Financial Aid Information

OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID
http://www.uhcl.edu/finaid

Students aid packages may be revised if students enroll for fewer hours than indicated on their original award.

RECEIVING YOUR FINANCIAL AID

Summer 2009 and Fall 2009 aid will disburse approximately 1 week before your classes begin for the term. If the financial aid credited to a student’s account creates a credit balance, students may charge books and supplies to their student accounts in the UHCL bookstore. Once financial aid refunds have been processed by the Cashier’s Office (usually the first week of classes) students are no longer eligible to charge books and supplies to their student account.

The Cashier’s Office will process refunds for students with financial aid credit balances the first week of classes. All refunds are processed through Higher One. If you have not yet done so, please activate your UHCL OneCard and choose one of the following options to receive your refund:

            a.         Transfer to a debit card.

            b.         Transfer (ACH) to an existing checking account

            c.         Request a paper check.

New students can expect to receive their UHCL OneCard about 2 weeks after enrolling. For additional information about the UHCL OneCard, visit www.UHCLOneCard.com or call the Student Assistance Center at 281-281-2722.

Grants and Scholarships

Grants and/or scholarships are credited directly to each student’s account approximately one week before classes begin each semester. If a student’s financial aid is in excess of their tuition and fees, a refund will be processed for them through Higher One the first week of classes.

Loans

Students must complete the following steps to receive their student loan(s):

1.   Log into E-Services at http://http://my.uh.edu/sacl

2.   Click Financial Aid, Accept/Decline Financial Aid, Aid Year

3.   Accept the loan(s) as offered, or reduce loan amounts

4.   Complete a Direct Loan electronic Master Promissory Note (eMPN) at www.dlenote.ed.gov (if this will be your first Direct Loan at UHCL)

Direct loan funds will be credited to your account after you have accepted your loan in E-Services and have completed the eMPN. If a student’s financial aid is in excess of their tuition and fees, a refund will be processed for them through Higher One beginning the first week of classes.

Veteran’s Benefits

To be considered for VA benefits under chapters 30, 32, 34, 35, 1606, 1607 and active duty personnel, you must:

Read and complete a UHCL application for benefits.

Be accepted for admission with a Candidate Plan of Study on file.

Complete a change of schools form (22-1995) or a first time application form (22-1990).

Students attending other schools concurrently must also submit a fee statement and class schedule from that school so that a parent institution letter can be sent to the secondary school.

NOTE: Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation) students must visit their representative at the local VA office to begin their application process.

Hazlewood Benefits

A Texas veteran may qualify for benefits under the Hazlewood Act if he or she:

Is a Texas resident at the time of entry into the armed forces of the United States.

Served at least 181 consecutive days of active military duty (calculated as the sum items in 12(c) and 12 (d) on the Member 4 copy of the DD214) not including the training days.

Received an honorable discharge, a general discharge under honorable conditions, or an honorable release from active duty.

Has resided in Texas for at least 12 months or otherwise meets the state requirements for being considered a resident of Texas at the time of enrollment in UHCL.

Has attempted fewer than 150 credit hours of college courses since the fall of 1995 using the Hazlewood exemption.

Have Federal veterans’ educational benefits for term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood Benefits.

Is not in default on any education loans made or guaranteed by the Federal Government or the State of Texas.

Is enrolled in an eligible program of study. (An institution may not grant a Hazlewood Act exemption for continuing education courses).

Beginning with the registration for Spring 2006, all recipients MUST complete a statewide application for Hazlewood exemption from Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board before the Census Date of each semester.

Hazlewood benefits are not transferred from one college or university to another. Veterans must reapply and provide our office with all of the following documents:

Statewide Hazlewood Application

A copy of the military separation papers (Member 4 copy of the DD214), which must state the separation date, time served, honorable discharge, and the home of record must be Texas. If the home of record is not on the DD214, a copy of enlistment papers, which shows the home of record, is required.

A letter from the VARO in Muskogee, OK stating all Federal VA educational benefits has been exhausted. (1-888-442-4551).

A copy of the birth certificate for first-time recipients to prove citizenship.

If the veteran was not a citizen of the United States at the time he or she entered the service, a copy of the high school diploma or transcript is needed for first-time recipients to prove Texas residency.

A record of credit hours received under the Hazlewood exemption from all institution of higher education in Texas other than UHCL.

Military personnel who have served only in the Reserve or National Guard and whose units have never been called upon to serve as active duty for a minimum of 181 days do not qualify for the Hazlewood exemption of tuition and fees.

NOTE: Policies and procedures are subject to change according to the developing guidelines of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for the Hazlewood program. For more information, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Hazlewood Exemption Deadline

All students MUST turn in the statewide Hazlewood application by the official census date each semester. Please refer to the Calendar of Important Dates on p. 5-9 for the official census dates for each semester.

Scholarships

Automatic Transfer Student Scholarships will be available to incoming undergraduate students who are eligible to pay in-state tuition and have never attended UHCL before. No additional application is required. Scholarship awards will be determined upon receipt of your completed admission application and official college transcript(s) by the Office of Admissions.

Eligibility

Admitted to UHCL

Transfer grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale

Enroll as a first-time UHCL undergraduate student eligible for in-state tuition

Enroll in at least 9 credit hours each semester

Awards

$1,000 paid at $500/semester for 2 consecutive long semesters
           o Requires 3.0 - 4.0 transfer GPA
           o Renewable for an additional 2 consecutive long
             semesters provided cumulative GPA is at least 3.0 and
             credit hour requirements are met.

$800 paid at $400/semester for 2 consecutive long semesters
           o Requires 2.75 - 2.99 transfer GPA
           o Renewable for an additional 2 consecutive long
             semesters provided cumulative GPA is at least 2.75 and
             credit hour requirements are met.