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Scholarships and Financial Aid

Table of Contents

Eligibility

Application

Scholarships

Grants

Loans

Work-Study Program

On-Campus Employment

Academic Progress Standards

The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid provides assistance to students in obtaining scholarships, grants, loans, and employment to enable students to attend the university regardless of financial constraints and to encourage students of above average scholastic ability.

It is recognized that student and family situations are unique, and every application and financial statement is carefully analyzed and considered. Complete confidentiality is assured to all students who supply financial information.

For more information call or write:

Eligibility

To be eligible for financial assistance, students must be enrolled for at least six semester hours. For summer aid, students must be enrolled at least half-time for the full six-, nine-, and/or 12-week sessions. Visiting summer students are not eligible for financial aid. Students holding permanent resident visas are eligible to apply for financial aid; however, non-U.S. citizens holding only student visas are not eligible for federal aid through this office. Satisfactory academic progress must be maintained to continue eligibility for federal funds.

Application

Entering freshmen, transfer students, or presently enrolled students who wish to apply for financial aid must submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the April 1 priority deadline. This may be obtained from high school counselors, on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov or from:

Students who receive correspondence from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid should respond as soon as possible to avoid delays in the processing of their application. In some cases, other forms may be required after initial application forms are submitted, such as financial aid transcripts from previously attended postsecondary institutions, special scholarships, or loan supplemental forms. The processing period for an aid application is approximately six weeks.

Scholarships

These are gift aid awards based on past academic performance or on expected college performance and are provided in three ways:

1. University funds for which the campus scholarship committee chooses the recipients

2. Funds provided by outside donors for which academic departments choose the recipients

3. Funds provided by outside donors for which the donors choose the recipients

Amounts per student range from $50 to more than $4,000 per semester.

Entering freshmen are urged to investigate scholarship possibilities through high school counselors, civic, religious, and fraternal organizations, and their major departments at the university.

Cullen Leadership Scholarships

These $2,000 annual scholarships are for entering freshmen students with demonstrated excellence in scholarship and leadership in school and community activities. The four-year scholarships, $2,000 annually, will be awarded to incoming freshmen.

To be eligible, students must be enrolled full time. The following factors will be considered in awarding the scholarships: high school academic record--one-third of total weight; ACT/SAT score--one-third of total weight; and leadership activities and potential--one-third of total weight. This last factor will be judged by an autobiographical statement and letters of reference and will include use of English, school activities, and outside activities.

Students' progress will be reviewed at the end of each year. A 3.25 cumulative grade point average is required to continue in the program.

Academic Competitive Scholarships

International or nonresident students who hold academic competitive scholarships of at least $1,000 for an academic year or summer session are entitled to pay resident tuition and fees provided they compete with other students, including Texas residents, for the scholarship. The scholarship must be awarded by a scholarship committee officially recognized by the university. The number of nonresident tuition and fee waivers for academic competitive scholarships is limited to five percent of the previous year's total university head count and at the discretion of the dean of your college or appropriate scholarship committee.

Grants

These are gift aid awards provided to students who demonstrate financial need. Amounts range from $200 to $3,200 per year depending upon the amount of need demonstrated and the availability of funds. Federally funded grant programs include the Federal Pell Grant, which is available to undergraduates. This grant may be applied for by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available through the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. The amount of an award is based on the determination of students' eligibility, the cost of attendance at the university, and a payment schedule issued by the United States Department of Education.

Other grant programs administered by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid include the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, the Texas Public Education Grant, and the Leveraged Educational Assistance Partnership Grant.

Loans

These include the National Direct Student Loan, Carl Perkins Loan, Hinson-Hazlewood College Student Loan, Stafford Student Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized), Parent Loan Program, and the Health Professions Student Loans (Optometry and Health).

The aggregate amount that may be borrowed for undergraduate studies ranges from $6,000 to $23,000, and for graduate studies, from $12,000 to $65,500, depending upon the guidelines of the particular program. The annual amount that a student may borrow will vary by program.

Long-term loan repayment generally begins six months after graduation or when students cease to carry at least a half-time course load during a spring or fall semester. The repayment of Health Professions Student Loans begins 12 months after students cease to be enrolled on a full-time basis. The loans accrue interest at various rates that will be indicated on your promissory note. Repayment of principal may be extended over a 10-year period with a minimum payment of $50 per month.

As long as funds permit, emergency tuition loans and university short-term loans are available for academic emergency expenses. Such loans are given primarily for tuition and fees and, in some cases, books and supplies. Normally, short-term and emergency tuition loans must be repaid from within 45 to 90 days, depending on the program. A service charge of $5 is assessed and collected at the time the loan is made unless otherwise designated. There is a one percent interest charge per month, or any portion thereof, on short-term loans.

