Financial Aid Policies

DISBURSEMENT OF FINANCIAL AID

A. General Information

1. Student must be enrolled before funds may be disbursed.
2. Student eligibility must be confirmed by the Financial Aid Office before funds are disbursed.
3. Students are expected to have sufficient funds for miscellaneous expenses when they arrive on campus.
4. Students who are eligible for Federal financial aid must have on file a valid Student Aid Report in electronic form to the Financial Aid Office before funds are disbursed.
5. Students must be fully accepted for admission to GC before funds may be disbursed.
6. Specific questions on individual cases should be addressed to the Financial Aid Office at (478) 445-5149.

B. Loans (Students must be enrolled at least half-time.)

1. Federal Perkins Loan: Students awarded this loan must sign a promissory note in the Student Loan Collections Office before funds may be disbursed.
2. Federal Direct Stafford Loan: Under Federal Law: Students must complete a Loan Entrance Counseling session and sign a Master Promissory Note before funds may be disbursed.
3. Federal Direct PLUS Loan: Parents who are awarded a Federal PLUS Loan must receive an approved credit decision from the lender and complete an electronic Master Promissory Note (MPN) before funds may be disbursed.
4. Federal Perkins, Federal Direct Stafford, Federal Direct PLUS Loans: Borrowers who use these funds to finalize Business Office bills may elect to cancel their loans and use another form of payment within 30 days of disbursement.

The Financial Aid Office must be notified in writing of the cancellation within 30 days of disbursement.

C. Disbursement Procedures

Once all requirements have been met:

1. Funds awarded from the following may be applied directly to the student's Business Office account:

2. These awards will be authorized to the student's Business Office account once classes have been reserved.

3. Any remaining balance to the student's account must be paid to the GC Business Office prior to the published deadline in order to reserve classes.

4. Eligibility is reviewed again at the end of the drop/add period (census date), and appropriate funds are disbursed to the student's Business Office account.

5. Once the Business Office bill has been settled, remaining aid with the exception of the HOPE Book Allowance, which is released in a check or direct deposit, if selected, may be used toward the purchase of books at the GC Bookstore beginning approximately 3 days prior to the first day of classes through the end of the drop/add period.

6. If the amount of financial aid awarded exceeds tuition and fees due at registration, the difference will be disbursed in the form of a check or direct deposit, if selected, by the GC Business Office, 111 Parks Hall, approximately seven days after the end of the drop/add period.

7. Students who use personal funds to pay for tuition and fees may receive reimbursement checks or direct deposit, if selected, from the GC Business Office approximately seven days after the end of the drop/add period if aid is received after payment is made.

8. Financial aid awards made after the student's bill is satisfied will be disbursed within 10 days after awards are made.

Change of Information

Awards are based on the information students provide on applications for aid.

Change to that information (marital status, number of dependents, place of residence, withdrawal from period of enrollment, reduction in the number of hours carried, change in academic program, Social Security or Veteran's benefits, etc.) must be reported promptly in writing to our office for a determination of the impact, if any, on the amount of funds awarded to you. It is often necessary to revise awards, especially if federal or state funds are a part of the award, in order to avoid exceeding your demonstrated financial eligibility. We must, therefore, reserve the right to review and /or modify your award at any time. Failure to contact us may jeopardize continuation of your aid, cause cancellation of aid, or require repayment of funds already disbursed to you. All awards are contingent upon the availability of funds.

Enrollment Status

Requirements for the number of semester hours of credit you must maintain for loans, scholarships, grants, and work may vary. At Georgia College, most financial aid is packaged based upon anticipated full-time enrollment: 12 hours for undergraduate, 9 hours for graduates.

Repayment

Students who register, then withdraw, drop out, are expelled, or change enrollment status are subject to the University's Refund and Repayment policy, and may have to repay a portion or all of the aid received to the University.