e-notes

January 25, 2010

What do applying for K-State scholarships, applying for federal financial aid, and filing your taxes have in common? All three "chores" have deadlines that are rapidly approaching.

Apply for K-State scholarships by February 1

If you will be a continuing student for the upcoming 2010-11 academic year and you have not already applied for K-State scholarships, please submit your 2010-11 K-State scholarship application by the priority application date of Monday, February 1. You can complete your K-State scholarship application online at https://www.k-state.edu/sfa/scholarships/apply

Apply for federal financial aid by March 1

If you will be a continuing student for the upcoming 2010-11 academic year and you have not already completed a 2010-11 FAFSA, please submit your 2010-11 FAFSA by the priority application date of Monday, March 1. You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen to apply. Filing your FAFSA by March 1 will maximize your financial aid options for the upcoming 2010-11 academic year. You can complete and submit your FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.gov

Helpful hint to meet the priority application date of March 1: You can provide estimated 2009 tax information if you or your parents have not yet completed your tax returns. After you have completed your tax returns, you can update and correct your tax data on the FAFSA.

American Opportunity Tax Credit

You or your family may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $2,500. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009, textbook and other course material expenses incurred in 2009 and 2010 that are not covered by scholarship or grant aid may be counted towards the newly created tax credit called the American Opportunity Tax Credit on that year’s tax return. For more information, see http://www.k-state.edu/sfa/tax.htm

January 6, 2010

We would like to direct your attention to a few of the important financial aid disbursement dates for the 2010 spring semester. You can find this information at http://www.k-state.edu/sfa/spring.htm

December 9, 2009

The type and amount of student financial aid that may be disbursed by the Office of Student Financial Assistance is often linked to a student's actual enrollment (full time, 3/4 time, 1/2 time, and < 1/2 time).

Since student add/drop activity is often quite high during pre-enrollment and the first few days of any term, our office asks that you verify and/or update the number of units (credit hours) you plan to settle into for the new term. Providing this information will allow us to make any required adjustments to your student aid award(s) in accordance with your planned enrollment.

Since our office compares your planned enrollment against your actual enrollment at the time of aid disbursement, some or all of your scheduled student financial aid disbursement(s) may be delayed if you fail to report your planned enrollment units or if your reported planned enrollment units fail to match your actual enrolled units.

Fortunately, reviewing/updating your planned units (credit hours) for the new term is easy. Within the Finances section of your iSIS Student Center, click on View Financial Aid. Once you have selected the correct Aid Year, you will see a link labeled "My Enrollment Plans." From there, simply review/update and submit the units for the upcoming term.

November 9, 2009

To students who have Federal Stafford or Direct Loans and are graduating in December of 2009:

Congratulations upon completion of your degree requirements at Kansas State University. I hope that you’ll look back on the time and money spent at K-State as a wise and personal investment.

Federal regulations require K-State to provide, and borrowers to complete, an exit counseling session prior to leaving school. The online exit counseling session takes approximately 30
minutes to complete and provides students with pertinent information regarding deferment and repayment options.

Students are required to provide names, addresses, and telephone numbers for a next-of-kin, two personal references at different addresses, and future employer if known. The collection of this data is a federal requirement and will remain confidential. At the end of the session, your results will be electronically transmitted to K-State.

You can access information concerning your federal student loans by visiting the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). The NSLDS Web site is designed for you to view your federal student borrowing history from each college or university you’ve attended as well as obtain detailed information on account balances and who is servicing your loan. You will need your Federal PIN to sign into the site. It will be beneficial for you to access this before completing the online exit counseling session.

Please complete an online exit counsleing session from one of the two listed below even if you plan to continue your education after graduation. You may want to choose the agency in which you have the majority of your loans.

Federal Stafford Loans serviced by Sallie Mae, Inc.

Federal Direct Loans serviced by the U.S. Federal Government

July 31, 2009

When is my Fall 2009 K-State e-bill created?

