Trinity College Catalog 2002-2003: Financial Aid

Students are responsible for arranging the payment of tuition and fees prior to the beginning of each semester. Today more than ever before, investing in a college education requires planning. Trinity College recognizes this and is prepared to assist students and their families in making college affordable through financial planning, counseling, and installment payment plans. Trinity College offers a comprehensive program of student financial assistance. A counselor in the Office of Student Financial Services is always available during office hours at Tel. 202/884-9530 or email: financialaid@trinitydc.edu.

Financial aid is awarded on the basis of demonstrated and verifiable financial need as determined by subtracting the estimated family contribution of both the student and her or his parents (if applicable) from the total cost of education for the respective academic year. Students applying for financial aid will be considered for all programs for which they are eligible, and assistance is generally a combination of grant, loan, and employment. Trinity participates in all federal Title IV student financial assistance programs.

Awards are given for one year and are reviewed annually to reflect changes in the financial need of the student and changes in the cost of attending college. Once given, aid is normally continued if the student continues to demonstrate need, makes satisfactory academic progress, and follows the procedures for annual application for financial aid.

Students who have previously obtained a baccalaureate degree and are pursuing a second baccalaureate degree are only eligible to apply for loan and work assistance. Neither Trinity College nor federal grant funds are available to students seeking a second baccalaureate degree or a post-graduate certificate.

Procedures to Apply for Financial Aid

This checklist has been developed to help students understand the financial aid process and to manage their personal records. Applicants for financial aid should keep track of the date of submission for each item and keep a copy of each document for themselves. Eligible students who meet the following priority deadlines and submit all other requested materials can be assured that their aid package will be processed by the beginning of the semester.

________	Step 1. Complete and mail the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA for the appropriate academic year to the federal processing center. Trinity's school code is 001460. An application may be completed on the web at this address: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Priority Deadline: April 1.
________	Step 2. A Student Aid Report (SAR) will be sent to an applicant a few weeks after the FAFSA is received. The SAR should be reviewed for accuracy, and applicants should confirm that Trinity is listed in the school section. If necessary, corrections should be made and mailed back to the federal processing center.
________	Step 3. An applicant's SAR will also indicate if there is anything else needed to process a request for financial aid. The most common request is for a copy of the applicant's most recent federal tax return and a Verification Worksheet. These documents should be submitted directly to the Office of Student Financial Services at Trinity College. Applications for aid will be on hold until all completed materials are received.
________	Step 4. Applicants who wish to borrow a Stafford Loan and/or PLUS (parent) Loan should complete a Trinity College Loan Application and return it to the Office of Student Financial Services. Priority Deadline: May 1.
________	Step 5. First-time borrowers will receive a Master Promissory Note in the mail. Complete the note carefully and return it to the lender. Students who signed a Master Promissory Note for the previous academic year will not have to complete another one.

Lenders will generally disburse loan funds to Trinity via electronic funds transfer (EFT) in equal disbursements each semester. Students who are due a refund after their bills are paid may complete a refund request form after the schedule adjustment period for that semester.

Policies about Financial Aid

In order to be eligible for financial aid, students must meet the following requirements:

Students may not receive financial aid for experiential learning (TELL) and audited courses. These courses do not count towards enrollment status for financial aid eligibility.

Students receiving financial aid must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their degrees in order to remain eligible for both federal and Trinity College funds. To make satisfactory academic progress, undergraduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0; graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. All students must complete at least two-thirds of attempted credits. In addition, satisfactory academic progress is also measured by completion of attempted credits according to a schedule not to exceed 150% of the credits necessary for a degree.

The Office of Student Financial Services reviews the academic progress of financial aid recipients once each academic year at the end of the spring semester. In the event that a student fails to meet the satisfactory academic progress criteria in a particular year, the student will not be eligible for financial aid for the following fall semester. The summer term is considered a make-up term. Students may enroll for summer to regain satisfactory academic progress for the fall semester.

Students may appeal a determination of unsatisfactory academic progress. The Office of Student Financial Services will provide information about the appeal process to the affected students. If an appeal is unsuccessful and the student is still considered to be making unsatisfactory progress, the student may not receive financial aid until she or he is considered to be in good academic standing.

