2011-2012

Understanding your Financial Aid Award Letter

At the University of Massachusetts Lowell Financial Aid Office, our staff works to ensure access to higher education for familiesseeking resources. Our staff is available to provide information and guidance on available financial aid programs to families toassist in meeting the cost of higher education.

The information in this booklet is designed to provide informationnecessary to process your aid while at the University. Should youhave questions about your specific situation, please contact ouroffice for additional information. Our staff is dedicated to helpingprospective and current students obtain assistance. Counselors areavailable to work with students and families to provide generalinformation and guidance as well as individualized attention forspecific situations.

Financial Aid OfficeJoyce McLaughlin, Director

Location: 883 Broadway Street, Room 102Lowell, MA 01854-5131

Telephone Number: (978) 934-4220Fax Number: (978) 934-3009Web Site: http://www.uml.edu/financialaid

Welcome to UMass Lowell from the Financial Aid Office

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YOUR FINANCIAL AID AWARD LETTERPlease review the enclosed financial aid award letter.

The eligibility information on the award letter was used to calculate yourfinancial aid. If these assumptions, such as housing, residency or grade levelhave changed or are incorrect, please notify our office immediately so we may re-evaluate your financial aid.

If you wish to reduce or decline your aid, please log on to your ISIS self service at www.uml.edu/isis.

Students receiving private scholarships, tuition waivers or assistance from other sources must disclose this to the Financial Aid Office. Use the reverse side of the award letter as a convenient way to meet this requirement.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:Your Financial Aid Eligibility ..............................................................3

Terms and ConditionsDetermining Your Need Your Cost of Attendance (COA) and Expenses

Understanding Your Award Letter......................................................4Determining Your Aid Types of Need Based Aid Types of Non Need Based AidLoan Limits for Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Merit Scholarships .............................................................................5Merit and Need Based Scholarships

Adjustments to your Financial Aid.....................................................6Reasons for AdjustmentsVerification Process and Requirements

Paying your University Bill .................................................................7How to Access Your Student E-BillDisbursements to Your Account Financial Aid Refunds and Book Vouchers

Additional Financing Options ............................................................7Three Alternative Financing Options

Rights and Responsibilities................................................................8Student Rights Student Responsibilities

Maintaining Financial Aid Eligibility ..................................................8-9Applying for Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Merit Aid RequirementsWithdrawal Policy Return of Title IV Financial Aid Funds

Contact Information...........................................................................9Other Important Contacts

Expense Worksheet ............................................................................In Pocket

Financial Aid Checklist/ Important Deadlines ....................................In Pocket

TERMS AND CONDITIONSEligibility for financial aid begins with filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).You must file a FAFSA every academic year you want to apply for aid.

Financial aid applicants must meet the following key criteria to receive most types of financial aid:

• Be admitted into a degree-granting or approved certificate program.

• Be matriculated in at least six (6) credits per semester (some grants require full time enrollment;Pell Grant may be available for enrollment less than 6 credits).

• Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or eligible non-citizen as defined by the federal government.

• Have a valid Social Security Number.

• Register with the Selective Service, if required (www.sss.gov).

• Make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward educational goals.

• Cannot be in default or owe money on a federal student loan.

• Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, meet otherstandards the state of Massachusetts establishes that are approved by the U.S. Department ofEducation, or complete a high school education in a home school setting that is treated as ahome school or private school under state law.

• Additional eligibility requirements may apply.

Direct Costs: These are the charges you willsee on your university invoice. Direct costs mayinclude Tuition, Fees, Room and Board.

Indirect Costs: These are estimates of otherexpenses the student will incur while attendingthe university. Indirect costs may include books,off campus housing and transportation.

YOUR FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY

YOUR COA AND TYPES OF EXPENSES

Annual Cost of Attending UMass Lowell 2010-2011

Direct Costs –Undergraduate (Based on 12 credits/ semester)

In State Out of State NE Regional Proximity ProgramUndergraduateCommuter Student $10,506 $22,945 $16,559 $16,559On Campus Student $19,573 $32,012 $25,626 $25,626

Direct Costs –Graduate (Based on 9 credits/ semester)

In State Out of State NE Regional Proximity ProgramGraduateCommuter Student $9,999 $19,099 $15,129 $15,129On Campus Student $19,066 $28,166 $24,196 $24,196

Figures shown are actual 2010-2011 costs.

