/Institutions/Hardin-Simmons-University/json/2023-2024/Graduate-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Hardin-Simmons-University/json/2023-2024/Graduate-Catalog.json

Financial Aid

The HSU Office of Financial Aid strives to provide graduate students with information and financial resources to attend Hardin-Simmons University, along with support programs that promote higher education and developmental opportunities. As a part of this commitment, we hope to provide several financial solutions to graduate students at all levels.

To apply for financial assistance, an eligible graduate student should submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA becomes available on October 1st each year for the next academic year. Students are encouraged to submit their FAFSA online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid as soon as possible. Information on the FAFSA can be found at HSU’s Financial Aid Process page.  Only students who have been accepted for enrollment, have a FAFSA or other financial aid application on file, and have submitted all requested documentation to HSU Financial Aid will be sent a financial aid offer. 

All financial aid is contingent upon student enrollment and making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), as defined by the HSU Financial Aid Office or the specific aid program.

Financial aid is available in two forms: Gift Aid and Self-Help.

Gift Aid	Self-Help
Grants (Federal, State, Institutional)	Loans (Federal, State, Alternative, Institutional)
Scholarships	Student Employment (Work Study, Internships)
	Outside Scholarships

Financial aid offers for incoming graduate students beginning in the Fall semester are made early in the preceding Spring semester. Financial aid offers for incoming students beginning in the Spring semester are made late in the preceding Fall semester. Financial aid offers to continuing students for the upcoming academic year are made in the Spring semester and may be adjusted once grades Spring grades have been submitted. To be considered for Summer Financial Aid you must complete a Summer Financial Aid Request form and complete the following steps prior to submitting your request form to the Financial Aid Office.
• You must file a FAFSA for 2023-2024 in order to receive financial aid for Summer, Fall, Spring 2023-24.
• You must be enrolled at least half-time. To be considered enrolled half-time, the student must register for and attend at least six (6) hours during the summer terms.

Financial aid offers are made based on the assumption that students will enroll full-time in the Fall and Spring semesters. Cost of attendance and offered financial aid amounts will be adjusted for students who are enrolled less than full-time at HSU or another approved consortium program.

Students may only receive federal financial aid for eligible courses that count towards their program of study.  Regardless of the type(s) of aid offered, the cost of attendance for students will be reduced for courses that are not counting towards their program of study, which may result in a lower amount of federal, state, and institutional aid a student could receive. Financial aid offers may also be adjusted if a student does not begin attendance in all courses in which he or she is registered.

Student inquiries may be directed to:

Hardin-Simmons University
Financial Aid
HSU Box 16050
Abilene, TX 79698
Direct Ph. - (325) 670-1050   Toll-Free - (800) GO-HSUTX   Fax - (325) 670-5822

Email - financialaid@hsutx.edu

FAFSA School Code 003571

Please visit our website for the most current information on financial aid applications, programs, and any associated deadlines.

Government Aid Programs

HSU participates in the following Government Aid Programs for graduate students:

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programs - are available to students who have submitted a FAFSA.

Unsubsidized Loan - Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but eligibility is not based on financial need.

A Direct PLUS Loan is commonly referred to as a grad PLUS loan when made to a graduate or professional student. To receive a grad PLUS loan the student must be a graduate or professional student enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school in a program leading to a graduate or professional degree or certificate; not have an adverse credit history (unless you meet certain additional eligibility requirements); and meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid.

For more detailed information on federal student loans, borrowers should visit the studentaid.gov website. Interest rates are set by the federal government every July 1st for the following year. For additional information and current or upcoming interest rates, please contact the FSA website for interest rates and fees for federal student loans.

Student Employment

Work Study Programs are a great way to stay on top of your education and your financial health at the same time! There are two types of work study programs that you can be a part of at Hardin-Simmons. You can work on campus at Hardin-Simmons, or at one of our off-campus jobs available through the federal/state work-study program. Both programs are designed to help undergrad and grad students with financial needs. This gives you an opportunity to have a part-time job earning money to help with your educational expenses.

Students must complete paperwork with the Payroll Office and may work a maximum of 19 hours/week during fall and spring. During the summer that number increases to 29 hours/week. It is important to know that you must be registered in classes in the fall and/or spring at Hardin-Simmons to be eligible. However, you can begin the summer before a fall semester if you are already enrolled!

