FAQ-Students

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The answers to these FAQ's are as specific as possible, but may not totally apply to your situation. If none of these FAQ's do not answer your question, please contact our office.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FINANCIAL AID

• Do I have to be full-time to receive financial aid?

• What's the most my parents can make for me to still get financial aid?

• What do I have to do to make me independent from my parents for financial aid?

• I'm a working adult. Will I be able to qualify for financial aid?

• I'm an adult student with children of my own in college. Will I be eligible for financial aid?

• How do I check to see if I'm making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes?

• What happens if I drop or withdraw from a class?

• Is six credit hours considered full-time for financial aid in the summer?

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID / COMPLETING THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)

• How do I apply for financial aid?

• How do I get help filling out my FAFSA online?

• I was completing my FAFSA online, and at the end it asked for payment. I thought it was free to apply for financial aid?

• What do I have to do to make me independent from my parents for financial aid?

• My parents are divorced. Do I have to list both of their incomes on the FAFSA?

• One of my parents died since last year's taxes were filed. Do I have to list both of my parents' income on the FAFSA?

AFTER THE FAFSA IS SUBMITTED

• How do I check my financial aid application status?

• I was selected for verification. What does that mean? Did I do something wrong?

• I haven't received anything in the mail from your office about my financial aid. When can I expect to hear from you?

• How will I know when and how much financial aid I will receive?

FINANCIAL AID AWARDS

• How will I know when and how much financial aid I will receive?

• How do I check to see if I've been offered financial aid?

• Why am I only getting a student loan, and not financial aid?

• How do I get a loan?

REFUNDS

• When and how do I receive a financial aid refund check?

STUDENT ACCOUNT ISSUES

• Why do I owe money back to Parkland?

BOOKS

• Can I use my financial aid to buy my books?

• How do I check to see if I have a Bookstore eCredit authorization for the Parkland Bookstore?

ADULT STUDENTS

• I'm a working adult. Will I be able to qualify for financial aid?

• I'm an adult student with children of my own in college. Will I be eligible for financial aid?

• I've heard that most of the scholarships offered are for younger students. As an adult student, should I even try and apply for any scholarships?

CONTACTING OUR OFFICE

• Do I have to make an appointment to see a financial aid advisor?

E-MAIL ACCOUNT

• How do I access my Parkland Student E-mail account?

ENROLLMENT STATUS

• How do I know what my enrollment status is for financial aid purposes?

• Do I have to be full-time to receive financial aid?

• Is six hours considered full-time for financial aid in the summer?

ONLINE INFORMATION (PARKLAND CONNECTION & FAFSA WEB SITE)

• I haven't received anything in the mail from your office about my financial aid. When can I expect to hear from you?

• How do I check my financial aid application status?

• How do I check to see if I've been offered financial aid?

• How do I check to see if I have a Bookstore eCredit authorization for the Parkland Bookstore?

• How do I check to see if I'm making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes?

• I looked up my information on the Parkland Connection, but I don't understand what it means. What do I do now?

• How do I access my Parkland Student E-mail account?

PRIVACY ISSUES

• Why won't you give my financial aid information to my parents or spouse?

SCHOLARSHIPS

• How do I apply for scholarships?

• I've heard that most of the scholarships offered are for younger students. As an adult student, should I even try and apply for any scholarships?

SUMMER AID

• Is six credit hours considered full-time for financial aid in the summer?

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID

• Why am I only getting a student loan, and not financial aid?

VERIFICATION

• I was selected for verification. What does that mean? Did I do something wrong?

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FINANCIAL AID

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

• For the majority of the aid programs you must be enrolled in at least six (6) semester hours for the semester.

• Monetary Award Program (MAP), you can be enrolled in as few as three (3) credit hours.

• PELL Grants, you may be enrolled in as few as one (1) credit hour.

What's the most my parents can make for me to still get financial aid?

Parental income is only one of the factors that determines your eligibility for financial aid. There is no fixed income amount that will determine eligibility. You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order for our office to be able to determine what types and amounts of financial aid you're eligible for.

NOTE: If you're not eligible for grants, you would still be eligible to get student and/or parent loans.

What do I have to do to make me independent from my parents for financial aid?

