University of North Dakota Grand Forks |
Any time you drop a course or withdraw from the University, you may be jeopardizing your federally funded student financial aid, now or in the future. You must successfully complete at least two-thirds of all courses in which you enroll. Dropping after the first day of class may not affect your academic standing, but it may affect your ability to receive financial aid. Please review this policy and others pertaining to your financial aid in the Code of Student Life in the appendix section titled “A Summary of the Standards of Satisfactory Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility,” or contact the Financial Aid Office.
Financial aid is available to
students who, without such help, would be unable to attend the University of
North Dakota.
The primary responsibility for financing
a college education rests with the student and family. UND financial aid is
viewed as a supplement to family support.
Most student aid is awarded on the
basis of need. ‘‘Need’’ is the difference between cost of education (tuition,
fees, room, board, books, supplies and related educational expenses) and the
Expected Family Contribution, which is the amount the student and family is
expected to contribute, as determined by a standard formula. In determining
family contribution, four major sources are considered: (1) family income, (2)
family assets, (3) student’s income, and (4) student’s assets.
If cost exceeds the family
contribution, need will exist; and every effort will be made to provide
adequate financial aid. To offer maximum assistance, awards often are made in
the form of a financial aid ‘‘package’’ combining two or more different types
of aid (loans, scholarships, grants, or employment).
The Financial Aid Office final
determination regarding the type(s) and amount of aid awarded is based upon an
evaluation of the applicant’s eligibility for a particular type of aid and upon
the availability of funds under the various aid programs.
Types of Aid. Four different
types of financial aid are offered: (1) employment, (2) loans, (3) scholarships,
and (4) grants. Employment enables recipients to work and earn money. Loans are
borrowed money which must be repaid with interest. Scholarships are gifts
awarded on the basis of academic performance and potential. Grants are outright
gifts of money which do not have to be repaid. Most financial aid recipients
may expect to receive more than one of these types of aid.
Student Employment: Student
employment provides financial assistance and reduces students’ loan
indebtedness. There are several student employment programs which complement
the students’ learning and give the University the opportunity to utilize
student skills.
Federal Work-Study is a form of
federal aid based on financial need, and is awarded to students as part of
their total aid package. A FWS award indicates a student’s eligibility to seek
available FWS jobs. Wages are paid primarily from federal funds allocated to
the University.
Wages for institutional employment
are paid from funds allocated to individual University departments. Financial
need is not a requirement.
All students who work through FWS
and/or institutional employment will be hired at least at the federal minimum
wage rate. Wage rates vary, depending upon the skills required and job
responsibilities.
The grievance procedure for student
employees is described in the Code of Student Life.
Job Location and Development (JLD) is a cooperative effort with Job Service North Dakota to secure part-time work for students with area businesses. Although financial need is not a requirement, jobs secured through JLD can be part of a financial aid package.
Veterans Work-Study is a program for
veterans attending school full-time and receiving VA benefits. Veterans can work
up to 250 hours a semester and be paid at the minimum wage. Eligibility is
determined by the Veteran Services office on campus.
Information
concerning Head Resident, Resident Assistant, Cooperative Education Program,
and/or departmental internships is available by contacting individual
departments responsible for selection.
Loans. Student loan funds can
be categorized into two classifications: long and short term loans. Long term
loans are generally low interest loans administered by the federal Department
of Education. Interest rates, eligibility, repayment terms, deferment, and
cancellation provisions vary with the specific loan program. Some of the
federal loan programs in which the University of North Dakota participates are:
Perkins Loan, Stafford Loan, PLUS, Nursing Student Loan, Primary Care Loan. The
Minnesota Student Educational Loan Fund (SELF), Canadian Higher Education Loan
Program (CanHELP) and commercial educational loans are also available at UND.
Many of the commercial education loan programs are available to students who
are not degree-seeking or are enrolled less than half-time. A more complete
listing of private loans is available at the Financial Aid Office.
Federal requirements insist all
first time borrowers at UND must attend an Entrance Loan Counseling session
prior to receiving loan funds. Exit Loan Counseling is also required at the
time a student graduates or drops below half-time enrollment at the University.
These requirements can be completed on the internet at http://www.und.edu/
dept/finaid.
