Financial Aid FAQs
Has Allen University received by Official Final high school transcript?
You should contact the Office of Admissions to verify this information.
To Whom do I provide my IEP or 504 plan information to?
You should contact the Office of Counseling & Placement.
What is Pell?
The U.S. Department of Education determines one’s eligibility to receive a Pell grant by using the information provided on a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For every institution of higher learning in the nation, the maximum Pell award for the 2020-2021 academic year is $6,495 for a full-time student. For each semester, both fall and spring, the disbursement is $3,348. Pell is a grant that is applied towards a student’s tuition, fees, and if the student resides on campus, his or her room and board.
What is SEOG?
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is an allocation of federal funds made available to a university for disbursement to a student identified as having significant financial need. The university determines whether an individual has significant financial need based on a student’s inability to pay for the individual’s tuition, fees and room and board, if the student has on-campus housing. SEOG is applied to assist the student in paying for their educational costs.
What is the South Carolina Tuition Grant?
The South Carolina Tuition Grant is a grant designed to provide additional financial support to South Carolina’s neediest students. The financial aid office administers this grant and the students must have a FAFSA on file. The maximum funds awarded for the current academic year is $4,390. It is awarded to full-time students and is applied towards tuition and fees as well as room and board, if the students are staying on campus.
What is a State Aid Affidavit?
All South Carolina state aid recipients are required by state law to complete a state aid affidavit annually in order to receive state funds. Funds covered by this affidavit are: SC Tuition Grant, LIFE Scholarship, Palmetto Fellows, HOPE Scholarship, LIFE Enhancement Scholarship, and Palmetto Fellows Enhancement. This document can be found at https://my.allenuniversity.edu/ICS/icsfs/2021-2022_State_Affidavit.pdf?target=7969017e-eedc-4567-86ed-728e9ecdf67d
What are institutional scholarships and how are they awarded?
Institutional Scholarships are scholarships awarded by the institution to assist students in paying tuition, fees, and room and board for those who live on campus. Allen University scholarships are awarded after federal and state grants and/or outside scholarships have been applied.
Why did I receive less scholarship money than I was promised in a letter I received this past summer?
The university’s commitment to student scholarship is to award as much financial aid possible after all state and federal grant monies have been applied to cover tuition, fees and room and board, if the student resides on campus. Scholarship monies awarded by the university are subject to availability and may be adjusted at the discretion of the university.
If I was promised a certain amount of scholarship dollars, how could the university take away my money?
The excess funding from federal loans is only refundable to the borrower. A scholarship awarded by Allen University is not refundable, and the student’s account will be adjusted to $0 if his or her application generates a credit. Scholarships that are awarded from other agencies (i.e., businesses, churches, organizations, etc.) reserve the right to advise how scholarships are designated. Some scholarships specify how funds are to be disbursed and what should be done with any excess after tuition and fees have been paid in full. For example, some scholarships specify that the funding is only to be used towards books or tuition and fees. In addition, some scholarships require that any excess funds after tuition and fees have been fully covered be returned.
I have always received a refund. Why am I not getting one now?
In year’s past, some students were refunded the remaining scholarship dollars after tuition, fees and room and board were covered. In keeping compliant with federal standards and industry best practices, the university will only award scholarship monies to assist a student with tuition, fees, room and board, if all are not fully covered once federal and state grants have been applied. When can I expect a refund? Refunds are generated when the amount of refundable aid on a student’s account is more than his or her charges.
If this happens, refunds are generated within 14 days of the credit being on a student’s account.
How do I receive my refund?
The business office will notify you to inform you if you are getting a refund. Refund dates are posted on the MyAllen portal for your convenience.
What are student loans?
Student loans are monies that the federal government will lend to a student while he or she is enrolled in school. Loans are monies that must be repaid once the student has stopped attending at least 6 credit hours, graduated and/or exhausted their grace period, which may vary based on the individual. The amount of student loans a student can receive is directly determined by their academic and dependency status.
What is a Priority Deadline?
The date by which your FAFSA must be received to be considered for first-come, first-serve funds like Federal Work Study and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). Allen University’s priority deadline is March 15th of every year.
What is Verification?
