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* Links below redirect from the Catalog site to the Student Accounts section of the Nazareth website
Additional links & information within the Catalog site
Graduate Student Emergency Funds
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Scholarships
Financial Aid Programs
Title IV Refund Policy: Term Withdrawal, Financial Aid and Tuition Reduction Eligibility
Federal Office of the Ombudsman
Verification
Veteran Benefits
Default
Rights and Responsibilities of Recipients
Enrollment Status Verification
Graduate Student Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP)
Graduate Student Emergency Funds
During graduate study, exceptional circumstances may arise which restrict the ability of individual graduate students to continue studies without timely assistance. The Graduate Student Emergency Funds may provide a resource for short-term assistance. For further information, including guidelines and application forms, please contact the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at (585) 389-2775. Request form can also be obtained by visiting www.naz.edu/graduate-student-services under “Forms.”
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Graduate Assistantships
A number of graduate assistantships in the areas of research, administrative support, and special projects are available each term to both full and part-time graduate students. Maximum remuneration for an assistantship is a three-credit waiver (at the general credit tuition rate) to be applied to a graduate course during the term in which the work of the assistantship is being done. A maximum of 4.5 credits of tuition waiver per graduate student is allowed each semester. Students must be formally admitted to a graduate program to be eligible for an assistantship.
According to current tax laws, there are tax implications related to graduate assistantships of which recipients should be aware. By law, Nazareth College must report to the Internal Revenue Service the value of the remuneration including course waivers over the period of a calendar year as income earned by the Graduate Assistant. At the end of each tax year, graduate assistants will receive appropriate tax notification from Nazareth College.
Please refer to the Nazareth website https://www2.naz.edu/tuition-aid/types-aid/graduate-assistantships/. For further information contact Admissions at (585) 389-2824, or by e-mail at gainfo@naz.edu.
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Graduate Scholarships
The following scholarships are awarded by academic departments with graduate programs each year, some as a result of written competition. Announcements of the annual competitions and applications, if applicable, are available from individual academic departments.
- Magdalena Callahan Scholarship- awarded annually to a student in a Graduate Literacy Education program
- Josephine F. Haire Family Scholarship - awarded annually to a student in a Graduate Inclusive Education program
- Rochester Guild for Special Children Scholarship - awarded annually to a student in a Graduate Inclusive Education program in the spring
- Deborah Ann Bartimo Silva Scholarship - awarded to a student in Communications Sciences and Disorders
- Patricia Carney Memorial Scholarship-awarded to a graduate student in the Inclusive Education Program
- Dr. Catherine Quenin Scholarship awarded to a graduate student studying speech-language pathology and who has demonstrated interest in deafness.
- David Vigren Endowed Scholarship for Education supports a graduate student studying education at Nazareth.
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Financial Aid Programs
Qualified graduate students who wish to be considered for financial aid should file the proper forms in the Financial Aid Office in advance of program deadlines. (Students requesting Federal financial assistance, including Federal Direct Loans and Federal Direct GradPLUS Loans, must enroll for at least 6 graduate credit hours each semester for which they seek aid. Please note: only credits that are required for your graduate degree may be used to determine federal loan eligibility.)
Prospective applicants are responsible for familiarizing themselves with procedures for obtaining financial assistance and for notifying the Financial Aid Office of changes in status, name, and address. All students seeking financial assistance should file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), at least 6 weeks in advance of the time period for which financial aid is sought. ligibility for the Federal Work Study Programs requires that the FAFSA be filed no later than April 1st (for summer/fall entry) or before November 1st (for spring entry).
Students that are seeking need-based federal aid and whose FAFSA is selected for federal verification have additional requirements, which they must fulfill in order to retain Federal Student Aid. (See Verification)
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available on the web at www.fafsa.gov for electronic filing. Nazareth’s school code is 002779.