DETERMINING YOUR NEED Financial aid is available to assist in yourefforts to pay college costs. We primarily usetwo factors to determine the amount andtypes of aid you may receive: Cost ofAttendance (COA) and Expected FamilyContribution (EFC).

Cost of Attendance (COA) is the amountwe estimate it should cost you to attendUMass Lowell for one academic year. Thesecosts have been developed as guides tohelp students anticipate educationalexpenses. Some students will spend morethan the typical amounts, others less,depending on individual lifestyles and circumstances. COA includes direct costs,which are costs directly billed to you by theuniversity and indirect costs, which are otherrelated expenses a student incurs, such asbooks and transportation.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) isan estimate of the amount of money you(and your parents, if you are dependent)could reasonably contribute toward collegecosts. This figure is calculated by the U.S.Department of Education. This is calculatedby using information from your FAFSA.

Demonstrated Financial Need is whenthe Financial Aid Office subtracts your EFC from your COA; the difference is youreligibility for financial aid, also known asDemonstrated Financial Need (Need).

Example:

Cost of Attendance (COA)

– Expected Family Contribution (EFC) ________________________________

Demonstrated Financial Need (Need)

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR AWARD LETTERYour Financial Aid award may consist of some or all of the following typesof aid depending on your financial need: Grants, Scholarships, Waivers,Student Employment and Federal Student Loans. Please note: all financialaid awards are contingent on funding.

MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS UMass Lowell offers a variety of Merit Scholarships. Students are automatically considered forawards at the time of application;therefore no separate applicationprocess is required. Most awardsare renewable annually if thescholarship’s standards are met.For more information about meritscholarships, please visit our website at www.uml.edu/financialaid/scholarships.

MERIT AND NEED BASEDSCHOLARSHIPS UMass Lowell Scholarship: UMass Lowelloffers a limited number of scholarships toincoming freshmen based on academic achievement, special talents and financialneed. Incoming freshmen who file a FAFSA are automatically considered for this scholarship.Award amounts vary depending on financialneed. This scholarship is renewable if the student maintains a minimum cumulative gradepoint average of 3.0 or higher, demonstratedfinancial need and full time enrollment.

DETERMINING YOUR AID Need Based Aid is awarded when you havedemonstrated financial need; this means yourEFC is less than your COA. Need-based financialaid is available from federal, state and institu-tional sources. It may consist of scholarships,waivers, student employment and subsidized student loans.

Non-Need Based Aid is aid that does notrequire a student to have demonstrated financialneed. These are added to a student’s aid pack-age after the student has been considered for all other types of aid.

TYPES OF NEED BASED AIDFederal Pell Grant: A federal grant awardedby the U.S. Dept of Education to students withexceptional need that does not need to berepaid. For 2010-2011, awards ranged from$555 to $5550, depending on EFC and enrollment.

Federal Supplemental Grant (FSEOG): A federal grant awarded by the University to students who are Pell eligible. FSEOG does not need to be repaid. Awards range from $200 to $4000, depending on available fundsand number of eligible applicants.

Massachusetts Grant: A state grant awardedby the Massachusetts Office of Student FinancialAssistance (OSFA) to Pell eligible undergraduatestate residents. To be considered, full-time students must have filed a FAFSA by May 1st.The state notifies students directly regarding eligibility.

Mass Part-Time Grant: A state grant awardedto eligible undergraduate state residents. To beconsidered, students must be enrolled for atleast six (6) credits but fewer than twelve (12)credits per semester.

DHE Tuition Waiver: A state funded programfrom the Department of Higher Education (DHE)awarded to eligible state residents. To be eligi-ble, students must be enrolled at least half time(6+ credits) in a state funded undergraduatedegree program, although priority is given to full time students. Continuing Education coursesare not covered by this program.

