Financial Aid Information

For students in the M.Ed. in Environmental Education Programs

Huxley College, Western Washington University

Winter 2006

This document gives some information on financial aid for graduate students in the Environmental Education M.Ed. programs, including the Thesis or Field Project (campus-based) option, and the Professional Residency (NCI partnership) option. While such information is hopefully helpful, don't assume it contains the best answers to your particular situation. Always seek further information from Western's Financial Aid counselors, and be sure they understand your circumstances. See contact information at the end of this document.

Overview

¨      Financing a graduate education can be challenging. While a student needs funds to live on and to pay educational expenses, many students wish not to be employed simultaneously while doing homework, projects, and residencies.

¨      It is important to attempt to project your financial needs accurately, to develop a funding plan, and then to spend wisely throughout.

¨      See WWU's Financial Aid web page as a starting point: http://www.finaid.wwu.edu/finaid/info/graduate_info.php

¨      There are several possible sources of money for a graduate degree. Many of these depend on a federal form, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA, http://www.fafsa.ed.gov), which institutions use to determine your eligibility for aid such as federal loans, and work-study. Other kinds of financing such as scholarships, fellowships, grants, private loans, and other programs depend on the student locating and pursuing these options. We have included discussion of some of these below.

¨      Many students in the M.Ed. programs borrow much of the money for their education. Everyone involved in the M.Ed. programs understands the financial strains students are under, and works individually and together to ease the strain.

Application

¨      The applicant must have completed the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  To ensure timely awarding of aid for the upcoming academic year (Autumn to Spring quarters, roughly late Sept. to early June), applicants should meet the FAFSA priority deadline of Feb. 15, although earlier does not hurt. The FAFSA online is available beginning Jan. 1 of the year before the upcoming academic year. You do not have to have to have filed your taxes to complete the FAFSA; you may estimate your taxes (although you may be asked to verify your earnings with a copy of your 1040). Since WWU prioritizes undergraduates in the award of financial aid, awards for graduates are calculated after those for undergraduates, and are sent in July or August. This second priority status, however, generally does not affect the award amount you are eligible for.

For students entering the Residency option in the coming summer:

¨      Aid for the coming summer term is based on a FAFSA form filed for the current academic year, because summer quarter is counted as part of that year. If you want to be eligible for any aid, including student loans, for the first term (summer) of the program, you should file a FAFSA for the current year at the earliest date possible. For example, if you believe you may want to apply for the program starting in summer 2007, then you should file a 2006-2007 FAFSA right away. Award letters will be sent in June.

¨      Aid for the Fall, Winter, and Spring terms of your first year in the Residency option is based on a FAFSA for the upcoming academic year (i.e., 2006-2007). Do not wait until you hear about whether you have been accepted into the M.Ed. program to file this form, or that for the first summer term. Priority deadline is Feb. 15. Award letters for the coming academic year are sent in July or August.

¨      A supplementary WWU application is needed for aid for both Summer quarters (the beginning summer and the second summer). It is available on-line in the preceding mid-spring and must be completed in the spring term. Contact the Financial Aid office (see bottom of this file) if you need more information.

¨      Aid for the second Fall and Winter terms is based on a FAFSA filed for that academic year. Do not neglect to file this by the Feb. 15 deadline in your first Winter term in the program.

¨      Thus, students in the NCI residency track will file the FAFSA three times, once for each separate academic year their program spans.

For Students entering the Thesis or Field Project (campus-based) option in any quarter:

¨      Aid for the quarter during which you enter the program will be based on your having filed a FAFSA for whatever academic year in which your entering quarter falls.  If you plan to enter the program in the fall, as many students do, then you should file the FAFSA for that academic year by the priority deadline of Feb. 15, or as soon as possible after that.  If you plan to enter the program in any other quarter, you also need to file the FAFSA for that academic year. It is best to file it by Feb. 15 of the preceding winter; otherwise as soon as you believe you may enter the program. Award letters for the coming academic year are sent in July or August.