If you were pre-enrolled for the Fall 2009 term by July 15, 2009, your K-State e-bill was produced July 15 by the Cashier's Office.

If you pre-enrolled after July 15, 2009 but before August 25, 2009, your K-State e-bill will be produced for you on Tuesday, August 25, 2009.

Where can I view my Fall 2009 balance due, due date, and pending financial aid?

Once your e-bill has been created, you can view it on-line by signing into the K-State Student Information System, iSIS, using your eID and password. From the iSIS Main Menu, navigate to your “Student Center” section and click on the "View Account / Pay Now" under the Finances module.

If I am taking classes on the K-State Salina campus, how do I get my credit balance refund check?

If all your classes are on the K-State Salina campus and you do not have an EFT on file with the Cashier's Office, you may pick up your credit balance refund check with a valid photo ID between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at the Salina Cashier's Office (209 College Center), on Monday, August 24, 2009.

Time line for financial aid disbursed on Friday, August 14, 2009

Friday, August 14, 2009 – In keeping with federal regulations, this is the first day that K-State may credit your account with financial aid funds for the Fall 2009 term.

Prior to applying any financial aid against your University charges, the Office of Student Financial Assistance will perform a series of checks to verify your continued eligibility for any awarded financial aid funds, such as minimum hours enrolled, etc.

Thursday, August 20, 2009 – If you have an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) request on file with the Cashier's Office or have submitted such a request by August 14 to the Cashier's Office, any remaining financial aid funds left over after being applied to your University charges on August 14th will be available in your designated bank account.

Monday, August 24, 2009 – First day of K-State’s Fall 2009 term. If your financial aid was applied toward your University charges on August 14, but you do not have an EFT on file with the Cashier's Office, you may pick up your credit balance refund check with a valid photo ID between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom located on the second floor of the K-State Student Union.

Tuesday – Thursday, August 25-27, 2009 – If a credit balance refund check was produced for you as a result of applying your financial aid to your University charges on August 14 and you did not pick it up in person on Monday, August 24, you can now pick it up with a valid photo ID in the Cashier's Office, 211 Anderson Hall.

Friday – August 28, 2009 – If a credit balance refund check was produced for you as a result of applying your financial aid to your University charges on August 14 and you did not pick it up in person on campus August 24-27, your credit balance refund check will be mailed to your home address by the Cashier's Office.

For information regarding your financial aid, please contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

For information regarding your K-State e-bill, please contact the Cashier's Office.

January 20, 2009

Apply for K-State scholarships by February 1.
Apply for federal financial assistance by March 1.

If you have not done so already, please submit your 2009-10 K-State Scholarship application by K-State's priority application date of Sunday, February 1.

You can complete your K-State scholarship application online at:

https://www.k-state.edu/sfa/scholarships/apply/

If you are a U.S. citizen, or eligible non-citizen, and have not done so already, please submit your 2009-10 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by K-State’s priority application date of Sunday, March 1.

You can complete your FAFSA online at:

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/index.htm

Helpful hints for the FAFSA:

You can provide estimated 2008 tax information if you or your parents have not yet completed your tax returns. After you have completed your tax returns, you can update and correct your tax data on the FAFSA.

You will maximize your financial assistance options for the upcoming 2009-10 academic year by meeting the priority application date of March 1.

December 23, 2008

To Undergraduate students who are pre-enrolled for the spring semester:

As a pre-enrolled student for the Spring 2009 semester with accepted financial aid, you may want to review some dates of interest regarding the disbursement of your aid. Navigate to http://www.k-state.edu/sfa/soas.htm to find out when:
- aid will be disbursed
- excess financial aid will be released (direct deposit or paper check)
- excess financial aid in paper check format will be mailed if not initially picked up

You can check iSIS now to see:
- your anticipated aid
- if you have any holds
- if you have anything on your To Do List

December 23, 2008

To Graduate or Veterinary Medicine students who are pre-enrolled for the spring semester:

Remember, as a Graduate or a Veterinary Medicine student, you must be enrolled in at least 5 credit hours to be eligible for aid.