DHE Cash Grant: A state funded grant pro-gram from the Department of Higher Education(DHE) awarded to undergraduate state residents.Awarded to students enrolled at least half time,although priority is given to full time students.Continuing Education courses are not covered by this program.

UML Need-Based Grant: An institutionalgrant program administered by the Financial AidOffice. This grant is awarded to undergraduatestudents pursuing first undergraduate degree.Continuing Education courses are not covered bythis program.

Student Employment Opportunities: The Federal Work Study and the UMass LowellStudent Employment Program provides part-time, on campus employment to eligible studentsto help defray the cost of education. Workawards range from $2000-$5500 and are notautomatically applied as a credit to the universi-ty bill. However, students may complete a stu-dent employment withholding form to have 70% of their bi-weekly earnings applied to theirstudent bill. Additional information regardingStudent Employment Programs can be accessedon our website at http://www.uml.edu/ finan-cialaid/campus/employment.html. All eligible students will receive a Student EmploymentWelcome packet before orientation.

Federal Perkins Loan: A 5% fixed interestfederal loan administered by the university.Awards range from $100 to $4,000 dependingupon funding. Repayment starts nine monthsfollowing graduation, a student’s withdrawalfrom school, or when a student drops to lessthan half-time enrollment. Repayment may beextended over a ten-year period. Principal andinterest are deferred while a student is enrolledat least half-time (6+ Credits).

Federal Direct Subsidized Loans: This is afixed low interest loan program funded by theFederal Government. Interest rates for 2011-2012 are 3.4% for undergraduate and 6.8% for graduate students. There is no separate application for this loan and a credit check is not required.

First time borrowers at UMass Lowell arerequired to complete an Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling at www.student-loans.gov before funds are credited to the student’s university account. Interest is paid by the U.S. Department of Education duringqualified periods of deferred enrollment.

TYPES OF NON- NEED BASED AID John & Abigail Adams Tuition Waiver: Astate program funded and awarded by the Officeof Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) whichawards a tuition waiver for state-supportedcourses to full time undergraduate students.Individual student awards shall be no more thanthe undergraduate tuition rate at UMass Lowell.Students are also required to file the FAFSA andmaintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for continued eligibility. Students awarded the John & Abigail Adams Tuition Waiver mustsubmit a copy of their award letter to the financial aid office.

State Tuition Waivers: The state ofMassachusetts authorizes many types of tuitionwaivers. Students must submit copies of theiraward letters to the Financial Aid Office of anywaivers awarded. For a complete list of tuitionwaivers offered by the state, please visit theOSFA website at http://www.osfa.mass.edu/.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans: This is a fixed 6.8% interest loan program funded bythe Federal Government. There is no separateapplication for this loan and a credit check isnot required.

First time borrowers at UMass Lowell arerequired to complete Master Promissory Note andEntrance Counseling at www.studentloans.govbefore funds are credited to the student’s

university account. Eligibility for an unsubsidizeddirect loan is determined from the informationprovided on the FAFSA. A student will becharged interest from the time the loan is dis-bursed until it is paid in full. If a student allowsthe interest to accumulate, it will be capitalized—that is, the interest will be added to the prin-cipal amount of the loan and additional interestwill be based on the higher amount.

Job Locator Program: The Job Location andDevelopment program is an employment programdesigned to locate, create and develop part timeoff-campus employment for UMass Lowell stu-dents with the goal of providing field experienceand networking opportunities. This program isavailable to all students, regardless of financialaid eligibility. Jobs are located in the greaterLowell area. Students seeking career-relatedexperiences who have reliable transportationand time in their schedules are encouraged toconsider off-campus jobs. Available positions are posted in the Financial Aid Office.

Off-campus employers hire students directly andare responsible for processing all necessary payroll paperwork.

This program is a referral service and makes no recommendations, representations, or guarantees about positions or with regard toemployers. The University of MassachusettsLowell is not responsible for safety, wages,working conditions or other aspects of off-campus employment.

