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Financial Aid FAQs
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What is financial aid?

Financial aid is money/resources provided to help bridge the gap between your own resources and the amount needed to pay for the cost of attending college. The primary responsibility for meeting the cost of college rests with the student and family to the extent that they are able to pay. A formula established by the U.S. Congress and written in law, takes account your family income and assets.

How do I apply for financial aid?

You must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for federal, state and institutional funds that we award. Go to our How To Apply section to learn how to apply and file a FAFSA form electronically.

What if I don't have a copy of my Federal tax returns?

Call the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-829-1040 or completing and mailing Form 4506. http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw85.html

When are applications available?

Applications are available the first working day of the New Year in January for the upcoming academic year. Current year applications are available on an ongoing basis.

What if I attended other colleges/universities previously?

You must request official transcripts from each college/university you have attended be sent to the KISC, Records Section to be evaluated and complete a Transcript Evaluation Request Form. Regardless of whether or not credits will be accepted, all transcripts will need to be evaluated before financial aid is awarded.

What is your deadline?

Our priority deadline is April 1st for the upcoming academic year. We highly recommend that you complete and submit all documents by the designated deadline to insure that funds are available on the first day of instruction. Our office should have received the results from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the deadline, therefore, remember to allow time for the processing of the application. However, the office continues to process applications until funds are depleted or the academic year has ended.

Do I return the application to your office?

No. The FAFSA has to be mailed to the Federal Processor in the pre-addressed envelope provided with the application.

What is your school code, address and fax number?

Our school code is 001613.

Our address is:

Kekaulike Information & Service Center (KISC)
Financial Aid Section
Ilima 102
4303 Diamond Head Road
Honolulu, HI 96816

Our fax number is 808.734.9896

Why do I have to provide parental information?

Parent information is used because the U.S. Congress has said that families have the primary responsibility of funding a college education. Parent information is not necessary if your are independent. By federal definition, you are considered independent if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• You are 24 years or older by December 31st of the award year
• You are working on a masters or doctorate
• You are married by the date you filed your FAFSA
• You are a ward of the court or both parents are deceased. If you were a ward of the court until the age of 18, please submit documentation showing your release from court custody upon reaching age 18
• You have legal dependents that fit the following definition:
  • Children who receive more than half of their support from you or other people living with you who receive more than half of their support from you and will continue to receive that support during the academic year you are applying for (do not include your children or your spouse)
• You are veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. You are considered a veteran if you:
  • have engaged in active service in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard and were released under a condition other than dishonorable
• You are NOT a veteran if you:
  • were never in the U.S. Armed Forces
  • were only a ROTC student
  • were only a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies
  • were only a National Guard or Reserves enlistee and were not activated for duty
  • are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, and will continue to serve through June 30 prior to academic the year you are applying

If you do not meet any of the definitions above, then you are dependent and MUST report your parents' information on the FAFSA. Our office may require documentation.

What if I do not meet any of the definitions above AND my parents do not support me?

You are not automatically independent for financial aid purposes simply because your parents stop claiming you as a tax exemptions or refuse to give you support for your college education. Unwillingness, inability, or reluctance of parents to help pay for your educational costs or becoming emancipated, or demonstrating self-sufficiency do not make you independent by federal law.

The Financial Aid Office may make allowances for students to be independent if you can demonstrate extenuating family circumstances on a case by case basis. You must make an appointment with one of our Financial Aid Specialist to discuss your circumstances.

What happens after I apply?

You have the responsibility to follow up on your financial aid application. You should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor via email or mailwhen they have completed processing your FAFSA. This usually takes between two to six weeks (depending if you have applied via the web or via paper). When you receive your copy of the SAR, we will have received it electronically provided that you listed our school code on your application. Read carefully and make any corrections and resubmit, if needed.

After reviewing your electronic SAR, we may send you a request for additional information or forms to complete. You should submit all completed forms to our office as soon as possible.

You can check your status at https://myuh.hawaii.edu/. When we have completed the review process with all the requested documents on file, you will be mailed an award letter indicating the aid you are eligible to receive and the terms of the awards.

What is an "aid package"?

When you apply for financial aid, you do not have to apply for a particular type or amount of aid. Aid applicants are automatically considered for all available aid programs administered by our office. One or more types of aid are usually awarded in combination to make up a student's financial aid package. Student's who receive scholarships from outside agencies or through their departments must inform our office and these scholarships will be included as a part of their financial aid package.

When can I pick up my checks?

Most financial aid is credited directly to your UH student account.  If you are due a refund, it will be mailed to you within 14 days of the funds being credited to your student account.  External scholarships and some loan checks (if a KCC preferred lender was not selected as your lender or alternative loans) will be available on the first day of instruction. A letter will be mailed to you from our office notifying you when the check is available for pickup at the KISC.

If I withdraw from my classes, will I be required to repay the funds I received?

Depending on the withdrawal date and your last date of attendance, our office may need to apply the Return of Title IV Funds formula to determine if funds need to be repaid. In addition, your withdrawal may place you in jeopardy of receiving awards for subsequent semesters based on the KCC Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

If I am on financial aid probation, can I receive any awards?

Yes. You can receive awards while on financial aid probation but must adhere to the special conditions listed on your award letter.

How long is the application good for?

The FAFSA is only good for the academic year indicated on the application. If you are a continuing financial aid recipient, you will receive an email reminder to complete a Renewal FAFSA for the next academic year form the US Department of Education. If there is an invalid email address, a paper PIN mailer will be mailed to you.

If you do not receive any notification, you will still need to complete a new FAFSA for the next academic year.

**YOU MUST FILE FOR FINANCIAL AID EVERY YEAR**