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Financial Information         Overview Tuition and Fees Full-time Enrollment Requirements Veterans Educational Benefits Tuition Support Fellowships Assistantships Tax Obligations Student Financial Assistance

Overview

Graduate education is an important investment for both the student and the community. Graduate education enables students to enter new career fields with more choices as to their work assignments and more opportunities for advancement to higher paying jobs. It provides enrichment and a deeper understanding of a chosen field. Educated employees improve the quality of life in the state of Florida. At UCF, the cost of this investment is very reasonable.

A student's basic expenses at the university include tuition, course-related fees, textbooks, other instructional supplies, room and board, and miscellaneous items.

Tuition and Fees

Associate Controller: Dan Mayo
Student Accounts Office, Millican Hall 107
Telephone (407) 823-2433

Required fees are established by the University Board of Trustees and are subject to change without notice. Tuition and fees are affected by the student's residency status.

Students are encouraged to obtain a "Fee Invoice" to confirm fees and course registration. Fee invoices are not mailed. Fee invoices are available on the POLARIS web system and kiosks, from student's college advising offices, and in the Registrar's Office. Students must obtain a new "Fee Invoice" after making any course changes or schedule adjustments.

All university fees must be paid according to published dates and no later than the end of the Late Registration and Add/Drop period. Fees not paid by the payment deadline date for each term will result in late fees and could result in the cancellation of all classes.

The following schedule applies to all UCF students:

2003-2004 Tuition and Fee Schedule*

	Florida Resident		Non-Florida Resident
Fees Per Credit Hour	Undergraduate	Graduate	Undergraduate	Graduate
Matriculation Fee	$63.41	$170.63	$63.41	$170.63
Non-Resident Fee	0	0	$350.10	$542.17
Building Fee	$2.32	$2.32	$2.32	$2.32
Capital Improvement Fee	$2.44	$2.44	$2.44	$2.44
Financial Aid Fee	$3.17	$8.53	$3.17	$8.53
Non-Res Financial Aid Fee	0	0	$17.50	$27.10
UCF Activity and Svc Fee	$8.09	$8.09	$8.09	$8.09
UCF Athletic Fee	$11.09	$11.09	$11.09	$11.09
Transportation Access Fee	$3.90	$3.90	$3.90	$3.90
TOTAL PER HOUR FEES	$94.42	$207.00	$462.02	$776.27

Other Fees: Resident and Nonresident*

ID Service and Access Fee (per academic year)	$10.00
ID Service and Access Replacement Fee	$15.00
Health Fee	$6.00 per credit hour
	Minimum charge per term: $36.00
	Maximum charge per term: $90.00
Material and Supply Fee (approved courses only - varies per course)	$5.00-$45.00
Late Registration Fee (students who initially register during Late Registration)	$100.00
Late Payment Fee (failure to pay, defer or present waiver for fees by payment deadline)	$100.00
Returned Check Fees (checks returned for any reason)	$25.00 or 5% (whichever is greater)
Transcript Fee	$5.00 per transcript

Student Health Fee: Mandatory fee assessed to all students except those enrolled at area campuses (i.e., UCF Cocoa, UCF Daytona, UCF Downtown, UCF Lake Sumter, UCF Palm Bay, UCF South Orlando, UCF Seminole, and UCF Valencia) and exclusively in Continuing Education courses.

Zero Hour Registration: Students registering for zero credit hours pay for a minimum of one credit hour at the Florida Resident Tuition rate at the course level for which the student is registered. Students registered in other credit hours do not have to pay for the zero hour course.

*Fees are subject to change without notice. Rates for the 2004-2005 academic year will be available in early July 2004.

Application Fee

The $30.00 application fee for graduate admission must be paid by U.S. check or money order. This fee is not refundable. The $30.00 application fee is required of all applicants for each application submitted.

Registration Fees

Current registration fees per semester or term for main campus, area centers, and continuing education courses are shown above in the Tuition and Fee Schedule. Rates for the next academic year will be available in July prior to the beginning of the new academic year. Zero-hour registration students are assessed one credit hour at the Florida Resident Tuition rate at the course level for which the student is registered. Students registered in other credit hours do not have to pay for the zero-hour course.

Late Registration Fee

Students who enroll following the close of Add/Drop for the term or who enroll for the first time that term during Late Registration and Add/Drop will be assessed a Late Registration Fee of $100.00.

