Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid

Wickes 141 (989) 964-4103

Federal School Code : 002314

Important Financial Aid News & Updates

Winter 2008 and Spring/Summer 2008 Information 

2008-2009 FAFSA
Ability to apply for the 2008-2009 FAFSA began on January 1, 2008. This FAFSA covers Fall 2008, Winter 2009, and Spring/Summer 2009. Applying online is easier and more accurate; go to www.fafsa.ed.gov. SVSU has no deadline, but encourages early application. To get a PIN go to http://www.pin.ed.gov/. The FAFSA form must be completed for each year you wish to apply for financial aid.

2007-2008 FAFSA
You can still submit the 2007-2008 FAFSA to apply for aid for the Fall 2007, Winter 2008, and Spring/Summer 2008 semesters. The application deadline is June 30, 2008. In most cases, it is imperative that you file the FAFSA before your enrollment period ends and aid typically must be disbursed before enrollment ceases. Please contact our office if you have questions.

SPRING/SUMMER 2008 FINANCIAL AID
The 2008 Spring/Summer Financial Aid Request Form is now available. Conditions do apply, see the form for details.

FINANCIAL AID FOR WINTER 2008
-We are continuing to process financial aid for the 2007-2008 academic year.
-Awards letters are mailed after your financial aid file is complete and all necessary information is reviewed. As always, you can view your award letter on Cardinal Direct.
-Students MUST submit a 2007-2008 Budget/Enrollment Change Form to adjust their financial aid. Please submit the form after you receive your 2007-2008 Financial Aid Award Letter if you plan on attending for anything other than the status listed on your award letter.
-Please respond to any correspondence as soon as possible so that the awarding of your financial aid will not be delayed.

WINTER 2008 BOOKSTORE FUNDS
-Up to $400 of your excess grants, scholarships, and other awards will be at the bookstore starting the week before classes. Not all funds will be available the week before classes; you may have other circumstances that will not allow the funds to transfer. Please contact the OSFA if you have questions.
-You must have excess aid, above and beyond your costs for tuition, fees, and/or housing, to have funds available at the bookstore.
-Your loan must be disbursed before the funds can be available at the bookstore. Look at your Account Summary by Term on Cardinal Direct for the Winter 2008 semester. If you see that your loan funds have disbursed to your account, your bookstore funds should be available to you on the next business day by 12:00pm. Check Cardinal Direct to confirm you have a bookstore credit by going to Account Summary by Term and looking for "Bookstore Transaction Card Chg". If you see this on your account, your excess loan funds are available at the bookstore.
-If your grant, scholarship, or other award pays specifically for all or a portion of your books, these funds will be available for you at the Bookstore beginning the week before classes begin.
-If you want up to $450 in your excess loan to go to the Bookstore, "Opt In" to the program on Cardinal Direct. If you have already done this in a previous semester, you are still enrolled in this option.
-The bookstore process begins January 7 and ends January 25.

WINTER 2008 REFUND CHECKS
-Loan refund checks will begin to be disbursed the first week of the Winter 2008 semester. Check Cardinal Direct to see your current account summary by term. If you have a credit that results from your loan disbursement, you should expect a refund.
-Credits on a student's account will be refunded according to the University's refund policy.
-Excess federal funds are refunded within two weeks of being transmitted to the student account. Check your account summary by term on Cardinal Direct to ensure your federal funds may have transmitted.
-Excess scholarships, grants, and all other aid are disbursed after the refund period (the point in which you can no longer drop a class and receive a refund (see the Registration page for details), which is typically six weeks into the semester.
-You can monitor Cardinal Direct to see when Student Financial Services has disbursed your refund to you via check (voucher) or direct deposit to an Independent Bank account.
-Some conditions do apply, contact the OSFA if you have questions.

CHANGING ENROLLMENT
If you are planning on enrolling for fewer or more credits than what you were packaged for on your Financial Aid Award Letter, please fill out a 2007-2008 Budget/Enrollment Change Form for Fall 2007/Winter 2008. You can view your Financial Aid Award Letter on Cardinal Direct.

PAYMENT DUE DATES (Includes Tuition, Fees, and Housing)
Spring 2008: Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Summer 2008: Wednesday, May 7, 2008

-All payments are due by 6:00 p.m. either in the Cashier's Office (check or cash only) or you can pay online by check or accepted credit card at http://cardinaldirect.svsu.edu.
-All charges for REGISTERED COURSES AND HOUSING will be posted on CARDINAL DIRECT.

NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDS?
Does your financial aid meet or exceed your expected Cost of Attendance? No? Alternative loans are available to help you meet your educational costs.

DROPPING CLASSES or WITHDRAWING COMPLETELY or NOT ATTENDING?
-If you drop classes during the refund period of the semester, your awards may be affected and you may risk losing your financial aid in future semesters (this includes any institutional, state, federal, as well as some other types of funding). Financial Aid is typically based on the number of credits you are enrolled in after the last day to drop with a refund. Please contact the OSFA if you are considering dropping any courses.
-If you are planning to withdraw from all of your courses or if you have decided to stop attending your courses, your financial aid WILL be affected. Please contact the OSFA as soon as possible if you are considering withdrawing.
-Federal financial aid is awarded based on your intent to attend. If you do not attend classes, your awards will be affected, even if you do not officially withdraw. See the Terms and Conditions on our website for more information.