Eligibility

¨      To receive financial aid, graduate students must be enrolled for at least 4 to 5 credits (1/2 time) each quarter. Full time is 8 or more credits. Aid is also calculated for 3/4 time (6 and 7 credits). Only courses that are part of your degree plan count toward these FA eligibility amounts; thus for example, credits from a 300-level course will not be counted.

¨      You should notify Financial Aid if you will be less than full time any quarter.

¨      The maximum federal loan program loan amount is $18,500 (subject to change), or the cost of your attending the program, whichever is less.

¨      If you need more than this amount in loans, you may borrow more from a bank, credit union or other financial institution. These institutions will have their own eligibility requirements, including an adequate credit rating, and probably a co-signer.

¨      State residency is decided by the Registrar, and affects your tuition cost dramatically. State residency may affect how much money you are loaned and determines how much is taken out of your total loan amount for tuition, so the 'refund' check you receive after tuition is withdrawn (i.e., your share for living expenses) is smaller if you are out-of-state. See the Registrar's web page on residency, http://www.wwu.edu/depts/registrar/residency.shtml

Satisfactory Academic Progress, Incomplete (K) grades, and Probation

¨      Each quarter you are expected to complete all courses registered and paid for, in order to be considered by Financial Aid as making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The Graduate School requires that a graduate student maintain a minimum 3.0 gpa and earn no more than 10 credits of C+, C, C-, and U (unsatisfactory) or lower grades.

¨      If you are full time, you must complete all 8 credits, within the quarter. If you complete only between 4 and 8 credits, you will be put on probation. You will be suspended if you complete less than 4 credits.

-If you complete the outstanding work and receive a grade within a week of when grades are filed (the Tuesday of the week after finals week), a suspension can usually be removed.

-For a quarter during which you are on financial aid probation, you must complete the credits you register for during that quarter on time (i.e., 8 if full time, or 4 if half-time). You will then have a clean record. Your money will be disbursed while on probation.

- If you are on financial aid probation two quarters in a row, you will be placed on financial aid suspension.

-If you are suspended, you may petition for reinstatement, explaining the circumstances of why you got an incomplete grade ("K"), and what your plan is to complete it. The petition is reviewed by a committee in the Financial Aid office and their results are conveyed within 3 weeks.

-While you are suspended, all aid is on hold.

¨      Certain courses in the Residency program (Estu 576 & 577) have work that spreads over a long period of time, and is not due until the final 'capstone' term. For these, you will receive an incomplete grade (“K”) that will be removed from your transcript upon grading of final products in the last term (or sometimes sooner).  Financial Aid has agreed to treat these grades like "thesis credits" that are not completed until the final quarter. Therefore, the K's you receive for these courses will not count against your financial aid SAP.

Estimating the cost of your M.Ed.

¨      Thesis or Field Project (campus-based) option: You can find typical expenditure projections at WWU's Financial Aid Website: http://www.finaid.wwu.edu/finaid/budget/index.php

¨      The major difference between Washington State residents and non-residents is in the amount of WWU tuition & fees for the regular academic year quarters (summer quarter differences are less dramatic – see table below). Currently (2005-06), full time enrollment (8 credits) for residents costs $2084, and for non-residents $5600.  For students entering the 2006 Residency program, the WWU tuition & fees (not including books & variable personal items) over the full program (based on 2005-06 tuition rates) is:

WA resident: $9,050

Non resident: $21,581

¨      IMPORTANT CAVEAT: Approval by the WWU Board of Trustees of increases in these rates (particularly WA resident rates) is anticipated in June 2006, and again in June 2007. The tuition and fees above and in the table below do not reflect either of these potential future increases, and show only 2005-6 levels.

¨      Residency option: The residency option includes an additional $12,500 fee paid to NCI by all students, paid in 5 installments during the first 5 quarters of the program. The table below illustrates typical expenditures in dollar amounts over the course of the Residency program. These figures do not take into account inflationary or other increases enacted by the Legislature or the WWU Board of Trustees; all amounts are subject to change.

