Money Matters and Financial Aid

Tuition and Fees
Scholarships
Financial Aid Basics
Consumer Information
Students Rights & Responsibilities
Administrative Responsibilities
Financial Aid Glossary
Financial Aid Calendar
FAQ

Tuition and Fees

How are tuition and fees set?

Tuition and fees are approved each year by the Board of Trustees. The level of tuition and fees in effect when you matriculate at ASL will remain fixed for you for the duration of your continuous attendance at ASL. A disruption in enrollment or a drop from full-time status will activate a new tuition and fees level equal to that of the current academic year.

When are tuition and fees due?

Tuition and fees for each semester are due no later than the first day of classes. Students who will not have their tuition and fees paid in full by the due date must have an approved payment arrangement on file in the Business Office no later than the first day of classes. Without an approved payment arrangement, your account will be considered to be “past due” and may result in cancellation of your registration or an interruption of services provided by ASL.

If my student loan is delayed, can I defer payment of my tuition and fees while I am waiting for my student loan to arrive?

You may be eligible to defer the payment of tuition charges based upon the amount of federally guaranteed student loans approved through the Financial Aid Office. In addition, you may be eligible to defer tuition pending the disbursement of private loan funds.

Deferment while awaiting a federal student loan:

You will be granted a deferment of the current semester’s tuition if you:

• have applied for a federal student loan for the semester that tuition is being charged.
• have submitted all the necessary documentation for qualifying for such federal student loan and have been “cleared” by the ASL Financial Aid Office for disbursement of funds;
• have filed a Request for Deferment of Payment with the Business Office by the due date for tuition payment; and
• will receive federal loans in an amount at least equal to the outstanding tuition and fees balance or have paid the difference between the amount of net loans being received and tuition and fee charges outstanding.

Deferment while awaiting a private student loan:

You will be granted a deferment of the current semester’s tuition if you:

• have applied for a private student loan for the semester that tuition is being charged.
• have submitted all the necessary documentation for qualifying for such private student loan and have been “cleared” by the ASL Financial Aid Office for disbursement of funds;
• have been approved by the lender for the private loan;
• have filed a Request for Deferment of Payment with the Business Office by the due date for tuition payment; and
• will receive private loans in an amount at least equal to the outstanding tuition and fees balance or have paid the difference between the amount of net loans being received and tuition and fee charges outstanding or are awaiting a federal loan that will cover such outstanding charges.

Can I request a payment plan to meet my tuition obligations?

You may request a payment plan for all or part of your tuition and fees. However, payment plans are approved only in extraordinary circumstances and your deferment is subject to the following conditions:

• You must submit a request for a payment plan to the Business Office by the first day of classes for the applicable semester.
• Approval will be considered based on information provided in your request. If you have defaulted on a previous payment plan, that will be a ground for denying your request. It is your responsibility to make sure that the Business Office receives the payment plan.
• If any scheduled payment under an approved plan is late, you will be considered to be in “Past Due” status. The result of “Past Due” status will include the immediate full payment of the student’s account balance or the student will be withdrawn from all course work.

What happens if I don’t pay my tuition and fees on time?

If you fail to pay or make arrangements to pay tuition and fees, you will be subject to the following action:

• Registration will not be processed.
• Transcript requests will not be processed.
• Grade reports will be withheld.
• Registered students may be removed from current class enrollment.
• Certification of graduated students to bar authorities will be withheld.
• Diplomas will be withheld.

If I withdraw from school, do I get a refund of tuition?

Students who voluntarily withdraw from the School are responsible for paying all assessed tuition and fees due for that semester. For purposes of determining the amount of tuition owed by a withdrawing student, the Law School will follow the method described by the federal Return of Title IV Funds regulations to calculate the percentage of the academic term completed. The amount of tuition owed by a student will be assessed based upon the percentage of time the student spent in academic attendance. For the purposes of this policy, the one-week Introduction to Law class is included in the definition of semester for first-year students. This policy will apply to all students regardless of whether the student received Title IV funds. Student fees are not refundable.

Up through the 60% point in each period of enrollment, a pro rata schedule will be used to determine the amount of tuition the student owes at the time of withdrawal. After the 60% point in the period of enrollment, a student owes 100% of the tuition for that semester.

Because the amount of tuition owed depends on the number of calendar days of the academic term completed by the withdrawing student, any student contemplating withdrawal should contact the Financial Aid Office for a calculation of tuition and fees owed as of the student’s intended withdrawal date.

