Wentworth Military Academy and College
Financial Aid Office
You may contact the Wentworth Financial Aid Office at: (660) 259-2221
or
(800) 962-7682
Wentworth Military Academy and College Financial Aid Office
1880 Washington Avenue Lexington MO 64067-1799
FAFSA School Code # 002522 Complete the FAFSA at
APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID
Students should complete the online FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at www.fafsa.ed.gov prior to April 1st each year. Additional school choices may be added later through the FAFSA correction process. RECORDS FOR FAFSA COMPLETION
• IRS Tax Return Transcripts
• W-2 forms and other records of money earned
• Records of untaxed income (veteran’s non education benefits, child support, or other assistance)
• Current bank statements • Business and farm records
• Records of stocks, bonds, and other investments
Note: Students may apply for aid even if the tax return is not yet filed. However, providing estimated income information on the application often results in selection for verification. A free Tax Return Transcript is available upon request at www.irs.gov or by calling 1-800-908-9946. FINANCIAL AID AWARD LETTER
• The FAFSA results are transmitted to the Financial Aid Office within a few days after the student submits the online application. • Other documentation may be requested – the school has to review about one in every three applications for accuracy. The student may need to provide federal tax forms and complete a verification worksheet.
• Students with special circumstances that might affect the amount their family is expected to contribute to the cost of education may request consideration for professional judgment from the Financial Aid Office.
TEXTBOOKS AND SUPPLIES
Students may order books and supplies through the virtual bookstore eCampus. Financial aid recipients can utilize this process and charge the order to their student account. If the student chooses not to order books through eCampus, they will receive any excess aid (minus tuition, fees, room and board) at the time of disbursement.
FINANCIAL AID DISBURSEMENT
Financial aid funds are applied to student accounts during the third week of the term. Excess aid checks are mailed within 14 days of when funds are credited to student accounts.
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
The minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress are evaluated at the end of each semester for currently enrolled financial aid recipients by the following criteria:
Financial Aid Warning/Suspension-GPA
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA based on the total number of credit hours attempted (both Wentworth and transfer hours are considered). SAP evaluations are made at the end of each financial aid payment period (semester). Financial aid recipients whose cumulative GPA drops below 2.0 (or who transfer in with a cumulative GPA below 2.0) will be placed on Financial Aid “Warning”. Once placed on Financial Aid Warning, the student will have one semester to achieve a 2.0 cumulative GPA. If during that semester the student does not achieve a cumulative 2.0 GPA, the student will be placed on Financial Aid “Suspension.” If placed on Financial Aid Suspension, the student is required to take at least 12 hours at their own expense and achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 before financial aid will be reinstated.
Appeal Process/Probation
Students who have been placed on Financial Aid Suspension may appeal their suspension status. An appeal must include (1) a detailed explanation of the circumstances which contributed to a student not being able to make the required satisfactory progress and (2) an explanation of what will change during the next term that will bring the student into SAP compliance. The appeal is made in writing to the Financial Aid Office and the decision is final. If successfully appealed, the student’s SAP status will change to “probation” for the next payment period. The student may receive aid for that payment period. Upon completion of the probation period, the student must have achieved the 2.0 cumulative GPA and the required percentage of program completion to retain financial aid eligibility. Failure to do so will return the student to a financial aid suspension status. However, an option to remain on probation for one more payment period may be granted if the student is successfully following an approved academic plan.
Notification to Student
A student will be notified in writing at the time he/she is placed in a financial aid SAP warning, suspension, or probation status. The student will also be notified when successfully emerging from any of those statuses.
Change of Major and Degree Program
Students must be enrolled as degree seeking in order to qualify for federal and state financial aid programs. In 2009-2010, Wentworth College added the Associate of Applied Science degree as a student option. Students who choose to switch majors from the Associate of Arts degree to the Applied Science degree (or from Applied Science to the Associate of Arts) may have credits attempted and grades earned that do not count toward the new major. In these instances, uncounted credits attempted and grades earned will not be included in the SAP determination. However, such an allowance is limited to changing majors one time (students cannot avoid the SAP policy by changing majors more than once).