On-Campus Employment

Every one of our students is eligible to work on campus. Besides earning a wage, this opportunity will help you gain valuable professional experience, and allow you to work with faculty and staff! One bonus about an on-campus job is that your supervisor understands and supports you being a student. Your supervisor can offer flexibility and scheduling that another employer might not.

Being eligible doesn’t guarantee you a job, but you can apply for positions all through the year!

Off-Campus, Work-Study Employment

Your eligibility for this program is determined by your FAFSA form. To find out you are eligible you must file a FAFSA each year, be enrolled at HSU, and have financial need as calculated by the FAFSA to be eligible for off-campus work-study jobs. Students who are interested in working at the Boys and Girls Club of Abilene and Beltway Kids Club must obtain a certificate of eligibility from the Financial Aid office to give to the employer before the student can work. There is no minimum or maximum a student can earn in federal/state work study funds as long as their earnings do not exceed their financial need calculated by the FAFSA.

Finding and Applying for Jobs

You can find more information about job fairs, seminars, and job searching on our Career Services page. By activating your account in our online recruiting platform Handshake, you can view open positions on- and off-campus, submit your resume for employers to view, see upcoming event details, and access career documents and resources.

Applicants for student employment are required to apply via Cornerstone Applicant Management System.  To view open student worker positions, click here. The student worker positions are updated as changes occur. Therefore, if a position is listed on this site as being open, HSU is still accepting applications.

If a student provides an email address on their application, they should monitor that email in the event they are trying to be contacted.

More information about working at HSU is available on the Human Resources page.

How You Get Paid

Students who are hired for on/off-campus employment will be paid bi-weekly depending on the number of hours they worked during the pay period. Student workers will receive their paychecks via direct deposit, unless otherwise specified by the student. It is the student’s responsibility to request work study earnings go towards their institutional balance if they want it to. For work study to go towards a student’s balance, students must go to the Payroll Office and complete a Student Receivable Account Direct Depositing Authorization Form.

Other Loan Opportunities for Graduate Students

Private Loans for Graduate Students

Federal loans are generally the best option for financing your education and should be your first consideration. In addition to the Federal Loan Programs, there are alternative/private loan options for students seeking additional funds to fill the gap between the financial aid awarded and the actual cost of education.

HSU strongly recommends that you thoroughly research your alternative loan options to determine which lender offers a loan that fits with your individual needs and circumstances. We recommend using the lender research tools presented below, however as a student/parent borrower, you are not restricted to the lenders presented with either of these resources; you may use any lender of your choice.

Please remember: Alternative loans are credit based and will require a credit check. Final approval amounts are determined by the Office of Financial Aid once a request for certification is received from your lender. Be aware that due to federal policies governing educational lending, the amount certified by HSU may be less than the amount you were approved for on your initial application.

Elm Select presents a randomized list of lenders based on historical borrowing of HSU students over the last three years.  All lenders who have provided profile information to ELM SELECT and have accepted the invitation to be represented appear in this list.  In confirmation of the federal disclosure requirements of HES Sec. 487(a) (27) and (h)), none of the lenders listed is an affiliate of any other lender on the list.

Students should keep in mind that the Federal Consolidation Loan program consolidates only federal loans.  This excludes all loans received through private lenders.  Some alternative loan lenders may offer loan consolidation programs that will consolidate both federal and alternative/private loans.  However, these consolidation loans are usually offered at much higher interest rates than that of the federal program.  Students should ask lenders about consolidation options and their costs before committing to an alternative loan.

About ELMSelect

Simply put, it makes comparing private student loans easy. With a few clicks, students can view, filter and compare private student loan options available for a specific school.

Lenders provide. You decide.

ELMSelect is a transparent, lender neutral, free service. Lenders provide the loan information available for comparison. You decide what private student loan makes the most sense for you.

Made For Students

Powered by ELM Resources, one of the most trusted names in the industry, ELMSelect provides students and borrowers with information needed to make intelligent, well-informed decisions regarding private student loans.

Simple Loan Comparison

Comparing private student loans at ELMSelect is easy. Choose your school and program then view, filter, favorite or select loans to compare. It is that easy. Use our loan estimator to calculate estimated monthly and total cost of a loan.

Latest up-to-date rates

Lenders manage and provide real-time loan details on ELMSelect. Loan rate information you see at ELMSelect is the latest, most up-to-date information provided directly by lenders.

