Frequently Asked Questions

Is it too late to apply for financial aid for the 2007-08 academic year?

No, it is not too late!  Students can apply for financial aid for the 2007-08 academic year through June 30, 2008.

I received a Pell Grant for the fall and/or spring semester, and I plan to attend summer semester.  How do I find out if I am eligible for Pell Grant for the summer semester?

If you were a full-time student and received Pell Grant for both the fall and spring semesters, you will not be eligible to receive Pell Grant money for the summer semester.  However, if you were enrolled less than full-time for fall and/or spring semester, you may be eligible for some Pell Grant money for the summer semester.  To determine your eligibility for summer, you will need to bring a copy of your summer schedule to the Financial Aid Office.  If you are eligible for Pell Grant money, a revised Award Notification will be mailed to you indicating the amount of Pell Grant money available for you to use on Financial Aid Day for the summer semester.

What type of assistance is available?

Federal and state grants, loans, work-study, scholarships, and emergency loans are available to students based on eligibility.

What is A-B Tech's Federal School Code?

A-B Tech's Federal School Code is 004033.

How does the government determine if I am eligible for financial aid?

The U.S. Department of Education determines your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on the information you provide on the FAFSA.  Each academic institution that you included on your FAFSA will use the EFC and your enrollment status to determine which aid programs you are eligible for and the amount you are eligible to receive.

I am 21 years old and have been on my own since I was 18.  Do I have to include my parents income on the FAFSA?

The U.S. Department of Education deems that if you answer yes to one of the following criteria, you do not have to include your parent's income on the FAFSA:

• Were you born before January 1, 1984?
• At the beginning of the 2007-08 school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or graduate certificate, etc.)?
• As of today, are you married? (Answer "Yes" if you are separated but not divorced)
• Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
• Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2008?
• Are both of your parents deceased, or are you (or were you until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court?
• Are you currently servicing on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?

If you could not answer yes to at least one of the questions above, then you are required to provide your parent's income information on the FAFSA.

How long will it take to find out if I will receive financial aid?

The application process takes a minimum of eight to twelve weeks and can be longer during peak times of the year.  Once your application is complete and eligibility has been determined, you will receive an Award Notification in the mail from the Financial Aid Office indicating what aid is available to you and how to use that aid to pay for your tuition, fees, and books.

How will I be notified what financial aid is available to me?

You will receive an Award Notification in the mail indicating what financial aid you are eligible for, the amount you can receive, and how to use the aid to pay for tuition, fees, and books.

How do I fill out the FAFSA if I did not file a tax return?

For the question "Have you completed your IRS income tax return or another tax return?" answer by filling in bubble C "I'm not going to file."

Do I have to be enrolled full-time to receive aid?

Although it is not necessary to be enrolled full-time to be eligible for financial aid, the amount of financial aid awarded to less than full-time students is reduced accordingly based on enrollment status.  The Financial Aid Office will automatically adjust award amounts based on enrollment status within the first two weeks of each academic term.  Students need to remember that being eligible for assistance at one enrollment status (i.e.-Full-Time, 3/4 Time, 1/2 Time, or Less Than 1/2 Time) does not automatically guarantee that the student will remain eligible should the student change to another enrollment status.

Are certificates covered under financial aid?

Twelve certificate programs qualify for financial aid at A-B Tech: Early Childhood, Infant/Toddler Care, Fire Protection Technology, Cake Designs, Restaurant Desserts, Networking, Air Conditioning and Heating- Basic, Air Conditioning and Heating-Commercial HVAC Maintenance Tech, Automotive, Construction Management Technology, Heavy Equipment and Transport Technology, and Welding.

What is verification?

Because every FAFSA can not be checked for accuracy, the U.S. Department of Education has set up the verification process as a "checks and balances" system.  At least 30% of the students applying for financial aid are chosen for verification either by the U.S. Department of Education or by the academic institution.  If your application is chosen, you will receive a letter from the Financial Aid Office at A-B Tech requesting additional documentation.  You will need to provide this information to the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible so that we can determine your eligibility for financial assistance.  Your application will not be processed further until the requested verification documentation has been received.

How can I get a copy of my tax return?

You can request a copy of your tax return by calling the IRS Customer Service number at (800) 829-1040.

How can I get a copy of my W2 Forms?

You can request a copy of your W2 Forms from your employer or by calling the IRS Customer Service number at (800) 829-1040.

I received an Award Notification and loan package.  What do I do now?

When registration opens, register for your classes.  If you have been awarded a Pell Grant or other grant funds, you will need to report to the Business Office located in the Simpson Building on Financial Aid Day to use your financial aid to pay for your tuition, fees, and books.  See the Financial Aid Calendar for specific dates.

