If you are unable to find the answer to your question, please call (904) 620-5555 or Contact OneStop
| General Questions |
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| Do I need to turn in my FAFSA/SAR to financial aid? |
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) should be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If UNF is listed on the SAR (Student Aid Report), we will receive the SAR electronically, if UNF is NOT listed, use Part II of the SAR to send a change to the Federal processor so that we will receive your information. Our Title IV School code is 009841. |
| What is verification? Why was I chosen? |
Verification is a process that requires One Stop Student Services to review the information submitted on the FAFSA and the actual tax documents filed with the IRS of the student, spouse or parents. Also other documentation may be required depending on the individual situation. If errors are found corrections are submitted and the student will receive a corrected SAR. Students are chosen for verification by the federal processor. Any student who has been chosen for verification will have an asterisk next to the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) number on the upper right hand corner of the Student Aid Report. The SAR also has a comment notifying the student that they have been selected for the verification process. Approximately 30% of FAFSA filers are selected for verification each year. |
| Financial aid already has my tax and verification information from last year, why do you need it again? |
Each academic year is based on the previous tax year information. A student’s financial information can change for one year to the next which could affect the type and amount of financial assistance a student could receive. |
| Why haven’t I received a financial aid award letter? |
Financial aid award information is available through the myWings portal. In an effort to be environmentally and fiscally responsible, we want to use as little paper as possible; therefore, your estimated award information is available online. |
| How do I defer my fees until my money is disbursed? |
The University will automatically pend (defer) students' fees using their financial aid award. The following programs are EXCLUDED from the pending process:
• The State University System Minority Scholarship
• The Delores Auzenne Fellowship for Graduate Study
• Federal Work-study Program
If you only receive the above programs, you must still go to the Cashier's Office and pay your fees. PLEASE NOTE: If your award does not cover all of your fees, you need to pay any amounts owed by the end of drop/add. If you do NOT want your fees pended, you must go to the Cashier's Office to request NOT to be pended. If you reject your award, your pending status will change; you must contact the Cashier's Office at 620-2472.
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| I’m starting classes at UNF in the spring term. What do I need to do to get financial aid? |
If you haven’t already filed a FAFSA, that’s your first step. See the previous question about the FAFSA for more information. In addition, you need to complete a Mid-Year Financial Aid Request form and submit it to One Stop Student Services. The form is available online and from One Stop Student Services beginning October 15 (or next business day) each year. |
| I’m starting classes at UNF in the summer term. What do I need to do to get financial aid? |
If you haven’t already filed a FAFSA, that’s your first step. See the previous question about the FAFSA for more information. Keep in mind that the FAFSA results allow us to award aid each term in the following order: fall-spring-summer. So: you’ll want to file both the current year’s FAFSA for the summer term and the new year’s FAFSA for the fall term (and beyond). Additionally, you need to complete a Summer Term Financial Aid Request form and submit it to One Stop Student Services. The form is available online and from One Stop Student Services on March 15 (or next business day) each year.> |
| Why didn't I receive grants (PELL, SEOG, FSAG)? |
There are many factors that affect the awarding process. In many cases, students who apply after the April 1 priority deadline will not have these grants reflected on their accounts because the money ran out. Some grants are based on enrollment status and/or need and in some cases we have very limited funds that are awarded on a first come first serve basis. |
| My parents don't support me, am I an independent student? |
No. Independency status is established by federal regulation. To be independent for the 2006-2007 award year you must meet one of the following criteria:
• You were born before January 1, 1983;
• You are an orphan or ward of the court;
• You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces;
• You are a graduate student;
• You are married;
• You have dependents that receive more than half of their support from you.
If you do not meet any of these criteria you are considered a dependent student.
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| How do I get a book voucher? |
Students whose financial aid exceeds their charges can use part of their financial aid refund in the UNF bookstore. An email will be sent to students when they are eligible. |
| My parents don't support me, am I an independent student? |
No. Independency status is established by federal regulation. To be independent for the 2006-2007 award year you must meet one of the following criteria:
• You were born before January 1, 1983;
• You are an orphan or ward of the court;
• You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces;
• You are a graduate student;
• You are married;
• You have dependents that receive more than half of their support from you.