LOAN LIMITS FOR UNDERGRADUATE & GRADUATE STUDENTS

Annual Federal Direct Loan Limits for 2011-2012Maximum Annual Amounts

(Including additional Unsubsidized Loan)

Undergraduate Grade Level Dependent Independent

Freshman $5,500 $9,500(0-26 credits) ($3,500 Subsidized) ($3,500 Subsidized)

Sophomore $6,500 $10,500(27-56 credits) ($4,500 subsidized) ($4,500 subsidized)

Junior/ Senior $7,500 $12,500(57-120 credits) ($5,500 subsidized) ($5,500 subsidized)

Maximum Lifetime Aggregate $31,000 $57,500Amounts for Undergraduates ($23,000 subsidized) ($23,000 subsidized)

Graduate Student $20,500($8,500 subsidized)

Maximum Lifetime Aggregate $138,500Amounts for Graduates ($65,500 subsidized)

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ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR FINANCIAL AID

REASONS FOR ADJUSTMENTSRequests made by the student on the financial aid award notification letter or throughstudent self-service at http://www.ISIS.uml.edu/.

Additional aid from other sources must bereported in writing to the financial aid office.Awards from other sources may cause adjust-ments to a student’s financial aid. According to federal regulations, total financial aid includ-ing federal, state, university and other sources ofassistance may not exceed the estimated COA.

Special Circumstances: The Financial AidOffice can adjust the COA and the informationused to calculate your EFC to take into accountspecial circumstances you have. Situations couldinclude your family’s unusual medical and dentalexpenses, child care, tuition expenses and/orunemployment.

There must be compelling reasons for the financial aid administrator to take this step andyou will need to provide documentation to support any adjustments.

Please Note: Expenses such as tithing, utilities,credit card expenses, children’s allowances arenot considered Special Conditions. If any of thesecircumstances apply to you, please contact thefinancial aid office to speak to your counselor.

Enrollment status for initial financial aidawards are based as follows: undergraduate=12 credits, graduate = 9 credits, and continuingeducation = 6 credits. The enrollment of eachfinancial aid recipient is confirmed after theAdd/Drop period of each semester. When adjustments are made, students are notified via the UML email system. Students whoseenrollment drops below half time (6 credits) may only be eligible for a Pell Grant.

Withdrawal from the university requiresstudents to discharge all financial obligations tothe university, return all university property, andfile a written notification of withdrawal with theRegistrar’s Office. Students should meet with afinancial aid counselor prior to withdrawing inorder to understand the financial impacts. Pleaserefer to the “Withdrawal Policy and Return ofTitle IV Financial Aid Funds” sections in thisbooklet for more information.

Awards are contingent on registration;as a result, not enrolling for the fall semesterwill require cancellation of the entire financialaid award. If a student is re-admitted for thespring semester, financial aid will be re-instatedto the extent funds are available. A student whodefers admission to spring term must contact theFinancial Aid Office to retain spring term aid.

Residency changes during the academic year(e.g. out of state to in-state) may require anadjustment to your financial aid.

Grade level changes may require an adjust-ment to your financial aid (e.g. sophomore tojunior or undergraduate to graduate). This mayhappen when transfer credits are evaluated after the initial financial aid package has beenprocessed.

Housing status changes may require anadjustment to your financial aid (e.g. dorm tocommuter). Initial financial aid awards are basedon the housing status entered on the FAFSA.Housing is confirmed after the Add/Drop periodeach semester.

Important: Students must report in writing any changes in housing, enrollment, grade level,career or residency to the financial aid officeimmediately to make sure your financial aidaward is accurate. You may use the reverse side of your award letter to notify us of thesechanges.

VERIFICATION PROCESS AND PROCEDURESVerification is the process used to validate theaccuracy of the information provided on yourFAFSA. Applications are selected for verificationwhen they are submitted to the FAFSA processing center.

If your application is selected for verification, you will be mailed a Missing Information Letterinforming you of the documents needed forreview. Once this process is completed and youreligibility is verified, your financial aid will becredited to your account.

Documents requested for verification includeparent, student and spouse, federal income taxreturns and W2 forms, forms along with a verifi-cation worksheet. Please ensure your verification documents include your name, student ID and all required signatures.

Failure to submit requested information mayresult in the cancellation of financial aid. In addition, students identified by the U.S.Department of Education must submit documentation to support immigration, citizenship, selective service, veteran statusand/or social security number.

