GENERAL INFORMATION
Disbursement information: the first check disbursement for the spring semester will be mailed on Friday, January 18. The second disbursement is scheduled for approximately March 13, 2008. Checks will be disbursed only to students who meet all satisfactory progress guidelines and are enrolled a minimum of ten days prior to the beginning of the semester. Please note that disbursement dates reflect the date that the checks are MAILED from the Eureka Campus, NOT the date you will receive the check. Please allow an additional 2-5 days for mail delivery.
Frequently asked questions about check amounts:
Why didn’t I get a check?
~If you have any type of debt on your CR account, your financial aid will go to that debt first.
~If your address is not current, it may have been sent to a prior address. You must keep your address current either using WebAdvisor, or through Admissions & Records.
~ You did not meet or maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by the Financial Aid Office.
Why is my check less than my award letter?
~ Pell Grants are normally paid in two disbursements each semester; so your award may have been divided in half (the remainder will be paid approximately half-way through the semester).
~You were not enrolled full-time (12 units) at least one week prior to the disbursement.
~ Some grants pay later in the semester (i.e. Cal Grant).
~You receive a Board of Governor’s Fee Waiver (BOG). This program waives your fees; you do not receive an actual check.
Why didn’t I get my 2nd disbursement check mid-way through the term?
~ The same reasons listed above may still apply.
~You dropped classes after the first disbursement, but before the second disbursement. Your second disbursement will be prorated for number of units you are expected to complete for the semester; this may mean you will not receive a second disbursement.
Why didn’t I get paid for the class I added after mid-way through the term?
~ No unit adjustments are made after the second (mid-term) disbursement; you are not eligible for payment for these classes.
I withdrew from all my classes and I received my check; will I have to pay money back?
~ If you did not attend any classes at all, you will owe all of the money back.
~ If you attended classes, but withdrew or stopped attending, you may owe some money back. We will calculate this amount and notify you if you owe any money.
To apply for financial aid for 2008-2009:
CR Code Number - 001185
Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit it for processing, following the instructions on the form. This application must be filed annually and students are encouraged to file the application as soon after January 1 of each year as possible. For example, students should apply as soon as possible after January 1, 2008 when applying for financial aid for the 2008-2009 school year; however, applications are accepted throughout the school year
You can complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov . This method is preferred and has a much faster processing time than filing the paper application. If you have any technical difficulties with the online application or paper FAFSA you can call the Federal Processing Center at 1-800-433-3243.
After the online FAFSA, students must either mail their signed signature page to the Federal Processing Center, or sign electronically using a PIN number which is provided by the Department of Education. If it is your first time filling out a FAFSA you can apply for a PIN number at www.pin.ed.gov.
It is very important you go to the correct website. Some websites charge for completing the FAFSA. The official government website at www.fafsa.ed.gov does not charge.
Eligibility
Most forms of financial aid are available only to students who are enrolled in a course of study leading to a degree, certificate, or transfer to a four-year college or university.
Students who do not have a high school diploma or the equivalent (e.g. a GED certificate or qualifying score on the ATB exam), may not be eligible for federal financial aid at College of the Redwoods, but may be eligible for state and locally funded aid programs.
Estimated costs of attending CR during the 2008-2009 academic year
Although College of the Redwoods charges relatively low fees, many students need assistance with other expenses related to attending college. The following is an estimate of the costs for 2008-2009. Students wanting to live in on-campus housing should check the Housing Department webpage for current cost and application information.
|
Students living on-campus |
Student living
with parents |
Student living
off-campus |
Fees* |
$584 |
$584 |
$584 |
Books & Supplies |
$1566 |
$1,566 |
$1,566 |
Food & Housing |
$6284 |
$3,400 |
$8,270 |
Transportation |
$ 800 |
$1,138 |
$1,380 |
Personal |
$1638 |
$2,014 |
$2,066 |
Total |
$10872 |
$8,702 |
$13,866 |
*Non-California resident students must pay an additional $239 per unit for out-of-state tuition.
Application Deadlines
Students may apply for financial aid at any time during the school year, but it is recommended that students complete the application process prior to March 2 each year to assure full consideration for all programs. Some funds are very limited and run out well before the school year begins.
If you miss the recommended deadline, it is not too late to apply! Some programs have funds available all year.
How To Maintain Eligibility For Financial Aid
Students who receive financial aid must maintain satisfactory academic progress. This is a measure of the student's progress toward achieving a stated academic goal. It is measured both by grades and by percentage of classes completed. Students must complete at least 67% of attempted units. This includes classes that have been dropped/withdrawn during the semester. You must also earn a minimum 2.0 GPA. Per Federal policy CR imposes a unit cap on financial aid recipients. At CR our unit cap is 90 units. Students who do not show progress are suspended from further aid. Students may appeal a financial aid suspension only if extenuating circumstances caused the suspension. Most cases must be documented. Additional information on the satisfactory academic progress policy as it relates to financial aid recipients is available on this website, under the Satisfactory Academic Progress heading.
For additional information and/or application forms, contact the Financial Aid Office, (707) 476-4182. Financial Aid Walk-in assistance is available at the Eureka Campus in the Student Assistance Center in the upstairs lobby of the Administration Building. Hours are listed on the front page of the Financial Aid website.
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