Reasons Why Your Award Might Change

Changes in Funding

Your financial aid award is based on projected funding from federal, state and institutional sources. If the projected funding is more than the actual funding available, your financial aid award(s) will be adjusted to reflect these changes.

Changes in Federal and/or State Regulations

All federal and state-funded programs are subject to change at any time as a result of legislative action. If there are changes which impact your eligibility, your financial aid award(s) will be adjusted to reflect these changes.

Scholarship and Grant Eligibility Requirements

Scholarships and grants listed on your myWings Award Summary may require you to maintain a specific grade point average or other academic or performance requirements. If these requirements are not met, you may not be eligible to continue receiving this funding.

Receiving Financial Assistance From Other Sources not Included on Your UNF Award Notification

If you receive any additional funds from outside sources, including scholarships or private loans, that were not included on your financial aid award notification, please contact our office as soon as possible so we can include the funds in your Award Summary. Students are required by federal regulations to notify the financial aid office of all outside scholarships and/or private loans. 

If the amount of funding from the outside source changes from what is listed on your award, please contact our office immediately so we can adjust your award accordingly.

Verification Review

If you are selected for a review process known as verification, you are required to submit additional documentation in order for us to determine your financial aid eligibility. 

Once the verification process is complete, your awards may be revised to reflect your correct eligibility. Students who fail to complete the verification process will not receive the financial aid funds provided on their initial award notification.

Mid-Year FAFSA Updates

Mid-term or mid-year changes or updates to your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can result in selection for the verification review process. This review may result in an adjustment in your financial aid eligibility.

Disbursement of future aid will not occur until the verification review process is complete. If you attended another school and we are notified that there has been a change in your Federal Direct Stafford loan(s) or Federal Pell Grant amounts, your award will be reviewed and may be revised.

Change in the Number of Credit Hours in Which you are Enrolled

The amount of your financial aid award depends on the number of credit hours in which you are enrolled. Your initial award is prepared based on full-time, full-year enrollment. If you are not enrolled in a minimum of 15 degree-applicable credit hours or do not plan to come back to UNF for the spring term, your awards may be adjusted to reflect these changes.

Financial aid award amounts vary depending on the number of credit hours in which you are enrolled during that term. A change in credit hours can affect your financial aid award even after you have accepted the award. 

After the add/drop period has ended, the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) reviews financial aid eligibility for students with financial aid awards.

Please Note: financial aid may be adjusted after the add/drop period due to a variety of factors.

Repeat Coursework

You are only allowed to repeat a class with a passing grade, D- and above, one time and receive financial aid. Regardless of your performance in this second attempt (pass or fail), you will not be able to receive financial aid for that same course again. Please review Repeat Coursework Policy for additional information.

Approaching Federal Direct Loans Aggregate Limit and/or Pell Grant Maximum Lifetime Eligibility Used

If we receive information from the federal government that you are approaching the maximum eligibility of your awarded loans or Pell Grant, your awards will be adjusted accordingly.

Class Attendance

You must attend class and/or complete academic activity in order to receive your financial aid. Federal financial aid regulations require confirmation that you have begun attendance in your courses before aid is disbursed.

Students are expected to complete the academic activity within the first two weeks of the term. Failure to do so will result in delays to the disbursement of financial aid awarded. If you are reported as not attending or have not completed the academic activity, our office cannot include the course credit hours in your financial aid award disbursement. The reduced number of credit hours may reduce the amount of financial aid that you are eligible to receive for the term. As instructors document academic activity, your awards will be adjusted.

Academic activity is defined as, but not limited to:

• Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students
• Submitting an academic assignment
• Taking an exam, an interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction
• Attending a study group that is assigned by the school
• Participating in an online discussion about academic matters and/or initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course

Special Circumstances

Please contact our office if you have a special circumstance come up during the term. A special circumstance may include involuntary loss of employment, high medical expenses or other things that impact your financial situation.

When there are unusual situations or circumstances that impact your federal student aid eligibility, Financial Aid may use the Professional Judgement Appeal process, on a case-by-case basis and with adequate documentation, to make adjustments to the data elements on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This process may provide a more accurate assessment of your family's ability to contribute to your cost of education. 

Overawards

A financial aid overaward occurs when the aid a student receives from all sources is greater than the cost of attendance or the federally determined need eligibility. When overawards occur, the Office of Student Financial Aid reviews financial aid eligibility and may be required to adjust, reduce or eliminate financial aid awarded to ensure that the total received is within federal guidelines. Loans will be reduced before any reduction is made to any other awards. This may result in a balance due for which the student will then be responsible.