 Frequently
Asked Questions
WHO
SHOULD APPLY?
Everyone! The only way to determine your eligibility to receive
financial aid funds is to apply for it. File your FAFSA as soon
as possible after January 1 to receive priority processing.
If you filed a FAFSA for the last academic year, you can renew your
FAFSA online by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov
and clicking on “Fill out a Renewal FAFSA.”
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WHAT
IS FINANCIAL AID?
Financial aid is money provided to help bridge the gap between your
own resources and the amount needed to pay for the cost of attending
college. The primary responsibility for meeting the cost of a college
education rests with the student and family to the extent they are
able to pay. A formula established by the U.S. Congress takes into
account your family income and assets to determine this ability.
Grants, loans, scholarships, college work-study, and alternative
loans are the Types of Aid offered by DMACC.
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WHAT
HAPPENS AFTER I APPLY?
You have the responsibility to follow up on your aid application.
You should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor
when they have completed processing your application. You will also
receive letters from our office, which could request additional
information or documents. You should submit all requested documents
promptly. It is best to provide copies of all documents, as originals
may be lost or destroyed. You should check the progress of your
aid application on a regular basis. If you will not be attending
DMACC during the application year, please notify our office promptly.
We will complete
the review process when all requested documents are submitted, you
will be mailed an award letter indicating the aid you are eligible
to receive. Initial award letters are mailed out beginning in March
to applicants who applied early.
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WHY
DO I HAVE TO PROVIDE PARENT INFORMATION?
Parent information is used because the U.S. Congress has stated
that families have the primary responsibility of funding a college
education. Parent information is not necessary if you are independent.
Please see our Glossary of Financial Aid
Terms for further comparison of Dependent versus Independent.
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IS
MY FILE COMPLETE?
Have you turned everything in? You can check on the status of your
application by going to the DMACC User Login page or calling (515)
964-6282 or 1-800-362-2127 (option 1, then 3).
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WHAT
IS THE DMACC SCHOOL CODE?
The DMACC School Code is 004589.
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WHERE
DO I GET MORE ANSWERS TO MY FINANCIAL AID QUESTIONS?
Come to Building 1 on the Ankeny Campus or call (515) 964-6282 or
1-800-362-2127 (option 1, then 3). Your questions can be answered
here. If necessary, you will be referred to a financial aid advisor.
You may also email your questions to finaid@dmacc.edu (include a
subject on your email for proper routing).
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WHICH
APPLICATION DO I USE FOR SUMMER (MAY-AUGUST) TERM?
Our academic year cover FALL, SPRING, & SUMMER terms in that
order (Example: Fall of 2003 and Spring and Summer of 2004 make
up one academic year). Thus, per our example, you would use the
03/04 FAFSA.
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I'M
NOT SURE MY FAMILY WILL HAVE FINANCIAL NEED. SHOULD I COMPLETE THE
FAFSA?
Yes. Financial aid is intended both to remove financial barriers
for families who cannot afford the cost of an education beyond high
school and to fill in the gap for families who can afford only part
of the cost.
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MUST
I BE ACCEPTED FOR ADMISSION BEFORE I APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID?
No. You may apply for financial aid any time after January 1 for
the coming academic year. Before any money is disbursed, you must
be admitted to an eligible Program
of Study and registered for a stated number of credits.
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MUST
I BE ADMITTED BEFORE I RECEIVE AID?
Yes. In order for any money to be disbursed, you must be registered
for the stated number of credit hours and admitted to an eligible
Program of Study.
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I
HAVE ENROLLED AT LESS THAN FULL-TIME STATUS (12+ CREDITS). HOW DOES
THIS AFFECT MY FINANCIAL AID AWARD?
The amounts of your award could be adjusted based upon the credits
you are enrolled in. This table will help you determine your status
and how your budget and awards could be affected.
FULL TIME (12+ CREDITS) = 100%
THREE-QUARTER TIME (9 – 11 CREDITS) = 75%
HALF TIME (6 – 8 CREDITS) = 50%
LESS THAN HALF TIME (5- CREDITS) = 25%
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DO
I HAVE TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID EACH YEAR?
Yes. Your financial situation must be reassessed each year. However,
after the first year you apply for financial aid, you probably will
be sent a Renewal Application that will ask you to answer some questions
again and recheck the answers to others.
