Welcome to Central

We are pleased to offer you a financial aid award to    
attend Central Washington University during the 2013-
2014 academic year. This offer is contingent on your  
eligibility at the time of disbursement.

IMPORTANT!  You must accept or decline your Student Aid at www.cwu.edu, select Wildcat Connection, Safari.   Requires CWU ID and Pin.

Please Note:  Summer 2013 aid is based on the 2012- 2013 FAFSA.  Summer information and application is available spring  quarter at www.cwu.edu/financial-aid Please submit the summer application as soon as you enroll for summer quarter.

General Information About Your Academic Year Award Notice:

Typical Cost of Attendance (COA):

               
Expected Family Contribution (EFC):

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data is used  to calculate an "Expected Family Contribution" (EFC). This assessment of assets, prior year income, and personal information determines the amount the family is expected to have available to meet the student’s
cost of attendance. If you have experienced a significant reduction of income in 2013 compared to 2012, please document the change and contact our office.

Need:
The financial “NEED” is the difference between CWU’s estimated COA and the Federal determination of the EFC.           

COA – EFC = Need
 
Your award may include government sponsored grants, work-study, and subsidized loan if you have “need.” Central attempts, with limited funds, to offer aid up to the COA.  Unsubsidized student loan and parent loan may be offered to cover EFC and unmet need.

Disbursement

•  Accept or decline your aid on Safari.   
•  Be fully enrolled on census date (end of add/drop) Grants are prorated to census date enrollment and cannot be adjusted for late registration.
• Complete entrance counseling at www.studentloans.gov
• Sign on-line master promissory notes for student and parent at www.studentloans.gov
• Parents, complete PLUS Request process at www.studentloans.gov for a parent loan.  
• If you are pre-enrolled as a full-time student, your aid will credit to your student account on the third day of class. Census is the day following  add/ drop. Adjustments & disbursements for < full time will be made following census date.
• Refund of excess funds usually occurs 3-4 days following census day.  See Student Financial Services for refund dates.  www.cwu.edu/student-accounts

CWU Participates in the following:

See www.cwu.edu/financial-aid for additional information. 

FEDERAL

Pell Grant
SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant)  
Direct Loans - Include:

• Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans—Student Loan.
• Graduate Plus—Additional Graduate Student Loan.
• PLUS—Parent Loan

Perkins Loan
TEACH— Grant/loan.   
Work Study

STATE

WSNG (Washington State Need Grant)  
Washington Scholar, WAVE, and Future Teacher
Passport to College  
Work Study

INSTITUTIONAL

Tuition awards are given for merit, recruitment, need, dependents/spouses of deceased or disabled veterans, firefighters, and police. See details at www.cwu.edu/financial-aid Scholarships- see www.cwu.edu/scholarships

Transfer Students and Freshman

Send an official final academic transcript to Admissions. We cannot disburse aid until Admissions has your final transcript.

Mid-year transfers; please contact your prior school immediately and ask them to cancel any pending aid.

Part-Time Employment

Student jobs are listed on the Student Job Board, located on the 1st floor of Barge Hall and on the Student Employment Website. Bring appropriate original ID to the Student Employment Office to complete the I-9 form before you begin to work. www.cwu.edu/student-employment

Work Study Program

Work-Study is a need-based financial aid employment award and is available to undergraduates, post-baccalaureates and graduates during the academic year. Hourly wages begin at minimum wage and go up to $15+ per hour. If you have a subsidized loan, you are probably eligible. Eligible students will receive the Work-Study Personnel Action Form in the mail soon after the initial Financial Aid award if you checked on the FAFSA that you are interested in Work-Study. If you did not check the FAFSA but would like Work-Study, see a Financial Aid Counselor.  Go to  the Student Employment Website www.cwu.edu/student-employment for more information and to search the online Job Board. Contact Student Employment or Financial Aid if you have questions.

Summer Session

Summer 2013 aid will require a 2012-2013 FAFSA.

To receive a Pell Grant during the Summer you may also submit the 2012-2013 FAFSA.

Summer information and application available spring  
quarter at www.cwu.edu/financial-aid

Financial Aid Adjustments

You are required to report all resources such as scholarships, guaranteed sources, and DVR.  We will make necessary adjustments.  It is always our intention to make adjustments to the best advantage of the student if possible. Financial Aid is credited to your account by the third day of class if you are pre-enrolled in 12 credits (10 if Masters).  Adjustments are made for less than full-time enrollment on Census date (immediately following add/drop). Please see www.cwu.edu/student-accounts for Refund day. Students who receive financial aid funds and consider withdrawing during the quarter should meet with a Financial Aid Counselor prior to withdrawal to discuss resulting financial obligation.  Complete withdrawal always results in Financial aid suspension, but may be appealed for special circumstances.  The Return of Funds Policy is available on line at www.cwu.edu/financial-aid.  Click on Financial Aid Handbook 2012-2013.

A grade of  No-show can result in some or all aid being canceled creating an immediate amount due.

Education Tax Incentives 

See IRS Publication 970.   
Information on tax credits and other issues related to financial aid can be found at: www.irs.gov

Your Responsibility:

• Use your Legal Name, Social Security Number, and birth date for both the FAFSA and CWU admission application.
• Complete registration by the end of Add/Drop.
•  Inform the Financial Aid Office, in writing, if you receive additional resources from other sources such as scholarships, DVR, employer reimbursement of tuition.
• ACCEPT OR DECLINE YOUR AID ON SAFARI
• Go to www.cwu.edu  Wildcat Connection >Safari>Self Service>Campus Finances>Accept/ Decline Awards.
• First time student borrowers:  Complete an Entrance Interview.   www.studentloans.gov All first time borrowers:  Complete the student and/or Parent Electronic Master Promissory Note and online PLUS Request at www.studentloans.gov.
• If an unwanted Federal loan pays to your account, write VOID on the refund check and return to the Financial Aid Office within 14 days with written notice to cancel or reduce the loan.
• All student borrowers:  Complete an Exit Interview before you leave school.  www.nslds.ed.gov.
• Master’s candidates must enroll in at least 5 credits of course work at #501 level or higher.
• Read and respond immediately to any correspondence from the Financial Aid Office. 
• Keep your address and phone number updated on Safari  www.cwu.edu  Wildcat Connection > Safari.   
• Check GroupWise email and Safari Self Service frequently.
• Check your “To Do List” on Safari frequently.
• Make progress toward a degree as described in the "Satisfactory Progress Standards Policy”.  The policy is available on line at www.cwu.edu/financial-aid.
• REAPPLY ANNUALLY—due March 15 www.fafsa.ed.gov
• June 1 is the priority deadline for Verification.
• May 15 is the priority deadline for Summer aid applications.
• Keep your award notices, promissory note, disclosure notices, and Federal Personal Identification Number (PIN) in a safe place.
• Inform the Financial Aid Office if you transfer to another school.
• Begin repayment of your loans within six months of leaving school