The Federal government has very strict standards that determine whether you are dependent or independent for financial aid. If you don't meet their definition of independent for financial aid, our office can (in certain circumstances) make you independent of your parents. You must speak to a financial aid advisor in our office if you feel you have special family circumstances.

I'm a working adult. Will I be able to qualify for financial aid?

• Almost everyone can qualify for student loans, even if you can't qualify for grants.

• If there has been a reduction in your family's income in the past year, please advise our office, and we will see if you qualify to apply for Special Circumstances.

NOTE: You should always complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and let us determine what you might be eligible for. Also, some scholarships require that you have applied for financial aid before you apply for their scholarship.

I'm an adult student with children of my own in college. Will I be eligible for financial aid?

• Almost everyone can qualify for student loans, even if you can't qualify for grants.

• If there has been a reduction in your family's income in the past year, please advise our office, and we
will see if you qualify to apply for Special Circumstances.

How do I check to see if I'm making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes?

• Go to the Parkland Connection and Login.
• Select My Financial Aid
• Select Step 4 Fin. Aid Academic Progress Status
• The second and third lines tell your actual status.
• The chart is a detailed analysis of your progress.

NOTE: You can check the Parkland Connection on your own. However, we will send you an e-mail at your Parkland Student E-mail account if we need something from you, as well as when your awards are posted to the system.

What happens if I drop or withdraw from a class?

Before you do either, you must come to the Financial Aid Office and meet with a financial aid advisor during the walk-in hours. They will explain the consequences of dropping or withdrawing from any classes.

Is six credit hours considered full-time for financial aid in the summer?

No. You must be enrolled in at least twelve (12) financial aid eligible credit hours.

There are four summer sessions, and we add together the number of financial aid eligible hours you're enrolled in each session to arrive at your total hours enrolled for the summer term.

NOTE: This is a Federal policy, not a Parkland rule.

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID / COMPLETING THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)

How do I apply for financial aid?

You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for financial aid. Completion of the FAFSA will determine your eligibility for all Federal and state grants, as well as Federal Work-Study and student loans. To complete the FAFSA, go to FAFSA and follow the steps, beginning with "Before Beginning a FAFSA."

NOTE: The FAFSA is free. You should never pay for completing it.

How do I get help filling out my FAFSA online?

Bring your tax return copies and any other required paperwork to the Financial Aid Office. If you already have a FAFSA PIN, bring it with you. Normally, there will be someone to help you between 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. at the computers across from the front counter.

I was completing my FAFSA online, and at the end it asked for payment. I thought it was free to apply for financial aid?

You should never pay to apply for financial aid. If you are asked for payment to apply for Federal and State financial aid, stop the application immediately. The name of the official government application is Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the official Free government website to apply for financial aid is http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.

What do I have to do to make me independent from my parents for financial aid?

My parents are divorced. Do I have to list both of their incomes on the FAFSA?

If you're considered a dependent student when you apply for financial aid, you give information for only the parent you live with, or lived with last. If that parent is remarried, you must include your stepparent's information.

One of my parents died since last year's taxes were filed. Do I have to list both of my parents' income on the FAFSA?

If you're considered a dependent student when you apply for financial aid, list information for only the living parent.

AFTER THE FAFSA IS SUBMITTED

How do I check my financial aid application status?

• Go to the Parkland Connection and Login.
• Select My Financial Aid.
• Select Step 1 Application Status.
• Click on any item not complete. It will either take you to the form to print, complete and submit to
our office. Or, it will take you to an explanation of what is needed.
• If everything is showing as completed, proceed to Step 2 to see if you have been awarded.

I was selected for verification. What does that mean? Did I do something wrong?

The Department of Education is required to select 30% of all financial aid applicants for verification. If selected for verification, you will have to submit tax documents and other information to the Parkland Financial Aid Office. If necessary, our office will make corrections to the data, and when the corrected information is received, we will continue to process your financial aid file.

I haven't received anything in the mail from your office about my financial aid. When can I expect to hear from you?

We don't mail anything out by postal mail. We only contact you, the student, at your Parkland Student E-mail account. If you haven't activated your Parkland Student E-mail account yet, please do so, and check it regularly.