Pay Now or Pay More: Late Payment Fee

A $100 Late Payment Fee applies to students who do not pay their fees or who do not pay their fees (or obtain a fee deferment) by the payment deadline.

Student Financial Responsibility Statement

Registration at UCF requires students to acknowledge the following financial responsibility statement: "I accept responsibility for payment of my term tuition and fees by the published deadline. I understand that if I do not pay my tuition and fees or do not pay these fees by the due date, I will be charged a $100 Late Payment Fee, my records will be put on hold, my account will be referred to a collection agency, and I may incur other financial consequences."

Late Registration Fee and Late Payment Fee Appeals

Students who desire to appeal a Late Registration Fee and/or Late Payment Fee may make their appeal to the Fee Appeals Committee by initiating a student petition (Form 41-561). This form can be obtained online at www.finacctg.ucf.edu>Student Accounts>forms from the Student Accounts Section of Finance and Accounting. Students must submit their petitions to Student Accounts (Millican Hall 107) and may appear before the Committee (not mandatory).

Past Due Accounts

All financial obligations to the university must be met. Failure to meet obligations can result in the withholding and denial of registration and readmission to the university. The services of a professional collection agency and recourse to the courts may also be invoked if deemed necessary. All costs of collection, including attorney's fees, are borne by the debtor.

Acceptable Forms of Payment

Acceptable forms of payment are cash, cashier's checks, money orders and credit cards. Credit card payments may be made online, through POLARIS or at the Cashier's Office (MH 109). A mandatory, nonrefundable $10 convenience fee will be charged each time a student chooses to pay tuition or other state mandated fees with a credit card.

Payment Procedures

Payment must be received or postmarked no later than the fee payment deadlines specified. Payment may be made at the Cashier's Office (Millican Hall 109). Operating Hours are Monday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Students may submit payment after Cashier's Office operating hours at the Cashier's night depository (located at the pond entrance of Millican Hall) or through the enrollment screen "ePay" option on POLARIS at https://connect.ucf.edu. Payments (no cash) placed in the night depository by the official fee payment deadline will be considered "on time." Students may also submit payment by mail. Mailed payments must be postmarked no later than the payment deadline. Please include the student's PID (Personal Identification Number) on checks or money orders.

Payment guidelines for Limited Non-Degree enrollment classes can be found on the "Registration Form for Non-Admitted Students."

It is the student's responsibility to officially drop or withdraw from courses so as to avoid additional financial obligations.

Do not send cash. Address payments to: University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 918449, Orlando, FL 32891-8449.

Do not assume your registration will be canceled if you fail to pay fees or attend classes. Tuition deferrals will prevent class cancellation for nonpayment. Payment guidelines for off-campus registration are contained on the off-campus registration form.

Refund of Fees

A refund of fees will be processed under the conditions noted below. The student must submit a written appeal for a refund or other appeal action to the University within six months of the close of the semester/term to which the refund or other appeal action is applicable. Any debts to the University will be deducted from the refund, up to the full amount.

Full Refund Eligibility
The following circumstances allow a full refund: 1) when a class is dropped before the end of the Add/Drop period; 2) cancellation of a course by the University; or 3) the student is denied admission to a course offered by the University for any reason.

Partial Refund (25%)
A 25 percent refund is made when the student withdraws completely from the University prior to the end of the fourth week of classes during a 16 or 17-week semester, or at the end of the first quarter of classes during a Summer session.

Exceptional Circumstances
Refunds for exceptional circumstances are available upon a withdrawal from one or more courses. Up to 100 percent of tuition and registration fees are refundable if due to circumstances determined by the university to be exceptional, including, but not limited to, sickness, death, involuntary call to military service, or university administrative error.

Repayment of Title IV Financial Aid
Any student receiving Title IV Federal Financial Aid who completely withdraws from the University before 60% of the term has elapsed may be required to repay a pro-rated portion of the aid received.

Florida Residency for Tuition Purposes

At University of Central Florida, three offices are responsible for the review of residency for tuition purposes under Florida Statute 1009.21 (formerly 240.1201) and Board of Regents chapter 6C-7.005. The offices of Undergraduate Admissions and Graduate Studies determine residency for all first-time-on-campus students; the Registrar's Office reviews student requests for changes in residency once the student is enrolled. A first-time-on-campus student will be classified according to the information he or she includes on the application for admission, providing that no other information is available that calls into question the information contained on the application.

To qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes in accordance with State regulations, the student must be a United States citizen, resident alien, parolee, Cuban national, Vietnamese refugee, or other refugee or asylee so designated by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service,

AND

Have established a legal residence in this state and maintained that legal residence for 12 months immediately prior to the term in which they are seeking Florida resident classification. The student's residence in Florida must be as a bona fide domiciliary rather than for the purpose of maintaining a mere temporary residence or abode incidental to enrollment in an institution of higher education, and should be demonstrated as indicated below (for dependent students, as defined by Internal Revenue Service regulations, a parent or guardian must qualify),

AND

Submit the following documentation (or in the case of a dependent student, the parent must submit documentation) prior to the last day of registration for the term for which resident status is sought:

1. Documentation establishing legal residence in Florida (this document must be dated at least one year prior to the first day of classes of the term for which resident status is sought). The following documents will be considered in determining legal residence:
1. Declaration of Domicile (Note: the Declaration of Domicile will support a claim of residency for tuition purposes only after a period of 12 months from the date that the Clerk of the Court notes that the declaration was sworn and subscribed to them.)
2. Proof of purchase of a home in Florida in which the student resides.
3. Proof that the student has maintained residence in the state for the preceding year (e.g., rent receipts, employment records).
2. Documentation establishing bona fide domicile in Florida which is not temporary or merely incidental to enrollment in a Florida institution of higher education. The following documents will be considered evidence of domicile even though no one of these criteria, if taken alone, will be considered as conclusive evidence of domicile:
1. Declaration of Domicile;
2. Florida voter registration;
3. Florida vehicle registration;
4. Florida driver license;
5. Proof of real property ownership in Florida (e.g., deed, tax receipts).
6. Verification of permanent employment in Florida by the employer, employment records, or other employment-related documentation (e.g., W-2 paycheck receipts), other than for employment normally provided on a temporary basis to students or other temporary employment. The document must show 12 consecutive months of Florida employment prior to the first day of classes of the term for which the student requests Florida residency;
7. Proof of membership in or affiliation with community or state organizations or significant connections to the State;
8. Proof of continuous presence in Florida during periods when not enrolled as a student;
9. Proof of former domicile in Florida and maintenance of significant connections while absent;
10. Proof of reliance upon Florida sources of support;
11. Proof of domicile in Florida of family;
12. Proof of admission to a licensed practicing profession in Florida;
13. Any other factors peculiar to the individual that tend to establish the necessary intent to make Florida a permanent home and that the individual is a bonafide Florida resident, including the age and general circumstances of the individual;
14. Proof of graduation from a high school located in Florida.
3. No contrary evidence establishing residence elsewhere;
4. Documentation of dependent/independent status (notarized copy of most recent IRS tax return).

OR

Be married to a person who has been a legal resident of the State of Florida for the required 12-month period and relinquish legal ties to any other state,

OR

Be a member of the Armed Forces on active duty stationed in Florida, or a spouse or dependent,

OR

Be a member of the full-time instructional or administrative staff of a state public school, community college or university in Florida, a spouse or dependent,

OR

Be a dependent and have lived five years with an adult relative who has established legal residence in Florida,

OR

Be a person who was enrolled as a Florida resident for tuition purposes at a Florida institution of higher education, but who abandoned Florida residency and then re-enrolled in Florida with 12 months of the abandonment,

OR

Be a full-time Latin American or Caribbean student who receives scholarships from the federal or state government,

OR

Be a United States citizen living on the Isthmus of Panama who has completed 12 consecutive months of college work at the Florida State University Panama Canal Branch, or a spouse or dependent,

OR

Be a graduate student of the Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common Market attending Florida's state universities,

OR

Be a full-time employee of a state agency or political subdivision of the state when the student fees are paid by the state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of job-related law enforcement or corrections training,

OR

Be a U.S. Citizen who is a McKnight Doctoral Fellowship recipient,

OR

Be a qualified beneficiary under the Florida Pre-paid Post-secondary Expense Program per s.240.551(7)(a),

OR

Be an active duty member of the Canadian military residing or stationed in this state under the North American Air Defense (NORAD) agreement, or a spouse or dependent,

AND

Submit a statement as to the length of residence in Florida and their residency qualifications under the above criteria. Students requesting Florida residency for tuition purposes shall apply to the appropriate admissions office if they have not yet enrolled, or to the Registrar's Office if they already are enrolled.