TYPES OF AID

Graduate teaching assistantships

¨      TA positions are designated to graduate programs by WWU according to program quality and need for assistance in the program’s undergraduate instructional program, as well as precedent. Funding of TA's is set by state legislature through WWU’s instructional budget. For a student to be eligible for a TA-ship, they need skills and knowledge applicable to the course for which they will be TA. A graduate student cannot TA for  a graduate-level course.

¨      Information on assistantships, including a down-loadable application form is at: http://www.wwu.edu/depts/gradschool/funding/graduate_assistantships.shtml

¨      At this time there are no TA-ships designated to the environmental education program. We will continue to vigorously advocate for TA positions when it is possible to do so, every 2 years.

¨      Students in the thesis or field project (campus based) track may compete for the following TA-ships that demand enrollment on campus for the full academic year:

¨      Science Education. Preferred qualification includes classroom teaching (elementary preferred), plus a science background. We will automatically forward TA applications to the Science Mathematics Technology Education Center director for consideration. This position is competitive with students in other (non-EE) M.Ed. tracks. Recipients will generally be notified by the end of May. The position carries an academic year stipend, tuition waiver, and health benefits.  Full-time TA's are employed 20 hours /week.

¨      L.E.A.D. (Learning Environment Action Discovery) co-director. Each year one graduate student from any Huxley College graduate program (including Geography and Env. Science) is chosen to become one of 2 LEAD co-directors, who, upon satisfactory performance, normally hold the position for 2 years. The two 2-year co-director positions overlap so that the experienced co-director orients and mentors the in-coming one.  This TA-ship is 1/2 time. If it is combined with another 1/2 TA-ship from elsewhere, it comes with a tuition waiver. Incoming graduate students are sent a separate application form for this position, and the new co-director is selected in May and begins work in the fall. See the LEAD project web pages at: http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~lead/

Research Assistantships

¨      Research assistantships are funded through research grants obtained by individual faculty members, or through associated research institutes. Receipt of a research assistantship is generally at the discretion of the researcher, and depends on a match of the student's abilities with those required in the research project. We will refer students with suitable research and evaluation qualifications to the Science Education faculty overseeing evaluation of The North Cascades and Olympic Science Partnership (http://www.ncosp.smate.wwu.edu/). This position involves doing observations, collecting, reducing and analyzing data, and other responsibilities. It carries a stipend, tuition waiver, and health benefits. It requires on-campus work for Autumn, Winter and Spring terms.

Graduate Tuition and Fee Waivers

¨      Quarterly awards in $1000 increments may be given to full-time, admitted, domestic, meritorious and needy students upon recommendation of the program adviser. There is no student application for this award.

¨      The above award is given in the spring and applied to the following academic year (fall term). Funds are limited, and generally only a single quarter will be awarded. The money is counted against the student's tuition and fees bill.

¨      Some Washington State resident graduate students are eligible for waivers which are administered at the discretion of the Registrar's office to certain special categories of individuals, such as veterans of armed service in Asia or Persian Gulf. Generally such individuals should be aware of their eligibility.

Scholarships and Fellowships

¨      Most scholarships and fellowships are privately administered and funded, and are usually not based on need. Interested students may use specialized reference books available at the WWU Bureau for Faculty Research office, or in the Huxley library, or elsewhere, to search for possible sources. Some fellowships are targeted to certain populations. Visit Financial Aid's scholarship website: http://www.finaid.wwu.edu/scholarships/

Grants

¨      Grants are usually need-based. WWU has no general support grants for students in its graduate programs.

