Welcome Center, 42 W. Warren Avenue; P.O. Box 2340,
Detroit MI 48202; (313) 577-3378; Fax: (313) 577-6648
Web: http://www.financialaid.wayne.edu
The Office of Financial Aid (OFA) annually administers more than $71 million in financial aid funds from Federal, State, University and private sources. Some financial aid programs are need-based; others are non-need-based; and awards are given in recognition of special skills, talents or academic ability. Provided below are the specific services of this office.
Service Hours: Wayne State Financial Aid offices assist students on a walk-in basis at the Financial Aid Counter in the lobby of the Welcome Center, 42 W. Warren Avenue, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Picture identification is required to ensure confidentiality of student financial information. (June through August, appointments and walk-in services end at 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.)
Appointments with a financial aid officer may be scheduled by accessing the web site at http://www.financialaid.wayne.edu and logging onto `Live Support' during regular business hours. Appointments can also be scheduled at the Financial Aid Counter in the Welcome Center lobby.
Definition and Purpose of Financial Aid: Financial aid is assistance to help students pay their educational expenses. Financial aid may supplement a student's contribution toward his/her educational costs. Some aid is need-based; some aid is non-need-based and awards are given in recognition of special skills, talents, or academic ability.
Financial Aid Facts for Graduate Students webpage is found at: http://www.financialaid.wayne.edu/facts_grad.html
Financial aid at Wayne State University is awarded in the form of a `package,' or combination of aid, and generally consists of four types: grants, scholarships, loans and employment. The amount of financial aid a student may receive can not exceed his/her demonstrated financial need, based on the information provided on his/her application.
Gift assistance that requires no repayment and is awarded on the basis of financial need.
Gift assistance that requires no repayment and is awarded on the basis of academic achievement or other special ability. Financial need may also be a factor in some awards.
Money that must be repaid at a future date, usually following graduation or when a student ceases to be enrolled on at least a half time basis. First-time borrowers under the Federal Perkins Loan Program or Federal Stafford Loan Program are required to participate in entrance loan counseling. The purpose of this counseling is to advise students of their rights and responsibilities as borrowers. Federal regulations prohibit Wayne State Financial Aid from paying students' loan proceeds prior to their participation in the Entrance Loan Counseling. Links to Entrance Loan Counseling sites are available in the `Loans' section of the Wayne State Financial Aid website at http://www.financialaid.wayne.edu/
An employment program of on/off-campus jobs. The hourly wage is at least the federal minimum hourly rate. A work-study award offer is not an employment guarantee. Students interested in work-study should carefully read the Student Guide to On-Campus Employment, which explains the hiring process and the terms and conditions of employment. The guide is available from University Placement Services, which is located in Room 1001 of the Faculty/Administration Building, and online at http://www.stuaffrs.wayne.edu/StudentEmpGuide.pdf
Financial aid eligibility requirements, award amounts, and conditions for yearly award continuation vary, so students should apply for financial aid each academic year.
Wayne State Students interested in applying for financial aid should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available as FAFSA on-line at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Students with questions about the FASFA may contact the U.S. Department of Education at (800) 433-3243, or Wayne State Financial Aid at (313) 577-3378 during regular business hours. Students who wish to have a copy of their FAFSA from another institution sent to Wayne State University can telephone the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) and request the addition of the WSU federal code to their FAFSA. The WSU federal code is 002329.
To electronically sign the FAFSA on the Web, students need a federal personal identification number (PIN), which is issued by the U.S. Department of Education. Students may request a PIN on-line at http://www.pin.ed.gov.
Fall/Winter Application Priority Date: The application priority date for financial aid consideration at Wayne State is March 1 for fall and winter semesters. It is unlikely that gift aid and work-study will be available for students who submit their FAFSAs after the application priority date.
Spring/Summer Application Priority Date: Students interested in applying for spring/summer semester financial aid will be required to submit a supplemental application for the Federal Direct Loan or Federal Stafford Loan in addition to submitting their FAFSA. The supplemental application is available in January at the Wayne State Financial Aid office and website, http://www.financialaid.wayne.edu. The application priority date is March 30.
SAR data is used by Wayne State Financial Aid to determine the type(s) and amount(s), if any, of financial aid to be awarded to a student. That is, the SAR data is used to determine a student's financial need.