Verification is a process initiated by the U.S. Department of Education that requires the Office of Financial Aid to validate all of the information on a student’s FAFSA. This will require additional forms be completed and a copy of the student and parent’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax transcript be supplied if the parent and/or student has not used the IRS Data Retrieval tool located inside the FAFSA. Students are selected randomly by the Department of Education and up to 85 percent of a school’s population can be selected for this process.
How do I access the Financial Aid portal?
In order to access the financial aid portal, you must have a Free Application for Free Student Aid (FAFSA) on file. Then you can go to https://my.allenuniversity.edu/NetPartnerStudent. If this is your first time, click on ‘First Time User’ to set up your account.
How do I reset my password for the Financial Aid portal?
If you need to reset your password, click on ‘forgot password’ link to answer your security questions and reset your password.
How do I accept, decline, or reduce my aid?
To accept, decline, or reduce your aid go to https://my.allenuniversity.edu/NetPartnerStudent and log into the financial aid portal. Click on menu in the top left corner. From the drop-down options, select accept my financial aid offer. For more instructions, click here.
How do I know if I am eligible for Federal Work Study?
If you are eligible to receive federal work study, the award will be added to your award letter. You then will receive an email notification to attend orientation.
I received an email that I have Federal Work Study. How does Federal Work Study Work?
The FWS Office secures the positions on campus and with community partners.
Students are provided a list of available FWS positions.
Eligible students look for jobs, then contact employers to apply
Employers will interview the students. If the desire is to hire the student, the employer will sign the students’ authorizations agreeing that they have been selected to work in their area.
Students and employers receive an “Authorized to Work” email from the FWS Office (students may not begin working prior to receipt of this email).
Students are paid monthly.
Students and employers are responsible to keeping track of FWS Award balance (students will not be paid more than what they are awarded).
How much do I get paid?
If you work on campus, you will be paid $10.00 per hour. If you work a community service position, you will be paid $12.00 per hour.
What is the e-verification process?
E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information entered by an employer from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to records available to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm employment eligibility. All students must be e-verified in order to begin work.
What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?
Federal and state regulations require financial aid recipients to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) towards a recognized degree. SAP applies to all undergraduate and graduate students who may or may not receive most types of federal, state, and institutional financial aid administered by the university. At the conclusion of each term or payment period, Allen University (AU) review all currently enrolled AU students to verify they are meeting the SAP requirements.
How Do I Maintain SAP?
To maintain SAP, you must meet the requirements below:
Who do I contact with questions about my SAP?
You should contact your academic advisor for questions about your SAP status. If you have questions on how SAP affects your financial aid, you should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid
Who Is My Financial Aid Counselor?
You can find your financial aid counselor and their contact information here.
Who should I contact if I have a concern about student welfare in campus?
You should contact the Office of Student Affairs.
Who should I contact if I want to know more about student activities on campus?
You should contact the Office of Student Activities.
What happens with my Federal Aid if I withdraw from the University?
When a student who has received federal financial aid funds (Title IV funds) leaves a school before the end of the semester or enrollment period, federal law requires Allen University to calculate the percentage and amount of “unearned” financial aid funds that must be returned to the federal government.Once a student has completed more than 60 percent of enrollment, students are considered to have earned all funds received. The federal formula requires a return of Title IV aid if the student received federal financial aid in the form of Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Stafford loans or Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students and withdrawal on or before completing 60 percent of the semester.The calculation for the return of Title IV funds may have the effect of requiring a student to repay the federal government, in cash, funds (grants) that have been disbursed to the student. Students deciding to withdraw are encouraged to meet with the Enrollment Office and Office of Student Financial Aid.Students who leave the college and do not complete the official withdrawal process may be eligible for a refund of charges and return of Title IV financial aid if the last date of attendance can be verified by other means, such as class attendance records or other documents that will indicate the student’s last day of class attendance.If you have questions about your Title IV program funds, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1.800.4.FED.AID. TTY users may call 1.800.730.8913. Information is also available on “Student Aid on the Web” at www.studentaid.ed.gov. The Office of Student Financial Aid and the Bursar at Allen are also available to assist you. For more information on Allen University’s withdrawal policy, please visit here
What happens to my federal aid if I am convicted of possession or sale of drugs?
