Step One: Application ProcessStudent completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

http://www.fafsa.ed.govPriority deadline is March 15

School receives an electronic copy of the student’s FAFSA information (the ISIR)

Step Two: VerificationStudents are selected for verification by:

U.S. Department of EducationNSU

NSU must verify that the information provided on the FAFSA is correctStudents may be required to submit:

Federal Tax Returns Verification Worksheet

Documents are scannedCorrections are made to the student’s FAFSA

Step Three: AwardingAid is awarded based on the student’s financial need (Cost of Attendance minus Family Contribution)Our office awards all federal and state aid based on eligibilityStudents are mailed award lettersScholarships may require separate applicationStudents must inform our office of any scholarships they are receiving that are not indicated on the award letter

Step Four: Award Acceptance/DisbursementStudents do NOT need to sign and return the award letter unless they are making changesFirst time student at NSU receiving a Ford or Perkins loan must:

Complete Loan Entrance CounselingSign a Master Promissory Note

Aid Disbursement begins after the end of the add/drop periodRefund process is administered by Student Accounts

1. Not applying early and/or on time 2. Parent/Student signature is missing from the FAFSA3. The FAFSA is completed before tax returns are filed4. Student fails to respond to requests for additional documents5. The wrong documents are submitted…W2 vs.

1040/1040A/1040EZ6. Student does not apply for scholarships7. Student does not check their NSU Email or Spartan Shield

account daily and does not review the Financial Aid website8. Student thinks that he or she is an independent student and

does not provide parental information9. Student does not list Norfolk State’s school code (003765) on

the FAFSA10. Student does not understand the Satisfactory Academic

Progress (SAP) Policy

1. Understanding the differences between Financial Aid and Student Accounts

2. Lack of correct address and phone number 3. Reading and understanding the Financial Aid

Award Letter4. Students do not understand the disbursement

and refund process5. Getting students to pre-register early6. Students make changes to the FAFSA after the

initial award process

7. Students’ not utilizing resources that are available (i.e. Scholarship Guide, FA Web pages)

8. Students’ not aware of their aggregate loan limits

9. Students’ failure to participate in Financial Aid events (i.e. Financial Aid Awareness Month)

10.Students’ misunderstanding of the Summer Financial Aid application process and eligibility requirements

www.studentloans.gov

Sign in with your PIN that you used to complete your FAFSA.

http://www.nsu.edu/financialaid/

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Remind students to apply earlyInform students to seek financial aid counseling prior to dropping courses and/or withdrawing from the UniversityRemove “I” grades quickly and report non-attendance in a timely manner. This will impact SAP.Assist students in locating scholarships.(www.nsu.edu/financialaid/scholarships)Refer students to the Financial Aid Office when they have concerns regarding the awarding of financial aid.Refer students to Student Accounts when they have concerns about charges, disbursements, and balances on their account.Remind students to check their NSU Email account and SpartanShield.Print student’s registration statement – This details financial information.

Financial Aid Counselor

Darius Blount Ext. 8502

Financial Aid Advisor

Malik A. Gladden Ext. 8128

DirectorsKevin Burns Director of Financial Aid

Ext. 8879Melissa J. Barnes Associate Director

Technical Systems Ext. 8131Janice M. Fields Assistant Director

Office Management Ext. 8410

For copies of this presentationVisit www.nsu.edu/financialaid

Thanks for your participation!