How to apply for Financial Aid

1. A student should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education Form, after January 1 of the appropriate year. No check or money order is required
2. Students should file an application for admission to the University at the same time they complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. A student should not wait to be accepted for admission to apply for financial aid. For further information contact: Director of Student Financial Aid, Box 4546, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee 37044, telephone (931) 221-7907.

Scholarships

African American Graduate Fellowship
The College of Graduate Studies offers one-year non-renewable graduate fellowships to qualified Tennessee residents. Applicants for these fellowships must be a first time student, a Tennessee resident and regularly admitted to graduate studies. The scholarship recipient must be enrolled as a full-time graduate student and progressing satisfactorily toward the degree. Recipients are encouraged to apply for a graduate assistantship for subsequent years (see page 43). For more information contact the College of Graduate Studies, (931) 221-7414.

ROTC Scholarships
Graduate ROTC Scholarships are available and provide full tuition and a $450 book scholarship per year for a two year period. Additionally, graduate students enrolled in the ROTC two-year program receive $150 per month for ten months during the year. For more information, contact the Military Science Department (931) 221-6155.

Emergency Loan Fund
The University administers a small loan fund for enrolled students who have emergency situations and who need small amounts of money quickly. This program is administered by the Student Financial Aid Office.

Federal Perkins Student Loan
  This program provides long-term, low-interest loans to students who need financial assistance. Awards for graduate students range up to $5,000 annually, not to exceed $30,000 (includes any Federal Perkins Student Loan as an undergraduate or graduate student).
  General provisions of the Federal Perkins Student Loan includes the following: repayment begins ten months after the student leaves the University and continues monthly there after until the entire loan is repaid; interest begins accruing at a rate of five percent nine months after the borrower ceases to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis; and minimum payments are $40 per month, including interest on the unpaid balance. Loan repayments may be deferred for periods during which a borrower: (1) is at least a half-time student (2) is pursing a course of study in an approved graduate fellowship program or approved rehabilitation training program for disabled individual excluding a medical internship or residency program (3) is unable to find full-time employment, but not in excess of three years (4) may be suffering an economic hardship, but not in excess of three years or (5) is engaged in service described under the cancellation provisions.

Federal Subsidized Stafford Student Loan
  These loans (formally called the Guaranteed Student Loan) are made by local banks and are guaranteed by the Federal Government. No payments are due on the loan while the student is enrolled on at least at half-time basis and the government will pay the interest while the student is enrolled on at least half-time basis. The maximum loan for graduate students is $8,5000 annually, not to exceed $65,000 (includes any funds borrowed as an undergraduate or graduate). This total amount is subject to the student’s actual financial need and federal regulations.
   The agency responsible for this program in Tennessee is the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC). Applications are available in hometown banks or other lending institutions for the Student Financial Aid Office for certification. The application is then submitted to the lending institution (bank) by the student for processing. Students who are unable to obtain a loan from their hometown banks should contact the Student Financial Aid Office for additional information on possible lenders. Loan repayments may be deferred for periods during which a borrower: (1) is at least a half-time student (2) is pursuing a course of study in an approved graduate fellowship program or approved rehabilitation training program for disabled individuals excluding a medical internship or residency program (3) is unable to find full-time employment, but not in excess of three years (4) may be suffering an economic hardship, but not in excess of three years or (5) is engaged in service described under the cancellation provisions.

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
   These loans have the same application procedure, interest rates and repayment process as the Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan. The student may pay the interest while enrolled or choose to let the interest accrue and capitalize. The maximum is $10,000 annually not to exceed $73,000 in federal unsubsidized loan funds (includes funds borrowed as an undergraduate or graduate). Repayment of principal begins after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. Loan amounts are restricted by the cost of education, resources available, state and federal regulations.

