Policies & Procedures Manual

423

Policy No: 805

Policy Contact: Vice President for Student Services

Policy Title: FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

Financial Aid Application Requirements

1. New and transfer students must complete an Application for Admission to East Central Community College. Transfer students must submit all previous college transcripts as required by the Admissions policy. 2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). a. Complete the FAFSA by choosing one of three filing methods: Method 1: Apply online at www.fafsa.gov (recommended method) with FSA ID (student and parent – create FSA ID if not already done prior to beginning the FAFSA preferred) Method 2: Download and print a PDF FAFSA to complete and mail at www.fafsa.gov (Select FAFSA Filing Options.) Method 3: Request a paper FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 to complete and mail. b. List the East Central Community College Code in the “Colleges to Receive Information” section of the FAFSA (School Selection Section online or Step 6 PDF or paper FAFSA) Federal school code – 002404 EC Address -- PO Box 129, Decatur, MS c. After the submitted FAFSA has been processed, the SAR (Student Aid Report) will be sent by email or regular mail (Note: SAR will be sent by email only if an email address was provided on the FAFSA). FAFSA processing time will vary depending upon the filing method: 3 – 5 days for online filers signing with FSA ID or up to 3 – 4 weeks for online filers who mailed a signature page and for filers who mailed the paper or PDF FAFSA. d. Review the SAR carefully to make sure it is correct and complete. The SAR will contain comments from the processors about the student’s eligibility and will let students know if additional information is needed. The college may also be required to request additional information such as the U.S. Income Tax Return Transcript and other documents or forms to complete verification or to review discrepancies on the SAR. 3. To apply for student loans, students must contact the financial aid office for an application or must download a loan application at www.eccc.edu/financial-aid, select Loan Application and complete the online steps listed for the loan process. To apply for work study, students must indicate on the FAFSA that they are interested in applying. Additional forms and applications will be required for these programs. 4. The priority deadline for applying for financial aid at East Central Community College is April 1 (for the upcoming fall semester). The processed date of the FAFSA (as indicated on the Student Aid Report) must be on or before April 1 to receive full consideration for financial aid. Additional applications will be accepted and are encouraged after April 1; however, no assurance can be given that funds will be available in all programs. Aid is awarded on a first-come, first served basis. 5. All students must reapply for financial aid each academic year. Note: Mississippi students may apply for state-funded programs which include MTAG, MESG, HELP, and other programs described at the MOSFA (Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid) website. An