ELMSelect is a FREE service

There is no catch. Comparing private student loans on ELMSelect is Free. No first name, last name or email is required to get additional information.

Apply for a private loan from ELMSelect

Lenders in ELMSelect give you the option to apply for private student loans from their lender products.

Private loans take longer to process than federal loans due to the multiple disclosure statements and right-to-cancel period required by federal lending laws. Please read carefully to understand the process:

1. Select your preferred lender and apply through the lender’s website. NOTE: The correct school code for HSU is 003571

• When applying for your loan, you will be asked for your Loan Term. The loan term can be for one or both semesters in the academic year.

1. Complete the Application Disclosure Statement and any additional required documents from your lender. Ask your lender questions if you are unsure of any information.
2. If approved, you will be asked to complete an Approval Disclosure Statement from the lender.
3. The HSU Financial Aid Office will then receive your loan request from the lender.
4. Once the Financial Aid Office certifies the loan, you will receive a Final Loan Disclosure Statement from the lender.

*This process will take 10-15 business days from start to finish, please plan accordingly*

Ask your lender questions, you are responsible for knowing what type of loan you are applying for and what the terms of the loan agreement as well as the repayment process. We recommend that you apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before you apply for an alternative loan. More information about Direct Loans can be found on our loan page.

HSU Scholarships and Endowments

 Church Match ($1 for $1 up to $2,000) – HSU will match designated Christian church gifts $1 for $1 up to $2,000 per year, per student. Students must complete and submit the Church Match Scholarship Form annually to receive the match.

Endowments - Endowed scholarship opportunities are financial aid awards that have been established through generous donations to Hardin-Simmons University by individuals who wish to enable Hardin-Simmons’ students to further their education at reduced cost through additional scholarship funding.

About Endowed Scholarships

• Endowed scholarships are available through the various university departments across campus, each having their own set of eligibility and selection criteria established by the donor of the scholarship fund. Recipients of a particular endowed scholarship(s) are determined by the respective faculty/staff member who serve as their department’s Scholarship Budget Officer.
• Students may apply for endowed scholarship opportunities through Scholarship Central, HSU’s scholarship management system. In order to access the system and view/apply for scholarships you must have your HSU login credentials, provided after you have been admitted to Hardin-Simmons.
• Once you login with your HSU email and password, you will be prompted to answer a series of optional Matching Questions that will enable the system to further identify the HSU endowed scholarship opportunities you could potentially receive from the information we do not already have on file from your admissions application, academic records, and/or FAFSA data.
• Answering the optional Matching Questions is not required to submit the General Scholarship Application within Scholarship Central but is encouraged as doing so will further increase your chances of receiving an endowed scholarship.
• Filling out a scholarship application within Scholarship Central DOES NOT guarantee that you will receive an endowed scholarship. However, it greatly increases your chances of receiving an endowed scholarship. All endowed scholarships are capped at tuition per institutional policy.

Endowed Scholarship Application Cycle

The application cycle for endowed scholarship opportunities begins February 1, with the deadline to apply being May 31. Given these dates, scholarships offered through Scholarship Central are for the subsequent Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters after the May 31 deadline.

Please Note: There is an unequal distribution of endowed scholarship funds available between departments given that each endowed scholarship was designated to benefit specific departments on campus at the discretion of the donor of the scholarship fund.

Scholarship Central

 Endowed scholarship opportunities available to Hardin-Simmons students can be applied for through Scholarship Central, HSU’s scholarship management system. Visit Scholarship Central.

To access the system and view/apply for scholarships you must have HSU login credentials, of which are provided after you have been admitted to Hardin-Simmons.

Outside Scholarships

Instructions for submitting outside scholarships to HSU:

1. Make the scholarship check payable to the order of Hardin-Simmons University.
2. List the student’s first and last name along with the HSU ID# within the memo of the scholarship check or in an additional communication letter.
3. Indicate if the scholarship check is term specific (EX. Fall Term Only / Fall & Spring).
4. Mail scholarship check and any additional information to:

Office of Financial Aid
Attn: Scholarship Coordinator
2200 Hickory Street
HSU Box 16050
Abilene, TX 79698

Outside scholarships are funded by private individuals, foundations, or organizations that play an important role in providing gift revenue that you can use to pay your educational costs. You can apply for numerous outside scholarships online, although some scholarships require you to complete a paper application. All have certain required qualifications that applicants must meet, and all have an application filing deadline.