Work-Study Program

College work-study program funds are provided by the United States government and the State of Texas and either the university (for on-campus employment) or the participating nonprofit organization (for off-campus employment).

Undergraduate and graduate students who are eligible to apply must be:

1. Enrolled at least half time

2. Citizens or permanent residents of the United States

3. In need of earnings from such employment in order to pursue a course of study at the university as determined from the FAFSA

On-Campus Employment

Many on-campus jobs are available to spouses of students and to qualified students who want to work while attending school. Most jobs are full time, but anyone desiring a more flexible work schedule or more varied job assignments may prefer to enroll in UH-Temps, a campus-maintained temporary service. Staff in most regular jobs are entitled to standard benefits. Those interested in exploring on-campus employment opportunities should call:

Many part- and full-time on- and off-campus jobs are listed with the Career Planning and Placement Center, a service for students located on the first floor, Student Service Center, 713-743-1010.

Revision and Cancellation

The university reserves the right to review, revise, or terminate all financial aid at any time due to changes in students' financial and/or academic status or failure to comply with federal or state laws and regulations, including financial verification, audit procedures, and university policies. In addition, all financial aid is subject to revision based on the funds received by the university from the federal or state government and any changes to federal or state laws, regulations, or policies.

Repayment of Student Aid

Students who withdraw during the first eight weeks of a term or are not enrolled on a half-time basis of at least six semester credit hours will be required to repay all or part of their financial aid. Total repayment is required of students who withdraw before classes begin.

The schedule for the repayment of financial aid is:

Time of Withdrawal	Refund
First week of classes	90 percent
Second week of classes	80 percent
Third week of classes	70 percent
Fourth week of classes	60 percent
Fifth week of classes	50 percent
Sixth week of classes	40 percent
Seventh week of classes	30 percent
Eighth week of classes	20 percent
After eight weeks of classes	None

Academic Progress Standards

The various federal and state regulations governing student financial assistance programs require that an institution develop standards to measure students' reasonable progress toward a degree objective. Students who do not make reasonable progress, even if they are determined to be needy, will not be eligible for financial assistance. The following qualitative and quantitative standards must be met to remain eligible for and retain financial aid at the university.

Qualitative Measures of Academic Progress

The qualitative measure of academic progress is a grading scale of 0.00 to 4.00, based on students' enrollment classification.

Undergraduate studentswho have previously attended the university must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 to be eligible for financial assistance.

Postbaccalaureate studentswho have previously attended the university must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 to be eligible for financial assistance.

Incoming freshmen, graduate students, or transfer studentswill be eligible for financial aid if they have been regularly admitted to the university in good standing.

Quantitative Measures of Academic Progress

In addition to maintaining a minimum grade point average, students must demonstrate acceptable progress toward a degree or certificate objective in order to remain eligible for financial assistance. Students cannot receive financial aid beyond a specified total of attempted credit hours, and they must complete a certain percentage of the credit hours for which they enroll. These requirements are summarized astotal credit hours and ratio of completed hours to attempted hours on the chart below.

Hours completed do not include grades of I (incomplete), U (unsatisfactory), or W (withdrawal). Courses that have been repeated will be counted for each enrollment as hours attempted, and will be counted as hours completed if a grade other than I, U, or W is received.

Classification	Total Hours Including Transfer Credit	Ratio of Completed Hours to Attempted Hours
Undergraduate (Students working on their first baccalaureate degree)	160 credit hours	75%
Graduate and Professional (Excluding Optometry)	100 hours beyond B.A.	75%
Optometry	200 hours beyond B.A.	75%
Postbaccalaureate	100 hours beyond first B.A.	75%

Appeals Process

Students who are denied financial assistance may appeal the decision.

Appeal Procedure.If mitigating circumstances exist that indicate possible eligibility for financial aid, students may initiate an appeal through the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Students who receive a favorable decision through this process must reestablish their eligibility at the end of the probationary period. Probationary status is normally granted for one semester only.

Reinstatement of Eligibility

Students who have been denied financial assistance on the basis of academic progress may appeal for reinstatement of eligibility when they attain satisfactory academic progress. If assistance is granted, the award will not be retroactive, but will be given for the remainder of the academic year. For example, at the conclusion of the fall semester, students may receive an award for the spring semester.

Monitoring of Academic Progress

Academic progress is reviewed at the time that a student's financial aid is being rewarded. Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress will result in the denial or cancellation of student financial assistance.

The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid may administratively grant one probationary semester of assistance for students whose academic progress has changed to not in good standing at the conclusion of their first semester of enrollment at the University of Houston.