If you do not meet any of these criteria you are considered a dependent student.
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| OK. I understand that I’m not an independent student by the Federal definition. How can I become an independent student? |
Only under extreme circumstances can you change your dependency status. Exceptions are made only when adequate documentation of extenuating circumstances exists. (Extenuating circumstances are generally defined by a student's inability to have contact with his/her parents, which prevents the student from obtaining the parents' financial information, due to one of the following circumstances
• An abusive home situation (physical, psychological, sexual) which is detrimental to your physical or mental well-being;
• Abandonment by both parents;
• Incarceration of the custodial parent;
• Death of a parent after filing the FAFSA, and the surviving parent meets one of the conditions listed above.
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| When do I get my money? |
Disbursement of funds depends on the type of award.
Pell Grants: we can not disburse until we receive federal authorization.
State Grants/ Scholarships: we can not disburse until funds are received from the state of Florida.
Stafford Loans: Please refer to the section on Stafford Loan procedures.
Under normal conditions and sufficient enrollment (and for those students not selected for verification), the disbursement process begins in the second week of the semester
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| I'm scheduled to get paid, when will I get a check? |
Checks are scheduled to be paid by the Cashier's Office. Checks are usually printed and mailed out or conveyed via direct deposit once a week on Fridays. The date that you may see on myWings indicates the date that the disbursement process begins (usually a Tuesday). The entire process takes several days to be completed; hence, the Friday disbursement. |
| Can I pick-up a check? |
No, all checks must be mailed or sent via direct deposit into the students’ account by the Cashier's Office. |
| When do I have to reapply for financial aid? |
Your financial aid is not renewed automatically. You must submit all required forms every year. The FAFSA is available starting January 1st. The priority deadline is April 1. Apply early. |
Loans |
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| What's an EFT? Does that mean direct deposit to my account? |
EFT means Electronic Funds Transfer, and no, this does not mean direct deposit to your account. It is direct deposit to the University's account. Students can request direct deposit from the Cashier’s Office. |
| How do I renew my loan? |
Your loan is a part of your financial aid award. Each year when you apply for financial aid if you indicate you are interested in loans and demonstrate financial need, we will award you a loan. |
| How do I defer my loan? |
Loan deferments are coordinated through our loan servicer, Nelnet: www.nelnet.net
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| Why do I have to do an entrance/exit interview? What if I've already done one at another school? |
Entrance/exit interview are required by the federal government to make you aware of your rights and responsibilities concerning the student loan. If you completed the entrance interview at a previous school, you still must complete another for the new school. The verification of your completed entrance/exit interview is not transferable. |
| Do I turn my Master Promissory note into the One Stop Student Services Center? |
No. Your Master Promissory Note (MPN) should be completed online at www.nelnet.net. We will receive the results electronically. |
| My loan money was sent from the bank, when will I get my check? |
Disbursements happen once a week usually on Fridays. Interest does not begin accruing (on unsubsidized loans) until the loan has been disbursed to the student. |
| Will I receive my check if I withdraw from school or drop below half-time? |
No. If you withdraw from school or drop below half-time during a loan period for which your check has been guaranteed, your check(s) will be returned to the lender. |
Scholarships |
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| How do I defer (pend) my fees against my scholarship? |
Tuition and fees will be automatically pended against your available financial aid, including your scholarship. If your financial aid does not completely cover your course fees, you will need to pay the remaining amount in the Cashier's Office (bldg 1). The deadline to pay fees is posted on the Academic Calendar as well as on the myWings portal.
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| How can I use my scholarship to purchase books? |
A student has to purchase their own books from the UNF Bookstore from their own resources. If you have a surplus award (your financial aid is more than what you owe), you may be eligible for a book voucher. See Book Voucher. |
| How can I apply a scholarship for payment toward University Housing? |
The value of a scholarship would have to be enough to cover tuition first. The remaining balance can be applied towards your housing payment. Contact the University Housing Department for additional payment plans.