This guide is provided to permit easy access to some available outside scholarships, many of which are local or regional. The content of this guide is frequently revised as old scholarship offers expire and new ones take their places. There are many other outside scholarships available that aren’t covered in this guide, so be sure to do other searches related to your intended major, your parents’ employers, your church or denomination, and other unique aspects about you.

Legitimate scholarship offers will require specific information about you and often the application requires you to provide a written statement about your need or qualification eligibility, but none will ask for personal financial access information (your personal bank account or credit card information). In your searches, those kinds of personal financial information are generally an indication of an illegitimate offer, and they should be avoided. If you are completing an online application, look in the URL address line to be sure you are logged into a secure site (https://). If you are not, the information you provide may be accessed by others. If you are unsure of a specific scholarship or application process, please contact the HSU Financial Aid Office.

• Outside Scholarship Guide
• How To Search for Outside Scholarships
• Additional Outside Scholarships
• Nursing Outside Scholarships
• Avoid Unverifiable Aid Offers

Veterans Benefits

The coordination of benefits for veterans is the responsibility of the Office of the Registrar, which aids veterans and dependents of veterans.

Veteran Benefits Coordinator
Cheyenne Silva
Cheyenne.silva@hsutx.edu
325-670-1811

At HSU, we’re honored to serve those who’ve served our country. Our Office of Veteran Student Affairs helps veteran students and eligible family members take advantage of your education benefits.

HSU is a recognized military-friendly school and a participating institution in the Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership of Understanding.

Veteran Student Resources

• GI Bill ® (GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.)
• U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs

Tuition Assistance Program

HSU participates in the Military Tuition Assistance Program.  This program is available to active duty, National Guard and Reserve Component services members. Service members should speak with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their military service prior to enrolling at HSU.  Approved courses are eligible for assistance up to $250/semester credit hour. Learn more about the Tuition Assistance Program.

We have a veterans’ benefits coordinator on campus who will help you complete the VA forms required for you to start your academic experience at HSU, as well as provide guidance on choosing the right academic program. For information regarding the return of funds withdrawal policy please visit the Business Office page.

Changes in Hours & Withdrawals

Students who wish to drop courses or withdraw from the University must secure the proper form(s) from the Registrar’s Office and contact the Financial Aid Office. Students should know in advance how changes in enrollment affect their financial aid eligibility. A reduction in hours may result in an adjustment to the award package and could affect satisfactory academic progress status.

The primary responsibility for paying for a college education rests with the student and family. Financial aid is considered supplemental, and enrollment status governs receipt of funds.

• When a student withdraws, is expelled, or ceases to be a student before the end of an academic term, a refund may be due in accordance with University’s refund policy.
• A refund may occur when federal aid is due in the term but has not been disbursed at the time of withdrawal.
• Federal law and University policy dictate that calculated amounts be returned to the respective financial aid programs when a withdrawal occurs, so withdrawal may mean the loss of part or all federal, state, or institutional aid.
• Withdrawing students are responsible for payment of any balance resulting from the return of financial aid. Payment plans may be arranged with the HSU Business Office.
• Priority order for the return of federal funds is unsubsidized Direct loans, subsidized Direct loans, Perkins loans, Direct Plus loans, Pell grants, and FSEOG.
• Student loan recipients must complete loan exit counseling upon withdrawing from the university at Exit Counseling on the internet. Due to this federal requirement, HSU will hold transcripts and other education records until exit counseling is confirmed.

IMPORTANT: Students must complete at least one semester hour in a term with a passing grade to prevent a return of federal financial aid funds. For financial aid purposes, the Department of Education monitors class attendance. Non- attendance and the receiving of all failing grades in a term requires a return of financial aid funds. Students receiving all failing grades in a term are immediately placed on academic suspension by the registrar and financial aid suspension by the financial aid director.

Dropping a course may affect a student’s enrollment status depending on the type of term and when the student drops.  In turn, enrollment status may impact certain funding sources as described in the below sections.

Enrollment Status – A student’s enrollment status continues to be adjusted throughout the semester when a student drops a course.  However, in most cases, the change in status has minimal impact, depending on timing or recent changes in laws. The impact is primarily on student loan repayment. Federal financial aid can only be paid for courses included in the student’s degree plan. Enrolling in courses not on the degree plan may result in reduced financial aid eligibility.

