Financial Aid :  Eligibility and Application process

In order to qualify for financial aid sources, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Be a U.S. citizen or national or an eligible non-citizen as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Be enrolled in an eligible curriculum for financial aid purposes.
• Have a high school diploma or general education development (GED) certificate or have passed an ability to benefit test approved by the U.S. Department of Education.  Students who have completed home schooling at the secondary level may also be eligible.
• Be meeting the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress at Tidewater Community College.
• Have not defaulted on a federal student loan or owe an overpayment on a federal aid program.

Other factors such as a conviction for the possession or sale of drugs, and a current incarceration may affect eligibility for financial aid.  Financial aid advisors are available at each campus to answer questions related to eligibility.

In order to receive Financial Aid at TCC, you must have completed the college's admission procedures, submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to the Department of Education (DOE) and have a

completed Student Aid Report (SAR) on file with the college.

1. Complete the FREE application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form
    Online application:
• Apply for a PIN number from DOE at http://www.pin.ed.gov. If you are a dependent student, one of your parents should also apply for a PIN number. Your PIN number will either be sent to you by email or mailed to you at your mailing address.
• File online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.The college code for TCC is 003712 and it must be listed on the FAFSA in order for the college to receive your financial aid information.
• Print the confirmation page and retain for your records, or
• If you are not using your PIN#, print, sign, date and mail the Signature page to the Department of Education (DOE).

Paper application:

If you do not have access to a computer you may complete the paper application and mail it to the Department of Edcuation.

• Complete the paper application, making sure to list TCC's college code (003712) and mail it to the Department of Education.

 

• Keep copies of all income and asset information used to file your application.
• Apply as soon as possible after January 1st for the maximum consideration of state grants.

        2. After you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR), which is provided by the Department f  

            Education (DOE), review it for accuracy and completeness.

• You should receive your SAR in 1 - 2 weeks if you file your FAFSA form electronically (or 3 - 5 days if you include an email address) vs. 4 - 6 weeks if you submit the paper version by mail.
• See a Financial Aid advisor if corrections are needed or if you need to submit additional documents such as tax information, untaxed income, untaxed military benefits (BAH), child support, etc.
• See a Financial Aid advisor if you have been notified that you are being verified.
• If you are verified, your file is not complete until the verification process is finalized.
• Bring signed copies of all the 1040 tax forms and the W-2's/1099's you used to complete your FAFSA with you when you come to see a Financial Aid advisor.

        3.   Review the Award Letter which will be sent to your mailing address OR review your                         awards on line: http://www.tcc.edu/sis/

• Determine if the financial aid awarded is sufficient to cover all charges.
• Be prepared to pay the difference by the end of the first week of classes (16 week sessions) each semester (last day to add a class).

        4.   Register for Classes

• Follow the registration procedures in the current semester schedule.
• You must be enrolled in an eligible curriculum. Personal Satisfaction is not an eligible curriculum. See an academic counselor for information on eligible curriculums.

        5.   Pay Tuition by Deadline

• If your financial aid does not cover the cost of your tuition and fees, and you owe a balance, you must pay the remaining amounts due by cash, check or credit card.
• See the semester schedule for tuition payment dates.

        6.  Purchase Your Books

• Purchase your books prior to classes starting.
• Students with remaining aid balances after tuition and fees have been deducted may use thse balances at the College bookstore.
• Once your award is posted on the SIS, you must allow 24 hours before your remaining aid balance will be available at the bookstore.
• To charge your books to your remaining aid balance, you must have a copy of your class schedule and your picture ID.
• The dates you may utilize your remaining aid balance are posted at the BOOKSTORE.       

• The Spring 2008 Financial Aid purchase/refund period begins December 10, 2007 and ends January 18, 2008.

Complete the Summer 2008 Financial Aid Grant Application.......available March 17, 2008

• Read, print, complete and sign the form
• Submit the completed form to the campus Financial Aid Office OR mail to Central Financial Aid at the following address: (Do Not Do Both!):

                                                                        Central Financial Aid

                                                                            Tidewater Community College

                                                                             P.O. Box 9000

                                                                             Norfolk, Virginia 23509-9000

• Submit the application between March 17, 2008 and May 1, 2008 for priority processing.
• The last day to submit a Summer 2008 Financial Aid Grant Application is June 1, 2008.
• This is not a student loan application. To be considered for a Federal Stafford Student Loan for Summer 2008, you must apply. Please visit the Loan page for more information.
• Summer Aid Requirements / Facts:
• A student must have submitted the 2007-2008 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online or to the address listed on the FAFSA form and completed the verification process (if required) to be considered for summer financial aid.
• In order to receive summer financial aid, a student must be in an eligible program plan (curriculum).
• Submitting this application does not guarantee that you will receive financial aid.
• A student must currently meet the requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress to be considered for summer financial aid.
• If you were enrolled full-time for both Fall 2007 and Spring 2008, applied, and received a Pell Grant or Federal Stafford Sudent Loan you may not have additional eligibility to receive financial aid for the Summer 2008 semester.
• After your financial aid eligibility has been determined, you will receive a Summer 2008 financial aid award letter outlining the type and amount of financial aid that you are eligible to receive.
• If your financial aid has been posted to your account and you have sufficient financial aid to purchase books, you may charge books at the Bookstores from May 8, 2008, through May 29, 2008. 
• All applications submitted between May 2, 2008 through June 1, 2008 will be processed; however, you, the student, will be responsible for paying your tuition/fees and purchasing your books personally while your eligibility being determined.
• If you have any questions or concerns, please see a financial aid advisor at any of the campus Financial Aid Offices.

Additional Notes:

• Student applications are reviewed and analyzed on an individual basis to determine financial need. Financial need is the difference between the "cost of attendance," and the "expected family contribution" as determined by the U.S. Department of Education.  Those with the greatest demonstrated need are awarded the most aid.
• Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Late applications are considered as funds become available.
• If a student does not attend the first semester, all financial aid awards will be canceled for the year. Students must notify the financial aid office in writing if they plan to return to TCC for the next semester, but there is no guarantee of available funds.
• Applicants are entitled to review their records in the Financial Aid Office and may receive an explanation of how their awards, or rejection of aid, was determined.            

If you have other questions or need further clarification contact a Financial Aid Advisor at any TCC campus.

TCC Financial Aid Contact Information
Chesapeake Campus		Portsmouth Campus
1428 Cedar Road		7000 College Drive
Chesapeake, VA 23322		Portsmouth, VA 23703
Cynthia Hunter ~ CHunter@tcc.edu		Theresa Ruffing ~ TRuffing@tcc.edu
Phone ~ 757 - 822 - 5145		Phone ~ 757 - 822 - 2215
Norfolk Campus		Virginia Beach Campus
300 Granby St.		1700 College Crescent
Norfolk, VA 23510		Virginia Beach, VA 23453
Christine Damrose-Mahlmann ~ CMahlmann@tcc.edu		VBFinAid@tcc.edu
Phone ~ 757 - 822 - 1236		Phone ~ 757 - 822 - 7292

Additional Online Resources

• Educational Opportunity Center
• Payment and Refund Policies
• Financial Aid Programs Descriptions
• Student Aid on the Web (U.S. Department of Education site)
• Educational Credit Management Corporation (TCC's guarantor and disbursing agent)
• National Student Loan Data System ( NSLDS)
• The Smart Student GuideTM to Financial Aid (a great resource for loans, scholarships, military aid, etc.)
• FastWEB (Financial Aid Search Through the WEB) 
• Scholarships (helpful how-to's, info, and links)

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