Earning a Second Degree
TOTAL WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASSES
A student is required to follow official procedures when withdrawing from all classes. For the Lexington campus, contact the Student Services Office for instructions. If withdrawing from classes at Cameron, Heritage, or Lamar, contact the respective site-coordinator for instructions.
EFFECT OF EARLY WITHDRAWAL ON TITLE IV AID
The law specifies how Wentworth Military Academy and College must determine the amount of Title IV program assistance that a student has earned if withdrawing from school. The programs covered by this regulation include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Stafford and PLUS Loans, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). When a student withdraws from all classes during a payment period, the amount of Title IV program assistance that has been earned up to that point is determined by a specific formula. This calculation incorporates a last date of attendance. Wentworth College requires its instructors to take attendance for each class session. Attendance is recorded in Wentworth’s student information database and the Financial Aid Office relies on that system to determine the date the student last attended.
If the student or parent received (or WMA received on their behalf) less assistance than the amount that was earned, the student may be able to receive those additional funds. If the student received more assistance than was earned, the excess funds must be returned by the school.
If the student or parent receives (or Wentworth receives on their behalf) excess Title IV program funds that must be returned, Wentworth must return a portion of the excess equal to the lesser of:
1) institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentages of funds, or
2) the entire amount of excess funds
Using the Return to Title IV Funds (R2T4) formula required by the U.S. Department of Education, the Financial Aid Office will determine the respective aid amounts to be returned and inform the student by letter.
Any amount of unearned grant funds that must be returned is an overpayment. The maximum amount of a grant overpayment that the student must repay is equal to one half of the grant funds received. The student must make arrangements with the school or Department of Education to return unearned grant funds.
Loan funds (including PLUS loans that the parent borrowed) are returned or repaid in accordance with the terms of the promissory note.
Students who have questions about Title IV programs can contact the Wentworth Financial Aid Office or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FEDAID (1-800-433-3243). Information is also available online at www.studentaid.ed.gov
Wentworth Refund Policy/Amounts Owed
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Students should understand that they have the following rights and responsibilities to consider in choosing a school to attend.
RIGHTS: I have a right to ask a school
• The names of the accrediting and licensing organizations
• About the academic programs (instructional, laboratory, physical facilities, and faculty)
• The cost of attendance, and the refund policy to students when classes are dropped
• What financial assistance is available (federal, state, and institutional aid programs)
• Procedures and deadlines for submitting financial aid applications • How financial aid recipients are selected
• How my financial need is determined and the cost of education • How much of my financial need has been met
• How and when financial aid will be paid
• To explain each type and amount of assistance offered in my financial aid package
• If I receive a Federal Direct Stafford Loan: what the interest rate is, total amount to be repaid, when repayment begins and how long, and what cancellation or deferment provisions apply
• To reconsider my aid package if I believe an error has been made or if circumstances change
• How the school determines if I am making satisfactory academic progress and what happens if I am not
• What facilities and services are available to the handicapped RESPONSIBILITIES: It is my responsibility to
• Review all information about a school’s programs before enrolling • Pay attention to the accuracy my application and filing deadlines • Provide all documentation, corrections, and requested information • Notify the school immediately if information changes (name, address, attendance status, etc.)
• Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms I have signed • Complete entrance and exit counseling for my loans
TYPES OF AID OFFERED Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grants do not have to be repaid. Eligibility for the award is based upon the results of the FAFSA and enrollment status.
FSEOG
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are available in small amounts to a limited number of students who are eligible for the maximum Pell Grant award. Priority is given to eligible students based upon the FAFSA filing date. Students who apply prior to March 1 are more likely to be considered for this award. FSEOG is offered until all funds annually available to Wentworth have been accepted.