UCF Graduate Studies reserves the right to require additional documentation as seen necessary to accurately determine the residency status of a student.

Residency Reclassification

Undergraduate Admissions and the Division of Graduate Studies determine first term at UCF residency for tuition purposes for all newly admitted students. Thereafter, the Registrar's Office will review requests for changes in residency.

To request a residency review, the student must submit a completed "Residency Reclassification Request Form" and supporting documents to the Registrar's Office (Millican Hall 161). This form is available either at the Registrar's Office or online at http://registrar.ucf.edu. The reclassification form must be accompanied by all documents that support the student's Florida residency claim. Residency reclassification requests are subject to Florida Statute 1009.21 (formerly 240.1201), Florida State Board of Education Administrative Code 6A-10.44, and State Board of Education rule 6C-7.005. In addition, university policy requires students requesting residency reclassification to provide documentation establishing that they have income or personal sources to meet financial obligations of attendance and living expenses. Contact the Registrar's Office at 407-823-3100 for additional information regarding all residency reclassification requirements.

When building a case for Florida residency for tuition purposes, the student may choose to submit documents from a variety of categories. Students may consult the Registrar's Office before submitting the reclassification request and supporting documents. The submission of documents in itself does not qualify the student for Florida residency for tuition purposes. The Registrar's Office will evaluate the submitted documents and available information and will render an eligibility determination. UCF is authorized to make discretionary judgments as to residency within the bounds of the law and in reaching this professional judgment will evaluate all documents submitted and information available. No single document shall be conclusive.

Students seeking residency reclassification should understand that living in or attending college in Florida is not tantamount to establishing residency in Florida for tuition purposes. The student who comes to Florida to enroll in a Florida post-secondary educational institution as an out-of-state resident and continuously enrolls in a Florida institution normally will not meet the Florida residency requirement for in-state tuition regardless of the length of time enrolled. Living or attending school in Florida merely evidences physical presence. The student must provide documentation verifying that he or she has formed significant legal ties to the State of Florida. This documentation must establish that the Florida residence constitutes a bona fide domicile rather than serving the purpose of maintaining a mere temporary residence or abode incident to enrollment in an institution of higher education. Evidence establishing legal ties to states other than Florida may disqualify the student from Florida residency for tuition purposes. All determinative documents must be dated at least 12 months before the first day of class for the term in which residency is sought.

New and continuing students who believe that they qualify for Florida residency must submit the request and all documents prior to end of "Late Registration and Add/Drop" for the term in which Florida residency is requested. Documentation received after the last day of "Late Registration and Add/Drop" will not be used to determine residency for the current term. Approved residency reclassification will not be applied retroactively to previous terms.

The Registrar's Office may require additional documentation beyond that initially submitted by the student or the claimant before it can render a reclassification eligibility determination and it will not complete its review of the residency reclassification application until both the student and the claimant have submitted all requested documents.

Full-time Enrollment Requirements

University financial resources are to be used to support full-time, degree-seeking graduate students who maintain good academic progress. Graduate students receiving assistantships, tuition support, and fellowships must be enrolled full-time. For more information, see Full-time Enrollment Requirements in the General Policies section of this catalog.

Veterans Educational Benefits

Veterans who are degree seeking graduate students must take at least 9 hours per semester during the fall and spring terms (6 hours during the summer term) to be considered full time. Veterans who are nondegree seeking students must take at least 12 hours to be considered full time. For degree-seeking students, 7-8 hours of enrollment are required 3/4 benefits during fall and spring terms; in summer term, 4 hours of enrollment are required for 3/4 benefits. For nondegree-seeking students, 9-11 hours of enrollment are required for 3/4 benefits enrollment during the fall, spring, and summer terms.

Students on family insurance policies that require full-time status must take at least 9 hours per semester in the fall and spring terms (6 hours in the summer term) to be considered full time. Students classified as nondegree-seeking must enroll in at least 12 hours of course work in order to be considered full time.

Tuition Support

Graduate students who are enrolled full-time and employed as graduate assistants or receiving fellowships may also receive tuition support as part of their financial package. Usually, tuition support pays matriculation and nonresident fees (charges for course hours) and does not pay local fees (health fee, athletic fee, etc.). Tuition support is generally described in the student's letter of admission acceptance and statement of financial awards. Students should contact their program of study (department) if they have questions about the tuition support that will be provided.