Withdrawal forms are available from the Director of Student Services. Withdrawal is effective only upon completion of the Law School’s withdrawal form, approval of that form by the Dean or his designee, and payment of all tuition or fees owed to the Law School. Any tuition paid by the student prior to withdrawal that exceeds the amount for which the student is responsible will be refunded by the Law School to the student at the address provided to the Law School by the student within three weeks of the date of withdrawal. However, if the Law School is obligated under the terms of a student’s loan program to remit the excess tuition to a lender or other appropriate agency, the Law School shall do so.

If I withdraw, do I keep my Stafford loan (Return of Title IV Funds)?

The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 include new provisions governing the return of federal financial assistance for financial aid recipients who withdraw from school. In general, the new law assumes that a student must “earn” federal financial aid awards directly in proportion to the number of days of the term attended. In other words, a student earns financial assistance as they attend class. If a student withdraws from classes during a term, ASL must calculate the portion of the total scheduled financial assistance earned. If the student received (or ASL received on behalf of the student) more assistance than earned, the unearned excess funds must be returned to the Stafford Loan program.

The portion of the Stafford Loan the student was entitled to earn is calculated on a percentage basis by comparing the total number of calendar (not class) days in the semester to the number of days completed before official withdrawal. (Scheduled breaks of five consecutive days or longer are excluded from both the numerator and denominator, but weekend days are included.) Up through the 60% point in each payment period or period of enrollment, a pro rata schedule is used to determine the amount of Title IV funds the student has earned at the time of withdrawal. After the 60% point, a student has earned 100% of the Title IV funds.

ASL takes the responsibility on behalf of the student to return unearned federal aid funds that were applied directly to institutional charges. ASL will reinstate institutional charges no longer covered by financial assistance and the student becomes immediately responsible for the entire outstanding balance. The student is responsible for return of unearned federal funds that were disbursed directly to him or her, although funds due for repayment to the Stafford loan program permit the student to repay according to the terms of the promissory note.

ASL must return its share of unearned funds no later than 30 days after it determines that the student withdrew or stopped attending classes. Funds returned to lenders by ASL will be distributed first to the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, then to the Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan, then to any other Federal, State, private or institutional scholarships and loans; and, finally, any remaining balance to the student.

Loan recipients intending to withdraw must have an Exit Interview before a withdrawal form is processed and before leaving ASL. The Exit Interview must be completed before the withdrawal will be processed. Federal regulations require the Appalachian School of Law to conduct exit counseling for all former students who received federal financial aid while enrolled at ASL; this includes leave of absence, withdrawals and graduates. You may complete your exit counseling online Here.

Be aware that federal regulations treat a leave of absence exceeding 180 days in length as a withdrawal from law school. In the event of such a leave, the return of funds procedures are triggered.

Scholarships

How do I apply for a scholarship from ASL?

The Angela D. Dales merit scholarships are awarded automatically to first-year students based upon entering credentials. If you received a merit scholarship during your first year, you automatically will be considered for the continuation of a merit scholarship during your second and third years based on academic performance. You must meet the retention criteria applicable to your class in order to retain all or part of your scholarship.

For more information regarding the Angela D. Dales Merit Scholarship program and other available scholarships Click Here.

Financial Aid Basics

How much can I get in financial aid?

The amount that you can receive in financial aid from all sources is capped by ASL’s Cost of Attendance (“COA”). The COA is basically a budget, and includes tuition, fees, and an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, living expenses, loan fees (if applicable), and miscellaneous expenses. ASL reviews the COA figures for possible adjustment every year. The COA used to determine your aid eligibility may vary from your actual costs to attend law school. There are additional educational expenses not included in the COA that vary from student to student, depending upon personal circumstances.

In individual cases, your COA budget can be adjusted to reflect actual costs if the budget does not fairly reflect what you pay, such as uninsured medical expenses or childcare. If you would like to request an adjustment in your COA, please visit the Financial Aid Office. Documentation of expenses will be required. Note that federal regulations prohibit the Financial Aid Office from providing federal student loan funds to students for covering the following expenses:

• Automobile payments, repairs and insurance
• Bar review courses
• Consumer debt (i.e., credit card payments)
• Job interview costs
• Non-school related expenses

Please realize that the living allowance within our COA embraces a modest lifestyle. Students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements, and housing costs are not included in tuition. Affordable housing is available in Buchanan County. Single students should plan on at least one roommate to fall within the housing allowance. We strongly urge all students to stay within these budgetary guidelines to ensure that their future debt will not grow larger than necessary.

