Financial Aid Services
Frequently Asked Questions
- The FAFSA asks for my parents information, but I am on my own. What do I do?
- The FAFSA is based on last year's income, but I lost my job since then. Now I have no income. Do I have any options for having this considered?
- How can I appeal my suspension?
- I heard that if I withdraw from my classes I might need to repay my financial aid. Is this true?
- Can I charge books to my grant award in the bookstore?
- How will I receive my disbursement funds?
- What if I can't attend my classes or need to withdraw?
The FAFSA asks for my parents information, but I am on my own.
What do I do?
If you are over age 24, married, a Veteran of the armed forces,
an orphan or ward of the court, or if you have dependents of your
own that you support, you will not need to report your parent's
information. If you ordinarily would need to report parent
information, but are unable to do so because of an unusual
situation, you should meet with a Financial Aid Services Specialist to
discuss your situation and inquire about your options. You may be
asked to document your situation in writing.
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The FAFSA is based on last year's income, but I lost my job
since then. Now I have no income. Do I have any options for having
this considered?
If you or your parents have experienced a significant decrease in
income, or have paid unusually large medical expenses this year, you
should meet with a Financial Aid Services Specialist to discuss your
situation and inquire about your options. You may be asked to
provide detailed documentation of your situation in writing in order
to receive special consideration.
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How can I appeal my suspension?
Once you are suspended from financial aid, you cannot
receive it any further unless you can prove that the reasons you
couldn't meet the requirement were unusual, unavoidable, and beyond
your control. To prove this, you may file an appeal with the
Financial Aid Services Appeals Committee. Approval of your appeal is
not guaranteed. It is up to you to convince the committee
with your written appeal that your situation was truly mitigating.
The committee will also look favorably on any proof you can provide
that you now have your problems under control so they won't happen
again. Please note that only written appeals are accepted and there is a deadline each term.
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I heard that if I withdraw from my classes
I might need to repay my financial aid. Is this true?
Yes. The federal financial aid programs require
you to "earn" your aid by attending classes. If you receive
federal financial aid and withdraw from all of your classes, your
aid "earned" will be prorated based on your class attendance. The
rules are a bit complicated, so we encourage you to meet with a
Financial Aid Services Specialist if you receive federal aid and need to
withdraw.
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Can I charge books to my grant award in
the bookstore?
If your financial aid program will cover book
expenses, you will be able to charge your books during the posted
bookstore charging times. Check your Award Letter and your Atlas
Financial Aid Information for messages about limitations on your
financial aid. We encourage you to make sure you have your final
class schedule before buying your books. Be sure to save your
receipt and don't write in your books until classes have actually
begun.
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How will I receive my disbursement funds?
All Financial Aid
disbursements
will be processed in accordance with your refund preference selected using your Valencia Debit Card. You can visit the Higher One site to learn more about the Valencia Debit Card.
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What if I can't attend my classes or need
to withdraw?
You can make changes to your schedule at any time
during the add-drop period without any problems. After the
add-drop period, the course will count as an "attempt" and will
remain permanently on your academic record. Remember, you must
attend your classes to receive financial aid payment.
Do not simply stop going to class without
submitting an official withdrawal! You could be required to pay
back the entire amount of your financial aid!
If you receive federal aid and you withdraw from
all of your classes prior to the mid-term withdrawal deadline, you
may be required to repay a portion of your financial aid. We urge
you to complete your classes if at all possible to avoid
complications with your future financial aid.
If you cannot attend a class, you should notify
your professor as soon as possible and if you
need to withdraw, use your Atlas account to enter the withdrawal. Do not simply stop
going to class! You must complete at least 67% of your
attempted courses to remain eligible for financial aid. Please be
sure you are familiar with the rules for "Satisfactory Academic
Progress for Financial Aid Recipients" and meet with a Financial
Aid Services Specialist if you have any questions.
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