progress and attendance by scheduled hour 675, you will no longer be eligible to receive the payment period disbursement.

If you lose eligibility, you will have your aid reinstated once your progress reaches 67% or higher. You are only eligible for payment in the payment period in which you regain eligibility—not for any prior payment periods.

The Financial Aid Office will monitor individual student progress after the second installment is released in your payment period. If you are below 67% at this time, a warning letter will be mailed to you. This will give you time in your payment period to work on your progress to bring it to the required 67%.

Program Changes

Students will be allowed up to two programs receiving Title IV funds. The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to decline the approval of any program change.

Warnings!

• All disbursements represent payments made in advance of training. Dollars are not earned until you have completed both the attended and competency hours attached to each payment period. If you withdraw before completing the hours you have been paid, you are at risk for overpayment with the Department of Education or may owe money to the tech college.

• Ogden-Weber Tech College defines a standard academic year as 900 hours*. One hundred percent of a students’ yearly aid award will be disbursed in 900 attended/competency hours. If you are a full-time student you may, depending on your progress and attendance rate, receive 100% of your aid before completing your intended enrollment for the year. It is important that you budget your aid spending so you can cover your costs once your aid package has been disbursed!

         *(The Cosmetology program has a 1200-hour academic year. Aid is disbursed in 1200 attended/competency hours.)

Federal Work Study Program

Students wishing to participate in the Federal Work Study (FWS) Program must first complete a FAFSA.  The results will determine his/her eligibility. Job information and applications are available in the Financial Aid Office. Rules governing FWS are the same as those for the Federal Pell Grant Program. Work study students are required to meet all progress and attendance standards to remain eligible for work.

Note:  FWS funds are awarded based on projections at the beginning of the award year. These awards are paid out until funds are exhausted. Your tentative award letter is a projected ESTIMATE of the amount the Financial Aid Office intends to pay for the award year. Distribution of funds is subject to availability and your award could change. You will be notified in writing if your award is decreased.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for students who have accrued a certain amount of attended hours in their current program. There are two types of scholarships offered at the tech college for adults:

• Need-based Scholarships: These are scholarships for students who have applied for financial aid through FAFSA must have 100 attended hours.
• Achievement-based Scholarships: These scholarships are for students who have achieved 80% progress and 80% attendance in their current program. These students do not have to apply for FAFSA but must have 250 attended hours.

If you would like more information on these scholarships, please click here ^[12].

Pell Evaluation Schedule 2013-2014*

(*Dates subject to change)