DOLLARS & SENSE: FINANCIAL AID

Students who have a Pell balance on record and have been processed for Financial Aid by January 19th, 2012 will be eligible to receive a book advance check during the first weeks of classes. Students are eligible to receive a maximum of $573.00 as an advance payment from their Pell grant to cover cost of books.

Book Advance Payment Schedule
February 29th
March 7th

Students receive the book advance payment as they prefer:
Paper checks, Direct Deposit, or CUNY Scholar Support Prepaid Card
 

Get Your Financial Aid Faster and Easier!
Students eligible to receive financial aid may receive payments on a CUNY Scholar Support Prepaid Card. This is not a credit card. It is a prepaid “MasterCard” card accepted at any store or ATM where MasterCard debit is accepted. Student payments will be automatically deposited to the card and can be used immediately.
Sign up for the CUNY Scholar Support Prepaid Card at www.cuny.edu/scholarssupport.

Arrange your Financial Aid to go to your bank account and avoid checks lost and delays!
Simply fill out the Direct Deposit Request/Authorization Form available on our website under “Download Forms” or you may pick one up at the Bursar’s Window (M Building, Basement Lobby)

The CUNY Portal is a gateway to CUNY applications, services and CUNY resources. With a single sign-on you can access many CUNY applications. Now you can check your student information, financial aid application status (both Federal FAFSA and State TAP), financial aid awards, view and fix errors, link to the Education Department’s Online Entrance Interview for Direct Loans, and link to the interactive Loan request page – all through the CUNY Portal.

Go to www.cuny.edu.
Click “Log-in” at bottom left of navigation bar
Type in your Username and Password. Click the “Log In” button. (If you do not have an
account, click “Register Now!” to get a username and password.)
Click the link to Admissions and Financial Aid under the Apply to CUNY section.
Click Financial Aid on the left of the navigation bar.
Click on Application Status – this will lead you to FAFSA and TAP applications
Click on Award Summary to view a display of Pell, TAP, campus-based aid and Direct Loans

 

 You will also find links to:

• Guide to Financial Aid
• FAFSA on the web
• Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)
• Summary of Financial Aid Programs
• Federal Tax Benefits for Tuition and Fees
• Preventing Financial Aid Scams
• Identity Theft Prevention

 

 Use your Federal Work Study award for 2011-12. Why pass up the opportunity to obtain great work experience?

As soon as you get your new award letter for FWS for 2011-12:

• Come to Student Financial Service (C-107) or call (718) 482-5935
• Sign up for a FWS Orientation/Placement workshop
• Be sure to bring your award letter to the workshop

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Aponte, at 718-482-6087
 

 Entrance Interview

All students who have been awarded a Federal Perkins Loan for 2011-12 must take the on-line Pre-Loan Entrance Interview before a check can be issued. Follow these 4 simple steps:

 

• Log on to http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/financial-aid/links/ 
• Take the Entrance Interview for Perkins Loan
• Print the Confirmation page upon completion of the Entrance Interview

Bring the Confirmation page to Mr. Stanley Rumph in C-107 for final approval of your Perkins Loan. We will accept only electronically signed Promissory Notes.
 

Entrance Counseling

All students applying for a Federal Direct Loan must complete the Department of Education's On-line Entrance Counseling for Borrowers’ Quiz. Just follow these 5 simple steps:
 

• Log on to www.studentloans.gov 
• Take the Quiz
• Print out the Rights and Responsibilities page, and sign it
• Bring the signed Rights and Responsibilities page, within 30 days, to Student Financial Services (C-107), where you will complete your loan application
• E-sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at www.studentloans.gov using your PIN. If you do not have a PIN, you can request one at www.pin.ed.gov.

Once the MPN is completed, you will receive a Disclosure Notice from the Department of Education approximately 10 days before the scheduled disbursement date. The Disclosure Notice will indicate the approved gross loan amount(s), fees, net loan amounts, and anticipated disbursement dates. All loans are disbursed in at least 2 disbursements.
 

If you are graduating, drop below 6 credits, or leaving LaGuardia Community College, and you have an outstanding Perkins or Direct Loan, federal regulations require you to complete an Exit Counseling/Interview. The exit counseling/interview serves to remind you of your rights and responsibilities, and gives you an opportunity to speak with a financial aid counselor about any questions that you may have regarding your loan.

What will happen if you leave the college without taking an exit counseling/interview?

Your school records, including your academic transcript and diploma will not be released until you complete this requirement;

Perkins Loan Borrowers: You must take the online Exit Interview at http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/financial-aid/links/
Direct Loan Borrowers: Complete your Exit Counseling online at http://www.nslds.ed.gov/

Don’t Default on Your Student Loan

If you default on your student loan you will face the following serious consequences:

• Your loan will be reported to national credit bureaus and it will damage your credit rating;
• A defaulted loan has a negative affect when you try to purchase a home or a car;
• Legal action can be taken against you;
• Your wages can be garnished;
• Your income tax refund can be withheld;
• You may not be eligible for additional student aid.

For information about Student Loan Repayment options:

Federal Direct Student Loan borrowers can visit the NSLDS website: http://www.nslds.ed.gov
Perkins Loan borrowers can visit the Educational Computer Services, Inc. website: www.ecsi.net

Academic Year
2011 – 2012

Financial aid academic program appeal will only be approved by the Appeals Committee within the current academic year. Documents supporting the appeal must be attached to the appeal form for review. The dates for supporting documentation must be within the current academic year the appeal is being requested. The decision of the committee is final.

 

The Financial Aid Appeal Waiver Form is available online:
http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/financial-aid/financial-aid-policies/

Appeals must be requested within 30 days of notification.

Students can only apply for a one-time waiver for TAP
  

Pell application status, to order a duplicate SAR, or General information about Federal Aid
(800) 433-3243 or http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
Information about CUNY TAP application, Stafford Loans, TAP or Loan status
(888) 697-4372 or www.hesc.com
Selective Service
(847) 688-6888 or www.sss.gov
VA Education Benefits
(888) 442-4551 or http://www.gibill.va.gov/
Report the grant fraud to Ed. Dept's Office of Inspector General
(800) 647-8733 or oig.hotline@ed.gov
Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
(877) 382-4357 or www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams
FTC teletype for the hearing impaired
(866) 653-4261

Monday & Thursday         9:00am – 7pm

Tuesday & Wednesday      9:00am – 5pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday   CLOSED

 

Holiday Hours
December 19th – 29th 9:00am – 5pm
December 21st (only) 9:00am – 2pm
Closed     Monday Dec. 26th
                Thursday Dec. 29th
                Monday Jan. 16th
                Monday Feb. 13th
                Monday Feb. 20th