The links below show the Cost of Attendance for full-time students for the entire 2010-11 academic year. The first-year budget contains an allowance of purchase of a laptop computer (students are strongly encouraged, but not required, to have a computer) and for living expenses during the summer externship; these two elements are not included in the budgets for second- and third-year students. Remember that this budget is used for determining eligibility for student loans, as well as other purposes. This budget is an estimate of the average cost, and your actual cost of attendance may vary.

• Class of 2011 COA
• Class of 2012 COA
• Class of 2013 COA

What sources of financial aid are available?

A. Scholarship Grants

Grants are provided both from the Law School's institutional resources and from the generosity of private donors. Grants are awarded on the basis of merit and/or financial need. The maximum possible amount of any scholarship or combination of scholarships is the amount of tuition.

Certain entering students qualify for an Angela D. Dales merit scholarship based upon their entering credentials. ASL will endeavor to make these awards to all qualifying applicants each year, but reserves the right to limit their award if the number of awardees exceeds the availability of resources in a particular year. Notification of a merit scholarship will follow your letter of admission. Merit awards will remain effective as long the recipient student (1) is enrolled at ASL, (2) remains in good academic standing, and (3) for second- and third-year students, meets the retention criteria in effect at the time your merit scholarship was awarded. If a student does not meet the retention criteria, the merit award may be reduced or revoked.

A limited number of other scholarship grants are made possible by the generosity of other donors. Award criteria may be based upon the student’s place of residence, among other factors. Qualification information is available from the Financial Aid Office.

Scholarship grants are credited one-half each semester to the student's account through the Business Office.

More information about merit scholarships offered for 2010-11.

B. Educational Loans

1. Other Private or Supplemental Loans - In addition to federal loans, you may wish to use certain private supplemental loans. ASL currently participates in the private loan programs of several lenders to help address your remaining financial need.

   Private loans are made on the basis of your (and, in certain cases, the co-applicant’s) credit history. If you have poor credit history, it is quite possible that you will not qualify for any private loans. If you are considering a private loan, we strongly advise you to review a copy of your credit history. This review may alert you to a problem of which you are unaware and provide an opportunity to resolve such problem before submitting a loan application. To obtain a credit history, contact the following credit agencies. In some cases, there may be a nominal charge.

   Equifax: (800) 685-1111
   
   Trans Union: (800) 888-4213
   
   Experian (formerly TRW): (800) 682-7654

2. ASL Emergency Short-Term Advances - As a nonprofit institution, ASL is not an authorized lender and, as a matter of policy and given the availability of other forms of financial aid, does not issue institutional loans of any kind. However, in some circumstances, a student may obtain an emergency advance of funds. These advances are applied for in the Financial Aid Office and are subject to availability of funds. The Business Office normally disburses the funds by check within five to ten business days of receiving a complete and approved Emergency Advance Request.

   An Emergency Advance will only be issued to a student who, in the current semester:

   • is enrolled;
   • is awaiting approved financial aid loan funds; and
   • is approved by the Financial Aid Officer and the Dean.

   Emergency advances will be issued for a maximum of $1,000 and are repayable from federal or private student loans. In no event may the repayment of the advance exceed 30 days or continue past the end of a semester.

How do I apply for a student loan?

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application.

Be sure to answer all questions as instructed. In particular, be sure to use your name as it appears in the records of the Social Security Administration. ASL’s Title IV federal code number for the FAFSA is G35593. Returning (2L and 3L) students need only file a condensed Renewal FAFSA.

We recommend that you complete FAFSA on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov as soon as possible after January 1. If you apply on-line, it is very important that you execute the signature page immediately so that it will reach the processing office within ten days. On-line applicants also automatically receive a PIN number that enables you to make online corrections to your FAFSA data. You also will need your PIN number to file an on-line Renewal FAFSA in subsequent years.

FAFSA

Make sure to complete the FAFSA with your name as it appears on your social security card. If your name has been legally changed, you must obtain a new social security card and submit a copy to the Student Services Office.

Please note that all students must reapply for financial aid and complete the FAFSA each year so that awards are determined in response to actual present need.

If you are required to participate in application verification, provide your tax returns and other required documentation to the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible.

Complete the required Entrance Counseling. Federal regulations and American Bar Association standards require that each borrower receive entrance counseling about education financing, debt management, and related matters.

TIP: Resolve any defaults on previous student loans before applying for new loans. It is ASL’s policy to refuse financial aid to a student who is in default on any federal or university student loan or who owes a refund to the Department of Education, ASL or any other institution. Further, if you are found to be in default after being offered financial aid, ASL will withdraw all aid immediately while continuing to hold the student responsible for any charges that may have been incurred.

TIP: Keep all of your financial aid information in a personal file. Keep track of how much you have borrowed each year, and be aware of your monthly payments. It is important that you know your payments before you take out additional loans and, therefore, increase your monthly debt.

Appalachian School of Law Financial Aid Fraud Policy

Fraud

There are difficult situations where students purposefully misrepresent information in hopes of obtaining financial aid assistance. The Financial Aid Office is required to have a policy of referral when confronted with actual or suspected cases of fraud and abuse [668.53(a)(5), 668.14(g)]. Commonly falsified items include false identities, forgery of signatures of certifications, and false statements of income.

1. Policy for Fraud

Students who willfully submit fraudulent information and/or alter documentation to obtain financial aid funds will be investigated to the furthest extent possible. All cases of fraud and abuse will be reported to the proper authorities.

2. Procedures for Fraud

If an Aid Administrator determines intentional misrepresentation of facts, false statements, or alteration of documents which resulted or could result in the awarding or disbursement of funds for which the student is not eligible, the case shall be referred to the Director of Student Services for further review and possible disciplinary action. If the Director determines fraud exists, all information will be forwarded to the Appalachian School of Law legal counsel, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Education, and/or the local law enforcement agency. You may be fined up to $20,000, sent to prison, or both.

Processing of the application or disbursement of funds shall be suspended until the Director has determined that fraud is not evident.

Evidence of fraud will be reported to the Office of Inspector General.

Regional Office and Telephone Number: Long Beach, CA (562) 980-4141
Inspector General's Hotline: 1-800-MIS-USED http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/hotline.html
Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1510

What are the steps in processing a Stafford loan application and how long does it take to receive the funds?

The FAFSA is completed online. You can use the Application Status Check at the FAFSA website to check the status of your FAFSA at any point during the processing period. Your FAFSA is processed by the U.S. Department of Education, not by ASL. Processing of your FAFSA will take longer if you do not answer all of the questions, or make errors in your application, or do not submit your signature page.

A Student Aid Report (or “SAR”) is generated based upon your FAFSA.

Your SAR summarizes the data you reported on your FAFSA. Once you receive your SAR, please check the information carefully to make sure that it is accurate. If you listed ASL on your FAFSA, ASL receives an electronic version of the same information, called the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR). Make sure that you keep a copy of the SAR and note the DRN (Data Release Number) in the upper right hand corner of the first page. If the information is complete, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be printed next to the DRN. The EFC is based on the income and expense information you provided on the FAFSA, and is used to determine your financial aid award and your eligibility for a subsidized Stafford loan.

As part of the processing of FAFSA, the federal government seeks to “match” information that you provided on your FAFSA with federal income tax, citizenship, social security, student loan, and immigration records. If the government is unable to match your information with their records, or if their records indicate a prior default on a student loan or other circumstance that might preclude you from qualifying for a loan, you and ASL may be advised that we cannot process your loan further until the discrepancy is resolved or further information is provided.

Next, as another part of the FAFSA process, the government’s computers randomly select approximately 30% of the applications for “verification.” (ASL also can select applications for verification.) If your application is selected for verification, you will be asked to supply tax returns and other documentation to the Financial Aid Office. The purpose of verification is to double-check that the information you furnished on your FAFSA matches other information that you have submitted to the federal government. If the verification process reveals a discrepancy, processing of your loan will cease until the discrepancy can be resolved. We are not permitted to disburse your loan until the verification process has completed.

Loans typically are disbursed to ASL by the lenders twice each academic year, at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

What is the process for applying loan funds to my ASL account?

Within 48 hours after application of funds to their accounts, students will receive notification from the Business Office. Credit balances remaining from excess of loan funds over tuition, fees, and other charges will be issued to the student in the form of an overpayment check.

Overpayments will not be processed unless your account is paid in full. Under limited circumstances, loan proceeds also may be applied to unpaid charges incurred in prior years.

When can I get a check from ASL for my living expenses?