¨      Western's Fund for the Enchantment of Graduate Student research, administered through WWU's Bureau for Faculty Research (BFR), transfers money to departments to be used by graduate students for the purchase of items for their research. Students apply to their departments. http://www.wwu.edu/depts/gradschool/funding/research_opportunities.shtml

¨      WWU does offer the Ross Travel Grant to current graduate students to defray up to $500 in expenses for travel to a conference or other event to present their work: http://www.wwu.edu/depts/gradschool/funding/ross_travel_grant.shtml

Loans

Amount of loan money allowed

¨      WWU uses a 'standard' budget for students based on state residency, full or half time status, and living situation. This sets the maximum loan the student can get. In the case of Professional Residency program, the student budget can be increased as this is considered a high-cost program. Never to exceed the budget, the maximum annual amount a student can borrow in federal loans is:

-$8,500, subsidized – must have financial need; interest is deferred; interest rate varies, never to exceed 8.25%.

-$10,000, unsubsidized- the interest is added on right away. Student receives a quarterly

statement of interest owed. If the interest is not paid, it accrues onto principle. Same interest rate as above.

¨      The amount above is available for each of the 2 years of the Residency program, so long as the student proves he or she needs the money. However, since the Residency program only runs for 1 quarter in the first year (the first summer, which is considered part of the preceding academic year), and for only 2 quarters of the final academic year, the award will be a corresponding fraction of the full-year  $18,500.

¨      For some out-of-state students the $18,500 may not cover all costs, and they may need to seek outside sources such as scholarships or private bank loans. You should shop carefully. The Financial Aid office at WWU has a brochure listing lending institutions, requirements, interest rates and so forth. If you get an outside bank or credit union loan, you may need a cosigner. Bear in mind that carrying a second loan will mean 2 monthly payments after graduation, and probably one set of interest payments beginning immediately.

¨      In a given year, if a student already has received loans for that school year at WWU or at another school, then the prior amount the student received counts against the amount they can get at WWU. This could limit what a student entering in summer quarter could get for that quarter, but not for the following year. However, if during your first full academic year at WWU, you take out the full $18,500 during the  fall, winter, and spring quarters, you will not receive any loan monies for that following summer. Students generally pursue outside bank loans in those circumstances.

¨      Also available from WWU to students who are enrolled for  1/2 time or greater credits, are $250 emergency loans, and $650 institutional loans.

Loan disbursement

¨      At WWU  tuition & fees are deducted from the amount loaned to the student in a given quarter, and then Student Accounts writes a check or wire transfers any residual funds to the student via direct deposit.

¨      The full loan amount is divided up over the 3 academic quarters of the year.  If you have been granted eligibility for the full $18,500 available, this amount will be allocated over fall, winter and spring. It will be up to you to save some aside for summer. If you have been allocated less than that (about $15,400 is typical for the Residency), the difference between that amount and the full $18,500 (about $3,100 for the typical Residency student), proportionate to the course credits for which you register, will be available (assuming you complete the summer aid application process).

¨      To minimize the amount you borrow, when you receive and return your award letter, hand-write on it how much of the total eligibility you want. If you need more later, you may submit a revision and the remainder eligibility can be reinstated.

Repayment

¨      Loans go into repayment after 6 months of less than 1/2 time enrollment (not counting the summer term), or 6 months after the date of graduation.

¨      When you finish your program, you must have an exit interview with Student Accounts.

Short-term Loans

¨      Financial Aid offers short-term loans ranging from $250 to $600. The eligibility criteria vary and there is a minimal processing fee on each loan. These loans are available online, at https://secure.finaid.wwu.edu/short_term_loan/step1.php.

Work-study

¨      Work-study is need based, and allows you to earn money while engaged in work related to your area of professional study. Indicate on your FAFSA if you want to be considered for  work-study. Eligibility for graduate work-study financial aid is determined during the summer. The Graduate School will refer graduate work-study students to graduate faculty during the forthcoming academic year. See: http://www.wwu.edu/depts/gradschool/funding/work_study.shtml

¨      WWU competes with other universities for their share of money for the work-study program from federal and state sources. WWU reserves a portion of total work-study funds for its graduate students. Because there is greater demand for work-study than there is money available, it is important to  file your FAFSA as early as possible, even earlier than the official priority deadline.