Disbursement of Funds
   It is the policy of the University to disburse one-half of an academic-year award (excluding Federal Work-Study Program – FWP) within three days of the beginning of the semester/term. The exception to this policy is for students who are enrolled at Fort Campbell and who will have their awards disbursed in fourths to coincide with the four sessions of the academic year at the center. Summer assistance is managed in a different manner. For additional information on availability and disbursement of summer funds, contact the Student Financial Aid Office.
   If an offer of financial assistance includes employment under the provisions of the FWP, it must be understood that the amount of money awarded is the amount of money a student may expect to earn during the award period as a result of work performed and hours necessary to perform such work. FWP recipients must report to the Student Financial Aid Office upon arrival to campus for job assignment and clearance. This must be done each academic year.

1. Guidelines  
   Graduate students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA to maintain satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes.
2. Reinstatement  
   To be reinstated, each student must provide the Student Financial Aid Office with proof of compliance with the appropriate requirement(s) cited above. 
3. Appeals  
   Appeals should be made to the Student Financial Aid Office. Decisions made by the Satisfactory Progress Appeal Committee may be appealed to the Director of Student Financial Aid. The following circumstances may be considered appropriate reasons for appeal:
     A. Serious illness or accident on the part of the student.
     B. Death or serious illness in the immediate family.
     C. Discontinuance of a course by the University.
     D. Personal complications.

Policy on Allocation of Refunds and Repayment to Title IV Federal (Pell Grant, FSEOG, Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Student Loans)  
Any student who withdraws from all classes and would normally be due a refund under the current policy, but received State or Federal Title IV Financial Aid in the form of a grant, loan or scholarship will have that refund repaid to the accounts from which financial aid was received. Any first-time student receiving Federal Title IV financial aid who withdraws from all classes is entitled to a pro-rated refund through 60 percent of the enrollment period.

1. Distribution Among Title IV Programs
   The University will allocate the Title IV portion of the refund to the various Title IV program(s) from which the student received aid. The allocation will take place in the following order:
   1. FEEL programs (the Part B loans)
   2. Federal Direct Loans
   3. Federal Perkins
   4. Federal Pell
   5. Federal SEOG
   6. Other Title IV assistance
   7. Tennessee Student Assistance Award
   8. Scholarships
2. Distribution of Repayments of Cash Disbursements Made Directly to the Student
   1. If a student officially or unofficially withdraws from or is dismissed by the University on or after the first day of classes of a semester and the student received a cash disbursement for non-instructional costs under any Title IV program (except Federal Work-Study Program) for that semester, the University will determine whether a portion of that cash disbursement will have to be repaid by the student.
   2. In determining whether a student will have to repay a cash disbursement, the University will subtract from the cash disbursement received by the student the educational costs incurred by him/her for non-instructional charges for that term up to the date of withdrawal or expulsion.
      1. No repayment will be expected after 30 days from the first day of classes.
      2. If the expected repayment will total less than $50, no repayment will be required.
   3. The University will apply these policies in a consistent manner to all students receiving Title IV aid.
      1. The University will not allocate any part of the refund to a Title IV program if the student did not receive aid under the program.
      2. The amount allocated to a program may not exceed the amount the student received from that program.

General Campus Work
Each year, a number of students are employed on campus in administrative and departmental offices, the library, laboratories and intramural recreation. The number of hours students are permitted to work depends on the need of the various departments and may be limited by any federal financial assistance the student is receiving. Applicants must be at least half-time students. Applications are secured from the Student Financial Aid Office, P.O. Box 4546, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee 37044. Positions are advertised in the classified section of the campus newspaper, THE ALL STATE. Direct questions to the Student Financial Aid Office.
   
Federal Work-Study Program (FWP)
The Federal Work-Study Program is federally funded and designed to assist students who are in need of employment in order to pursue their education. The student’s work is performed on campus and is similar to that performed by students working on the General Campus Work Program. The student may work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week depending upon the amount of the work-study award and availability of funds. Students who qualify for the FWP and are currently enrolled or who are high school graduates and have been tentatively accepted for enrollment to the University in the Fall may be eligible for full-time employment during the semester.
    
Off-Campus Work
Many APSU students earn a considerable part of their college expense with part-time, off-campus work in the Clarksville-Fort Campbell area. The Career Services Office offers JOB-OP, a part-time off-campus job referral service to assist both students and area employers in filing employment needs.

