Philosophy of Centenary College Financial Aid and Scholarship Office

The philosophy of this office is to provide access and choice to students who, without such assistance, would not be able to attend an institution of higher learning

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Policy Development

Responsibility for Institutional Policy Development
The Director of Financial Aid and the Enrollment Management Sub-Committee are responsible for establishing institutional policy development surrounding the delivery of financial assistance. Policy development adheres to federal and state laws and regulations as well as to the mission of the college.

Institutional Principles of Financial Aid

  1. The purpose of any financial aid program - institutional, governmental, or private - should be to provide monetary assistance to students who can benefit from further education but who cannot do so without such assistance. The primary purpose of a collegiate financial aid program should be to provide financial assistance to accepted students who, without such aid, would be unable to attend that college.
  2. Each college has an obligation to assist in realizing the national goal of equality of educational opportunity. The college, therefore, should work with schools, community groups, and other educational institutions in support of this goal.
  3. The college should publish budgets that state total student expenses realistically by including, where applicable, maintenance at home, commuting expenses, personal expenses, and necessary travel.
  4. Parents are expected to contribute according to their means, taking into account their income, assets, number of dependents, and other relevant information. Students themselves are expected to contribute from their own assets and earnings, including appropriate borrowing against future earnings.
  5. The amount of aid offered should not exceed the amount needed to meet the difference between the student’s total educational expenses and the family’s resources.
  6. The amount and type of self-help expected from students should be related to the circumstances of the individual. In the assignment of funds to those students designated to receive financial aid, the largest amounts of total grant assistance should go to students with the least ability to pay as determined by the Director of Financial Aid.
  7. The college should review its financial assistance awards annually and adjust them, if necessary, to reflect changes in the financial needs of students and the expenses of attending the institution. The college has an obligation to inform students and parents of the financial aid renewal policies for enrolled students at the time of the initial offer of financial assistance.
  8. Because the amount of financial assistance awarded reflects the economic circumstances of students and their families, the college should refrain from any public announcement of the amount of aid offered and encourage students, their secondary schools, and others to respect the confidentiality of this information.
  9. All documents, correspondence, and conversations between and among aid applicants, their families, and financial aid officers are confidential and entitled to the protection ordinarily arising from a counseling relationship.
  10. Concerns for the student should be paramount. Financial aid should be administered in such a manner that other interests, important though they may be, are subordinate to the needs of students.

Operating Policies
The following operating policies are designed to assure that the FAO is effective in carrying out its responsibilities:

  1. All students must apply for financial assistance by submitting appropriate application forms to the FAO.
  2. All funds available to the college for financial assistance shall be administered through the FAO.
  3. The FAO shall maintain adequate records to ensure proper administration of aid funds. This includes ensuring that aid given is not in excess of need and/or the cost of attendance and that aggregate awards do not exceed total expenditures of funds under each program.
  4. Selection of students to receive financial aid will be made without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or marital status.
  5. Priority consideration for aid is given to students whose files are complete by May 1 for Fall, December 1 for Spring, and May 1 for Summer of each year.
  6. All students applying for aid are required to apply annually for federal assistance.

Financial Aid and Scholarships Committee
The Financial Aid and Scholarships Committee is designed to:

  1. Establish and enforce scholarship policy on matters relating to awarding endowed and institutional scholarships.
  2. Establish program objectives consistent with the College’s strategic plan.
  3. Monitor the effectiveness of scholarship activities.

 

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Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy The institution does not discriminate in its educational and employment policies against any person on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or on any other basis proscribed by federal, state, or local law.