A leave of absence for financial aid purposes is not to be confused with a leave of absence for academic purposes as described in the Academic Policies section of this catalog. A leave of absence as it relates to financial aid affects borrowers under federal student loan programs who cease attendance. A request for a leave of absence must be made in writing to the Office of Student Financial Services and may not exceed 60 days. This kind of leave enables a borrower who intends to re-enroll on at least a half-time (six credits) basis to have up to 60 additional days before the beginning of the grace period, after which a loan enters repayment.

With the exception of the time a student has been granted a leave of absence, the college is obligated to report to the lender any student who ceases enrollment or fails to enroll on at least a half-time (six credits) basis.

As part of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Congress passed new regulations governing what must happen to federal financial aid if a student completely withdraws during the enrollment period. Trinity College must calculate how much federal financial aid the student has earned if the student withdraws before completing 60% of the enrollment period. Federal financial aid covered under this regulation includes the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Family Educational Stafford Subsidized Loan Program, Federal Family Educational Stafford Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, and Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS).

Trinity College and the student are both responsible for returning unearned funds to the appropriate programs in a specific order. Trinity College must return the lesser of:

Amounts that must be returned will first be applied to federal loans and then to grants. Loan borrowers will be permitted to repay loans based on the terms of the promissory note.

The student will also be billed for any amount due to Trinity College resulting from Trinity's return of federal aid funds. For example, if Trinity College is required to return federal aid which was used to pay a portion of charges for the enrollment period, the student is required to pay Trinity College for the unpaid portion of the charges.

Students who do not have an approved payment plan and whose financial obligations to the College have accumulated beyond an acceptable level are subject to the following policies:

Trinity College reserves the right to refuse to approve a payment plan if the prior financial conduct of the student or family with regard to Trinity obligations indicates an inability or unwillingness to meet financial obligations at Trinity in a timely way.

Sources of Financial Aid

Trinity provides financial aid through its endowed scholarships, loan funds, and its allocation of non-endowed operating revenues. It also administers funds available through federal programs. Individuals should also seek aid from state and local programs for which they are eligible. Currently, about 90% of the student body receives some type of financial assistance.

Trinity College of Arts and Sciences Student Aid Programs

Full-time College of Arts and Sciences students interested in being considered for Trinity merit scholarships should contact the Office of Admissions for further information. Students receiving these special scholarships must be fulltime students and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in order to remain eligible for an award.

College of Arts and Sciences students receiving the following special scholarships must be full-time students and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 each semester in order to remain eligible for the award. Both entering and returning students are eligible for these scholarships. A separate application for these scholarships is not required.

The following special scholarships are named either for their donor or in recognition of others and are made possible by the generosity and support of alumnae and friends of Trinity College. These scholarship awards are given to Trinity College of Arts and Sciences students who demonstrate financial need and who also meet the additional selection criteria specified by the donor of the gift. Endowed scholarships are funded by the ongoing income earned from the core gift; term scholarships are one-time gifts. The Office of Student Financial Services chooses recipients from among all qualified applicants for financial aid.

These special gifts underwrite in whole or in part scholarship and grant awards from Trinity sources. The receipt of one of these awards is recognition not only of financial need but also academic distinction. So as to recognize as many qualified students as possible, these awards are usually not renewed from year to year.

A separate application for these scholarships is not required; all full-time College of Arts and Sciences applicants for financial assistance are automatically considered for these awards.

Trinity College School of Professional Studies Student Aid Programs

The American Association of University Women (AAUW), McLean Branch makes an annual award to a Northern Virginia student enrolled in the School of Professional Studies. A separate application for this scholarship is not required; all School of Professional Studies applicants for financial assistance are automatically considered for this award.

These scholarships are awarded to qualified School of Professional Studies students on the basis of academic merit and financial need. Only students who have already completed credits at Trinity will be considered. Applications are available from the Office of Student Financial Services. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must also be completed prior to applying for a School of Professional Studies scholarship. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.2 or higher.