¨      Graduate work-study students serve as graduate research assistants to faculty involved in research projects or other activities typical of the professional field (such as EE program-related, or instructional responsibilities).  The intent is that the experience further the students' preparation, so they should not find themselves doing primarily clerical or  generally passive work.

¨      If you are eligible for work-study, the maximum available is about $2,400 per quarter. The typical award amount for work-study is equivalent to approximately 15 hours of work per week for 10 weeks each quarter of the 3-quarter academic year.  The hourly wage is presently $15.75. If you receive and accept work-study, complete the necessary paper work before the start of the term with the Dept. of Env. Studies Administrative assistant, Bev Cruea (AH217), and learn how to record your hours for approval.

¨      Both the student receiving the graduate work-study assignment and the faculty member who has been assigned a work-study graduate research assistant are asked to submit a brief (one-page) description at the end of the assignment describing the benefits to the student for involvement in the research (student letter), and the progress made on the research project (faculty letter).

¨      Students wishing to receive work-study for another year get higher priority if they are requested by their current faculty. They should be sure that faculty member requests them in the spring for the following year. This higher priority does not affect the chances of entering students from gaining work-study.

Students in Service

¨      Students in Service is a Washington Campus Compact (WACC) AmeriCorps program that supports and promotes the engagement of higher education students in their communities by offering education awards to those who participate in community service, service-learning, or civic engagement activities. Enrolled members can serve in positions that fit within any of the five focus areas identified by AmeriCorps: education, the environment, human needs, public safety, and homeland security.

¨      Eligibility: To participate in the Students in Service program you must meet the following requirements:

1.      Attend a higher education institution partnered with Washington Campus Compact (such as WWU)

2.      Be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or Legal Permanent Resident

3.      Be at least 17 years old

4.      Have a high school diploma or equivalent

¨      The Students in Service program offers three term of service options for

students:

¨      900 hours of service, within two years, offers a $2,362 education award.

¨      450 hours of service, within one year, offers a $1,250 education award.

¨      300 hours of service, within one year, offers a $1,000 education award

¨      Once a Students in Service member completes their term of service, s/he will then be eligible to receive an Education Award.  The Education Award comes in the form of a voucher, it is not cash.  You can apply the voucher to qualified student loans or toward the cost of attendance at any  Title IV higher education institution. After completing one 900 hour stint, you may sign up for an additional one.

¨      Credited amounts may be "banked" while in the program and applied against your loan debt at the end, or they may be reported to Financial Aid as you go. In the latter case, they are counted as a resource in figuring your loan-amount eligibility, thus lowering the amount you may borrow. The advantage of that is that it keeps your debt lower.

¨      To find out more about becoming a Students in Service member or to begin the enrollment process, go to http://www.studentsinservice.org.  Go to the "Getting Started" menu on the right-hand side of the page and select "Students Enroll Now." At WWU, call 650-2044 or cc-help@wwu.edu. You will need an appropriate person at the work place to be your site supervisor. That person will help determine what work is or is not appropriate to count, and will sign your time sheet.

Other work outside school

¨      Money you earn or are given changes your eligibility for financial aid, including loan amounts. If you earn or receive more money than projected, this should be reported to Financial Aid. They may be required to reduce the amount you are eligible to borrow as a consequence, but they will do so by lowering your least favorable loan amounts (i.e., highest interest) first.

¨      If a student is presented the choice to receive and report compensation (for example from NCI wages) as a wage, he or she might consider doing so, because it may not affect loan amount eligibility. Although it will be taxable, and would thus affect the following year's FAFSA eligibility determination, that is not a concern for M.Ed. Professional Residency students after their first autumn term, since they will finish before another FAFSA would be required.

Other

You can go to the Student Employment Office for employment on or off campus.  Visit

http://www.finaid.wwu.edu/studentjobs/

Contacts

If you have questions about financial aid, contact the Financial Aid office at 650-3470. If you have further questions, schedule an appointment via the FA front desk with Rick Stefani;  you may also email him at Rick.Stefani@wwu.edu. Rick also handles matters of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid purposes.