Student Financial Aid

Student Financial Services
John F. Morris, Director, Student Services
Conwell Hall, Ground Floor
215-204-8760
www.temple.edu/sfs
sfs@temple.edu

Application Procedures

Documents Needed to Apply

The only document required is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A FAFSA must be filed each year a student expects to receive financial aid. Applications are available at all Student Financial Services (SFS) locations and also may be filed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov/. The federal code for Temple University, Main Campus is 003371. Locations and phone numbers for Temple University's SFS offices are listed at www.temple.edu/sfs/contact.htm.

Application Deadlines

New Students -- March 1
Continuing Students -- March 1
Priority consideration is given to new and renewal applications received by the Federal Processor by this date. Late applicants will be considered, but all funding sources may not be available.

Verification

Federal regulations require that the Office of Student Financial Services reviews all student financial aid applications (i.e., your Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA] information) to make sure it is accurate and consistent. The Office of Student Financial Services is required to resolve any conflicting information, inconsistencies or errors made on FAFSA applications to ensure the integrity of federal student financial aid programs. You may be selected for verification if:

• Your Social Security number, veteran status, or citizenship status reported on the FAFSA does not match the federal government's data.
• You completed the FAFSA using estimated income information or income information is inconsistent (i.e., your reported adjusted gross income is less than taxes paid). You may be asked to supply copies of federal tax returns.

Temple University operates as a Quality Assurance School in association with the U.S. Department of Education. As a result, you do not need to submit verification documents unless the university's Office of Student Financial Services contacts you.

If verification documents are requested, you will be required to submit all of them within thirty days. If all documents are not received by the deadline, all federal and university need-based aid will be removed from the award.

Your financial package will be outlined in an award letter mailed to your home and online on Temple's OWLnet site (access OWLnet with your Temple student PIN). If Temple's aid offer meets your entire financial need, great! If not, then seek outside help. You should begin looking for alternative means of educational assistance from private sources, such as fraternal organizations, unions, clubs, and churches.

International Students

The Office of International Services, 215-204-7229, offers limited financial assistance to persons holding non-immigrant visas. Federal regulations limit most financial aid to U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, i.e., permanent resident aliens (http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/Glossary.jsp). Questions about immigrant status should be referred to the office.

Academic Requirements

Applicants for Federal, State, and University financial aid programs administered by Temple University must be accepted for admission or currently enrolled as a matriculated student in a degree or certificate program. Exceptions to this requirement are the Federal Stafford Loan or PLUS Loan Programs. A non-matriculated student may be eligible for a Federal Stafford if the student is enrolled in a course of study necessary to prepare for admission in a degree or certificate program. Students enrolled in the Qualifying Program have one 12-month period beginning on the first day of the loan period for which the student is enrolled.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Financial aid funds are restricted to students who make satisfactory academic progress.  This is defined as maintaining Academic Good Standing according to University Policy and successfully completing a specified number of credits per academic year based on the student's enrollment status.  Also see Academic Warning, Probation, Dismissal and Reinstatement.

Enrollment Status

Some financial aid programs are restricted to full-time students. Other aid programs are available to both full-time and part-time students. (NOTE: High school students accepted under the Early Admissions Program are not eligible for financial aid until they receive their high school diploma.)

Students should be aware that dropping and adding courses can affect financial aid eligibility, and they must notify the Department of Student Financial Services of any change in enrollment status.

Academic Dismissal/Reinstatement

Eligibility for financial aid, including federal work-study, ends if a student is academically dismissed or ceases to be enrolled.

Financial Aid Eligibility -- Need Analysis

Financial aid is offered to students based on financial need. The U.S. Department of Education establishes the federal definition of need. Need is determined by the following formula:

(Estimated cost of attendance) - (Expected Family Contribution*) - (Expected Financial Aid) = Need

*The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is determined by a federal formula based on information reported on the student's FAFSA application. The EFC is the number that's used to determine a student's eligibility for federal student financial aid. This number results from the financial information a student and/or parent provided in the FAFSA application. The student's EFC is reported to the student on the Student Aid Report (SAR).

The result of a need determination is met by a combination of awards called a financial aid package. Packages in 2008-2009 generally met 98% of student need, including the Federal Family Educational loans.

Other sources exist that may be available to students for educational assistance. Some of these are private scholarship programs, Cooperative Education programs, Veterans Administration benefits, public assistance, and Social Security benefits. If outside assistance is received, financial aid awarded by the university may be adjusted.

Independent Student Definition

2009-10 Financial Aid Applicants: Federal regulations define an independent student if he/she meets one of the following criteria:

1. You were born before January 1, 1986.
2. You will be enrolled in a master's or doctoral program for the 2009-10 academic year.

3. You are married.

4. You have children and/or dependents who receive more than half of their support from you.

5. You are a ward of the court, or both your parents are deceased.

6. You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, or you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Federal regulations require that a student not meeting the definition of independent apply as a dependent. These students must provide income, asset, and household information for themselves and their parent(s), (including stepparent[s]).

Educational Budget

Financing one's education takes planning and budgeting. Students should try to plan ahead, anticipating costs and resources, and should request aid for the entire academic year. The basic budget for a year at Temple should include tuition and fees, books and supplies, living expenses, and transportation. Tuition shown in the following example is for undergraduates attending Main Campus. Financial aid awards will be adjusted accordingly for programs having different tuition rates. The figures in the table are based on estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The economy and one's style of living may make actual costs higher or lower.

Financial Aid Notification and Refund Policy

Applicants are notified of aid eligibility by letter or electronic letter after applications have been reviewed. Financial aid may consist of a combination of grant, loan, and/or work assistance.

Recipients receiving aid in excess of institution charges will receive a refund. Checks are issued according to the university's established schedule, starting immediately after the end of the first week of classes each semester. Students are encouraged to sign up for direct deposit to expedite the receipt of refund payment. This can be done online on OWLnet under "Financial Services."

Student Employment

Academic Year

The Federal Work Study (FWS) program at Temple promotes part-time employment of college students with demonstrated financial need. FWS is awarded as part of the student's financial aid package, but the award is not credited to the student's tuition account.

Employment may be within the university or at other public and private non-profit organizations. All university work-study job openings are posted on StudentJobs@Temple. Students can reach StudentJobs@Temple via the TUPortal. Select "Students" under "TULinks" and find StudentJobs@Temple under "Other Links." Please note that students are responsible for arranging their own employment.

FWS jobs which are available from Off Campus employers are listed on the Work Study Job Bank of the Student Financial Services (SFS) web site at www.temple.edu/sfs.

Summer Sessions

Summer Federal Work-Study Program awards need-based funds to full-time students currently enrolled in degree or certificate programs. Summer positions are posted in the same manner as the regular academic year. On campus employers list openings on StudentJobs@temple.edu. Off campus openings are posted on the "Job Bank link" of the SFS web site: www.temple.edu/sfs. You must arrange your own employment. You must complete a separate Temple Summer Financial Aid application as well as the FAFSA. Both applications are available on the SFS web site under the "Applying for Aid" section, or please call the Student Financial Services Office at 215-204-2244 to request both applications.