If we need any other information from you, we'll notify you at your Parkland Student E-mail account.

When your award amounts are on the system, we'll e-mail you at your Parkland Student E-mail account.

From time to time, we also send out important informational e-mails about your satisfactory academic progress, money management, and other important notices, so check your Parkland e-mail regularly.

How to access your Parkland Student E-mail account.

How will I know when and how much financial aid I will receive?

When your financial aid file is complete, and you're eligible for financial aid, the maximum amounts will be automatically offered to you. Once the awarding process is complete, you'll be notified at your Parkland Student E-mail account notifying you to access your award amounts on the Parkland Connection.

If you're offered a Federal Direct Student Loan or Federal Work-Study, you must accept and/or reject these awards on the Parkland Connection. If you don't accept and/or reject these offers in a timely manner, they will be cancelled.

FINANCIAL AID AWARDS

How will I know when and how much financial aid I will receive?

If you're offered a Federal Direct Student Loan or Federal Work-Study, you must accept and/or reject these awards on the Parkland Connection https://pcweb.parkland.edu/parklandconnection. If you don't accept and/or reject these offers in a timely manner, they will be cancelled.

How do I check to see if I've been offered financial aid?

• Go to the Parkland Connection and Login.
• Select My Financial Aid.
• Select Step 2 Awards.
• The chart will tell you everything you're eligible for, what semester it's for, how much you've been awarded, and how much has been credited to your account.
• If you see Federal Work-Study or a Student Loan, you will need to accept or reject them. The ability to do that will show immediately on your screen.

Why am I only getting a student loan, and not financial aid?

There are three forms of financial aid:

• Grants that don't have to be paid back
• Student Loans that do need to be paid back after you get out of school
• Federal Work-Study that you earn as you work in a department or office at Parkland during the semester.

The types of financial aid that you're eligible for are based on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) number, which is calculated based on the financial information you provided on your FAFSA. The higher your EFC number is, the lower the amount and types of aid you're eligible for. Students with higher EFC numbers are only eligible for student loans.

How do I get a loan?

• 1st step is to say "yes" to the question on the FAFSA that asks if you're interested in student loans.
• When you get an e-mail notifying you that your aid has been calculated, go to the Parkland Connection.
• Select My Financial Aid.
• Select Step 2 Awards.
• The chart will tell you everything you're eligible for, what semester it's for, how much you've been awarded, and how much has been credited to your account.
• If you see a Student Loan, you will need to accept or reject it. The ability to do that will show immediately on your screen.
• If you accept the loan, read the two paragraphs below the award chart, and complete anything that needs to be completed.

REFUNDS

When and how do I receive a financial aid refund check?

General rules that apply to all refund checks:

• Your paperwork must be complete on our system.
• Your award amounts have been credited to your student account.
• You're enrolled in the correct number of credit hours at the time the refund check is to be written.
• There is financial aid money left after your tuition, fees, books, and any other Parkland charges are paid.

If all of the above is complete by Wednesday, your refund check will be mailed on Friday of that same week. If it's complete by Thursday or Friday, it will be mailed out Friday of the following week.

NOTE: Make sure you have a valid Permanent address on file with the Admissions Office. If your Permanent address is outside our area--and you want your refund check mailed to you at your Local address--make sure you also have a valid Local address on file with the Admissions Office.

More specific refund situations:

PELL Grant and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG):

• If your file is complete and your awards have been credited to your student account prior to the week before the first refund checks of the semester are mailed out:

• Our office will verify your enrollment status after the add/drop period (approximately 10th day of semester)
• If you have PELL and SEOG funds left over after your tuition, fees, books, and any other Parkland charges are paid, a refund check will be mailed to you the fourth week of the semester.

• If your file is not complete prior to the first time refund checks are mailed:

• Your paperwork must be complete on our system.
• Your award amounts have been entered into the system.
• You're enrolled in the correct number of credit hours at the time the check is to be written.
• There is financial aid money left after your tuition, fees, books, and any other Parkland charges are paid.