Other Forms of Financial Assistance

Vocational Rehabilitation
Students with a physical disability may obtain grants-in-aid, providing assistance with college-related costs through the Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation Service. Tennessee residents should request information from the high school guidance counselor or write to Coordinator, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, 1808 West End Building, Nashville, Tennessee 37203. Students residing in other states should contact the similar agency in their state. This program is different from GI Bill Chapter 31-Vocational Rehabilitation.   
 
Graduate Assistantships
   Graduate assistantships (non-teaching) are available for superior students in each of the academic departments that offer graduate programs and several other areas on campus. Students may be selected on the basis of their undergraduate GPA, Graduate Record Examination scores, letters of recommendation and/or resumes and interviews. Graduate assistants are required to work 20 hours per week in their assigned locations. The hours are somewhat flexible and a complete job description will be formulated by each supervisor. Stipends are paid semi-monthly from which graduate tuition may be deducted upon student request. Graduate assistants are not permitted to have additional employment without written permission from the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. Individuals being awarded assistantships must be admitted to the graduate school. To keep the assistantship, students must be enrolled full-time during their assigned terms and maintain satisfactory academic progress. Students awarded Fall and Spring semester assistantships are not required to take summer classes.
   A student is eligible to hold an assistantship for only four semesters and must reapply each academic year. Applications for all graduate assistantships must be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies by the published deadline for the following academic year. Award notifications for Fall will be made by August 1 each year. Persons desiring further information or applications should write or call the College of Graduate Studies, Austin Peay State University, P.O. Box 4458, Clarksville, Tennessee 37044, telephone (931) 221-7414.

1. Montgomery GI Bill – Chapter 30
2. Vocational Rehabilitation – Chapter 31
3. Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program – Chapter 32
4. Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program – Chapter 35
5. Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program – Chapter 1606
6. Restored Entitlement Program for survivors (REPS)
7. Section 901 (Educational Assistance Test Program)
8. Section 903 (Educational Assistance Pilot Program, noncontributory VEAP)

Avoiding DVA Education Overpayment
As a DVA educational benefits recipient, the veteran should understand what can be done to prevent an overpayment:

1. Report Changes in Enrollment: Promptly report any changes in enrollment to APSU OVA and the DVA. If APSU is notified and not DVA, it may take longer to correct payments. Please take note: DVA payment for a month of school attendance is normally made during the following month; that is, on a reimbursable basis. If a check is received during a month following a change in enrollment status, verify entitlement to the check before cashing it. If the amount has not changed from the previous check and there has been a reduction in the rate of training, contact APSU OVA for a status review.
2. Understand the Consequences of Changes:
   1. If a veteran receives a “nonpunitive” grade of “W” or “I”, reduces, or terminates enrollment, DVA will be notified. Upon receipt of the notice, DVA will reduce or terminate benefits. The payment of DVA educational benefits will not be made for any course that is not computed in the graduation requirements of the program.
   2. If there is a change of enrollment after the regular drop/add period, the OVA will ask for a statement explaining the events surrounding the change. The law states that no payments will be made for a course from which the veteran withdraws, or receives a “nonpunitive” grade of “W” or “I”, unless there are “mitigating circumstances” surrounding the change. DVA will reduce or terminate benefits for the start of the term. Examples of unacceptable “mitigating circum-stances” include withdrawal to avoid a failing grade, dislike of instructor and too many courses attempted. The APSU OVA can advise on acceptable “mitigating circumstances.”
   3. The veteran must report changes in dependency, including self, if receiving an additional allowance for family members.
3. If an Educational Overpayment is Created: DVA is required to take prompt and aggressive action to recover the overpayment. The following actions may be taken if an overpayment is not promptly liquidated:
   1. Adding interest and collection fees to the debt.
   2. Withholding future benefits to apply to the debt.
   3. Referring the debt to a private collection agency.
   4. Offsetting the debt from the veteran’s federal income tax refund.
   5. Offsetting the debt from the veteran’s salary if a federal employee.
   6. Filing a lawsuit in federal court to collect the debt.
   7. Withholding approval of a DVA home loan guarantee pending payment of the debt.