The SAR identifies a student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Wayne State Financial Aid determines a student's financial need by subtracting the EFC amount from the average cost of attendance (COA) for whatever program the student is enrolled in at Wayne State University. COA minus EFC equals financial need.
The SAR also states whether or not an application has been selected for a process called verification (see below), or if additional information is needed from the student.
FAFSA on the Web: Students receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) Information Acknowledgment in the mail about two weeks after submitting a FASFA on-line. A link to on-line personal SAR information is also e-mailed within five days to any students who provide a valid e-mail address.
Paper FAFSA: Students who submit a paper FAFSA receive a paper SAR via mail within approximately 14 to 21 business days.
For questions or status inquiry regarding FASFA, students can contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4 FED AID (1-800-433-3243).
The process by which the University confirms the data on an individual student's FAFSA is called verification. Students may be asked to provide additional information to Wayne State Financial Aid by completing a verification worksheet to confirm the validity and accuracy of the selected student's FASFA data. Wayne State Financial Aid will also request a copy of the selected student's federal tax return (and spouse's federal tax return, if student is married). Once verification is complete, Wayne State Financial Aid sends any data corrections to the Federal processing agency. The agency then sends a corrected SAR out to the student and Wayne State Financial Aid.
Students must enroll at least half time in order to receive financial aid. To receive consideration for the maximum award amounts under financial aid programs, a student must enroll full-time in a program that leads to a degree or certificate. At the graduate level, enrollment for eight or more credits is full-time; enrollment for four to seven credits is half time. In the spring/summer semester, enrollment for two credits is full-time and one credit is half time.
A student must be enrolled in an eligible program (one that leads to a degree or certificate) to receive consideration for financial aid funds. There are two exceptions to the eligible program requirement: (1) enrollment in prerequisite course work to gain admission to an eligible program, and (2) enrollment in the teacher certification program. Descriptions of the exceptions are available from Wayne State Financial Aid office and website, http://www.financialaid.wayne.edu.
Students who meet any of the following admission criteria are not eligible for financial aid.
a) Admission to the University is granted with status as a `Guest Student,' `Permit to Register,' `Pre-Master's' or `Post-Master's.'
b) Admission to a program that does not lead to a degree or certificate and for which neither of the eligible program exceptions stated above applies.
c) Admission to the University in the English Language Institute, Post-Bachelor's Rank 06, or Post-Master's Rank G2.
Financial aid is paid in two disbursements if the award is for the academic year. Half of the award is paid in the fall semester and half is paid in the winter semester. One-semester loans also have two disbursements. Half of the loan is paid at the beginning of the semester, and half is paid in the middle of the semester.
The University has a refund policy, which is stated in the Schedule of Classes. Federal regulations require all post-secondary institutions to have a fair and equitable refund policy for recipients of Federal (Title IV) financial aid. The Refund Policy for Title IV Financial Aid Recipients states the conditions under which Federal aid must be returned to the originating programs when a student completely withdraws (officially or unofficially) from the University before completing more than 60 percent of the enrollment period. If Federal aid must be returned to the originating program, the student is responsible for paying the tuition account balance, if any. The policy is available from Wayne State Financial Aid.
Students are strongly encouraged to discuss with a financial aid administrator the effect that withdrawing from all classes will have on their financial aid. Upon withdrawing from all classes, students who are financial aid recipients must notify Wayne State Financial Aid of enrollment status changes immediately.
1330 Academic/Administrative Building; 313-577-5050
Academic College Enrichment Services (ACCESS) provides academic assistance and support services to promising youth and adult learners in the metropolitan Detroit area who have been historically under-represented in higher education due to their economic condition and educational background.
Postbaccalaureate Scholars Program, McNair
The Wayne State University Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program is designed to effectively prepare low-income, first generation and underrepresented students for doctoral study. The program provides undergraduate students with research opportunities, graduate record examination preparation and fee waivers, opportunities to publish research, and travel to graduate schools and research conferences.
The McNair Scholars Program is committed to maintaining high standards of academic leadership and achievement. Further information about the McNair Scholars Program can be obtained by contacting Mr. Joseph Baynesan, at (313) 577-5050. This program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.