The Business Office is dedicated to processing overpayment and reimbursement checks in a timely manner. Due to the large volume of checks that the Business Office processes, certain procedures are followed to ensure that the processing is efficient and timely:

The disbursements of overpayment checks are governed by regulation. Under these regulations, checks for overpayments and excess funds for living expenses will be available to you as soon as possible after:

• Funds have been received by ASL;
• Your continuing eligibility has been confirmed by the Financial Aid Office;
• The Business Office has applied the loan funds to your account, and determined that there is an excess available for distribution to you;
• You have registered for classes; and
• A check has been prepared by the Business Office and signed by the ASL Dean and Treasurer.

The Business Office will put a note in your student mailboxes when an overpayment check is available. If you have met all of the financial aid deadlines, you ordinarily can expect a check by the end of the first week of classes. Please plan your finances accordingly.

How does my academic performance at ASL affect my student loans?

The federal regulations governing the student financial assistance program stipulate that in order to continue to be eligible for Title IV financial aid (including Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans), you must be making satisfactory progress towards a degree. This includes a statutory qualitative and quantitative measure of progress, including a maximum time frame in which you are expected to finish the program of study. A school must determine a student's qualitative progress at least once during the academic year. ASL students will be assessed at the end of each Spring for continued eligibility for the Fall semester. If the student has incurred an academic deficiency (probation or dismissal) of the semester just completed, the student will be sent a letter that their financial aid will be placed on hold/suspension until the student's academic record has been reviewed. Financial aid may only be reinstated when the student's regular status is granted by the Academic Standards Committee, confirmed by the Registrar and their financial aid file has been reviewed for eligibility.

Full-time students at ASL do not make satisfactory academic progress if they:

1. Fail to earn 20 credits during the previous year;
2. Fail to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0; or
3. Exceed a maximum time frame for earning the J.D. degree of 9 semesters.

Part-time students at ASL do not make satisfactory academic progress if they:

1. Fail to complete each course attempted with at least a “C” grade.
2. Exceed a maximum time frame for earning the J.D. degree of 10 semesters.

Incomplete courses will not be counted in the credit accumulation until a passing grade has been earned. Students who fail to meet the standard for credit accumulation, but are able to achieve a grade within the semester, may be able to regain eligibility for that term and the following academic period.

If you fail to meet the satisfactory progress standard, you may appeal to the Dean. The appeal will be evaluated for mitigating circumstances resulting from personal illness, injury, personal tragedy, etc., and your ability to improve your academic record.

Ordinarily, a successful petition for academic probation will suffice as a request for continued financial aid. A successful appeal would result in your being placed on financial aid probation with continued receipt of financial aid funds. If you fail to meet the standard at the end of the probationary period, then you will lose eligibility for aid. Only one probationary period will be granted.

Students who lose eligibility without an appeal or whose appeal is denied may regain eligibility for federal aid by leaving ASL for one year. They can request to have their academic record reviewed after a term in attendance to ascertain whether the course work taken will bring them up to the appropriate level.

How do I get a deferment on my undergraduate loans?

Enrolled students in good standing are generally eligible for deferment of payments on undergraduate student loans. Most lenders have a specific form that they would like you to complete to obtain a deferment. Please submit your completed form to the Financial Aid Office

What should I do if I have more questions?

If you have additional questions, please call 1-800-895-7411, or visit, or e-mail the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@asl.edu.

Consumer Information

Federal law also requires that ASL make available to currently enrolled students, prospective students, and employees certain information. In addition to the information on policies and procedures contained elsewhere in this Guide, please be aware of the following:

Campus Crime: ASL maintains records of the number (if any) of certain crimes committed on the ASL campus and files an annual report containing this information. This annual report includes information about ASL’s security policies and procedures, crime-prevention programs, and campus crime statistics. This report is distributed annually to all students and employees and also may be inspected in the Office of the Dean.

Drug-Free Workplace: It is the policy of ASL to provide a drug-free, healthful, safe, and secure work and educational environment. Employees and students are required and expected to report to their class or student activities in appropriate mental and physical condition to meet the requirements and expectations of their respective roles.

ASL prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of narcotics, drugs, other controlled substances, or alcohol at the workplace and in the educational setting. Unlawful for these purposes means in violation of federal/state/local regulations, policy, procedures, and rules, as well as legal statutes. Workplace means either on ASL premises or while conducting ASL business away from ASL premises. Educational setting includes both institutional premises and approved educational sites off campus.

In order to prevent the consequences of alcohol and drug abuse at the workplace and in the educational setting, ASL has implemented this policy to ensure a drug-free work and educational environment.

ASL recognizes that chemical dependency through use of controlled or uncontrolled substances, including alcohol, is a treatable illness. ASL supports and recommends employee and student rehabilitation and assistance programs and encourages employees and students to use such programs.