Federal and State Student Aid Programs

To qualify for federal student aid, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (see "Procedures for Applying for Financial Aid" above). The priority application deadline for the Fall semester is April 1. Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have not defaulted on prior federal aid and certify they will use aid proceeds solely for educational purposes are eligible for the federal student aid programs listed.

This is a federally funded program of grants awarded to undergraduate students with high financial need. The grants range from $400 to $4,000 annually, based on enrollment status and need. To qualify, a student must be an eligible undergraduate seeking a first baccalaureate degree.

Undergraduates pursuing a first baccalaureate degree who demonstrate exceptional financial need are eligible for Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant funds. Awards range from $150 to $2,000.

Eligibility for the Stafford Loan program will be determined by the FAFSA application to Trinity. Funds for the Stafford Loan are available through private lenders (banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions). Depending on need, a student may borrow up to $2,625 during the first year of undergraduate study, $3,500 during the second year, and $5,500 a year for the remaining years. Graduate students may borrow up to $8,500 per year. The maximum total Federal Stafford Loan debt that a student can aggregate as an undergraduate is $23,000. Students should contact the Office of Student Financial Services for an application.

The Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan is available to borrowers who do not qualify on the basis of need for the Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan Program. Under this program students are required to pay interest while they are in school. Students should contact the Office of Student Financial Services at 202/884-9530 for information about the terms and conditions of this loan program.

This non-need based federal loan program enables credit-worthy and eligible parents to borrow up to the full cost of attendance at Trinity College less any student financial aid or scholarship support. The variable interest rate, established every year on July 1, is based on the 52 week Treasury bill plus 3.1% and is capped at 9%. Contact the Office of Student Financial Services or a local lender for an application (a FAFSA application is not required at Trinity College for this program).

Funds for the low interest federal Perkins Loan program are allotted to the college by the U.S. Department of Education for students with exceptional need. An undergraduate student may borrow up to $4,000 per year. The repayment and interest period begins nine months after the student completes her or his studies. The interest rate is 5% per year, and the repayment period may be extended over ten years. The FAFSA serves as the application for this loan.

A student's financial aid package may include a Federal Work Study award. Federal Work Study (FWS) is a federally funded program that helps to provide employment opportunities on- or off- campus. FWS awards are not deducted from the student's tuition, fees, and room and board. Instead, students receive a bimonthly paycheck for the number of FWS hours worked and may use it to meet their personal expenses or pay on their account at the college. Students should contact the Office of Human Resources concerning placement opportunities for on-campus and qualified off-campus FWS positions.

For assistance with locating suitable non-FWS part-time positions off-campus, students should consult the Career Services Center.

Students from the following states may participate in state scholarship programs while they attend Trinity College: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. Students can learn more about these programs from high school guidance counselors or state departments of education. In addition, the Office of Student Financial Services can provide information about the state grant administrators of all states and territories.

Many scholarships are available through parents' employers, civic and fraternal groups, professional organizations, and other programs. To pursue all potential sources of financial aid, students should contact their high school guidance counselors for assistance in learning about these programs.

The District of Columbia Leveraging Educational Assistance Program (DC LEAP) provides funds directly to eligible District residents seeking postsecondary education. Detailed information is available from the District of Columbia State Education Office at 202/727-6436.

The College Access Act of 1999 provides undergraduate tuition assistance to residents of the District of Columbia. Eligible Trinity students may receive up to $2,500 per year, with a lifetime cap of $12,500. To be eligible, a student must:

Students who graduated from high school or received the recognized equivalent of a secondary school diploma before January 1, 1998, and who meet the other eligibility requirements, may be eligible for a DC TAGP grant if they have been domiciled in the District for five years.

For more information and an application, call the DC Tuition Assistance Grant Program Office at 202/727-2824. Information is also available by contacting the Greater Washington College Information Center hotline at 202/393-1100, ext 18 and online at http://tuitiongrant.washingtondc.gov.

Other Scholarships and Awards

Information about other scholarship and aid resources is available on the world wide web in numerous locations. One such location is http://www.finaid.org/.

Billing and Payment Information

For information regarding billing and payment, veterans benefits, the installment payment plan, employer tuition assistance benefits, payment arrangement and registration status, the tuition refund policy, please refer to the Tuition and Fees section of this catalog.