Federal TEACH Grant
The Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants up to $2,000 per semester to academically qualified students who intend to teach in a designated high-need subject area in an elementary or secondary school or an educational service agency that services students from low-income families. In order to receive the grant, an eligible student must complete a TEACH grant application, Agreement to Service, Counseling and FASFA annually. Applicants should be aware that failure to complete the service obligation will result in the grant being converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest accrued and capitalized from the date of the original disbursement. **TEACH Grant funding and continuation is not guaranteed and is subject to federal budget approval.
Additional information regarding the TEACH Grant may be found at: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/teach.
Federal Direct - Unsubsidized Loan Program
These federal student loans are available through the U.S. Department of Education for matriculated graduate students who are enrolled in 6 credit hours or more each semester. Please note: only credits that are required for your graduate degree may be used to determine federal loan eligibility. To initiate application, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be completed listing Nazareth College (002779). Students sign a Master Promissory Note (e-MPN) which covers all Federal Direct Loan borrowing for a period of up to ten years. This can be done electronically on the web at www.studentloans.gov. Select “Complete new e-MPN” and use your FSA ID to authenticate your identity. Once an e-MPN is signed and on file, the student will not have to sign another promissory note while in attendance at Nazareth College. Loans are awarded by the Financial Aid Office once the FAFSA and registration data has been received. Students receive disclosure notices from the federal processor after a loan has been certified by the Financial Aid Office, and they receive notification from the office once funds have been credited to their student account. Students may reduce the amount of the loan requested, with no penalty, by requesting that the Financial Aid Office return any unwanted funds once the funds have been credited to their account. It is each student’s responsibility to monitor their own borrowing while at Nazareth College.
Maximum borrowing under this program is $20,500 per academic year, not to exceed the student’s cost of education. The allowable cost of attendance includes a modest living allowance for the student. For matriculated graduate students, total undergraduate and graduate borrowing in any combination of subsidized/unsubsidized loans may not exceed $138,500.
Students not matriculated but working toward a certificate in education (Access Program) are also eligible to borrow. Maximum academic year borrowing for these students is $5,500 subsidized loans and up to $7,000 unsubsidized loans for independent students and dependent students whose parents were denied a PLUS loan. Students conditionally accepted to a graduate program who need to complete prerequisite undergraduate courses before being eligible for graduate course registration may borrow up to $5,500 subsidized loans, and up to $7,000 unsubsidized loans for independent students and dependent students whose parents were denied a PLUS loan, for the one academic year prior to attaining graduate matriculation. Dependent undergraduate students are restricted to a maximum lifetime borrowing (at the bachelor’s degree level) of $31,000; no more than $23,000 may be subsidized. Independent undergraduate students are restricted to $57,500 for their lifetime (up to the bachelor’s degree level); no more than $23,000 may be subsidized. All applicants must file a FAFSA in order to borrow. Interest on unsubsidized loans will begin to accrue at time of loan disbursement.
Direct loan interest rates and origination fees change annually on July 1st; please contact the Financial Aid Office at (585)389-2310 or view our website at http:www.naz.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/loans/federal-student-loans for current rates and fees. Variable interest rates or fixed interest of 3.4% continue to apply to previous loans (depending on when the loan was disbursed). Minimum repayments are now $50 per month and may extend up to 10 years. Annual loans are disbursed on a per semester basis. New legislation permits colleges with low student loan default rates (such as Nazareth) to disburse one semester loans at the beginning of the semester.
New borrowers after October 1, 1998 who have been employed as teachers for five consecutive school years may qualify for partial Stafford Loan forgiveness provided that they: are not in student loan default; teach in a school that qualifies for Perkins Loan cancellation; and teach in a subject area relevant to their major (secondary level) or have demonstrated elementary curriculum teaching skills. For further details visit https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/teacher.