It is important to regularly check your ISIS selfservice To Do List and your UML email accountfor notifications of missing documents and thestatus of your application.

PAYING YOUR UNIVERSITY BILL

HOW TO ACCESS YOUR STUDENT E-BILLImportant Information Regarding Student Billing:

• Student bills are available online at http://isis.uml.edu.

• Students will receive an email notification via the UMass Lowell student email system(e.g. John_Doe@student.uml.edu) when a new bill has been generated.

• This notification will provide the balance due as well as the due date. Students will be directedto log into http://isis.uml.edu to access the actual bill which will be in .pdf format.

• Students will be able to view/print/pay their bills online at http://isis.uml.edu

• Students will be able to forward their bills electronically to parent(s)/legal guardians, etc.

For more information, please go to http://www.uml.edu/admin/ar/billing.html or call the StudentFinancial Services Office at 978.934.3570.

DISBURSEMENTS TO YOUR ACCOUNTDisbursement of Financial Aid: In accor-dance with the University’s policy, financial aidis applied to the student’s university bill (exceptin the case of student employment earnings).

Disbursements are made after the Add/Dropperiod of each semester once enrollment, residency, grade level and housing are confirmed.

FINANCIAL AID REFUNDS AND BOOK VOUCHERS Student Refunds: It is the policy of UMassLowell to return all verified credit balances tostudents each semester. If your financial aid is in excess of your university bill, refund checksare generally available late September for thefall semester and late February for the springsemester. These dates only apply to studentswho have completed all their financial aidpaperwork. Refunds are contingent on receipt of financial aid funds by the University.

Book Vouchers: These are offered to studentswhose financial aid is in excess of their studentinvoice by $50 or more. Student FinancialServices will notify students via email if they areeligible to receive a book voucher. The amountof the voucher comes from your financial aidaward and the amount used will be chargedback to your student account.

For more information on book vouchers orrefunds, please contact Student FinancialServices at 978-934-3570 or via email atStudentFinancialServ@uml.edu

THREE ALTERNATIVEFINANCING OPTIONSTuition Payment Plan (TuitionPay) This service enables you to make monthlyinstallments for the full year's tuition and fees. Brochures are available in the StudentFinancial Services Office or by contactingTuitionPay directly at 1-800-635-0120. You may also apply online athttps://secure.tuitionpayenroll.com/.

Federal Direct PLUS Loan: Federal Directparent PLUS Loans are for parents, stepparentsand adoptive parents of dependent childrenwho are undergraduate students attendingschool at least half-time (6 Credits).

Federal Direct GradPlus Loans are available forgraduate student who are enrolled at least halftime (6 credits) per semester.

Federal PLUS Loans carry a fixed interest rate of 8.5%. Origination or federal default fees of up to 4 .0% may be deducted from eachloan disbursement.

The maximum annual loan amount equals thecost of attendance, less all other financial aidreceived. Loan approval is subject to credit criteria established by the U.S. Department ofEducation and a credit report will be obtainedfrom a national credit bureau once you apply.Those who do not pass the credit check maystill be able to receive a PLUS Loan with a

credit worthy co borrower. For parents denied aPLUS loan, students may be eligible to borrowan additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

PLUS Loans are disbursed to student accountsin at least two equal payments, paid once thestudent’s enrollment is verified.

Interest begins accruing from the date loanfunds are first disbursed until the loan is repaidin full. The first payment is due within 60 daysof the loan’s last disbursement. Defermentoptions are also available.

To apply, print and complete the Federal Direct Plus Pre-Application available atwww.uml.edu/financialaid/forms and submit it to the Financial Aid Office.

Private Alternative Loans: Before consider-ing private loan options, you should apply forfederal, state and institutional financial aid,including federal student loans. Students con-sidering educational private loans should applyonly after they have applied for financial aidand received notification from the Financial AidOffice. UMass Lowell strongly encourages allstudents to apply for financial aid each yearonline at www.fafsa.gov.

UMass Lowell will process private/alternativeloans for any lender selected by the student.Please visit our website at http://www.uml.edu/financialaid/apply/alt-loans.html for more information.

