Fall 2009-2010 Financial Aid Update

There are several changes in processing of financial aid that may affect you for the summer 2010 or other terms for the upcoming year.  Please carefully read the information below and contact the Financial Aid Office if you have questions.

1. For those students who are Pell Grant eligible, the Department has established a year-round Pell Grant for 2009-2010.  If a student has exhausted all Pell Grant eligibility during the standard Fall and Spring terms, typically the student does not have any remaining funds left to assist for the summer term.  With this taken into effect, the student would now be eligible for an additional Pell for the summer term.  Students are encouraged to take full advantage of this opportunity!
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2. The maximum Pell Grant will be $5350.  SEOG awards will average $750 and HEAPS (WV Part-time Grant) will be based on six credit hours of tuition.
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3. Students who are eligible for Federal Work Study must be enrolled in classes at least half time, and must carry a GPA of a 2.0 or greater. 
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4. Generally, students will not be awarded the WV Grant, SEOG, or HEAPS, in the same semester.
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5. Electronic bookstore credits for the Fall 2009 term will begin July 16 through August 21 and may be used if you have financial aid that creates a credit balance on your student account.
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6. Financial Aid refund checks will be available for the Fall 2009 semester on Aug 28th.  Please make sure that you have completed ALL satisfied requirements for financial aid.  The most common requirement that are not completed, for student loan purposes, are the master promissory note and entrance counseling.  Please check your BRIDGE account to make sure all requirements are completed.  Otherwise, this will delay your refund.   Thereafter, refunds will be issued each Thursday in A07.
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7. Tuition bills are due on August 14, 2009 (60%) and on September 25, 2009 the remaining 40% is due.
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8. Students who are receiving benefits through National Guard, WIA, TAA, Vocational Rehabilitation, or VA Vocational Rehabilitation,  contract payments will be posted on student accounts by August 14, 2009.

New Loan Limits went into effect July 1 for the 2008-09 award year.  The new limits apply only to unsubsidized loans and are available to both dependent and independent students.  Because most students were already packaged for the new aid year and because the additional loan amounts will accrue interest from disbursement, the new loan amounts were not automatically awarded.  The information below describes the new loan limits and you may apply for the additional amount by completing an additional unsubsidized loan form (available online or from the Financial Aid Office) or sending an email with your Student ID to finaid@blueridgectc.edu.  Actual awarding of the loan will depend on your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), total loan debt and number of enrolled hours for the fall semester. 

Award Chart

Exit Counseling for August and December graduates is available online at www.dlssonline.com.   You will need your FAFSA Pin to access the counseling session. Exit Counseling is required for all students who borrowed a Direct or Stafford loan while enrolled at Blue Ridge or another institution and a hold will be placed on your transcript until the Exit Counseling is completed. 

Direct Loan Repayment Plans