Certain fellowships also provide tuition support. Students should review the letter offering the fellowship and the terms of the award to see if tuition support is included. Students should review the fellowship descriptions in order to determine which fellowships include tuition support. Specific questions concerning the amount of tuition that might be included with a given fellowship may be directed to UCF Graduate Studies at gradfaid@mail.ucf.edu.

Tuition Support Requirements

Graduate students must meet all of the following requirements each term that they receive tuition support.

• Students must be accepted as a graduate student (regular, conditional, or restricted status) in a degree program and enrolled full-time. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.



• Tuition support will be provided only for courses that are part of the student's program of study and necessary for progress toward the student's graduate degree.



• Students must maintain good academic standing with a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher each term.



• Students must be employed as a Graduate Assistant (GA), Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), or Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) for at least 10 hours per week (0.25 FTE), or students must be receiving a fellowship in the amount of $3250 or higher for the academic year.



• Tuition support is limited to 9 terms for master's students, 12 terms for doctoral students beyond the master's degree, or 21 terms for doctoral students without a master's degree.



• Nondegree-seeking students, degree-seeking students whose admission status is provisional, and students who are only admitted to a graduate certificate program are ineligible for UCF gradaute tuition support.

Student Obligations

Student drops a course but remains full-time. If a student drops a course for which tuition support has been received but remains full-time, the tuition support received for the class must be returned to the university. Holds on student records will prevent students from registering for classes, receiving transcripts, or receiving grade reports until the money is returned.

Student drops a course and becomes part-time. If a student drops a course for which tuition support has been received and becomes part-time as a result, all tuition support must be returned to the university. Holds on student records will prevent students from registering for classes, receiving transcripts, or receiving grade reports until the money is returned. (In extreme cases, a student may petition for an exception to this policy.)

Student is dismissed or resigns from assistantship. If a student with tuition support is dismissed from the university or resigns from employment on a graduate assistantship (GA, GTA, or GRA) at any point during the term, tuition support funds received by the student must be returned to the university.

Requesting Tuition Support

Colleges and departments award tuition support to selected master's and specialist students on assistantships each term. Check with your department regarding procedures for receiving tuition support.

Upon the recomendation of program and college offices, UCF Graduate Studies assigns tuition support to qualifying doctoral assistants. Tuition may also be paid from departmental or grant and contract accounts. Doctoral students should discuss their tuition support needs with the Graduate Program Director.

Students Working in Nonacademic Units

Each term, employers of students employed as graduate assistants (GA, GTA, or GRA) in a nonacademic unit must notify UCF Graduate Studies of their graduate assistant employees. Once this notification is received, Graduate Studies will review the student's record and award tuition support, if the student meets the requirements.

Examples of nonacademic units: Academic Affairs, Office of Sponsored Research, Computer Services, Student Development and Enrollment Services, Information Technologies, Course Development & Web Services, among others. Contact UCF Graduate Studies if you are unsure if the unit is considered nonacademic.

Tuition Support Disbursement

All tuition support is disbursed through the Office of Student Accounts, based on instructions provided by the program, college, or UCF Graduate Studies. Upon enrollment in full-time hours, students receiving tuition support will have their tuition deferred for the amount of the award. Students are responsible for paying the remaining balance of tuition and fees by the Payment Deadline published in the UCF Academic Calendar. Failure to pay the remaining balance by the Payment Deadline may result in cancellation of students' enrollment.

Students can check to see if tuition support has been applied to their account through POLARIS. In POLARIS, select "Financial Services" to see awards that have been set up to pay against your account.

State of Florida Employees Tuition Waiver

Full-time state employees who work in a state agency or office other than at UCF may be allowed to enroll for up to six (6) credit hours of eligible instruction per term on a space-available basis without payment of registration fees. State Employee registration occurs on the last day of Registration for each term, at the time specified on the Academic Calendar (www.ucf.edu/toplinks/academic_calendar.html) for each term. Should the Employees register for the courses to which the waiver will apply prior to the prescribed date and time, the fee waiver will become invalid and the Employee will be liable for all applicable fees. It is the responsibility of the employee to register on a space-available basis only. The tuition waiver cannot be used for courses that have increased costs. These courses include, but are not limited to, continuing education courses, independent study, supervised research, supervised teaching labs, thesis hours, dissertation, internships, practicums, third attempt repeat course surcharges, co-ops, or applied individualized instruction in Music, Art, or Dance, etc. Any State Employee who uses an Employee Tuition Waiver for approved courses must submit a completed and signed tuition waiver form to the UCF Student Accounts Office (MH 107) by each term's Fee Payment Deadline. See the Academic Calendar (www.ucf.edu/toplinks/academic_calendar.html) for each term for the Fee Payment deadlines. Employees may obtain the "State Employee Waiver Form and Instructions" from the Registrar's Office web-site at http://registrar.ucf.edu.