ADDITIONAL FINANCING OPTIONS

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STUDENT RIGHTS• You have the right to privacy (FERPA). Allrecords and information you submit are confi-dential and subject to legal requirements con-cerning disclosure of such information.

• You have the right to request a review of yourfinancial aid eligibility.

• Information about the refund policies for bothuniversity charges and financial aid are avail-able for students for students consideringwithdrawing from the university. The Dean ofStudents Office acts as a resource for studentsconsidering withdrawal from the university.Refer to the university website atwww.uml.edu for more details.

• You have the right to request a reduction orcancellation of your student loan. Rememberthat a loan is a debt that must be repaid; borrow only what you need.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES • You are required to inform the Financial AidOffice of any outside sources of aid that donot appear on your award letter. Examples may include: scholarships, tuition waivers andveteran’s or rehabilitation benefits.

• You are responsible for completing all requestsfor information within the given deadlines.

• You are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP). SAP is evaluated at the end of each academic year for most students. (Review full policy and requirementson our website)

• You are responsible for maintaining satisfactorystatus on student loans. Students who defaulton federal student loansor owe refunds onfederal grants are not eligible for any financial aid.

• You must reapply for financial aid each year bythe March 1st priority deadline by completingthe FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov.

• You must contact the Financial Aid Office ifyou plan to participate in a Consortium, StudyAbroad or National Exchange program.

• All new Direct Loan borrowers must completean Entrance Loan Counseling session availableat www.studentloans.gov.

• All students who graduate, withdraw or drop below half-time (6 credits) status mustcomplete an Exit Loan Counseling sessionavailable at www.studentloans.gov.

• You must inform the Registrar's Office andyour lender of any changes to your name,address or phone number.

• Grant and scholarship aid that exceeds thecosts for tuition, fees, books, and requiredequipment and supplies may be consideredtaxable income. UMass Lowell provides eachstudent with a form 1098-T for the prior calendar year; the form totals the student’sinstitutional charges for tuition and fees aswell as a total for grants and scholarships. For additional information, please refer to IRSPublication 970: Tax Benefits for Education,available at www.irs.gov or discuss your situa-tion with a personal income tax professional.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AIDYou must reapply for financial aid each year bythe March 1st priority deadline by completing theFAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov and remember toadd our Federal School Code: 002161.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMICPROGRESS (SAP) Policy: Federal and state regulations require each studentreceiving financial aid meet satisfactory academicprogress (SAP) standards to ensure academicprogress toward the student’s degree or certifi-cate program. The standards of SAP apply to all federal, state and university financial aid programs.

The SAP policy evaluates three components todetermine eligibility for financial aid: cumulativeGPA (qualitative standard), completion rate(quantitative standard) and maximum credithours attempted for degree program.

Undergraduate students must maintain a mini-mum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and maintain a minimum 70% completion rate(total earned credits/total attempted credits). The maximum timeframe allowed for an undergraduate is 150% of the published program length.

Graduate students must maintain a minimumcumulative grade point average of 3.0 and complete the degree requirements with 5 yearsfor a Masters and 8 years for a Doctorate. SAP will be monitored by each AcademicProgram Department.

The Financial Aid Office conducts SAP evaluationsat the end of each spring term for undergraduateand graduate students. Certificate students are evaluated at the end of each semester.Students who do not maintain the university SAP standards will become ineligible to receivefinancial aid.

Appeals:A student who has lost financial aid eligibilitymay enter an appeal process with the FinancialAid Office. Each appeal is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If the appeal is approved, the studentwill be placed on financial aid probation for onesemester and will be eligible for financial aid. A student’s eligibility for financial aid will be lost in the next semester if the student does notsatisfy the appeal agreement.

Regaining Eligibility:Students may regain eligibility for financial aid by meeting SAP standards in a future semester,or by meeting the standards of an approved academic plan.

*For the complete SAP policy, please refer to the financial aid web page at www.uml.edu/financialaid. This policy may be subject tochanges or updates. The policy on the financialaid web page supersedes the policy in this booklet.

