1. FGCU awards financial aid to recipients on a non-discriminatory, equal opportunity basis.
2. You must be a fully admitted student, enrolled in an eligible degree-seeking or teacher certification program.  Non- degree seeking students are not eligible for financial aid.
3. You must read and understand your e-Award and follow the instructions for accepting/declining the awards.
4. You must complete all requirements listed on Gulfline in a timely manner. If your application was selected for verification, as a result of submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), this process must be completed before your award can be finalized. If corrections are required, your award could change. Priority deadline for submitting required verification paperwork and documentation is JULY 1.  If you make subsequent changes to your FAFSA, it is your responsibility to notify the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships immediately, since any change could affect your Financial Aid eligibility, and in some instances drastically increase or decrease your initial eligibility status. 
5. You must be enrolled at least halftime (6 undergraduate credits for undergrad students or 5 graduate credits for graduate students) to receive a student loan. Other awards may require full time enrollment, while some may be pro-rated for less than full time attendance.  
6. If you would like to be considered for priority processing regarding potential Federal and State Aid, it is your responsibility to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form each academic year by March 1. If after filing your FAFSA you are convicted of possessing or selling drugs, you must notify the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships immediately.
7. If you would like to be considered for Foundation Scholarships you will need to complete the Foundation Scholarship Application each year between November 15th and March 1st for the following academic year.  To be considered for the need-based portion of these Foundation Scholarships, you must also complete the FAFSA annually by the priority deadline of March 1st.
8. Florida Bright Futures scholarship amounts are estimated and do not reflect what will actually pay out. Actual payment amounts are determined by the Florida Department of Education based on the type of Bright Futures program and actual enrollment at FGCU.  Please note that according to Florida Statute (http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/bf/newsrenew.htm) withdrawal from any class in which Florida Bright Futures funds were received, will require that the student repay the funds disbursed for the class or classes dropped.  The student will have a hold placed on his/her account until the student reimburses FGCU for the dropped class.

Disbursement of Financial Aid Awards

1. Financial aid awards (except work-study awards) are disbursed to your student account after the end of add/drop week each semester.
2. If the total amount of your award for the term exceeds the charge for your tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and any other charges, you will receive a refund of the credit balance from the University Cashier's Office.
3. Refunds are issued approximately three weeks after the start of the semester. Students should make arrangements to cover living expenses and book costs until refunds are ready. 
4. If your aid covers all of your charges, you do not have to pay anything, even though your aid will not be disbursed until after the payment deadline.
5. If you owe a balance, you must pay it by the end of the first week of classes, or you will be charged a late fee. (Academic Calendar).
6. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships reserves the right to request verification of any data submitted by parents or applicants. If the data is found to be incorrect, the data may be corrected and the award revised. If the applicant is determined ineligible for financial aid, the applicant’s award can be withdrawn. The applicant will then be responsible for payment of all expenses incurred at Florida Gulf Coast University.
7. If you apply late, or miss the priority deadline of July 1 for completing required forms, your aid will not disburse in a timely manner. In this case, you will have to pay up front and receive your aid when your file is completed.
8. If you have received a Federal Work Study award, the amount of your award reflects the amount you may earn for the year. You must work in order to receive the award; however your award does not guarantee you a job. A listing of available positions is posted on the  FGCU's Career Development Services Center website.
9. Final disbursement amounts may be different from your award amount, depending on funding allocations and your enrollment status.
10. Financial aid awards made from the Subsidized Federal Stafford loan and/or Unsubsidized Federal Stafford loan will not be available to you until the funds are actually received. If you are a first time borrower at FGCU, you are required to complete the following:
    1. Accept your loan offer through Gulfline at http://gulfline.fgcu.edu/ .
    2. Complete a Loan Counseling Entrance Interview as directed on Gulfline. 
    3. Complete and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN).

Responsibilities of Financial Aid Recipients

By accepting financial aid, you agree to:

1. Report any additional financial assistance from sources outside the University to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. (Note: Financial aid awards are subject to change in the event that additional assistance is received, or if there is a change in EFC (expected family contribution) due to verification).
2. Notify the Registrar's Office and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships if you withdraw from the University.  Complete withdrawal may result in repayment of all or part of financial aid received.
3. Make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward a degree as described on our Satisfactory Academic Progress website.
4. Repay to FGCU any financial aid funds disbursed to you in error. If a mistake was made, whether by you, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, or another agency, federal regulations require that the mistake be corrected and funds be billed back as necessary.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid Recipients

Federal regulations require students to demonstrate satisfactory progress toward a degree or certificate in order to receive financial assistance. To be making satisfactory progress, you must:

1. Must maintain a 70% cumulative completion rate. 

2. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA as follows:

• Cumulative GPA of 2.0 for undergraduate students.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 for graduate students.

3. Complete your program of study in less than 150% of the published program length.

Students who fail to meet SAP standards will be placed on financial aid probation or suspension. Any student who withdraws completely, or receives all F’s, W’s or I’s will automatically be suspended from aid, regardless of the reason for not completing the hours. If there are extenuating circumstances, students may submit an appeal for reinstatement of financial aid. Please refer to the Financial Aid web site for more information regarding SAP.

Collection and use of social security numbers

In compliance with FL Statute 119.071(5), The Office of Financial Aid at Florida Gulf Coast University may collect social security numbers for the following reasons:

- For use in administering federal and state programs/loans, including verification of eligibility.  These programs include, but are not limited to:
     * Financial Aid (Title IV) and other related loan programs;
     * Scholarship Programs, including Bright Futures.

Authorization to use Federal Title IV funds

I hereby authorize Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) to credit my student account to pay allowable charges, in addition to tuition/fees and room/board, with my financial aid.  I understand that allowable charges may include, but are not limited to:  bookstore charges, library fines, parking fees, returned check charges, student health charges, and other fee and service charges.

In addition, I authorize FGCU to use my federal financial aid and/or any other aid or third party assistance to pay any prior-year charges.

          If you do not wish to authorize FGCU to pay all allowable charges, or any individual charge on your student account, please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

          If you wish to withdraw your authorization, you may do so at any time by notifying the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships in writing.

Please note that if you elect either of the above two options, it will be necessary for you to pay all of your FGCU charges prior to your financial aid being released to credit your account. I understand that my financial aid will not be paid until I have read and accepted these terms through Gulfline.