UCF Employee Tuition Policy

All full-time general Faculty, Administrative and Professional (A&P), and University Support Personnel System (USPS) employees of the University of Central Florida who are employed in an established position on the date fees are due and who meet academic requirements, including those employees on sabbatical, professional development, grants-in-aid, and educational leave, may be allowed to enroll for up to six (6) credit hours of eligible instruction per term on a space-available basis without payment of the registration fee. UCF Employee registration occurs on the last day of Registration for each term, at the time specified on the Academic Calendar (www.ucf.edu/toplinks/academic_calendar.htm) for each term. Should the UCF Employees register for the courses to which the waiver will apply prior to the prescribed date and time, the fee waiver will become invalid and the UCF Employee will be liable for all applicable fees. Any UCF Employee who uses an Employee Tuition Waiver for approved courses must submit a completed and signed Tuition Waiver Form to the UCF Student Accounts Office (MH 107) by each term's Fee Payment Deadline. See the Academic Calendar (www.ucf.edu/toplinks/academic_calendar.html) for each term for the Fee Payment deadlines. Prior to enrolling into courses each term, enter the Human Resources web site at www.hr.ucf.edu for eligibility requirements, course restrictions and for the waiver application form.

Tuition Fees for Senior Citizens

Persons 60 years of age or older who meet Florida residency requirements may register to audit classes on a space-available basis without payment of tuition and application fees. Registration is on a space-available basis; see the appropriate term's Academic Calendar (www.ucf.edu/toplinks/academic_calendar.html) for each term for dates and times. The tuition fee waiver cannot be used for courses which require increased costs (such as thesis, dissertation, directed individual study). A "Florida Residency" Affidavit is required to establish Florida residency. A completed "Student Health History" must be filed prior to registration. Inquiries should be directed to the Registrar's Office (MH 161).

State Tuition Exempt Program (STEP)

Eligible members of the active Florida National Guard may receive a waiver of 50 percent of tuition and material and supply fees. Registration is on a space-available basis on the last day of Registration at the time specified in the "Academic Calendar" of this Graduate Catalog. STEP students should present FNG form 621-5-2 to the Student Accounts Office (Millican Hall 107) prior to the fee payment deadline.

Fellowships

UCF Graduate Studies awards more than $2.5 million in university fellowships to provide financial support for the graduate education of over 500 graduate students each year. These fellowships are funded by university appropriations, endowments, and other outside sources.

Fellowships are awarded on the basis of academic merit, although some fellowships are available only to applicants who are minority students. For eligibility, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and enrolled full-time. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements. Students who are interested in being considered for a fellowship are strongly encouraged to apply for admission early and to communicate their interest in receiving a fellowship. Most fellowship procedures require Graduate Program Directors to nominate students to the Division of Graduate Studies through the college and program offices. All admitted graduate students are automatically considered in this nomination process. Other fellowships, however, require students to fill out a fellowship application. For more details about graduate fellowships, visit www.graduate.ucf.edu.

International students receiving fellowships are subject to up to 14 percent withholding on their fellowship checks. International students must obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) prior to receipt of a fellowship. More information on this issue can be obtained from the International Services Center.

General Fellowship Requirements

• Students usually receive only one UCF fellowship per term, and students are eligible to receive a given fellowship only once (with the exception of the Delores Auzenne Fellowship).



• Fellowships are only awarded to individuals who are regularly admitted degree-seeking graduate students by the time the fellowship is awarded. Students on provisional and restricted admission status, nondegree-seeking (post-baccalaureate) students, and graduate certificate students are not eligible for fellowships.



• All fellowships require full-time graduate enrollment. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.



• Fellowship students must make acceptable academic progress during each term of the award or the fellowship will be cancelled.



