It’s that time of year again! Financial aid is disbursing, classes are starting, and the same question rests upon the lips of many students: “Where’s my money?!” The answer to that question will vary depending on which school you are attending and the source of your financial assistance. For example, if you are attending UAA and are a recipient of the Alaska Education Grant, your grant will not disburse until after UAA’s add/drop deadline, which is Friday, September 7th at 5:00pm. For the most up-to-date information, always check with your school’s Financial Aid Office to ensure you have met all necessary deadlines.
Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) recipients who have not yet received their funds need to verify that their award information is showing in the Alaska Student Aid Portal (ASAP). If you have not already done so, you must create an account that you will use every year to track the status of your APS award. Once you’ve confirmed your award on ASAP, check with your school’s Financial Aid Office to find out when the funds will be applied to your student account.
Thinking about dropping a class, or switching to a class offered at a different time? Again, make sure you are aware of your school’s add/drop deadline and policies, and check with your school’s Financial Aid Office before doing so to ensure you understand any possible ramifications to your financial aid or scholarships. Dropping a class prior to your school’s add/drop deadline, also referred to as the “census date,” may result in a reduced Pell Grant award and your school may also have to return a portion of your loan monies, because your number of credits affects your official Cost of Attendance. The opposite can also be true – if you are enrolled less than full-time and add a class that increases your registration to the full-time equivalent, you may receive an additional disbursement of Pell Grant. You can also contact your school’s Financial Aid Office about borrowing additional loan funds if your Cost of Attendance will increase. Keep in mind, however, this may only be an option if you have not already borrowed the maximum loan amounts for the 2018-2019 academic year.
For students who need assistance with applying for financial aid, come visit the ACPE Success Center! We have staff available to help you complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), among many other things. We have two locations: our main office is located at the Dimond Center, upstairs between The Perfect Cup and Trendsetters, and we also have an office within the University Center One Stop. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call us at 1 (800) 441-2962, option #4.