5. Student Affairs

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Student Financial Services

The Office of Student Financial Services offers financial assistance to students who might otherwise be unable to attend the University. Financial aid awarded through the office may be gift aid, which includes grants and scholarships, or self-help aid, which includes student employment programs and long-term loans. Most financial aid is based on documented financial need. Financial need is the difference between the cost of attending the University and the financial resources available to the student.

To apply for financial assistance, a student must complete a need analysis form each year. The office requires the student to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be evaluated for financial need. The need analysis assists the office in assessing available family resources and determining eligibility for specific aid programs.

Students who attend the University only in the summer session are not eligible for financial aid through the Office of Student Financial Services.

Estimated costs. The following are estimated typical costs for tuition, fees, room, board, and books for a single student living in University-owned housing for the long session (fall and spring semesters) 2004-2005. The tuition and fee amounts included in these figures are based on an average course load of thirteen semester hours for undergraduates and nine semester hours for graduates.

Expenses for clothing, travel, recreation, and personal and miscellaneous items vary based on individual lifestyle. The Office of Student Financial Services estimates that reasonable expense for these items is approximately $2,852 for undergraduate students and $3,336 for graduate students. Summer costs are estimated to be about one-third of those for a long-session semester.

Application dates. Although there are no deadlines for submitting financial aid applications, priority is given to students who apply by the dates given below.

A student may apply for financial aid before being officially admitted to the University, but the awarding of aid is contingent upon admission. Disbursement of funds cannot be made until the student is officially enrolled.

Course load requirements. Most financial aid programs are based on full-time enrollment (twelve hours for undergraduate students, nine to fifteen hours for graduate students; depending on the financial aid program). Students may receive financial aid for less than full-time enrollment with the approval of their financial aid counselor. Some aid programs require that assistance be reduced proportionately for less than full-time enrollment. To receive financial assistance for the summer session, students must enroll for classes in both six-week terms, the nine-week term, or the twelve-week term.

Changes in financial circumstances. Students are responsible for reporting to the Office of Student Financial Services any change in their financial situation that occurs after the initial application for aid is submitted. A documented decrease in resources may provide for an increase in financial aid if funds are available; an increase in resources may result in a reduction or cancellation of financial aid funds or a requirement to repay awards already released to the student.

Satisfactory progress. To be eligible for financial assistance, a student must maintain a satisfactory academic record. A satisfactory academic record is measured by quality, progress, and quantity. The quality measurement requires undergraduates to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 and graduate students to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00. Progress means completing the appropriate number of hours for the semester, as determined by the Office of Student Financial Services; for example, an undergraduate must usually enroll in and complete twelve hours a semester. The quantity measurement allows a maximum of 150 hours for an undergraduate degree (175 hours for majors in pharmacy and architecture) and between 40 and 160 hours for a graduate degree, depending on the program.

Types of Financial Aid

A student who submits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is considered for all federal, state, and institutional funds available at the University that are administered by the Office of Student Financial Services. A student's award package usually is a combination of gift aid and self-help aid. The composition of the aid package depends on the characteristics of the student, including program eligibility and degree of financial need, as well as on the availability of funds.

Gift Aid

Students who apply for financial help by the priority deadline are considered for all gift aid awards administered through the Office of Student Financial Services. To be considered for a Federal Pell Grant, a student must be an undergraduate and must not have received a bachelor's degree. Most scholarships and grants awarded through the FAFSA process are based on financial need. The office also administers some programs based on merit.

In addition to specific qualifications for competitive undergraduate scholarships and fellowships awarded by the University, the committee or agency responsible for selecting recipients for a given scholarship or fellowship may consider such factors as the following in designating recipients:

• Standardized test scores
• Class rank
• Grade point average
• Leadership and extracurricular activities
• Status in national academic competitions
• Academic performance within a major and other performance criteria
• Financial need
• Socioeconomic background
• Educational level

Self-Help Aid

Long-Term Loans

Federal loan programs are available to assist students who show financial need. These programs have low interest rates that may be adjusted annually and do not require repayment of principle or interest until the student has graduated or is no longer enrolled at least half-time. In addition, the loans offer a grace period between the time the student leaves school and the time repayment begins. Deferment or cancellation of repayment is available for situations such as military service, periods of unemployment, or teaching service in designated schools.

Federal and state loans are also available both to students and to the parents of students who do not show financial need. Interest rates on these loans are variable and are adjusted annually. Under certain conditions, repayment of these loans may be deferred while the student is enrolled in school.

Employment

The student employment program provides jobs for students who show financial need and want to earn part of their educational expenses while attending school. The majority of federal work-study jobs are on campus, though some may be with off-campus nonprofit agencies. Depending on their education and experience, students may choose from a variety of employment opportunities. Most jobs require fifteen or fewer hours of work a week.

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General Information
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - The University
Chapter 2 - Admission
Chapter 3 - Registration, Fees, and Deposits
Chapter 4 - Academic Policies and Procedures
Chapter 5 - Student Affairs
Chapter 6 - Libraries and Other Academic Resources
Chapter 7 - The Texas Exes
Appendix A - Residency Regulations
Appendix B - Official Extracurricular Student Activities
Appendix C - Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities
Appendix D - Policy on Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
Appendix E - Policy on Sexual Misconduct
Appendix F - Prohibition of Hazing
Appendix G - Policy on AIDS and HIV Infection
Appendix H - Prohibition of Sexual Assault
Appendix I - Nondiscrimination Policy
Appendix J - Prohibition of Campus Violence
Appendix K - Student Travel Policy for University-Organized or Sponsored Events
Appendix L - Student Travel Policy for Registered Student Organizations
Appendix M - Rules of Conduct for Students for Protecting the Confidentiality of Social Security Numbers
Appendix N - Use of E-mail for Official Correspondence to Students
Statistical Summaries

Related Information
Catalogs
Course Schedules
Academic Calendars
Office of Admissions

Office of the Registrar
University of Texas at Austin

17 August 2004. Office of the Registrar

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