Dropped Courses – Timing matters on when a student drops a course.

Fall & Spring Semesters

Effective May 1, 2005, students dropping individual courses after the closing date of official registration (census date) will be allowed to keep 100% of their financial aid.  No refunds for courses dropped will be given and no course credit will be issued.  Students withdrawing in full are subject to the Federal mandated refund policy for Title IV aid.  It is highly advised that students receive counseling by the    financial aid office prior to dropping classes because:

Class hours dropped with a WF are added to the student’s attempted hours, thus affecting the completion rate for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Financial aid is available for only two attempts of a class (one attempt for Institutional Family Grant or Tuition Exchange).

Summer Terms – Effective May 1, 2005, students dropping individual courses after the closing date of official registration (census date) will be allowed to keep 100% of their financial aid provided that the student remains in six (6) semester hours, which is a prerequisite for aid received.  Students not enrolled in six (6) semester hours for the summer terms (May – Summer II) combined will not be eligible for financial aid and subject to the appropriate adjustments (excluding Pell).  Students who are eligible for aid at the time of disbursement will keep their disbursed aid, but no future aid disbursements will be made if they drop below the 6-hour requirement.  Students completely withdrawing are subject to the Federal mandated refund policy for Title IV aid.

The financial aid office must counsel students who drop classes because class hours dropped with a WF add to the student’s attempted hours, thus affecting the completion rate for satisfactory academic progress.  Also, financial aid is available for only two attempts of a class (one attempt for Institutional Family Grant or Tuition Exchange).

Student Loan Repayment – students must maintain at least half-time enrollment throughout the semester for student loans to remain in an in-school deferred status. Dropping below half-time enrollment at any time during the semester will trigger student loans to enter any applicable grace period, with repayment required after the grace period has elapsed. Changes in enrollment status from full-time to half-time have no consequence on student loans. Half-time enrollment for an undergraduate student is defined as 6 hours for the Fall and Spring semesters.

Withdrawing from the University (Dropping All Classes) – please see the Institutional Refund Policy or visit the financial aid office.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

The Office of Financial Aid monitors your SAP at the end of every semester. If you do not meet the requirements for SAP, you have the right to appeal and provide information about extenuating circumstances that may have hindered your progress. Appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please note that SAP and minimum enrollment requirements for individual financial aid program eligibility may vary.

SAP Components

There are three components to Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Failure to comply with any component may result in a loss of aid eligibility. The three components are as follows:

Minimum Financial Aid Grade Point Average (GPA)

• HSU Hours 6-32: 1.60
• HSU Hours 33-48: 1.80
• HSU Hours 49 or more: 2:00
• Graduate: 2.00

All graded courses are included in this calculation, including failed courses. This could be different from the academic GPA. The academic GPA is used to determine HSU scholarships and institutional aid.

Completion Rate

While students are expected to enroll full-time to be eligible for financial aid, each student must successfully complete a minimum percentage of all credit hours attempted. This percentage includes all institutional and transfer credit hours, regardless of whether or not financial aid was received.

• 75% overall completion rate

Completion rate is calculated using the total number of completed hours divided by the total number of attempted hours. Drops and withdrawals are considered unsuccessfully completed coursework when determining SAP and will impact completion rate. If you drop below the necessary completion rate you may lose eligibility for financial aid in future terms.

150% Maximum Credit Hours

Students are expected to complete their degree pursuits within a maximum timeframe, including transfer hours earned as well as institutional attempted hours. Students may not receive financial assistance beyond the following:

• 150% of degree program requirements

Credit hours are cumulative; thus, students working towards obtaining more than one degree in the same category (e.g., double major, undergraduate nursing) may reach this maximum timeframe before completing their course of study and may need to appeal eligibility.

SAP Warnings

After one semester of not meeting the SAP standards, students will be issued a warning and will be permitted to receive financial aid for the next semester. However, after the one semester of warning, students who fail to meet any one or a combination of the SAP components will be ineligible for financial assistance. Students may appeal ineligibility by providing information on extenuating circumstances, indicating what has changed to allow successful academic progress. If an appeal is granted, students may be placed on financial aid probation and asked to follow an academic plan that will lead to meeting minimum SAP requirements in the near future. If students do not meet the terms of probation, eligibility for financial aid will cease and all remaining aid will be cancelled. Subsequent appeals of the same nature are not permitted. Once a student falls from his/her academic plan and loses eligibility, the only way to regain eligibility for financial aid is to meet the SAP requirements.