Access Missouri Grant
Funds are provided through the Missouri Department of Higher Education. To receive an Access Missouri Grant, a student must submit a completed FAFSA before April 1, have an expected family contribution of less than 12,000, be a Missouri resident, and attend full-time at a Missouri post-secondary institution.
Federal Direct Stafford Loans
Subsidized Loans are based upon financial need as determined by the FAFSA, and require at least half-time enrollment. The federal government pays the interest on the subsidized loan while the student is in school. The borrower must begin repayment of principal and interest six months after graduation, withdrawal, or dropping below half-time enrollment status.
Unsubsidized Loans are available to students regardless of financial need. Maximum loan amounts are determined according to dependency status and grade level. Interest on the unsubsidized loan accrues while the student is in school and is capitalized at the time of repayment. The borrower must begin repayment of principal and interest six months after graduation, withdrawal, or dropping below half-time enrollment status.
Federal Direct PLUS Loans
Students borrowing their first Federal Direct Stafford Loan through Wentworth must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). In order to complete and electronically sign the MPN at http://studentloans.gov the student will need to provide:
Their Federal Student Aid PIN. This is the PIN number used to sign the FAFSA. Please visit the Department of Education PIN site at http://www.pin.ed.gov for more information.
Full name, social security number, date of birth, and driver’s license information. Make sure all information is entered correctly. If it does not match the school’s records, Wentworth will not receive notice of your MPN completion.
Names, addresses, and phone numbers for two references. Reference
information is used by the Department of Education if they are unable to contact you following graduation or dropping below half-time status. Your first reference should be a parent if possible. The 2nd reference must be at an address that is different from both yours and your parent’s addresses.
The student will receive an email confirmation from the Department of Education when they are finished. Students that are applying for their first Federal Direct Stafford Loan at Wentworth must also complete Entrance Counseling at http://studentloans.gov . They will again log in using their Federal Student Aid PIN.
Scholarships
Please contact the Wentworth Office of Admissions to determine what WMA scholarships may be available to you. If you have been awarded a scholarship from another organization for attendance at Wentworth, the Financial Aid Office should be notified.
Search for scholarships online:
Fastweb.com provides free access to a searchable database of more than 1.5 million scholarships. Sallie Mae offers a free scholarship database including approximately 3 million scholarships at CollegeAnswer.com. There are a number of other free scholarship search engines available also including
FINANCIAL AID OFFICE CODE OF CONDUCT
The primary goal of Wentworth Military Academy and College’s financial aid staff is to help students achieve their educational potential by providing appropriate financial resources. This document provides a set of principles that serves as a common foundation for an acceptable standard of conduct. In compliance with requirements of the Higher Education Opportunity Act as signed into law on August 14, 2008, Wentworth Military Academy and College provides the following Code of Conduct regarding student loans: Wentworth Military Academy and College:
• Makes this general statement regarding private education loans: Most
Wentworth College students find that a combination of Title IV federal aid, including Title IV loans, provides the funding needed to attend Wentworth. The terms/conditions of Title IV Loans may be more favorable than private education loans. Wentworth does not endorse nor suggest any private education loan. Should you want to pursue that option, please search the internet for available private education loan lenders.
• Does not ever recommend private education loan lenders to college students or their parents, or maintain any list of such lenders.
• Prohibits employees of the financial aid office, or any employee who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to educational loans, from taking a gift from a lender worth more than a nominal value.
• Prohibits employees of the financial aid office, or any employee who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to educational loans, from entering into any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide lender services relating to educational loans.
• Prohibits employees of the financial aid office, or any employee who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to educational loans, who serves on an advisory board (or commission or group) relating to educational loans established by a lender or group of lenders, from receiving anything of value from the lender or group of lenders in connection with serving on such advisory board.
• Prohibits external lenders’ employees, representatives, or agents from providing staffing services to the financial aid office.
Wentworth Military Academy and College: