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Financial Aid

FAFSA on the Web for 2009-2010

You can now fill out your FAFSA form on the web! You will get your results back sooner by applying online. The website for 2009-2010 is www.fafsa.ed.gov.

If you don't already have a PIN, you can apply for one now at www.pin.ed.gov. You'll need a PIN to electronically sign your FAFSA. If you are a dependent student, your parents should also apply for a PIN so they can electronically sign your FAFSA.  Duplicate PINs can also be obtained from this website.

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In order to receive Financial Aid, students must:

Students transferring in must be responsible for Pell funds used at previous college or business school for current aid year.

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Types of Financial Aid

There are four types of Financial Aid: grants, scholarships, federal work-study and loans. Awards may be in any one of these categories or combinations of the four. The exact form of the total award will be determined only after careful evaluation of the student’s individual situation. Financial need, academic performance and resources available to the student are all considered.

All financial aid awards are predicated upon available funds and subject to revision by the financial aid office for changes in enrollment status, additional resources, scholarships, and/or lack of completion of necessary information to determine eligibility. Financial aid is disbursed twice per academic year; the first disbursement during the fall semester and the second disbursement during the spring semester.

Grants

Grants are available to students who demonstrate financial need. Students may receive grants in this category, particularly if they are eligible for a Pell Grant. Students may continue to receive this grant as well as other aid, as long as they remain in good academic standing and continue to require aid.

State Scholarships

• Capitol Scholarship:This scholarship program is available to qualified students who are residents of Connecticut and who plan to enroll as full-time students in an institution of higher education in Connecticut or in a state where there is reciprocity. Further information is included on the application form that should be obtained from the secondary school attended by the applicant or by visiting the Connecticut Department of Higher Education website at www.ctdhe.org.
  
• Connecticut Aid to Public College Students (CAP Funds): These funds are allocated to the college by the State of Connecticut and are awarded based upon financial need and funds available.
  
• Community College Grant: These funds are allocated to the college by the State of Connecticut and are awarded based upon financial need and funds available

Federal Work-Study Program

This program provides jobs for students who receive financial aid. Its purpose is to provide funds for students, which will allow them to be employed while they are pursuing their studies. This part-time employment may be either on the college campus or in a public and/or private non-profit organization. Students may work a maximum of 15 hours a week while attending classes. If funds are available, eligible students may work a maximum of 25 hours during vacation periods. Students interested in this program should contact the Financial Aid Office.

Loans

• Federal Stafford Loan Program:
  These fixed-rate loans, guaranteed by the federal government, are available to students who apply for financial aid using the FAFSA. The student chooses a participating lender, such as a bank or credit union (most require that you be a member), and applies through the Gateway Community College Office of Financial Aid. Payment on the principal is not required until 6 months after the student leaves school, as long as the student remains enrolled at least half-time. There are two types:

  Subsidized Stafford Loans are need-based loans. The government will pay the interest on the loan to the lender while the student is enrolled at least half-time and during other authorized periods called "deferments".  The interest rate on this type of loan is currently fixed at 6.0%

  Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are available to students who do not qualify for need-base loans, or who qualify for less than the annual maximum of Subsidized Stafford Loan. The government does not pay the interest to the lender; the student can choose to either pay the interest while in school, or have the interest added to the loan principal to be repaid later.  The interest rate on this type of loan is fixed at 6.8%.

• Federal PLUS Loans Parent Loans for Undergraduates (PLUS): Parent Loans to Undergraduate Students (PLUS) are fixed-rate loans provided by participating lenders to parents of dependent students. The lender must perform a minimal check of the borrower's credit history. Payment of principal and interest begins once the loan is disbursed to the student's school account.  The interest rate on this type of loan is fixed at 8.5%.
  