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS
This program of unsubsidized federal loans, previously limited to the parents of undergraduate students, is now available to graduate students. Applicants may apply on-line at www.studentloans.gov. Graduate PLUS interest rates and origination fees change annually on July 1st; please contact the Financial Aid Office at (585)389-2310 or view our website at www.naz.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/loans/federal-student-loans for current rates and fees. Applicants may not have an adverse credit history and are required to file the FAFSA and have applied for the maximum unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan for which they are eligible. The GRAD PLUS loan may then fulfill any recognized cost of attendance not met by any other resource. A GRAD PLUS master promissory note and entrance interview, separate from a Direct Loan MPN and entrance interview, is required. For regulatory details and application procedures visit the Financial Aid Office web site or contact the Financial Aid Office directly.
Consolidation and Deferments
Students who have borrowed under any single or combination of federal student loan programs are eligible for a Federal Consolidation Loan which may extend repayment beyond 10 years at an interest rate which is the weighted average of the underlying loans rounded to the nearest higher 1/8 of one percent capped at 8.25%.
Student borrowers are eligible for a variety of loan deferments, for example, enrollment at half-time or greater, or forbearance for unemployment or economic hardship. Under forbearance, students are responsible for loan interest. Contact the Financial Aid Office or your lender for details and information about documentation required for eligibility or visit https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/.
Federal Work Study Program
Graduate students who are registered full time, and whose financial aid application demonstrates need may be certified for the Federal Work Study Program. Students seeking work study should make this request to the Office of Financial Aid. Students awarded Federal Work Study priority as part of their financial aid receive preference for placement in on-campus jobs or in the college’s Partners For Learning/Serving programs of community service. It is the student’s own responsibility to follow through with placement procedure and be a willing worker. Awards normally correspond to employment of 10 hours per week or less during the academic year at a wage of $10.40 per hour (effective 12/31/2017). Students are paid by direct deposit every two weeks for hours worked. Because they receive direct payment, FWS wages do not credit the student’s term bill.
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Federal Title IV Refund Policy: Term Withdrawal, Financial Aid and Tuition Reduction Eligibility
Students must notify the Registrar’s Office in person, in writing, or by telephone of their intention to withdraw from an individual course, all classes for the semester, or the program. Reduction of tuition charges will be determined based on the date of last attendance as received and recorded in the Registrar’s Office. If no official notice is received and no other documentation of the dates is available, the mid point of the semester will be used as the term withdrawal date. Dates for determining reduction of tuition charges are published on the Student Accounts’ website.
Recipients of Federal student aid who withdraw from all classes in a semester (term withdrawal) earn eligibility for Federal student aid on a daily proportioned basis up until 60% of the semester has passed. All days during the semester (except for breaks of 5 days or more and their attendant weekends) are counted. If a student has not earned all of their Federal assistance, funds are returned to Federal programs in the following order: Federal Direct Subsidized loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans, Federal Direct PLUS loans, other Title IV assistance. Students are responsible for repaying remaining loan funds according to the terms of their promissory notes. Federal Work Study earnings are not required to be repaid. Federal grant repayments owed by the student are limited to 50% of the unearned grant received. Note: Because tuition charges continue to be assessed by the Student Accounts Office at a percentage rate higher than the rate at which Federal policy considers Title IV student aid to be earned, students may incur a sizeable uncovered debt to Nazareth when the College makes required repayment of unearned financial aid to its source. Gift assistance provided by Nazareth College continues to be credited in the same percentage as Student Accounts charges tuition.
Post withdrawal disbursements of Federal student aid for which the student may be eligible will be made first from grant sources, then from loans. Within 14 days of determination of term withdrawal, the college will notify the student in writing the amount and type of funds available for post withdrawal disbursement together with explanation of the option to accept or decline all or part of this aid. The student must advise the college of their decision within 14 days or the potential disbursement is forfeited. Students will not be eligible for a late disbursement of their loan if it is the second disbursement of the loan, e.g. a student borrows for fall and spring semesters, fall disbursement is received, student registers for spring but withdraws before disbursement is made. This student will not be eligible for the second disbursement of the loan.
