The Financial Aid Office is responsible for administering all federal, state, institutional and private sources of financial assistance. This includes:
- Counseling current and prospective students on the availability and terms of aid programs and assisting them in calculating their yearly out of pocket expense
- Determining eligibility for need-based programs based on the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Applying scholarships awarded by CCS through the admissions process, competitions, sponsored projects in the classroom, and from third party donors
- Processing student loan funds available through government and private sources and providing counseling regarding the rights and responsibilities of borrowers
- Recalculating aid amounts based on changes to enrollment level, such as half-time or less than half-time enrollment
- Coordinating the work-study/student employee program
Faculty are encouraged to direct students to the Financial Aid Office when they express financial concerns, or to contact the office directly if they feel the situation is of special concern that may recommend the student for additional assistance.
Some specific circumstances for which students should be directed to the Financial Aid Office are:
- If they are considering dropping classes or doing a complete withdrawal
- They will be enrolled less than half-time
- They are experiencing financial difficulties and/or there has been a change in the family’s financial circumstances
- They need advice on applying for loans to supplement their financial aid package