  
• Family Education Loan Program (FFELP): This program was created to help students and their families pay the cost of attending college by reducing the financial burden of borrowing. FFELP loans are available, with no application fee to help undergraduate, graduate, and professional students pay their current or prior years educational expenses. This program includes the Federal Stafford Loan (Subsidized and Unsubsidized), and the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). The funds for these loans are provided by private lenders, such as banks, credit unions and savings & loan associations. These loans are guaranteed against default by the federal government.

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Lender Information and Repayments

Lenders are authorized to charge borrowers loan fees, at the discretion of the lender, which will be deducted proportionately from each loan disbursement.  Revenue from these fees are passed on to the federal government to help reduce the government’s cost of providing these loans.  Students and parents who borrow Stafford or PLUS loans should consult their chosen lender to determine fees that will be assessed.

Return of Title IV Funds:

The college maintains a fair and equitable refund policy as mandated by the US Department of Education regulations. These refund and repayment rules only apply to students who withdraw completely and/or otherwise fail to complete the current period of enrollment.

Federal Title IV Regulations require a calculation for the return of Title IV Funds which are not earned by the student in that semester. This regulation requires the college to determine the amount of return through the following calculation::

1. Official date of withdrawal;
2. Total number of days in the semester;
3. Percentage of Title IV funds earned and unearned;
4. Amount of funds to be returned by the student.

The college will notify the student within 30 days of the determination of return of funds. The student has 45 days to retain Title IV eligibility by returning the amount in full or making satisfactory arrangements to repay the funds to the US Department of Education. Failure of the student to do either within the 45 days obligates the college to report the overpayment to the US Department of Education. Afterwards, the student will lose eligibility for Title IV funds on the 46th day.

The student (or parent, if a Federal PLUS loan) must return the unearned funds for which they are responsible to loan programs in accordance with the terms of the loan and to grant programs as an overpayment. Grant overpayments are subject to repayment arrangements satisfactory to the school, or overpayment collection procedures prescribed by the Secretary of the Department of Education.

Order of Return of Student Financial Aid Program Funds
Funds credited to outstanding loan balances for the payment period of period of enrollment, for which a return of funds is required, must be returned in the following order (not to exceed the original enrollment from each source)

• Unsubsidized Federal Stafford loans
• Subsidized Federal Stafford loans
• Unsubsidized Direct Stafford loans (other than PLUS loans)
• Subsidized Direct Stafford loans
• Perkins loans
• Federal PLUS loans
• Direct PLUS loans
• Federal Pell Grants for the payment period for which a return of funds is required.
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) for the payment period for which a return of funds is required

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Internet Links

1. FastWeb: is a free service to students and parents. This website is a database of 180,000 scholarships offered by associations, corporations, service clubs and other private sources. It asks questions about you and then provides a list of scholarships for which you might qualify.
   
2. U.S. Education Department: The basic form provided by the federal government for all federal aid programs and hundreds of colleges' scholarships, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), can be filled in and submitted from the U.S. Education Department's Web site, www.fafsa.ed.gov.
   
3. On-line library of financial aid information:  A massive on-line library of financial aid information and advice.

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Armed Services

Veterans Benefits:

Veterans who believe they are eligible for V.A. benefits should bring a copy of their discharge papers (DD 214), marriage certificate, and birth certificates of dependents, if applicable, to the Records Office. This office will expedite the processing of forms and the receipt of benefits from the Veterans Administration. Students receiving benefits as sons or daughters of veterans should provide the Veterans Coordinator in the Career Services Office at the Long Wharf campus with appropriate forms and information.

Once attending the college, any student receiving veteran’s benefits must report any change in the number of courses and/or changes in the dependent status or address to the Veterans Coordinator in the Records Office.

Recipients of veterans benefits are required to follow college procedures in registering for courses and in paying fees; benefits are awarded according to the provisions of the law under which the benefits are received. Wartime veterans who meet the criteria set by the State of Connecticut are eligible for 100% tuition waiver. Veterans may collect benefits for extension fund credit courses, however, a tuition waiver cannot be granted.