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Federal Office of the Ombudsman
Borrowers who experience unresolved issues with their school, lender or guarantee agency may contact the federal Office of the Ombudsman in Washington, D.C. or toll-free at (877) 557-2575.
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Verification
Verification is a federal review process required by the U.S. Department of Education by which we compare information from your FASFA with your federal income tax information and other related documents. The U.S. Department of Education determines which student FASFAs are selected for verification. If your FAFSA is selected for verification, you will be required to either authorize the IRS data retrieval tool on your FAFSA form or provide copies of official IRS federal tax transcripts. Copies of actual tax return are no longer permitted. In addition, you must complete a Federal Verification Worksheet in order to verify household and untaxed income information. The Federal Verification is available at https://www2.naz.edu/tuition-aid/forms/. Students will be contacted via their Nazareth College email if they are selected for federal verification. The required information must be provided within 30 days of request in order to receive any federal financial aid. For returning students, financial aid packages will not be completed until federal verification requirements are satisfactorily completed.
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Veteran Benefits
Students may be eligible for veteran educational benefits. Consult the Nazareth College Office of Veterans’ Affairs or the Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid regarding Veteran educational awards information.
In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), Nazareth College adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. This school will not:
- Prevent nor delay the student’s enrollment;
- Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
- Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
- Deny the student access to any resources available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution, including but not limited to access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities.
However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:
- Produce the Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class;
- Provide written request to be certified;
- Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.
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Default
Recipients of student aid of any description may not be in default on a student loan taken to attend any institution or owe a refund to a federal grant program at any institution or be in default of repayment of any other federally sponsored loan. Additional documentation from sources such as a previous lender or guarantee agency may be required to update records.
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Rights and Responsibilities of Recipients
Students seeking financial assistance are responsible for filing timely, valid applications for the programs under which they may request aid. Additional information regarding applications and all student financial aid rights and responsibilities may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office, Smyth Hall, Room 43.
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Enrollment Status Verification
Nazareth College participates in the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) located in Herndon, Virginia. Three times a semester (at the close of registration; after the last day to withdraw and receive a grade of W; and on the last class day of term) the college submits a computer file of students’ enrollment status to the Clearinghouse which, in turn, supplies verification of enrollment to all lending institutions and the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). All loan deferment forms are forwarded to the NSC. Nazareth College does not supply this information directly to lending institutions.
If a student has registered late and/or had a drop/add/withdrawal processed to the term registration, this information may not be reported to the Clearinghouse until the next submission. The Clearinghouse asks that if a student receives a collection letter, the student is to follow the procedures as outlined.
- Call the lending agency to see if a deferment form was received between the time the Clearinghouse supplied the information and the lending agency sent the collection letter.
- You may verify your enrollment status by accessing the Clearinghouse website: www.nslc.org. In the “Students” section, you may confirm your own status and verify that your lender is using the Clearinghouse to supply enrollment data.
- If an emergency exists, e.g. a student is being threatened with default, the Records Assistant (585/389-2803) may be able to intervene on the student’s behalf by faxing a verification of enrollment letter to the lending agency.
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Federal regulations require that schools monitor the academic progress of every student who is eligible for federal Title IV financial aid, which includes the TEACH Grant, Direct Loan, Graduate PLUS loans and Work Study. Federal standards of satisfactory academic progress (SAP) include a qualitative (GPA) measurement, a quantitative (PACE) measurement, and a maximum time frame measurement. If one of the measures is not being met, the student is not making SAP. SAP is measured and reviewed at the end of each payment period, specifically end of fall semester, end of spring semester, and end of summer II (combining summer I and summer II courses).
A complete description of the graduate federal aid Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) may be found on the Financial Aid webpage, https://www2.naz.edu/tuition-aid/renewal-requirements/
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