If all of the above is complete by Wednesday, your refund check will be mailed on Friday of that same week. If it's complete by Thursday or Friday, it will be mailed out Friday of the following week.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan (Subsidized and Unsubsidized) Requirements

Before your loan can be credited, you must:

• Accept the loan on the Parkland Connection.
• Complete an online Master Promissory Note.
• Complete online Loan Entrance Counseling the first time your borrow at Parkland College.

1st-time, freshman student loan borrowers:

There is a mandatory thirty-day wait from the beginning of the semester to disburse loans to first-time freshman borrowers. NOTE: This is a Federal regulation, not a Parkland rule.

• If all the loan and general refund requirements are fulfilled: Your loan refund check will be mailed out approximately one month after the semester begins.

• If you don't get a refund one month after the semester begins: As soon as all the loan requirements are fulfilled, the refund will be mailed out according to the General Refund Rules.

Continuing student loan borrowers:

As soon as the loan requirements are fulfilled, the refund check will be mailed out according to the following:

• Your paperwork must be complete on our system.
• Your award amounts are credited to your student account.
• You're enrolled in the correct number of credit hours at the time the check is to be written.
• There is financial aid money left after your tuition, fees, books, and any other Parkland charges are paid.

If all of the above is complete by Wednesday, your refund check will be mailed on Friday of that same week. If it's complete by Thursday or Friday, it will be mailed out Friday of the following week.

STUDENT ACCOUNT ISSUES

Why do I owe money back to Parkland?

There can be many reasons why you owe money to Parkland. For more information, please contact the Parkland College Business Office at 217-351-2362.

BOOKS

Can I use my financial aid to buy my books?

Financial aid can be used to buy books and supplies at the Parkland Bookstore if you have enough financial aid to pay all of the charges on your Parkland student account, and have money left over to buy books.

• Beginning approximately two weeks before the semester starts: If your financial aid has been offered/accepted and it pays all of the charges on your Parkland student account, with money left over, an eCredit Bookstore Authorization will automatically be placed on your student account. We will notify you that's been done at your Parkland Student E-mail account.

• If you've submitted a FAFSA and we have your Student Aid Report (SAR) information from the Federal processor in our system, but your financial aid eligibility hasn't been determined yet:

You must see one of the financial aid advisors during walk-in hours to see if you're eligible for an eCredit Bookstore Authorization. If you are, they will put one on your account while you're meeting with them.

NOTE: The above applies to the Fall and Spring semesters only. To obtain an eCredit Bookstore Authorization for the Summer semester, you must see one of the financial aid advisors during walk-in hours.

How do I check to see if I have a Bookstore eCredit authorization for the Parkland Bookstore?

• Go to the Parkland Connection and Login.
• Select My Financial Aid.
• Select Step 3 Bookstore eCredit.
• The chart will give you the semester the eCredit is for, the dates it can be used, what happened on each date (created, a purchase, adjusted).
• The last line of the chart gives you the amount you still have left to charge.

ADULT STUDENTS

I'm a working adult. Will I be able to qualify for financial aid?

• Almost everyone can qualify for student loans, even if you can't qualify for grants.

• If there has been a reduction in your family's income in the past year, please advise our office, and we will see if you qualify to apply for Special Circumstances.

I'm an adult student with children of my own in college. Will I be eligible for financial aid?

• Almost everyone can qualify for student loans, even if you can't qualify for grants.

• If there has been a reduction in your family's income in the past year, please advise our office, and we will see if you qualify to apply for Special Circumstances.

I've heard that most of the scholarships offered are for younger students. As an adult student, should I even try and apply for any scholarships?

Most scholarships don't have an age requirement. If you go to the Parkland Scholarship Guide, you should be able to find a number of scholarships to apply for.

You can also complete the Fast Web scholarship search. You'll
answer a series of questions, and Fast Web will give you a list of scholarships you may be eligible to apply for.

• Make a note of any scholarships you might be interested in and are eligible to apply for, and write down the name, deadline date, and how to obtain an application.

• Any applications that can be picked up at the Financial Aid Office will be available approximately thirty days before the scheduled deadline date.

If you meet the eligibility criteria for a certain scholarship:

• Read all of the instructions before filling out the application.

• If possible, type the information; otherwise, use a black pen and print neatly.

• Review the application after you have completed it to make sure it contains all the required information.