You can check iSIS now to see:
- your anticipated aid
- if you have any holds
- if you have anything on your To Do List

December 2, 2008

To students who have Federal Stafford or Direct Loans and are graduating in December of 2008:

November 18, 2008

The type and amount of student financial aid that may be disbursed by the Office of Student Financial Assistance is often linked to a student's actual enrollment (full time, 3/4 time, 1/2 time, and < 1/2 time).

Since student add/drop activity is often quite high during pre-enrollment and the first few days of any term, our office asks that you verify and/or update the number of units (credit hours) you plan to settle into for the new term. Providing this information will allow us to make any required adjustments to your student aid award(s) in accordance with your planned enrollment.

Important - Since our office compares your planned enrollment against your actual enrollment at the time of aid disbursement, some or all of your scheduled student financial aid disbursement(s) may be delayed if you fail to report your planned enrollment units or if your reported planned enrollment units fail to match your actual enrolled units.

Fortunately, reviewing/updating your planned units (credit hours) for the new term is easy. Within the Finances section of your iSIS Student Center click on View Financial Aid. Once you have selected the correct Aid Year, you will see a link labeled "My Enrollment Plans." From there, simply review/update and submit the units for the upcoming term.

October 13, 2008

Win Money!

K-State Scholarship Workshop
http://www.k-state.edu/sfa/scholarshipworkshop.htm

Tuesday, October 28, 3:30-4:30pm
K-State Student Union Ballroom

Attend the K-State Scholarship Workshop and enter a drawing to win a $200 scholarship.

You'll find out where to look for scholarships, how to create a winning scholarship application, how to maximize your financial assistance opportunities, and enjoy live music.

3:30-4:00pm
Browse the scholarship expo to learn about college and community scholarships. Submit the K-State scholarship application and learn how to gain experiences that strengthen your chances of winning scholarships.

4:00-4:30pm
Ben Kohl, Assistant Director for the K-State Office of Student Financial Assistance, will show you how to identify scholarship sources and submit winning scholarship applications.

Sponsored by:
Office of Student Financial Assistance
Adult Student Services
Union Program Council

May 12, 2008

As the Spring 2008 term winds down, the K-State Office of Student Financial Assistance would like to take this opportunity to remind you that we continue to communicate with students planning to return for the upcoming 2008-09 academic year throughout the summer months via their K-State student e-mail account.

Since timeliness is often of critical importance when it comes to processing student financial assistance, we encourage you to routinely check your K-State e-mail account throughout the upcoming summer months for important notices.

For example, since the K-State Office of Student Financial Assistance has switched from offering federally guaranteed student loans through private lenders to federally guaranteed student loans through the Federal Direct Loan Program (effective earlier this spring), all students accepting a Federal Direct Loan will be required to complete a new Federal Direct Master Promissory Note (MPN).

Our office will begin to send out e-mail notifications with directions on how to complete this new MPN, beginning in June.

January 18, 2008

K-State Financial Assistance eNote - Application Reminder

Apply for K-State scholarships by February 1.
Apply for federal financial assistance by March 1.

If you have not done so already, please submit your 2008-09 K-State Scholarship application by K-State's priority application date of Friday, February 1.
You can complete your K-State scholarship application online at

https://www.k-state.edu/sfa/scholarships/apply/

If you have not done so already, please submit your 2008-09 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by K-State’s priority application date of Thursday, March 1.
You can complete your FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Helpful hints for the FAFSA:

You can provide estimated 2007 tax information if you or your parents have not yet completed your tax returns. After you have completed your tax returns, you can update and correct your tax data on the FAFSA.

You will maximize your financial assistance options by meeting the priority application date of March 1.