SAP Notifications

Students who fail to meet minimum SAP standards are not eligible to receive financial aid. Students will be notified of the reason(s) for the loss of eligibility through an email sent to their HSU email address as well as via the self-service portal.

SAP Appeal Process

Students may appeal their ineligibility by providing information on extenuating circumstances, indicating what has changed to allow successful academic progress. However, the submission of an appeal is only a request and does not guarantee that financial aid eligibility will be reinstated. The appeal must be submitted online through the online portal or appeals may be submitted to the attention of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee (financialaid@hsutx.edu) and must be received by the first day of classes for the Fall semester and the first day of classes for the Spring semester.

Changes to recorded grades that take place after SAP evaluation has occurred will be included in the next official SAP evaluation at the end of the subsequent semester. If a grading error is corrected after the SAP evaluation was completed, students may contact our office by phone, email, or in person to request a recalculation of SAP status using the corrected grade. Recalculations will not be done when an Incomplete (I) grade is updated once missing work is completed.

If an appeal is granted, you will be placed on financial aid probation and asked to follow an academic plan that will lead to meeting minimum SAP requirements in the future. If you do not meet the terms of probation, eligibility for financial aid will cease and all remaining aid will be cancelled. Subsequent appeals of the same nature are not permitted. Once you fail to meet the terms of your academic plan and lose eligibility, the only way to regain eligibility for financial aid is to meet the SAP minimum requirements.

Financial Aid Statement of Satisfactory Academic Progress

Undergraduate

Full-time enrollment for financial aid purposes is enrollment in at least 12 hours per long semester (for example Fall/Spring) or six hours per summer session. This could include May term, Summer 1, and/or Summer 2 for a combination of 12 hours during the summer session. An undergraduate student must be enrolled in at least six hours (half-time) during any long semester or combination of summer terms to be eligible for financial aid. Please see a financial aid counselor for details. An academic year equals two long semesters plus summer sessions. The May Term is part of the summer session.

Satisfactory progress toward a degree includes all attempted hours at all institutions attended. Evaluation for satisfactory academic progress by the Registrar’s Office and Financial Aid Office will be measured on HSU coursework. Therefore, the cumulative grade point average/completion percentage is based on hours attempted at HSU only. All hours, including transfer hours, are counted to determine the number of academic years completed. The maximum time frame an undergraduate or graduate student can remain eligible for financial aid cannot exceed 150% of the published length of the program. For instance, if the published length of an academic program is 124 credit hours, the maximum time frame established by the school must not exceed 186 attempted credit hours (that is, 124 x 1.5 = 186).

A student can repeat a course (or its equivalency) an infinite number of times and receive federal aid only if all previous attempts resulted in an F on the student’s record. Once a student passes a course (earned A, B, C, or D grade), he/she can retake the course a second time and receive federal aid (if eligible). Regardless of whether or not the second attempt is a pass or fail, the student cannot receive aid for another attempt. Ex. If the student earned a ‘C’ in a class and wants to attempt to earn an ‘A’ or ‘B’, a student may use Pell to pay for the class. If the student earns a ‘B’, he may not use federal aid in a third attempt to try and earn the ‘A’.

Graduate

The maximum time frame in which a student may complete a master’s degree varies from program to program. Please refer to the HSU Graduate Studies Catalog for the specified length of each program. Full-time enrollment for financial aid purposes is enrollment in at least nine hours per semester or six hours per summer session for most graduate programs. This could include May term, Summer 1, and/or Summer 2 for a combination of 12 hours during the summer session. The May Term is part of the summer session. A half-time course load for a graduate student is defined as six hours per long semester; four hours in the summer session for most graduate programs. A half-time graduate student must complete 12 cumulative hours for each academic year completed. Please refer to the Graduate Catalog for enrollment requirements for doctoral programs.  Graduate students must meet the scholastic regulations established by the Graduate School of Hardin-Simmons University with regard to the cumulative HSU grade point average required to be in good academic standing.