The short-term emergency educational
loan program derives its funds from different sources provided primarily by
private donations. Short-term loans are to be paid back within 60 days or the
end of the semester, whichever comes first. Students are limited to one
short-term loan at a time. The availability of these loans may be restricted
based on the amount of funds remaining.
Scholarships. The scholarship
program at the University of North Dakota is one of the best at public institutions
of its size. Scholarships are supported by gifts from UND alumni and friends.
Because high educational quality
comes less expensively at UND than at most other academic institutions,
scholarships can significantly help students in their financial preparation for
college.
Past academic excellence and the
expectation of continued achievement determine the recipients of more than 1850
undergraduate scholarships totaling over $1,215,500 per year. These vary in
amounts up to $2,500 per academic year, although most are $250.
Each of the awards is based upon a
number of variable factors stipulated by the donors. UND awards scholarships to
the most worthy, promising applicants who meet the qualifications of the
particular scholarship. Most of the undergraduate scholarships are awarded on
the basis of past academic performance.
Scholarships to entering freshmen
are usually limited to students who rank in the upper ten percent of their
graduating class and who have ACT scores commensurate with this rank.
Graduating class rank is normally based on seven semesters of high school work.
Transfer students and returning UND undergraduate students receiving 4.0 (straight A) averages are
awarded scholarships first, and the rest of the scholarships are awarded to
students with the next lower grade point average until all of the money is
exhausted.
UND awards a maximum of $2,500 in
scholarship assistance per recipient each year from all University funds
including academic departments, the Student Financial Aid Office, and the UND
Foundation.
New students may be considered for
all undergraduate scholarships by completing the Honor Scholarship Application
form which may be requested by contacting the Office of Enrollment Services.
Current students should complete the Returning Student Scholarship Application
form which may be requested by contacting the Student Financial Aid Office.
Scholarship applications are also available on the internet at:
http://www.und.edu/dept/finaid.
Only one application is required to
apply for an academic scholarship. Students are matched with scholarships on
the basis of previous academic records and information provided on the
scholarship application.
Cultural Diversity Tuition
Waivers. UND awards several tuition waivers to broaden the cultural
diversity on campus. Cultural diversity for this waiver is defined as
individuals who come from historically under-represented groups (African
American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic American, and the
economically disadvantaged). For more information or an application, contact
the Student Financial Aid Office.
Grants. The largest of the
grant programs, the Federal Pell Grant entitlement program, provides grants to
those students who meet the eligibility and need criteria established by
Federal regulations. For the 2001-2002 school year, grants range from $400 to
$3,750. The exact amount of a Pell Grant depends upon the student’s need and
the money appropriated by Congress to fund the program in any given year.
Students can receive this grant for the period required for completion of the
first undergraduate baccalaureate degree.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Grants (SEOG) are available to undergraduate students who qualify for the Pell
Grant and meet the priority deadline. Eligible students enrolled at least
half-time may receive grants up to $600 per year.
The North Dakota Student Financial
Assistance Program provides non-repayable grants to North Dakota residents to
aid undergraduate students in need of financial assistance. The Free
Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as the application for the
State Grant Program. To ensure that your FAFSA will be received by the State
Grant Program and be considered as an application for the Program, you must
list at least one eligible North Dakota college code on the FAFSA. The deadline
for priority consideration is April 15. For 2001-2002 students who were awarded
a Student Financial Assistance Grant received $600 for the academic year.
Additional information may be obtained from the Student Financial Assistance
Program, North Dakota University System, 600 E. Boulevard, Bismarck, ND 58505.
Other Sources of Aid. The
United States Army and U.S. Air Force provide scholarships to students pursuing
studies in the Army ROTC program. Four year scholarships are offered on a
competitive basis to outstanding students entering college for the first time.
ROTC also offers two and three year scholarships to students who have
successfully completed one or two years of college and have been selected as
the most qualified applicants for the available awards. Enrollment in ROTC is
not a prerequisite to applying for a two or three year scholarship. For
information, contact the Military Science Department.
American Indian students should
contact their local tribal agency concerning their eligibility for BIA/Tribal
Scholarship funds. The awarding of BIA/Tribal Scholarships will be dependent
upon the availability of funds.
Any active member of the North
Dakota National Guard presently serving in either the Army Guard or the Air
Guard may receive a partial tuition reimbursement. Loan repayment assistance is
also available. For information on eligibility requirements, contact your local
National Guard unit or the Office of the Adjutant General, PO Box 551,
Bismarck, ND 58502-5511 or (701) 224-5110.
