Scholarship distribution change affects students
Lauren Larey
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: News
After holding meetings with committees, administration and trustees, the financial aid office has finalized the changes to the university scholarship policy.
In the fall of 2008, the order in which aid is applied to student accounts will change for freshmen and sophomores, resulting in more funds available for other students.
According to Vicki Taylor, director of financial aid, Henderson used to apply institutional scholarships first, then state, federal and private aid. Taylor said this resulted in students receiving large refund checks after tuition, fees, room and board were paid. Students who were also eligible for Henderson scholarships did not receive them due to unavailable funds.
After recognizing this problem, committees were constructed to examine ways to serve as many students as possible with limited scholarship funds.
In the end, the decision was made to rearrange the order of how scholarships were applied.
"Henderson scholarships are now applied to any remaining direct costs after private non-refundable aid, state aid and federal aid," said Taylor. "Loans and private refundable aid are applied last."
Henderson funds that are awarded and not used to cover direct costs will be retained by the university to be awarded to other students who are eligible.
Freshman who enrolled in the fall of 2007 are already familiar with this new policy.
"It's been like this for a semester for me," said Kayla Mowery, freshman pre-dental major. "I didn't know Henderson was like that, and I was almost in shock when I got here and found out I wouldn't have extra money coming in," said Mowery.
Mowery said she took extra classes in high school to be able to obtain most of her scholarships, but now feels that it was for nothing. She tried to question the policy, but learned to deal with not receiving what she earned.
"I get three different scholarships, but with the way they stack it, I barely get anything from the one Henderson gave me," said Mowery.
Questions have arisen as to why this policy is being announced as "new" although it was actually put into effect last semester.
"The policy was applied to freshmen beginning Fall 2007," said Taylor. "Beginning with Fall 2008, all freshmen, sophomore and transfer scholarship recipients are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid."
According to Taylor, current freshman, incoming freshmen and transfer students will get a copy of the new scholarship policy via e-mail and another to each student's home address.
The new policy will only affect freshmen, sophomores and transfer students beginning in the fall of 2008.
Students with questions or concerns should contact Vicki Taylor in the financial aid office in Womack.
In the fall of 2008, the order in which aid is applied to student accounts will change for freshmen and sophomores, resulting in more funds available for other students.
According to Vicki Taylor, director of financial aid, Henderson used to apply institutional scholarships first, then state, federal and private aid. Taylor said this resulted in students receiving large refund checks after tuition, fees, room and board were paid. Students who were also eligible for Henderson scholarships did not receive them due to unavailable funds.
After recognizing this problem, committees were constructed to examine ways to serve as many students as possible with limited scholarship funds.
In the end, the decision was made to rearrange the order of how scholarships were applied.
"Henderson scholarships are now applied to any remaining direct costs after private non-refundable aid, state aid and federal aid," said Taylor. "Loans and private refundable aid are applied last."
Henderson funds that are awarded and not used to cover direct costs will be retained by the university to be awarded to other students who are eligible.
Freshman who enrolled in the fall of 2007 are already familiar with this new policy.
"It's been like this for a semester for me," said Kayla Mowery, freshman pre-dental major. "I didn't know Henderson was like that, and I was almost in shock when I got here and found out I wouldn't have extra money coming in," said Mowery.
Mowery said she took extra classes in high school to be able to obtain most of her scholarships, but now feels that it was for nothing. She tried to question the policy, but learned to deal with not receiving what she earned.
"I get three different scholarships, but with the way they stack it, I barely get anything from the one Henderson gave me," said Mowery.
Questions have arisen as to why this policy is being announced as "new" although it was actually put into effect last semester.
"The policy was applied to freshmen beginning Fall 2007," said Taylor. "Beginning with Fall 2008, all freshmen, sophomore and transfer scholarship recipients are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid."
According to Taylor, current freshman, incoming freshmen and transfer students will get a copy of the new scholarship policy via e-mail and another to each student's home address.
The new policy will only affect freshmen, sophomores and transfer students beginning in the fall of 2008.
Students with questions or concerns should contact Vicki Taylor in the financial aid office in Womack.
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