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I
WANT TO APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP ONLY. DO I HAVE TO FILL OUT THE
FAFSA?
No. Des Moines Area Community College Foundation has a separate
scholarship application process. You can access more information
by going to the Foundation
Scholarship Program website.
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I
KNOW I FILLED OUT A FAFSA AND SENT IT IN AT LEAST FOUR WEEKS AGO,
BUT I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A SAR. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Call the Federal Aid Information Center at 1-800-4FEDAID (1-800-433-3243).
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WHAT
IF MY PARENTS OR I HAVE HAD AN UNUSUAL DROP IN INCOME OR INCREASE
IN EXPENSES? DO I SUBMIT THAT INFORMATION TO YOUR OFFICE? WHEN DO
YOU NEED IT?
You do not need to do anything until after you receive your official
award notification. Your original award notification will reflect
the year's information from your FAFSA. You may then submit a Request
for Special Consideration to our office.
Parent and student
requests for re-evaluation based on unusual changes in financial
circumstances during the calendar year will be reviewed after the
initial award letter. If it is determined that your financial need
has increased, this increase could be funded with loans and possibly
an increased Pell Grant. Do not submit documentation of changes
in circumstances until after you receive your first official award
notification.
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CAN
I STILL FILE A FAFSA OR APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS IF I RECEIVE VETERAN
BENEFITS?
Absolutely! For further information on benefits for US veterans,
reservists, National Guard, dependents, and survivors, please visit
the DMACC Veteran Services
page or call Veteran Services at (515) 964-6278 or 1-800-362-2127
(option 6, extension 6278).
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WHERE
IS MY REFUND?
First you’ll need to determine if all of your documents have
been turned in. You can log on to the Student Web Info Systems through
the DMACC homepage to see if you are missing any documents needed
for financial aid. If everything has been completed, please check
our Refund Dates page for specific dates. If you still have questions
about when your refund will be sent to you, please call Student
Accounts at 1-800-362-2127, ext. 6446 or 515-964-6446.
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I
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY DMACC ONE CARD. WHO DO I CONTACT?
If your question deals with the card itself, call the Higher One
800 number on the back of the card. If your question deals with
the refunds, please contact Student Accounts at 1-800-362-2127,
ext. 6446 or 515-964-6446.
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If
I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY REFUND. WHO DO I CONTACT?
The Financial Aid Office is not allowed to give amounts over the
phone. If you want to know your refund amount, log in to the Student
Web Info Systems to find out. If you are wondering when you will
receive it, please contact Student Accounts at 1-800-362-2127, ext.
6446 or 515-964-6446.
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I
HAVE NEVER BORROWED FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS FROM DES MOINES AREA COMMUNITY
COLLEGE BEFORE. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TOCOMPLETE BEFORE
MY LOANS GET PROCESSED?
As a new borrower at DMACC, you will need to complete Entrance Counseling
and fill out an Electronic Master Promissory Note as required by
the U.S. Department of Education. The instructions on how to complete
these are on our website under Forms.
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WHAT
IS SAP?
SAP stands for Satisfactory Academic Progress. It is a set of standards
to make sure you are on the path toward graduation. The standards
include a grade point average of 2.0 and completion of a pro-rated
number of credits that you’ve so you can receive Financial
Aid. The first semester you fall below these standards, you will
be placed on Warning Status. This gives you the opportunity to make
progress toward those standards. You may still receive Financial
Aid while on Warning Status. The second semester that you fall below
these standards, you will be place on Cancellation Status. If you
are on cancellation status, you are not eligible for Financial Aid
until you complete the requirements set forth by the committee.
If you are on Cancellation Status, you may submit an appeal to explain
any unusual circumstances that would have contributed to you not
being able to meet the standards.
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I
AM ON WARNING STATUS FOR SAP. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
The first semester you fall below these standards, you will be placed
on Warning Status. This gives you the opportunity to make progress
toward those standards. You may still receive Financial Aid while
on Warning Status.
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I
AM ON CANCELLATION STATUS FOR SAP. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
The second semester that you fall below these standards, you will
be place on Cancellation Status. If you are on cancellation status,
you are not eligible for Financial Aid until you complete the requirements
set forth by the committee. If you are on Cancellation Status, you
may submit an appeal to explain any unusual circumstances that would
have contributed to you not being able to meet the standards.