Veterans may be able to receive
special educational assistance. Benefits have also been extended to children,
wives and widows of deceased or permanently and totally disabled veterans. The
Veteran Services officer on campus can assist in any VA related questions or
problems. Applications and more information can also be obtained from any
Veterans Administration Regional Office.
Students with a physical limitation
or health problem may be entitled to certain benefits such as tuition, fees and
textbooks reimbursement. Interested
students should communicate with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation at
the nearest district or regional office.
There are many outside agencies and
sources which offer financial assistance to students. They are so numerous it
is impossible to list them all. However, most libraries have available various
types of resource materials in order to review the various sources of aid.
Financial Aid Procedures and
Award Policies. April 15 is the priority deadline at the University of
North Dakota. To receive top consideration for all programs, students are
advised to complete the FAFSA by mid-March as it takes approximately one month
for processing. Students must submit the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA each year.
The Student Financial Aid Office awards aid to the neediest
students who have a complete file by April 15. After that date, students’ files
are considered by date of FAFSA processing until all funds are awarded. Late
applicants, as well as those who incorrectly fill out their application
materials, may experience a considerable delay in receiving notification of
their eligibility and subsequent delivery of any remaining financial aid funds.
All students whose files are
complete will be notified during the early summer regarding the action taken on
their application. Recipients of financial aid must accept or reject the aid
within 30 days after receiving notice of the award.
Verification. The Department
of Education or UND may ask students to prove the information they provided on
their applications for financial aid is correct. If students are selected, they
may be asked to verify such information as income, federal income tax paid,
household size, number in college, status as a dependent or independent
student, and citizenship. As part of this process, students must provide the
Student Financial Aid Office with their and/or their parents’ Federal Income
Tax Return and in some cases, statements from Social Security Administration,
Veterans Administration or other agencies to verify benefits the student and/or
the student’s family has received. If information on any of these documents
conflicts with the information reported on the student’s application, they may
be required to provide additional information. Failure to provide proof may
result in the cancellation of aid from all of the Title IV programs and may
also result in the cancellation of aid from other sources.
Federal financial aid received
because a student reported incorrect information will have to be repaid. Any
person who intentionally makes false statements or misrepresentations on a
Federal financial aid application is violating the law and is subject to a fine
or imprisonment or both, under provisions of the U.S. Criminal Code.
Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility. To be eligible to receive financial aid, students must meet the following minimum standards as established by the University. 1) Academic standards: students classified as juniors or seniors, and students who have attended UND for two or more academic years (4 semesters or more) must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00. All other undergraduate students who meet the University’s minimum academic standards as defined in the UND Academic Catalog meet this standard. All students must be eligible to re-enroll in the next term in order to meet this standard. (2) Rate of progress standards — a) students must complete their program of study within the maximum number of attempted credit hours: undergraduate 187, graduate 135, medical 218 and law 135; and b) students must successfully complete 2/3 (66.6%) of the cumulative credit hours attempted each year. A more detailed Summary of the Standards of Satisfactory Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility may be obtained from the Student Financial Aid Office.
Repayment of Financial Aid.
Financial aid funds can be used only for educational expenses. Therefore,
repayment may have to be made if a student officially or unofficially withdraws
from the University. If withdrawal is before first day of classes, or if the
student fails to pay tuition, all cash disbursements are overpayments and must
be repaid in full. If withdrawal is on or after the first day of classes, the
University will determine the amount of “unearned aid” to be repaid according
to a federal formula. To officially withdraw, a student must complete a
withdrawal form at the Registrar’s Office, 201 Twamley Hall. If a student does
not officially withdraw, the unofficial withdrawal date will be the student’s
last documented date of attendance or the midpoint of the semester, whichever
is later.
Access to Records. In
compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as
amended, the University of North Dakota has developed policy guidelines for
access to the education record with respect to the rights of eligible students
and parents of dependent eligible students. All information contained in University
records is considered confidential, except for directory information, which may
be released publicly in printed, electronic, or other form. Directory
information is defined in the Code of Student Life in “Section 8-2: Student
Records/Directory Information.” Students may restrict the release of directory
information no later than the tenth class day of the semester, in person, at
the Registrar’s Office, Room 203, Twamley Hall.