Financial Aid IMPORTANT NOTE:  These pages are a facsimile of an official publication of Southern Polytechnic State University and cannot be changed.  The information contained in this document was accurate at the time of publication.
 
Purpose and Philosophy
Southern Polytechnic State University subscribes to the principle that the primary purpose of a financial assistance program is to provide aid to students who without such assistance would be unable to attend or remain in school. The financial aid program is intended to assist students in meeting normal university expenses and to help as many students as possible. An applicant should realize, however, that the amount of financial aid which may be granted seldom meets all the student's educational expenses.

The primary responsibility for financing an education rests with the student and his or her family. The family of the applicant is expected to make a maximum effort to assist the student with college expenses. The student also has a responsibility to contribute to his or her college expenses through such sources as savings and summer earnings.

Eligible students receive financial aid from funds provided to the institution by the federal and state governments, community organizations, and local industries. In most cases, the aid package is a combination of a grant, scholarship, loan and/or employment.

The Student Financial Aid Office serves more than 3000 students each year. Over eight million dollars is awarded to these students to assist them in meeting educational costs and in furthering their education.

Steps to Apply for Financial Aid
To be considered for any need-based financial aid awarded by the Student Financial Aid Office, a student must be accepted for enrollment. However, new or transfer students should not wait to be admitted to the university before applying for financial aid.

Transfer, readmitted, and incoming graduate students must have financial aid transcripts sent to the Student Financial Aid Office from each college they previously attended.

All applicants for aid (new and returning students) must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available at the Student Financial Aid Office.

Although applications are processed until all federal funds are expended, students who apply by the March 15 deadline have a greater chance of receiving financial aid than those who apply late. Aid awarded to a student one year does not mean that he or she is eligible to receive aid in a subsequent year, unless the student continues to demonstrate need as defined by the U.S. Office of Education. An application, each year, is required to continue to receive financial aid.

Information and applications concerning financial aid may be obtained by writing to:

Director of Financial Aid
Southern Polytechnic State University
1100 South Marietta Parkway
Marietta, Georgia 30060-2896

or by calling the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday thru Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, at 678/915-7290 or 800/869-1102.

Types of Financial Aid
Campus Based Aid
Campus based aid includes the following programs:
 
The Federal Work Study Program (FWSP) provides part-time employment to those students who show a financial need. The FWS positions are always on campus; and, work schedules are arranged around the student's class schedule. The FAFSA should be submitted no later than March 15 prior to the academic year in which funds are desired.
 
The Federal Perkins Loan, formerly the National Direct Student Loan (NDSL) is a loan program which allows eligible students to borrow funds for educational expenditures. The amount a student may borrow depends on their financial need (as determined by the Office of Education). The funds are repaid at an annual interest rate of five percent upon graduation or withdrawal from school. The loan amount may not exceed $3,000 per year of college and an aggregate of $15,000 as an undergraduate student. Graduate students may borrow $5,000 per year and a total of $30,000, including undergraduate loans. The FAFSA should be filed no later than March 15 preceding the academic year in which funds are desired.

Teaching/Research Assistantships are available. Students should contact the individual departments to check on the availability and procedure for application for these positions.

State Aid
The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, of which the U.S. Department of Education is the lender, includes the Direct Stafford Loan (Subsidized and Unsubsidized) and the Direct Loan Programs for Parents (PLUS).

The Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program is unique in that it offers loan assistance to students who demonstrate financial need (Subsidized) as well as loan assistance to students with no demonstrated financial need (Unsubsidized). When a student qualifies for the Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan, the federal government pays the interest while (s)he is enrolled at least half-time. Students who qualify for the Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan are responsible for interest that accumulates while (s)he is enrolled.

Depending on financial need, the maximum that a student may borrow from the combined Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program is:
 

Class Dependent Independent
Graduate $8,500 $18,500
 
The total graduate or professional student amount is $138,500, including undergraduate loans.

New borrowers who receive the first loan on or after July 1, 1994, may expect a variable interest rate capping at 8.25%. Students who currently have a 7%, 8%, 9%, or 8/10% Stafford Loan may expect the interest rate on additional Stafford student loans to be variable.

Applicants for a Direct Stafford student loan must submit a Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) approximately three months prior to the period they expect to use the loan funds.

The Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program enables parents with good credit histories to borrow funds for each child who is enrolled at least half-time and is a dependent student. The yearly loan limit is the student's cost of education minus any estimated financial aid (s)he is eligible to receive. The interest rate, for PLUS loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 1994, will be variable, but will not exceed nine (9%) percent. PLUS borrowers must begin repaying the loan within 60 days after the last loan disbursement, unless the lender agrees to allow the borrower to defer the loan payment.

Applications for the PLUS loan programs are available in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

Institutional Loan Programs
Emergency Loan Funds
The Marietta Rotary Club, the Marietta Lions Club, the Marietta Civitan Club, the Kiwanis International Club, and other generous friends of the university have established funds of varying amounts which are used for emergency loans only. Loans may be granted to any enrolled student and will bear no interest. Except in very unusual circumstances, loans will not exceed $50 and must be repaid within ten working days.

Short-Term Loans
Approved short-term loan applications are assigned to funds which have been established through generous contributions of friends and patrons of the university and will be considered for the following purposes:

(a) tuition, fees, room rent, board, books, supplies;
(b) plant trips;
(c) emergency expenses. A student's repayment record of previous loans of any type is given prime consideration. Late repayments seriously endanger the chances for a new loan. Students with overdue loans will not be permitted to register for the next term until the obligation is cleared.

Except in very unusual circumstances, loans will not exceed the cost of full-time, in-state tuition and must be repaid no later than ten days before the end of the academic term in which the loan was obtained. Applications are available from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

Outside Sources of Aid
The Georgia Engineering Foundation Scholarship/Loan Program provides financial assistance to undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled in an engineering or engineering technology degree program. The scholarships are awarded competitively to worthy students, and the loans are awarded to students who have a financial need. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens and legal residents of the State of Georgia. The application deadline is September 1, and applications may be obtained from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Other supporting data (letters of recommendation, transcripts) must also be submitted by the September 1 deadline.

The Regents Opportunity Grant is awarded to graduate students attending a University or College within the University System. This program is designed to attract the most talented students from targeted groups, such as minorities and females, to programs within the university system. Recipients must maintain good academic standing and full-time graduate enrollment. Grant awards are a maximum of $5,000 per academic year. Interested applicants should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and contact the Dean of their respective graduate school.

Maintaining Eligibility for Financial Aid
As of October 6, 1983, federal regulations required the college to establish policies to measure whether students applying for financial aid are in good academic standing and making satisfactory academic progress toward completion of their degree programs.

A more detailed description of the policy is available in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
 
Payment for Noncredit Courses
For a student to receive financial aid funds for remedial work, the coursework must be necessary for the student to pursue the eligible post secondary program. Students may not receive financial aid funds to pay for courses which they audit.