Study Abroad Financial Aid Challenges Megan Melbourne & Jill Rayner
Agenda About University of North Georgia Study Abroad challenges Federal Aid challenges State Aid challenges Military Aid challenges Systems challenges Discussion on Best Practices
UNG Facts Designated as a State Leadership Institution and The Military College of Georgia. More than 20,000 students Offers more than 100 programs of study ranging from certificate and associate degrees to professional doctoral programs. Five campuses Single mission focused on academic excellence and academic and co-curricular programs that develop students into leaders for a diverse and global society. Formed through the consolidation of North Georgia College & State University and Gainesville State College in January 2013.
UNG Abroad 428 UNG students studied abroad in 2017-2018 Academic Year: 3 Fall term: 28 Spring term: 187 (63 study abroad + 44 cadet programs) Summer: 290 Program Breakdown: 24 Faculty-led programs 6 Cadet Exchanges 14 Partner Programs 3 Third Party Provider Partners
The University of North Georgia
Center for Global Engagement Terminology + Payment Styles Ways to Go Abroad: Faculty-Led Exchange Full Exchange Tuition Only Direct Enrollment Paid through CGE Paid directly through provider Consortia Cadet Programs Cadet Conferences Cadet Exchanges
Challenge Background
Challenges Can you relate to these challenges: New language for all of us to learn Student who played us against each other Students who go back to back trips Students who are gone for more than one term Students/Parents who call and say my child is starving Students who never told financial aid they were going anywhere until they can’t pay for their trip
Team meeting Center for Global Engagement Financial aid Veteran benefits Business office Scholarship/Foundation All key players at the table to talk issues
Reports sent to Financial aid Query watch report Military Financial aid counselors Query application report Financial aid counselors
Updated Student Form
Team site Cost sheets for all programs Terminology used by both teams List of students applications List of students approved with dates List of students who went List of students who did not go or dropped out
Financial Planning Cost Sheets for programs Terra Dotta Payment Schedules Cost of Attendance (COA updates) Map out when aid is coming in Scholarships applications Student Money Management Center
Federal Aid Disbursement not in time to make deposits/ payment Limits to Aid Year –Round PELL grant – must be 6 hours UNG loan funds
State Aid HOPE/ZELL – tuition equal to cost if program taken at HOME school SAL loans – good resource For direct exchange when tuition removed from BANNER, watch your BANNER rules
Military Aid Veteran Benefits – different chapters Know who gets paid school/student When they get paid Using place holder courses Must be on plan of study and approved
Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 Under Chapter 33, VA will pay: • Home school’s tuition and fees • Books and supplies • Monthly housing allowance based on the home school’s address *** In order for VA to pay any additional fees specific to the Study Abroad program, the Study Abroad option must be required for graduation VA will not pay: • Costs related to travel (airfare, lodging and meals) • Third party charges Schools that charge a flat rate for all charges must be able to break down the amounts charged for tuition, lodging, meals, etc., so that the correct amount can be reported to VA. If the school is unable to provide a breakdown of the charges, no amount should be reported to VA SCO 1718 page 39
Rate of Pursuit RoP by dividing the number of credit (or credit hour equivalents) being pursued by the number of credit considered to be full-time by the school. The resulting percentage is the student’s RoP. Examples: If full-time is12 credits, then RoP: • 6 credits (or credit equivalents) is 50% (6 12 = 50%) • 7 credits (or credit equivalents) is 58% (7 12 = 58%) The housing allowance is paid if the student’s RoP is more than 50%. Rate of pursuit determines whether a student receives or doesn’t receive the housing allowance.
GI Bill CH 1606 Monthly allowance based on Full-time etc. Paid to student Must call in/online attendance
Tuition Assistance GoArmyEd Courses must be approved before classes start or semester starts Cannot switch classes after approved
Scholarship Beware of scholarships that pay “tuition” Impacts HOPE/Zell CH 33 benefits, TA, Georgia National Guard service loan
Refund preference Financial aid refund issued to student Will they have access Discover card Personal Account Check mailed home
Grade delay SAP No Passing Grade HOPE/Zell calculations – CHEC system TA reporting to GoArmy
FAFSA Setting up aid for new year 2019-2020 Verification
What we learned….. Communication
Questions?
Our information Megan Melbourne, Study Abroad Advisor Megan.Melbourne@ung.edu 706-867-2833 Jill Rayner, Director Financial aid and Veteran Success jill.Rayner@ung.edu 706-864-1688