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Consumer Information
STUDENT CONSUMER INFORMATION
Student consumer information is provided by the Department of Financial Aid and is the responsibility of the Team Leader of Customer Services to oversee. This position reports to the Assistant Director and Director. Publications are reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. Information may be provided to the media for publication.
Procedures and Forms Required to Apply for Financial Aid
All students wishing to receive federal or state funds must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students may be asked to submit documentation such as tax returns, birth certificates, and Social Security cards and other items needed to verify financial or dependency status. Students who do not wish to submit requested documentation will not receive a financial aid award.
Students are notified at the beginning of each year by email that it is time to reapply for financial aid.
Methods of Disseminating Consumer Information
The Office of Financial Aid disseminates information through various channels. There is a financial aid web page that contains the Student Guide to Financial Aid at UWG as well as various links and online forms. Each student who requests a packet receives the Guide. Financial Aid information is also included in various UWG publications (the Catalogs, Bulletin, the Scoop, etc.). The Department of Financial Aid also has various information pieces that are emailed to the student’s UWG email account. Per the handbook and with confirmation from Laura Hall with the Department of Education, the requirement for “one-on-one distribution” is met by using the university email system. The Department will use this as the primary means for contacting a student. New students are sent paper letters until they have registered for courses. The Department also utilizes the University of West Georgia’s portal page. Targeted and general announcements are posted on the portal page in addition to sending a student an email.
Student Eligibility Requirements
The Student Eligibility Requirements are listed in the Guide to Financial Aid at UWG.
They are as follows:
- Must be enrolled in or admitted to the University and be a high school graduate, or have a GED
- Undergraduates, certification graduates and provisional graduates must be enrolled at least 6 hours (some forms of financial aid allow for enrollment under 6 hours). Certification graduate students can receive FA for only those classes within their program
Graduate students enrolled at least 5 hours may qualify for loan programs - Must not be in default or owe a refund on any Title IV aid program from any source
- Cannot receive aid for audit courses
- Must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards
- Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. National or an eligible non-citizen. Documentation of status may be required
- Must have a completed financial aid file
- Must be in an eligible program of study
Criteria for Selecting Recipients and Determining Award Amounts
Students who have a completed file are considered for financial aid. A list is run of students who are ready to be awarded. Award amounts for Direct loans are determined by the student's grade level and remaining eligibility from need and budget limits. PELL EFC determines Pell eligibility. Other funds such as FSEOG, Perkins and FWSP are need based and amounts are set at a specific number each year.
Availability of Forms and Instructions
The FAFSA is available in paper form in the Department of Financial Aid, on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov , and provided by the processor as a renewal to students who have previously filed. A federal PIN is provided by the processor.
Rights and Responsibilities of Students for Financial Aid
Student responsibilities are as follows:
- Must complete all requested forms accurately
- Must use all financial aid received solely for expense related to attending UWG
- Must submit in a timely manner all additional documentation requested by the Department of Financial Aid
- Must meet all Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policies. Information about Satisfactory Progress may be found here: SAP
Student Rights are as follows:
- Have the right to know how financial need was determined
- Have the right to know how financial aid will be distributed
- Have the right to request an explanation of programs in the financial aid package
- Have the right to refuse any aid offered
- Have the right to request an explanation of UWG's refund policy
- Have the right to know what portion of financial aid must be repaid and what portion is a grant. If a loan has been received, have the right to know the interest rate and loan repayment options and procedures
- Have the right to examine the contents of aid records provided a written request is made to the Department of Financial Aid. Students may not review confidential records submitted by parents without the written consent of the parent whose information has been submitted.
- Have the right to appeal Financial Aid decisions regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- Other Things to Know
Cost of Attendance
Cost of attendance information is provided to the students through their assigned Banweb account. Adjustments may be made if extenuating circumstances exist. (See Chapter 7 for student budget information)
Refund Policy
Student are notified of Refund Policies in the Bulletin of Classes, the Catalog, the Scoop, the Guide to Financial Aid at UWG, the Financial Aid web page and an information sheet that is sent with award letters, loan letters and exit packets. Links from the student’s Banweb also provide this information.
Academic Programs Offers
Academic program information is available through the Admissions office as well as on the UWG Web Page and in the Registrar's office.
Student Retention and Completion Data
Student retention and completion data is determined and housed in the Institutional Advancement office of Research and Planning. The Department of Financial Aid annually reviews all records and determines the proper destruction date. Student files are maintained for 5 years after the last date of attendance per Board of Regent’s (BOR) policy. Department of Education (DOE) policy states 3 years but to be in compliance with BOR policy the director of Financial Aid will keep for 5 years.
Information for Students with Disabilities
Information for students with disabilities is available on the UWG Web page and is the responsibility of the Student Development Center.
Other Consumer information pieces are available:
Basic Financial Aid Information
Brochure
Email at finaid@westga.edu
Phone at 678-839-6421
Web http://www.westga.edu/financialAid/index.php
General Information about the school
Variety of Publications
Email at admiss@westga.edu
Phone at 678-839-4000
Web at http://www.westga.edu/index_about.php
http://www.westga.edu/irp/irpcharts/pdf/FB_FY2011_2012.pdf
Student Right-To-Know Act
Information on completion/graduation rates for general student body
http://www.westga.edu/irp/irpcharts/pdf/FB_FY2011_2012.pdf
http://www.westga.edu/~irp
Information on completion/graduation rates for student athletes
http://ope.ed.gov/athletics
Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Current Report:
EADA 2011-2012
View & Print from web at:
http://www.ed.gov/finaid/prof/resources/athletics/eada.html
http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/
Drug & Alcohol abuse prevention information
http://www.westga.edu/~stusrvc/adapt.htm
Contact Health Services (678) 839-6452
or Counseling and Career Development at
(678) 839-6428 for free, confidential help.
www.westga.edu/counseling
Clery (Campus Security) Act
http://www.westga.edu/police/index_13363.php
http://www.westga.edu/police
University Police – Administrative Office hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
24 hour emergency: 678-839-6000
Fax: 678-839-4981
Weather Hotline/school status: 678-839-6200
Email: police@westga.edu
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
View & Print from web at:
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html
Availability of employees for information dissemination
All campus offices are generally open year round except posted holidays
Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Information on Accreditation
Information on the accreditation is available through Institutional Research and Planning. This information is also available on the UWG Web page. UWG is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges (SAC).
A final copy of the SACS letter is kept in the Director’s office for submission on the Program Participation Agreement.