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Financial Aid Appeal Process

A Financial Aid suspension letter is sent to students not meeting satisfactory academic progress.

Student may appeal the suspension by faxing an appeal letter along with supporting documentation to the Satisfactory Academic Appeal Committee (410)951-2551.

A decision for each upcoming year will be made between mid-July and mid-August. All decisions will be mailed to the student at that time.

The decision of the Office of Financial Aid committee is final.

Student should make sure student identification number has been placed on all documentation.

Return of Title IV Funds Policy

The Return to Title IV Funds Policy at Coppin State University is as follows:

The Financial Aid Office is required by federal statute to recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for students who withdraw, drop out, are dismissed, or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a payment period or term. The federal Title IV financial aid programs must be recalculated in these situations.

If a student leaves Coppin State University prior to completing 60% of a payment period or term, the financial aid office recalculates eligibility for Title IV funds. Recalculation is based on the percentage of earned aid using the following Federal Return of Title IV funds formula:

Percentage of payment period or term completed = the number of days completed up to the withdrawal date divided by the total days in the payment period or term. (Any break of five days or more is not counted as part of the days in the term.) This percentage is also the percentage of earned aid.

Funds are returned to the appropriate federal program based on the percentage of unearned aid using the following formula:

Aid to be returned = (100% of the aid that could be disbursed minus the percentage of earned aid) multiplied by the total amount of aid that could have been disbursed during the payment period or term.

When a student earned less aid than was disbursed, Coppin State University would be required to return a portion of the funds and the student would be required to return a portion of the funds. Keep in mind that when Title IV funds are returned, the student borrower may owe a debit balance to Coppin State University.

When a student earned more aid than was disbursed to him/her, Coppin State University would owe the student a post-withdrawal disbursement which must be paid within 120 days of the student's withdrawal.

Coppin State University must return the amount of Title IV funds for which it is responsible no later than 30 days after the date of the determination of the date of the student's withdrawal.

Refunds are allocated in the following order:

  • Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loans (other than PLUS loans)
  • Subsidized Direct Stafford Loans
  • Federal Perkins Loans
  • Federal Parent (PLUS) Loans
  • Federal Pell Grants for which a Return of funds is required
  • Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grants for which a Return of funds is required
  • Other assistance under this Title for which a Return of funds is required (e.g., LEAP)
Satisfactory Academic Progress

Brochure....[More Info]

Minimum Credit Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirements for Financial Aid Eligibility

Undergraduates

Full Time Students
YR 1    2    3    4    5    6    7     7.5
CR 14  32  48  63  79  95  110  120

Three-quarter Time Students
YR 1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9     10
CR 12  24  36  48  54  71  83  95  107  120

Half Time Students
YR 1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    11    12    13    14    15
CR 8   16  24  32  40  48  55  63   71   79    87    95    102  110  120

Key:
YR= Year in college;
CR= the least amount of credits you must earn to meet financial aid eligibility requirements.

Note: A minimum of six credits must be maintained prior to crediting loan fund proceeds to the student's account. Please contact the Financial Aid Office prior to dropping any class. Students are required to report all sources of financial aid, including private donor scholarships and veteran benefits to the Financial Aid Office. For information regarding Veteran's Benefits, please contact the Record's Office at (410) 383-5550.

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Master Promissory Note (MPN)

The promissory note for Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans is a Master Promissory Note (MPN). The MPN is a promissory note that students attending institutions of higher education will complete when applying for federal student loans. The terms of the loan have not changed, only the form to be completed has changed.

The MPN was developed to simplify and streamline the loan application process.

  • MPN has the ability to be used by the school as a multi-year promissory note. This allows a borrower to sign a MPN the first year and borrower will not be required to sign another note for future loans or increases. However, the school may, as its option, require additional forms to be completed.

    For example, a student who enters school as a freshman and borrows under the Direct Loan Program at the same school during the four years of undergraduate study, may be able to borrow for all four years using the MPN.

  • The Loan Origination Center (LOC) and the Direct Loan Servicing Center (DLSC) will keep borrowers informed of their rights and responsibilities through disclosures statements.

    The LOC sends the Disclosure Statement for each accepted subsidized and accepted unsubsidized loan originated by the school. It provides the borrower with loan-specific information such as loan type, amounts, and anticipated disbursement dates. In addition, the Disclosure Statement provides information to the borrower about reducing or canceling all or a portion of the loan.

    Once the loan is disbursed to the borrower, the DLSC sends a disclosure to the borrower that tells the exact amount the school disbursed as well as the conditions of the loan.

Appeal Process For Reinstatement

Reinstatement of Financial Aid

  • A student who has failed to maintain satisfactory academic progress shall be reinstated for financial aid eligibility if the student has successfully raised his/her earned credit hours to 67% and attained at least the minimum cumulative grade point average required by the end of the next academic year.
  • A student has the right to appeal the suspension of his or her financial aid due to adverse satisfactory academic progress.

A student must submit a letter which explains why he or she has not successfully maintained satisfactory academic progress. Supporting documentation must be attached (for example: illness, death in family, work related emergency, etc). A decision for each upcoming year will be made between mid-July and mid-August. All decisions will be mailed to the student at that time.

If the appeal is approved by the committee, the student will be placed on financial aid probation for one academic year. The student's progress will be evaluated at the end of the academic year in which the appeal is granted.

The decision of the Office of Financial Aid committee is final.

Rights and Responsibilities

Rights

You have the following rights:

  • You have the right to be notified when money is credited to your account.
  • You have the right to privacy.
  • You have the right to know what financial aid programs are available at Coppin.
  • You have the right to a complete explanation of the award process.
  • You have the right to know the Financial Aid Office's Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
  • You have the right to know Coppin State University's Refund Policy.
  • You have the right to cancel a student loan within 10 days from the time the funds were posted to your account.

Responsibilities

You are responsible for the following:

  • Reading and understanding all forms and agreements that you sign.
  • Following all directions carefully.
  • Submitting honest and accurate information regarding your financial circumstances.
  • Submitting required documentation in a timely fashion.
  • Signing a promissory and a statement of rights and responsibilities.
  • Informing the Financial Aid Office of additional sources of financial aid received.
  • Resubmitting your FAFSA or renewal application for aid each year.
  • A First Time Coppin State College Student Loan borrower must attend an entrance counseling session.
  • A graduating or exiting student loan borrower must attend an exit counseling session.

Any students that does not meet satisfactory academic progress because of completion rate will have to file an appeal each year.

PLEASE NOTE: The student is responsible for securing funds for payment of tuition and fee charges whether it is financial aid, scholarships, or loans, cash, etc. prior to registering for classes.

Equal Opportunity

Coppin State University, as an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, complies with applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination, including Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 (sex discrimination) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (discrimination against the handicapped). It is the policy of Coppin State University that no person, on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, handicap, or veteran status, shall be discriminated against in employment, educational programs, activities, admissions, or financial aid.

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