ASL also will implement drug-free awareness programs for employees and students. Such programs will annually ensure that employees and students are aware that:

• Alcohol and other drug abuse at the workplace and in the educational setting is dangerous because it leads to physical impairment, loss of judgment, safety violations and the risk of injury, poor health, and even death.
• Alcohol and other drug abuse can also significantly lower performance on the job and in the classroom, thus impacting on ASL and its mission as well as seriously affecting the student’s educational and career goals.
• Employees must report any personal conviction under a criminal drug statute for conduct at the workplace to their personnel officer within five days.
• It is a condition of employment and admission that all employees and students must abide by the policy on alcohol and other drug use as well as related procedures, statements, laws, and guidelines. Violation of any provision may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination or expulsion, and may have further legal consequences consistent with federal and state laws and regulations. In addition, management may require an employee or student to enter an employee/student assistance or drug rehabilitation program as a condition of employment or enrollment.
• Use of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), Student Assistance Programs (SAP), or drug/alcohol rehabilitation services is encouraged.

Licensing and Accreditation: ASL was granted provisional approval by the American Bar Association on February 19, 2001. ASL received full ABA approval in 2006. ASL also has been granted approval to confer the Juris Doctorate degree by the State Council on Higher Education for Virginia.

Student Right-to-Know Act: ASL is required to make available its graduation rates by July 1 of each year. The graduation rate for each year is available to any person upon request from the Dean’s Office. This information also is reported to the U.S. Department of Education by ASL through the annual National Center for Education Statistics graduation-rate survey.

Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act: ASL does not have an intercollegiate athletic program.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

In the Financial Aid Process

You have the right to:

1. Receive information regarding application procedures and programs
2. Know how your need was determined
3. Know how aid is awarded
4. Know how your aid will be disbursed
5. Know how satisfactory academic progress is measured
6. Know ASL’s refund and repayment policies
7. Confidentiality

You are responsible for:

1. Completing applications accurately
2. Reapplying annually
3. Providing correct information
4. Complying with follow-up requests
5. Reporting changes in your financial circumstances
6. Reporting the amount and source (s) of outside aid
7. Reporting address changes
8. Repaying your loans

Administrative Responsibility

The responsibility for the administration of financial aid functions is split between two offices because federal law imposes “checks and balances” or separation of functions requirements.

The Financial Aid Office	The Business Office
Provides information and applications for loans and scholarships	Maintains information on student accounts (including both charges and credits)
Determines eligibility for financial aid programs	Prepares student account invoices
Certifies loan applications to lenders	Receives tuition and fee payments and student loan proceeds and applies them to student accounts
Processes deferments for undergraduate loans	Prepares checks for living expenses and loan overpayments
Awards scholarships to students	Processes refunds and return of funds for students who have withdrawn
Establishes the Cost of Attendance and considers requests for adjustment of COA	Approves tuition payment plans
Assembles financial aid packages for students
Monitors students’ “satisfactory academic progress”
Maintains files on each student’s financial aid activities
Provides entrance and exit counseling

Currently, the Financial Aid Office is housed organizationally within the Student Services Office. A Financial Aid Officer and Financial Aid Assistant perform the day-to-day functions of the office, under the supervision of the Student Services Director. The Student Services Office reports to the Dean. The Business Office is staffed by a Business Assistant and a Business Clerk. The Business Office reports to the Chief Operating Office/Dean.

Title IV Loan Program Code of Conduct

Financial Aid Glossary

Please visit www.finaid.org for the glossary listings.

Financial Aid Calendar

Please visit Financial Aid Calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are tuition and fees set?
When are tuition and fees due?
Deferment while awaiting a federal student loan...
Deferment while awaiting a private student loan...
Can I request a payment plan to meet my tuition obligations?
What happens if I don’t pay my tuition and fees on time?
If I withdraw from school, do I get a refund of tuition?
If I withdraw, do I keep my Stafford loan (Return of Title IV Funds)?
How do I apply for a scholarship from ASL?
How much can I get in financial aid?
What sources of financial aid are available?
How do I apply for a student loan?
What are the steps in processing a Stafford loan application and how long does it take to receive the funds?
What is the process for applying loan funds to my ASL account?
When can I get a check from ASL for my living expenses?
How does my academic performance at ASL affect my student loans?
How do I get a deferment on my undergraduate loans?
What should I do if I have more questions?