Eligibility:

For the purpose of granting a tuition waiver, a veteran is anyone who served on active duty in the United States Armed Forces and has been released from active duty under honorable conditions. Veterans must be CT residents for at least one year prior to enrolling at the college.

A veteran must have served on active duty for a least 90 days during periods of war from World War II (12/7/41-12/31/46); Korean Hostilities (6/27/50-1/31/55); The Vietnam Era (12/22/61-7/1/75); Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm (8/2/90-6/30/94); or engaged in a combat or support role in Lebanon Peace Keeping Mission (9/29/82-3/30/84) Grenada Invasion (10/25-12/15/83); Operation Earnest Will (2/1-7/23/87); Panama Invasion (12/20/89-1/31/90). Persons who served during any other period are not eligible for a tuition waiver.

National Guard: Under CGS section 10a-77, the Board of Trustees of Community-Technical Colleges shall waive the payment of tuition only at any of the community-technical colleges for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who; a) is a resident of Connecticut; b) has been certified by the Adjutant General or his designee as a member in good standing of the Guard; and c) is enrolled or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate degree or certificate granting program. If any person who receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement.

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Gateway Foundation Scholarships

The Gateway Community College Foundation, Inc. was formed to assist the college in expanding its services to students and enhancing academic instruction. The Foundation also helps the college to invest in Connecticut’s future by increasing its resources and underwriting programs responsive to community needs.

The Foundation awards or administers various scholarships in conformance with the policies of its board of directors or at the request of the benefactor.

Scholarships are awarded each spring for use in the following academic year. The GCC Foundation scholarship brochure lists the various scholarships available and includes an application form. Brochures may be obtained from the Financial Aid, Counseling and Foundation offices and are available at student information centers at both campuses.

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Bookstore Information

**All students are required to sign a Title IV authorization form before charging books. Please go to http://my.commnet.edu. Under student Services & Financial Aid click on the registration and payment option. This will bring you to the Title IV authorization form. Complete and submit the form to the payment office. The form must be completed 24-48 hours prior to establishing an account at the bookstore. Click here for posted bookstore dates.

Financial aid students can charge books starting on Monday, August 24 and ending on Monday, September 17, 2009.

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Fafsa Workshops

Gateway Community College
Financial Aid Office
FAFSA Workshop Schedule for 2009-2010
Deadline for financial aid applications-December 1, 2009

Please call the financial aid at 285-2030 to schedule an appointment.

Items you will need to bring with you are:

• The Federal Pin number assigned to you by the U.S. Dept. of Education. To get the Federal Pin number, go the following link:  www.pin.ed.gov
• Completed Tax Return and all W'2's for the 2008 year. Note:  Workshops take approximately ½ hours. 
  

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Financial Aid Work Study

As a Financial Aid student, you may be eligible for Federal College Work Study at $8.00 per hour. To be eligible, you must have a completed Financial Aid application on file in the Financial Aid Office.

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Independent Students

The U.S. Department of Education considers the following students independent of support from their parent(s). You must either:

• be born before January 1, 1986;
• be married or separated;
• be a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces;
• have legal dependants (children or persons other than a spouse);
• be able to document unusual circumstances indicating independent status;
• be a graduate /professional student;
• have both parents deceased; or
• be a ward of the court.
• emancipated; legal guardianship; foster care. 

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Financial Aid Office Staff

Long Wharf Campus
Main Number: (203) 285-2030
gw-finaidhelp@gwcc.commnet.edu

Ray Zeek, Director of Financial Aid
(203) 285- 2032
rzeek@gwcc.commnet.edu

Steve McDowell, Associate Director of Financial Aid
(203) 285- 2129
smcdowell@gwcc.commnet.edu

Nancy Robinson, Financial Aid Assistant
(203) 285-2034
nrobinson@gwcc.commnet.edu

Lavanda Bryant, Office Assistant
(203) 285-2031
lbryant@gwcc.commnet.edu

Bennyta Claytor, Secretary I
(203) 285-2291
bclaytor@gwcc.commnet.edu