• Each fellowship has different specific requirements, which are described at www.graduate.ucf.edu.

Students Working Full Time

Students working full time in on-campus or off-campus jobs may not receive university fellowships, as UCF fellowship recipients are expected to be primarily focused on graduate study and related activities on campus (e.g., graduate assistantships, research activities, participation in professional organizations).

In addition, students receiving tuition assistance from another source (UCF Employee Tuition Voucher, State Employee Tuition Voucher, etc.) may not also receive a UCF graduate tuition waiver.

Academic Progress for Fellowship Recipients

Fellowship recipients are required to be in good standing and make satisfactory academic progress to continue to receive a fellowship award. To be considered in good standing, fellowship recipients are required to maintain the standards listed below.

• Students must be fully accepted into a graduate degree program at UCF.



• Students must be full-time graduate students. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.



• Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 each term of the award.



• Students must receive a satisfactory progress report from their academic adviser each term of the award.



• Students cannot receive a grade of incomplete ("I") and continue to receive the award.

Failure to meet any one of these standards will cause cancellation of the fellowship. The Division of Graduate Studies may grant rare exceptions to this policy after review of evidence of mitigating circumstances presented by the student.

Graduate Fellowships

The following list identifies the fellowships offered by the university and the funding programs in which the university participates. For the most current information regarding fellowships, students are encouraged to consult www.graduate.ucf.edu.

• UCF Trustees Doctoral Fellowship
• UCF Presidential Doctoral Fellowship
• McKnight Doctoral Fellowship
• UCF Provost's Graduate Fellowship
• Summer Mentoring Fellowship
• GEM Fellowship
• Delores A. Auzenne Fellowship
• Florida A&M University Feeder Program
• FGAMP Graduate Fellowship
• Siemens-Westinghouse Graduate Fellowship

Fellowship Disbursement

Most graduate fellowships are disbursed through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by UCF Graduate Studies. Student Financial Assistance does not disburse fellowship funds or any other aid until after the registration and add/drop period has ended (usually about 2 weeks into the term). Upon enrollment in full-time hours, students receiving fellowships will have their tuition deferred (up to the amount of the fellowship) until they receive their fellowship payment. If students are not enrolled in full-time hours by the end of the add/drop period, their fellowship will be cancelled. Students are responsible for paying the balance of tuition and fees by the Payment Deadline published in the UCF Academic Calendar to avoid being dropped from classes. Fellowship payment will first be applied to the student's account balance. Remaining funds will be disbursed to the student either as a check mailed to the current mailing address of record or as a direct deposit into the student's SunTrust account, if already set up on campus.

Students can check to see if fellowship payment has been applied to their account through POLARIS at MyUCF. In POLARIS, select "Student Accounts" to see awards that have been set up to pay against your account.

Assistantships

Graduate students often receive assistantships in their departments or other university offices while pursuing graduate studies. Graduate assistants may teach, conduct research, or perform other tasks that contribute to the student's professional development.

Graduate students may become Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs), or Graduate Assistants (GAs). For eligibility, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and enrolled full-time. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.

Both half- and full-stipend assistantships are available. Half-stipend assistantships require students to perform assistantship assignments for a minimum of 10 hours per week during the period of the assignment. Full-stipend assistantships require students to perform assistantship assignments for a minimum of 20 hours per week during the period of the assignment.

Specific eligibility and application guidelines for graduate assistants are established by the colleges and departments. To apply for an assistantship, students should contact their Graduate Program Director in the department of study. (See the "Contact Info" for your Graduate Program Director's e-mail address and telephone number in the Academic Programs section of this graduate catalog.)

Part-time students (those registered for less than 9 hours in fall and spring terms, less than 6 hours in summer term) and nondegree students are not eligible to be hired on assistantships.

Assistantship Stipend

Graduate students who have assistantships receive biweekly payments following the schedule set by Human Resources. If a student receives an assistantship from more than one office, the student receives one payment combining the amounts paid by each office. Assistantship payments do not show as credit on the student's term bill; they do not defer tuition and fees. Students are responsible for paying the balance on their term bill by the payment deadline published in the academic calendar.

Graduate students on assistantships should be aware of the Internal Revenue Service guidelines for exemption from FICA and FUTA withholding taxes (see the UCF Human Resources website).