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HOW
DO I FILE AN APPEAL IF I AM ON CANCELLATION STATUS?
If you are placed on Cancellation Status, you have the opportunity
to appeal. An appeal is sent to you in the mail, however, you may
also print one off of the Financial Aid website or pick one up at
any campus. An appeal allows you to explain the situation that caused
your grades to be low or your reasoning for having to withdraw from
or drop classes. Be sure to abide by the deadline listed and include
all documentation.
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I
HAVE HAD STUDENT LOANS BEFORE, BUT AM ATTENDING SCHOOL. HOW DO I
FILE A LOAN DEFERMENT?
In order to defer your loans because you are attending college at
least half-time, you will need to file an In-School Deferment from
your lender. There is often a website on your bill or a toll-free
number to contact your lender to request or print out a deferment
form. You will then need to bring it to Credentials to complete
the school’s portion. A staff member will verify your in-school
status and mail the form to your lender. Be sure to continue making
payments on your loan until you receive confirmation from your lender
that your loan is in deferment status.
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WHAT
IF I CAN'T MAKE MY STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS BECAUSE OF UNEMPLOYMENT
OR OTHER FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS?
There are deferment options if you are unemployed or having other
financial hardships. Contact your lender about these deferments
or forbearance in order to fill out the correct form. You will send
it in directly to your lender. Be sure to continue making payments
on your loan until you receive confirmation from your lender that
your loan is in deferment status.
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AM
I CONSIDERED DPENEDENT OR INDEPENDENT WHEN I FILL OUT THE FAFSA?
You are Independent if you answer “Yes” to any of the
questions below, you do not have to provide parental information.
You are Dependent if you answer “No” to all of the questions
below, then you must provide parental information.
- Were you
born before January 1, 1985? (Q48)
- At the beginning
of the 2008-2009 school year, will you be working on a mater’s
or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or
graduate certificate, etc)? (Q49)
- As of today,
are you married? Q50) Answer “yes” if you are separated
but not divorced.) “As of today refers to the day that you
sign your FAFSA.” (Q50)
- Do you have
children who receive more than half of their support from you?
(Q51)
- Do you have
dependents other than your children/spouse who lives with you
and who receive more than half of their support from you, now
and through June 30, 2009. (Q52)
- Are both
your parents deceased or are you (or were you until age 18) a
ward/dependent of the court? (Q53)
- Are you
currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for
purposes other than training? (Q54) Are you a veteran of the U.S.
Armed Forces? (Q55)
- Answer
“Yes,” you are a veteran, if you
(1) have engaged in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard) or are a National
Guard or Reserves enlistee who was called to active duty for
purposes other than training, or were a cadet or midshipman
at one of the service academies, and
(2) were released under a condition other than dishonorable.
Also answer “Yes” if you are not a veteran now
but will be by June 30, 2009.
- Answer
“No,” you are not a veteran, if you
(1) have never engaged in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces,
(2) are currently an ROTC student or a cadet or midshipman
at a service academy, or
(3) are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee activated only
for training. Also answer “No” if you are currently
serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and will continue to serve
through June 30, 2009.
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WHAT
IS A PELL GRANT?
The Pell Grant is a Federal form of need-based financial aid and
does not have to be repaid. Applicants must be undergraduate students
who have not earned a bachelor's degree. Each applicant must be
a U.S. citizen, or an eligible noncitizen, and needs to have a high
school diploma or a GED or to demonstrate the ability to benefit
from the program.
The amount of the grant depends on both the student's EFC and several
other factors. These factors are the student's cost of attendance
(tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies, and so on) and
the amount of time the student attends school (whether the student
goes to school for a full academic year or less and whether the
student is full-time or part-time). An eligible part-time student
can receive a Pell Grant. The amount awarded, however, will be less
than for a full-time student. An applicant may receive only one
Pell Grant in an award year and may not receive Pell Grant funds
from more than one school at a time.
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HOW
DO I APPLY FOR A PELL GRANT?
Students apply for not only Pell Grants but all federal, state,
and institutional financial aid programs (except scholarships) by
completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The FAFSA can be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA
must be submitted by the end of June to be eligible for aid in the
following academic year.
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