Rights of Recipients

Rights and Responsibilities of Financial Aid Recipients

As a student receiving financial aid at Gateway, it is your responsibility to know and comply with the rules governing the aid you receive. Below is a listing of certain rights to which you are entitled, and certain obligations for which you are responsible as an aid recipient at Gateway.

Rights of All Aid Recipients

As a student receiving financial aid at Gateway, you have the right to:

• Know that the information pertaining to your financial aid application and awards is kept confidential as mandated by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) .
• Know the cost to attend Gateway, (including fees, books, housing and food, personal expenses, cost of first professional licensure, and transportation).
• Seek financial aid counseling.
• Know what financial aid programs are available at Gateway including all federal, state, and institutional aid programs.
• Know the application procedures and deadlines for each of the available programs.
• Know how aid is calculated, including what resources (such as assets, earnings, parental contribution, etc.) were considered in the calculation of your expected family contribution (EFC).
• Know how much of your financial aid is loan and how much is grant. If the award is a loan, you have the right to know the amount which must be repaid, the interest rate, the amount of each payment, the length of time you have to repay, and when repayment will begin.
• Know the name and contact information for your loan servicer. This includes information required to make payments.
• Seek and receive information regarding your repayment plan options and student loan deferments.
• Receive a copy of your completed Master Promissory Note from Federal Student Aid.
• Prepay a loan without penalty. This means that you at any time may pay in full the loan balance and any interest due without being charged a penalty by the lender for early payment.
• Know if you cannot meet a loan repayment schedule, you may request a student loan forbearance under which the payments may be reduced for a specific period of time.
• Know if you are borrowing money, you assume the responsibility for repaying the loan. If circumstances arise that make it difficult to meet this responsibility, you should contact your loan servicer.
• Know if you or your parent receives a Title IV loan, the loan information will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, loan servicers, schools, and others determined to be authorized users of the data system.
• Know your application will be evaluated using the same system of need analysis applied to all students.
• Know what portion of your calculated financial need will be met.
• Know how your financial aid will be disbursed.
• Accept or decline any of your financial aid awards.
• Know the tuition and financial aid repayment and refund policies.
• Know the hours, job duties, rate of pay and how and when pay is received if offered a Federal Work Study job.
• How the Office of Financial Aid determines whether you are making satisfactory academic progress, and what happens if you are not.
• You have the right to receive a full and clear explanation of financial aid decisions.
• Know you have the right to submit a written appeal requesting reconsideration of your financial aid eligibility. If there has been a substantial loss of family income or benefits since you filed your FAFSA, you should contact the Gateway Financial Aid Office to discuss the submission of a Recalculation Request Form.

Responsibilities of All Aid Recipients

As a student receiving financial aid at Gateway, you have certain responsibilities to:

• Apply for financial aid by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year you will be enrolled at Gateway and wish to be considered for financial aid.
• Complete all required applications and forms completely and accurately. Submit all documentation when requested.
• Be aware of deadlines for state aid programs and act as soon as possible to improve your chances that funds will be available.
• Provide correct information. Misrepresented information on financial aid applications and forms is a violation of federal law and may be considered a criminal offense that could result in indictment under the US Criminal Code.
• Read and understand all documents you are asked to sign and keep copies for your records.
• Accept responsibility for all agreements that you sign.
• Return any additional documentation and new information requested by the Office of Financial Aid.
• Request assistance if you have questions or don t understand the information provided to you.
• Check your Student Self Service page on a regular basis to ensure there are no outstanding items on your To-Do List.
• Notify the College of any name or address changes.
• Know and comply with the rules governing your financial aid awards.
• Notify the Office of Financial Aid of any financial aid awards you receive from outside resources (including scholarships, grants, Veteran's Benefits, tuition waivers, or other educational/tuition assistance) not already listed on your Financial Aid Award Summary.
• Perform the work that you have agreed upon in accepting Federal Work Study.
• Seek advice from a tax professional to determine if any portion of grants, fellowships, or scholarships are considered taxable income.
• Complete Loan Entrance Counseling and an electronic Master Promissory Note if you are a first-time borrower of Federal Direct Student Loans.
• Complete Loan Exit Counseling before you graduate, transfer, or withdraw from Gateway (if you have borrowed a Federal Direct Student Loan).
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Attend classes and complete requirements for all courses in which you enroll.
• Use financial aid for educational expenses incurred while attending Gateway.
• Repay any over-award of financial aid.
• Repay financial aid funds if it is determined that you are ineligible to receive them.
• If you receive a loan, you must notify your loan servicer if any of the following occurs before the loan is repaid:
  • Graduation
  • Withdrawal from school or less than half-time enrollment
  • Change of address
  • Name change
  • Transfer to other school
  • In borrowing money, you assume the responsibility for repaying the loan. If circumstances arise that make it difficult to meet this responsibility, you should contact your lender.

Additional Responsibilities of Federal Work-Study (FWS) Recipients

If you have accepted Federal Work Study as part of your financial aid awards, you have the following responsibilities:

• Complete all necessary employee hiring forms.
• Maintain the work schedule agreed upon by you and your supervisor.
• Complete all work assignments to the best of your ability.
• Understand and adhere to all confidentiality, security, and other policies.
• Complete mandatory new hire and annual trainings as assigned.
• Conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times.
• Notify your supervisor if you cannot report to work.
• Not working during your scheduled class times.
• Carefully monitor your earnings so you do not exceed your award for the academic year.
• Maintain enrollment in at least 6 program applicable credit hours each semester while participating in the FWS program.
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.