• Send the application and all other required material to the place listed on the application so that it arrives before the scheduled deadline.

CONTACTING OUR OFFICE

Do I have to make an appointment to see a financial aid advisor?

A lot of information can be obtained from these FAQs and the Parkland Connection. If you need to speak with one of our advisors about a more complicated financial aid issue, they see students on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday from 9:00-11:30 A.M. and 1:00-4:00 P.M., unless otherwise posted.

E-MAIL ACCOUNT

How do I access my Parkland Student E-mail account?

The morning after you've been fully accepted at Parkland College through the Admissions Office, you will have a student e-mail account through Parkland College. To activate that account:

• Go to the main main Parkland College website.
• There is a cartoon character holding a sign that says "student e-mail." Click there and follow the instructions to set up your Parkland Student E-mail account.

ENROLLMENT STATUS

How do I know what my enrollment status is for financial aid purposes?

Enrollment is determined by the number of credit hours you're enrolled in each semester, as follows:

12 + hours = full-time

9 - 11 hours = 3/4 time

6 - 8 hours = 1/2 time

1 - 5 hours = 1/4 time

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

• For the majority of the aid programs you must be enrolled in at least six (6) semester hours for the semester.

• Monetary Award Program (MAP), you can be enrolled in as few as three (3) credit hours.

• PELL Grants, you may be enrolled in as few as one (1) credit hour.

Is six hours considered full-time for financial aid in the summer?

No. You must be enrolled in at least twelve (12) financial aid eligible credit hours.

There are four summer sessions, and we add together the number of financial aid eligible hours you're enrolled in each session to arrive at your total hours enrolled for the summer term.

NOTE: This is a Federal policy, not a Parkland rule.

ONLINE INFORMATION (PARKLAND CONNECTION & FAFSA WEB SITE)

I haven't received anything in the mail from your office about my financial aid. When can I expect to hear from you?

If we need any other information from you, we'll notify you at your Parkland Student E-mail account.

When your award amounts are on the system, we'll e-mail you at your Parkland Student E-mail account.

From time to time, we also send out important informational e-mails about your satisfactory academic progress, money management, and other important notices, so check your Parkland e-mail regularly.

How do I check my financial aid application status?

• Go to the Parkland Connection and Login.
• Select My Financial Aid.
• Select Step 1 Application Status.
• Click on any item not complete. It will either take you to the form to print, complete and submit to our office. Or, it will take you to an explanation of what is needed.
• If everything is showing as completed, proceed to Step 2 to see if you have been awarded.

How do I check to see if I've been offered financial aid?

How do I check to see if I have a Bookstore eCredit authorization for the Parkland Bookstore?

How do I check to see if I'm making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes?

• Go to the Parkland Connection and Login.
• Select My Financial Aid.
• Select Step 4 Fin. Aid Academic Progress Status.
• The second and third lines tell your actual status.
• The chart is a detail analysis of your progress.

I looked up my information on the Parkland Connection, but I don't understand what it means. What do I do now?

• Take your time and read everything carefully.
• Click on any links to help clarify information.
• If you still don't understand something, contact our office.

How do I access my Parkland Student E-mail account?

The morning after you've been fully accepted at Parkland College through the Admissions Office, you will have a student e-mail account through Parkland College. To activate that account:

• Go to the main Parkland website.
• There is a cartoon character holding a sign that says "student e-mail." Click there and follow the instructions to set up your Parkland Student E-mail account.

PRIVACY ISSUES

Why won't you give my financial aid information to my parents or spouse?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects your rights. Under the law, we aren't allowed to release any financial aid information to anyone other than students. We can only release information to students in person. The only way we can release information to someone else is if you, the student, give us written permission. In order for us to be able to give information to the person you authorize, they must have a picture I.D. when they come to our office.

NOTE: We can only give information to you, the student, or someone you authorize, in person and not over the telephone or by e-mail. You, the student, or your authorized representative must have a picture I.D. with them before we can give out any information.

SCHOLARSHIPS

How do I apply for scholarships?

Look through the Parkland Scholarship Guide.

You can also complete the Fast Web scholarship search. You'll answer a series of questions, and Fast Web will give you a list of scholarships you may be eligible to apply for.