If you have been awarded work-study and are interested in applying for a position, you will need to submit a resume to the Financial Aid Office.  For more information on the work-study program, click here.

If you are interested in applying for a student loan, see below.

How do I decline financial aid that I do not want, such as work-study?

You will need to contact the Financial Aid Office to decline aid.

How do I apply for a student loan?

When you fill out the FAFSA, you will need to answer "Yes" to Question 27: "In addition to grants, are you interested in student loans (which you must pay back)?"  When the Financial Aid Office processes your application, we will determine if you are eligible to apply for a student loan.  If it is determined that you are eligible to apply for a student loan and you have indicated on your FAFSA that you are interested in loans, a loan package will be mailed with your Award Notification.  You will need to complete the Master Promissory Note and Budget Sheet and return them to the Financial Aid Office for processing and to schedule a pre-loan conference. A-B Tech will certify your loan and send it to the lender.  The lender will then process your application for a student loan and will notify you by mail regarding your approval.

Why do I have to attend a pre-loan conference?

Under federal guidelines, all first-time federal loan borrowers at A-B Tech must attend a pre-loan conference before the College can disburse loan checks.  Pre-loan conferences are held periodically prior to and during each school year.  Contact the Financial Aid Office at 254-1921 ext. 876 for information regarding the conference schedule.

Why was my loan check held for 30 days?

Disbursement of loan checks for first-time borrowers who have never previously attended A-B Tech must be delayed for 30 days from the beginning of the borrower's enrollment as mandated by federal regulations.

Will my financial aid be affected if I withdraw from a class or all of my classes?

Before withdrawing from a class, financial aid recipients should contact the Financial Aid Office to determine what effect dropping and/or officially withdrawing from a course will have on subsequent financial aid eligibility and/or repayment of assistance previously credited to their account or disbursed by check.  If an aid recipient withdraws from all classes before the 60% point of the semester, a percentage of Federal aid received may have to be repaid based on the Federal Formula Calculation.

What are contact hours and how does that relate to my financial aid?

Students enrolled in vocational programs that typically lead to a diploma and not a degree program are enrolled in "contact hours" instead of "credit hours".  Enrollment status for these students is computed by converting semester contact hours to credit hours for payment purposes using a federal formula.  Generally, 23 or more contact hours is considered full-time, 17-22 is 3/4 time, 12-16 is 1/2 time, and less than 12 contact hours is considered less than 1/2 time.

Why do I have to fill out a Verification of Class Attendance Form?

Students who were awarded Pell Grant funds are required to submit a Verification of Class Attendance Form.  This form verifies that the student is indeed attending the classes that he/she enrolled in and therefore is eligible for the Pell Grant funds that were awarded to him/her.  Failure to complete and return this form to the Financial Aid Office may result in the reversal of the student's Pell Grant award.

I am enrolled in an online class.  Can my instructor email his signature to the Financial Aid Office for the Verification of Class Attendance Form?

Only students who are enrolled in an online class can have that instructor email their signature to the Financial Aid Office for the Verification of Class Attendance Form.  The email must include the student's name, social security number, course name and section number, the instructor's name, and a statement indicating that the student is participating in the class.  This information should be emailed to Joyce Moncada in the Financial Aid Office.  The student is still required to complete and turn in a Verification of Class Attendance Form.  On the form, students will need to indicate that a class is online.  It is the student's responsibility to confirm that an instructor has emailed a signature to the Financial Aid Office with all required information for an online class.

I turned my Verification of Class Attendance Form in on Thursday.  When can I expect to get my refund check?

Generally, students who turn in a VCA form by closing time Friday can expect to pick up a refund check in the Business Office on the following Friday.  So, in the example above, this student would receive a refund check in eight days.

I received my Pell refund check and it was less than I was awarded.  Why?

There are several reasons why the refund check may be less than the student was awarded. 

First, remember that if the student reported on Financial Aid Day, the tuition, fees, and books were taken out of the Pell Grant money that the student was awarded.  The student receives a refund check for the remaining balance of Pell funds. 

Another possibility is that the student did not turn in all of his instructor's signatures on the Verification of Class Attendance Form.  Payment is only made for the signatures turned in with the Verification of Class Attendance Form!  Any missing signatures can be turned in later with subsequent VCA's.   The student will be paid for the remaining classes at that time. 

Finally, if a student's enrollment status has changed, Pell funds will be reduced to reflect the student's actual enrollment status.  Award notifications are based on a student being enrolled full-time.  If a student enrolls less than full-time, the award will be adjusted for the correct enrollment status.