Postgraduate

A postgraduate student is defined as a student who has previously received an undergraduate degree and is not admitted to a graduate or professional school. Postgraduate enrollment in prerequisite courses for Graduate School enrollment will limit the types of aid for which a student may be considered. By definition, a post-graduate student is not enrolled in a degree seeking program. Eligibility for federal student aid requires enrollment in a degree-seeking program or eligible certificate program. See a financial aid officer for details. Full-time enrollment for financial aid purposes includes at least 12 hours per long semester (Fall/Spring) or six hours per summer session. This could include May term, Summer 1, and/or Summer 2 for a combination of 12 hours during the summer sessions. The May Term is part of the summer session.

Verification

Verification is the process the U.S. DOE and colleges use to ensure federal student financial aid funding is based on accurate information. After completion of the FAFSA, students may be selected for verification and required to verify some of the information provided on the FAFSA. All applications selected by the federal CPS for verification are subject to the verification procedure which includes completion of the appropriate verification worksheet (Dependent/Independent) and submitting any required supporting documentation to the Financial Aid Office at the home college campus. Students selected for verification are notified via their Student Aid Report (SAR) and in their HSU Colleague Student Self Service account. All applicants selected for verification must complete the process prior to having federal aid awarded/disbursed. HSU will not make any interim disbursements of any Title IV funds before verification is complete.

HSU Financial Aid has the authority to verify additional students and may require an applicant to verify any specified information on the FAFSA [34 CFR 668.54(a)(3)]. Institutions must verify any application information they have reason to believe is incorrect [34 CFR 668.54 (a)(2). All verification requirements, such as deadlines, allowable tolerances, and interim disbursement rules, apply equally to all students who are being verified.

Acceptable Documentation and Forms

HSU Financial Aid utilizes Campus Logic StudentForms to streamline the verification process and create digital workflows. Campus Logic worksheets includes instruction for completion and what, if any, additional documentation is required. Refer to https://hsutx.studentforms.com/ for the appropriate verification worksheet documentation and verification requirements for both tax and non-tax items such as household size and number in college, student and/or parent tax information, and the opportunity to review and electronically sign the document.

For verification of tax items, the DOE encourages students and parents to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) as the fastest, simplest, and most secure way of meeting verification requirements. The DRT is used to import data from tax returns. If DRT is not offered, students may upload IRS Tax Returns, Tax Transcripts, and other documentation as may be requested by the Financial Aid Office. The financial aid office will determine what documents are need based on the type of verification for which the student was selected (V1, V4, or V5). Any unsolicited tax documentation received by our office will be destroyed.

Students selected for verification must provide the required documentation and a dependent/independent verification worksheet via the Campus Logic System. Paper Worksheets and documentation may be accepted as approved by the Director of Financial Aid and only in special situations.

Data Elements to be Verified

The Secretary of the DOE publishes a notice in the Federal Register announcing the information that institutions and students may have to verify along with the documentation acceptable for verifying this information. Verification items that must be verified could vary based on which tracking group students are assigned to and could include:

• Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
• U.S. Income Tax Paid
• Education credits
• Untaxed Pensions
• Untaxed portions of IRA distributions
• Tax Exempt Interest
• Income Earned from Work
• Household Size
• Number in College
• High School Completion Status
• Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose

Colleges may choose to verify additional items in order to resolve conflicting information.

A verification flag of “Y” and an asterisk beside the EFC will refer to a comment in the student section of the SAR telling selected applicants that their school will ask for documentation.

Conflicting and Inaccurate Information

To ensure the integrity of all financial aid applicant data received at Hardin-Simmons University (HSU), the Student Financial Aid Office must resolve any conflicting information in a student’s file.  Any HSU office may hold information or documentation that could create a conflict. The Financial Aid Office will work with all sources to collect documentation for the purpose of clarification and accuracy.

Examples of Conflicting Information

• Social Security number
• Date of Birth
• Name change
• Dependency status
• Marital status (student and/or parent)
• Admissions status regarding prior institutions
• Income and taxes paid
• Number in household
• Number in college
• NSLDS Data

A student may be asked to submit written documentation and/or additional information to clarify or correct conflicting information. This action may be in conjunction with the Verification Process normally processed by HSU or by a separate request for information.

Student Notification of Verification Changes

Students are notified via an automated email process of any new ISIR/SAR due to verification. They will also be notified of changes made to their financial aid package via automated email directing them to view their Colleague self-service account.