The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended (HEA) suspends aid eligibility for students who have been convicted under federal or state law of the sale or possession of drugs if the offense occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study). The student self-certifies in applying for aid that he/she is eligible.
Convictions only count if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Title IV aid—they do not count if the offense was not during such a period. Also, a conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record does not count, nor does one received when she was a juvenile, unless she was tried as an adult.
The chart below illustrates the period of ineligibility for FSA funds, depending on whether the conviction was for sale or possession and whether the student had previous offenses. (A conviction for sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs.)
POSSESSION OF SALE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS
1st offense - 1 year from date of conviction 2 years from date of conviction
2nd offense - 2 years from date of conviction Indefinite period
3+ offenses - Indefinite period
If the student was convicted of both possessing and selling illegal drugs, and the periods of ineligibility are different, the student will be ineligible for the longer period.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act established the requirement for schools to provide each student who becomes ineligible for Title IV aid due to a drug conviction a clear and conspicuous written notice of his loss of eligibility and the methods whereby he can become eligible again.
A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when he successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program or passes two unannounced drug tests given by such a program. Further drug convictions will make him ineligible again.
Students denied eligibility for an indefinite period can regain it only after successfully completing a rehabilitation program as described below, passing two unannounced drug tests from such a program, or if a conviction is reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record so that fewer than two convictions for sale or three convictions for possession remain on the record. In such cases, the nature and dates of the remaining convictions will determine when the student regains eligibility. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Office of Student Financial Aid that they have successfully completed the rehabilitation program.
When a student regains eligibility during the award year, students may be awarded Pell, TEACH, and Campus-based aid for the current payment period and Direct loans for the period of enrollment.
STANDARDS FOR A QUALIFIED DRUG REHABILITATION PROGRAM
A qualified drug rehabilitation program must include at least two unannounced drug tests and must satisfy at least one of the following requirements:
Be qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly from a federal, state, or local government program
Be qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a federally or state-licensed insurance company
Be administered or recognized by a federal, state, or local government agency or court
Be administered or recognized by a federally or state-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor
How do I resolve disputes with my federal student loans?
The Federal Student Aid (FSA) Ombudsman of the Department of Education helps resolve disputes and solve other problems with federal student loans. The FSA Ombudsman encourages borrowers to make every effort to resolve their student loan problems. When a solution cannot be reached, the FSA Ombudsman has a process and the resources to assist borrowers.
CONTACT INFORMATION: FSA STUDENT LOAN OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
FSA Ombudsman 830 First StreetN.E. WashingtonD.C. 20202-514Telephone: 202.377.3800Toll free: 877.557.2575Fax: 202.275.0549
Who do I call when I have questions about my Financial Aid?
The Office of Student Financial Aid at financialaid@allenuniversity.edu or (803) 255-4999.
Who do I call when I have questions about my balance, 1098-T form, refund, or need to make a payment?
The Office of Student Accounts.
Who do I call when I have a question or concern about my midterm or final grade?
The affiliated professor should always be your first person of contact.
Who do I call when I cannot access MyAllen or my student email?
First, you should attempt to reset your password using the ‘Password Management’ link on the MyAllen page. If you are not able to reset your password, please contact IT at support@allenuniversity.edu.
Who do I call when I need to make a correction to my schedule prior to the add/drop deadline?
If you are unable to make the adjustment in your MyAllen portal, you will need to contact your academic advisor.
Who do I call when I have a campus safety issue?
Please contact Campus Police at (803) 376-5911. More information on Campus Police can be found here .
Who do I call when I have questions about my progress towards my degree?
You should contact your academic advisor.
Who do I call when I want to request my transcript or an enrollment verification?
All official and unofficial requests must be made online at https://allenuniversitysc.scriborder.com/.
Who do I call when I need tutoring?
You should contact your academic advisor or the professor for the class in which you need tutoring. The tutoring schedule is also located at https://my.allenuniversity.edu/ics/.
Who do I call when I have questions about residence life?
You should contact the Office of Residence Life at oglover@allenuniversity.edu or (803) 376-5732.
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