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| Can I use my scholarship to pay for my meal plan? |
Not right now. Meal plans are issued through a private organization and we do not have a way to defer payments with your scholarship(s). You will need to contact the Chartwells Dining Services and make payment arrangements. |
| When will I receive the dollars from my scholarship programs? |
The cashier's office disburses scholarship dollars to the students when the university issues checks for financial aid students, usually beginning in the second or third week of the semester. The scholarship program has to be cleared and a check issued from the appropriate organization first. |
| What happens to the balance of my scholarship money? |
The cashier's office will mail a check or electronically transfer the remaining balance of your financial aid to you after you have been cleared for payment by One Stop Student Services. |
| If I take classes at UNF and another community college or university will I still be eligible for my scholarship? |
Yes, but the student needs to check with One Stop Student Services to ensure proper enrollment for different scholarships and financial aid programs. Before the release of funds, the student must bring in proper documentation to One Stop Student Services. Your scholarship and/or financial aid may be jeopardized if you are not properly enrolled at UNF. Check with One Stop Student Services before making any schedule changes. Students taking classes at another institution must have a completed and approved Concurrent Enrollment form and a Consortium Agreement form on file by the appropriate deadline. |
| How do scholarship awards affect my Federal Financial Aid award? |
Scholarships count toward your financial need; therefore, other need-based aid (grants, subsidized loans, etc) may have to be reduced so that you are not in an over-award status. A Cost of Education budget is determined for each student and according to Federal Regulations the university cannot exceed this budget. Additionally, if you are an athlete, the NCAA has regulations and guidelines that we have to follow. It is imperative that you notify One Stop Student Services if you are receiving additional funding. The scholarship award might affect your Federal Financial Aid and our office must adjust the financial aid award offer. This might include deleting an already awarded program or reducing the dollar amount offered. |
| Can I lose my UNF Academic scholarship funding at the end of fall semester? |
No, unless you are on probation from the previous semester. The scholarships are evaluated at the end of spring semester to determine renewal for the next academic year. |
| Can scholarships be awarded for the summer semester? |
No, scholarships are not usually awarded during the summer (i.e., state or UNF scholarships.) The student must contact the organization awarding the scholarship for exceptions to summer enrollment and funding availability. |
State Scholarships |
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| How does the university receive notice of a student receiving a state scholarship program (i.e., Florida Bright Futures, Chappie James, or Critical Teachers, etc.)? |
The school downloads a file from the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) for each program with qualifying student’s names and social security numbers, who indicated they were attending UNF.
If you originally indicated that your State scholarship should be sent to a school other than UNF, access the state's website and update your records to send your scholarship to UNF.
You may also call the State Office of Student Financial Assistance at 1-888-827-2004 with questions concerning the following scholarship programs:
• Florida Bright Futures (Academic/Merit)
• Vocational Gold Seal
• CTS Student Loan Forgiveness
• "Chappie" James Scholarship
• Florida Student Assistance Grant
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| How do I pay for my classes with a state scholarship? |
The university will pend the student's course fees against your available financial aid (in this case, the State scholarship) If the your available financial aid does not completely cover the course fees, you must pay the remaining balance at the Cashier's office by the deadline date published on the Academic Calendar and on the myWings portal.
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Athletic Scholarships |
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| How do I use my Athletic Scholarship? |
The Athletic Department will forward a copy of your signed scholarship agreement to One Stop Student Services, which is then applied in the same manner as any other scholarship (see above). Student athletes must see the Athletic Compliance Coordinator prior to any schedule changes (i.e. drop/add/withdrawal) in order to maintain eligibility. |
Private Scholarships |
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| What do I do with a scholarship check when the organization mails it to me? |
Please bring the check to One Stop Student Services. Private scholarship checks are normally made payable to you and UNF; therefore, you must endorse the check when you drop it off at the One Stop. The money will be placed in an account by the organization's name and then disbursed according to the instructions of the scholarship award. All funds must be turned into the One Stop Student Services even if the check is made payable to you. Keep in mind that the private scholarship could affect your financial aid funding. |
| Where does an organization send a scholarship check for a student attending UNF? |
The private organization needs to mail the check to One Stop Student Services, University of North Florida, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road South, Jacksonville, Florida 32224.