MAINTAINING FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY

RETURN OF TITLE IVFINANCIAL AID FUNDS Return of Title IV Funds:In accordance with Federal Regulations, theamount of Title IV aid a student has earned forthe enrollment period is based on the length oftime the student remains enrolled for that peri-od. Therefore, the percentage of the enrollmentperiod completed is also the percentage of aidthe student has earned. Students who withdrawon or before the 60% point of the term will havetheir federal financial aid eligibility calculated indirect proportion to the length of actual enroll-ment. A student who remains enrolled beyondthe 60% point earns all aid for the period.

The return of Federal Title IV funds will bein the following order:

1. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

2. Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan

3. Federal Perkins Loan

4. Federal PLUS Loan / Federal Graduate PLUS Loan

5. Federal Pell Grant

6. Federal Supplemental Educational OpportunityGrant (FSEOG)

7. Federal TEACH Grant

A student may be eligible for a post-withdrawaldisbursement of federal financial aid if the returnof funds calculation indicates the student earnedmore aid than was disbursed prior to the student’swithdrawal. Post-withdrawal disbursements willbe credited toward unpaid institutional charges,with any remaining excess portion offered as adisbursement to the student. Students mustaccept a post-withdrawal disbursement within14 days of the offer. If a response is not receivedor if the offer is declined, excess funds will becancelled and/or returned to the appropriate aid program.

Return of Non-Title IV Funds:The university will calculate return of non-Title IVfunds in accordance with the appropriate stateand institutional refund policy. Massachusettsstate funds are calculated based on theMassachusetts Office of Student FinancialAssistance (OSFA) policy, available atwww.osfa.mass.edu. Institutional funds will bereturned on a case-by-case basis followingappropriate administrator review of aid earnedand balance due. Aid required to be returned tothe program from which the funds originatedwill be made in the following order: federal,institutional, state. Note: The information con-tained in this section is subject to change, with-out notice, in order to comply with federal, state,or university requirements. Please refer to thefinancial aid website for the most current refundpolicy at http://www.uml.edu/financialaid/gener-al-info/withdrawal.html.

OTHER IMPORTANT CONTACTS Office of Undergraduate Admissions(978) 934-3931

Housing and Residence Life(978) 934-5160

Office of the Registrar (978) 934-2550

Bursar’s Office(978) 934-3593

Student Financial Services(978) 934-3570

Access Services(978) 934-2800

MERIT AID REQUIREMENTSMaintaining Merit Aid Students must maintain the minimum cumulativegrade point average (GPA) designated for a particular merit aid program. For example, therequired cumulative GPA for the Dean’sScholarship is 3.0 and for the Chancellor’sCommonwealth is 3.25.

Once grades are posted in June, the Financial AidOffice reviews the cumulative GPAs of meritscholarship recipients. Students who meet theminimum requirements of their particular meritaid program will automatically have their scholarship renewed.

You have the right to appeal. The Financial AidScholarship Committee will review your appealand make the necessary determinations.

Withdrawal Policy:Students withdrawing from the University arerequired to discharge all financial obligations to the University, return all University propertyand file a written notification of withdrawal with the Registrar’s Office. Students should meet with a financial aid counselor prior to withdrawing to understand the financial impacts.Instructions for withdrawing from the Universityare published on the Registrar’s web site athttp://www.uml.edu/registrar/policies%20and%20procedures/withdraw.html.

Financial Aid OfficeAddress: 883 Broadway Street, Room 102

Lowell, MA 01854-5131

Office Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (year round)Telephone Number: (978) 934-4220Fax Number: (978) 934-3009

Web Site: http://www.uml.edu/financialaid

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DISCLAIMER

The programs, policies and procedures in this publication are correct at the time of printing andare subject to change without notice. For updated information, please refer to our web page atwww.uml.edu/financialaid.

This publication contains material related to Federal Title IV student aid programs. This publicationhas not been reviewed or approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

Visit the Financial Aid web page at

www.um

l.edu/financialaidfor

more inform

ation and updates.

Financial Aid O

ffice883 Broadw

ay Street, Room 102

Lowell, M

A 01854-5131