The organization should make the check payable to UNF and should include the student's name and social security number with a memo of how the funds are to be disbursed to the student (i.e., full-time, tuition only, etc.) |
| If an organization awards me a scholarship and I have a letter, but the organization needs enrollment verification before they mail the university a check, what should I do? |
Bring the letter to the One Stop Student Services. We’ll keep a copy of the letter for proof of the scholarship. Enrollment verifications will be available after the first week of classes (after "drop/add"). Remember, we can’t disburse money to you if we don’t have the check in our account – if your scholarship check is late to arrive, the disbursement will be late to occur. |
| Out of State Waivers |
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| How does an Out-of-State Waiver affect the cost of my tuition? |
This waiver reduces the cost of tuition by a certain dollar amount. This does not give you in-state fees. See the department (i.e., Athletic, Honors, Music, etc.) from which the waiver was awarded for detailed information. |
Glossary of
Financial Aid Terms |
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| Budget |
The total cost of attending a postsecondary institution for one academic year. The budget usually includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, travel, and personal expenses. At UNF, we initially create budgets for students for the fall and spring semesters. Those students planning to enroll during the summer semester need to complete a Summer Term Request form when they become available in mid-March. |
| Deferment |
Permission to delay repaying the balance and/or interest on your student loan. |
| Disbursement |
The lender's payment of your loan money to you and your school--via check or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). The money is typically conveyed in two or more installments. By accepting the money, you agree to the terms of the loan, including repayment. |
| EFC (Expected Family Contribution) |
The amount calculated from a completed need analysis form which the family (parents and student) is expected to contribute toward meeting educational costs. This amount is reflected on the SAR. |
| Financial Aid Package |
A "package" is any combination of scholarship, grants, loans, and work funds used by the postsecondary institution to assist the student in meeting the cost of education. |
| Grace Period |
The time before you must begin to repay your loan--usually six months after leaving school or dropping below half-time status. The grace period lasts six months for Federal Stafford Loans Interest on Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans may accrue and be capitalized at the end of a grace period. |
| Graduate Student |
A student in a postsecondary institution who is enrolled in a master’s or higher level degree program |
| Grant |
Financial Aid which is usually based on financial need and does not have to be paid back. |
| Loan |
Financial aid which must be repaid. Student loan programs have varying interest rates and repayment provisions. |
| Master Promissory Note (MPN) |
The legal document that obligates you to repay a loan. A promissory note under which the borrower may receive loans for either a single period of enrollment or multiple periods of enrollment. If used for attendance at a school eligible to use the multi-year feature, most borrowers sign the MPN once to receive maximum eligibility under the subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loan programs. Otherwise, the borrower must sign a new MPN for each new loan. At UNF, students borrowing from the same lender will complete only one MPN. If you change your lender, you will need to complete a new MPN for that lender. |
| Need |
According to the Student Aid Report (SAR) the difference between the resources available to the student (from parents and the student) and the student’s cost of education budget |
| Notice of Loan Guarantee and Disclosure |
This document specifies the terms and conditions of your loan, and the disbursements of money to you. It includes the origination and guarantee fees deducted from the gross amount of the loan. |
| Origination Fee |
A charge by the U.S. Department of Education to help offset the cost of the federal student loan program. |
| PC (Parents' Contribution) |
The amount parents are expected to contribute toward meeting the costs of postsecondary education as determined by the need analysis. |
| Post Baccalaureate Student |
A student who has completed a baccalaureate degree from an appropriately accredited institution of higher education. Only degree-seeking post-baccalaureate and teacher certification students are eligible for financial aid. Non-degree post-baccalaureate students and those students completing their prerequisites for a graduate program are not eligible for financial aid. |
| Postsecondary Institution |
A school offering a level of instruction above high school |
| SC (Student Contribution) |
The amount a student is expected to contribute toward meeting educational costs, usually through earnings from summer and part-time employment, savings, and other student assets. |
| Scholarship |
Financial aid which is usually awarded for academic or civic merit and/or achievement which does not have to be paid back. |
| Separation Date |
This date is noted in your school records to indicate when you graduate, drop below half-time status, or withdraw from school. The grace period for your loan(s) begins on this day. |
| Undergraduate Student |
A degree-seeking student at a college or university who has not earned a first bachelor's degree. |