Graduate Research Assistants

Graduate research assistants may assist professors with research activities, participate in research efforts in university institutes and centers or in off-campus projects affiliated with the university, or perform other research-related duties. They may also be assigned to nonacademic university offices such as Academic Affairs, University Analysis and Planning Support, Operational Excellence and Assessment Support, Computer Services, and Course Development & Web Services.

Graduate research assistants are typically supported by grants and contracts but may also be supported by departmental funds. University policy requires that GRAs receive a minimum stipend of $3,200 per academic year (fall and spring semesters) for half-stipend assistantships or $6,400 per academic year (fall and spring semesters) for full-stipend assistantships, plus partial tuition waiver. Departments vary widely in their normal stipend rates.

Requirements

• Students must be classified as graduate students by the end of the add/drop period for the term of employment.



• Students must maintain good academic standing with a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher each term. Students whose overall GPA falls below 3.0 in a given semester should be placed on academic probation for a semester. They may keep their assistantship during this probationary period, but must raise their GPA above 3.0 at the completion of the next semester in order to remain in good standing and maintain the assistantship.



• Students must be full-time graduate students. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.



• Students may receive half-stipend or full-stipend assistantships. In rare circumstances, students may be granted more than a full-stipend assistantship. Requests for this exception must be submitted using the Excess Hours Form (available at www.graduate.ucf.edu).

Graduate research assistants are not faculty and are not able to receive faculty parking privileges or faculty ID cards.

Graduate Assistants

Graduate assistants may be employed in college or department offices to assist in general office tasks and services not involved in teaching or research assignments. They may also be employed in nonacademic university offices such as the Registrar's Office, Computer Services, and Course Development & Web Services. University policy requires that GAs receive a minimum stipend of $3,200 per academic year (fall and spring semesters) for half-stipend assistantships or $6,400 per academic year (fall and spring semesters) for full-stipend assistantships, plus a partial tuition waiver. Departments will vary widely in their normal stipend rates. It is expected that GAs who receive hourly payments will receive a minimum of $10 per hour.

Requirements

• Students must be classified as graduate students by the end of the add/drop period for the term of employment.



• Students must maintain good academic standing with a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher each term. Students whose overall GPA falls below 3.0 in a given semester should be placed on academic probation for a semester. They may keep their assistantship during this probationary period, but must raise their GPA above 3.0 at the completion of the next semester in order to remain in good standing and maintain the assistantship.



• Students must be full-time graduate students. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.



• Students employed as graduate assistants may not be simultaneously employed as a student assistant or adjunct faculty.



• Students may receive half-stipend or full-stipend assistantships. In rare circumstances, students may be granted more than a full-stipend assistantship. Requests for this exception must be submitted using the Excess Hours Form (available at www.graduate.ucf.edu).



• Nondegree students may be employed but must be classified as student assistants (not graduate assistants).

Graduate assistants are not faculty and are not able to receive faculty parking privileges or faculty ID cards.

Graduate Teaching Assistants

Graduate teaching assistants may be employed as classroom teachers, co-teachers or classroom assistants, graders, lab assistants, or other roles directly related to classroom instruction. University policy requires that GTAs receive a minimum stipend of $3,200 per academic year (fall and spring semesters) for half-stipend assistantships or $6,400 per academic year (fall and spring semesters) for full-stipend assistantships, plus a partial tuition waiver. Departments will vary widely in their normal stipend rates.

Requirements

• Students must be classified as graduate students by the end of the add/drop period for the term of employment.



• Students must maintain good academic standing with a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher each term. Students whose overall GPA falls below 3.0 in a given semester should be placed on academic probation for a semester. They may keep their assistantship during this probationary period, but must raise their GPA above 3.0 at the completion of the next semester in order to remain in good standing and maintain the assistantship.



• Students must be full-time graduate students. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.



• Students must have completed at least 18 hours of graduate courses in the major prior to being assigned as an instructor of record or teaching independently at the university.



• New graduate teaching associates, assistants, and graders are required to satisfy the UCF GTA Training requirements before beginning their assistantship assignment. Graduate teaching associates and assistants must attend the two-day face-to-face GTA Training sessions presented by the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning and complete the Legal Module online. Graduate teaching graders must complete the Legal Module online.



• Students with access to student records must maintain the confidentiality of all student records and information. Failure to do so will result in immediate dismissal.



• All graduate students involved in classroom instruction who received their undergraduate degrees from a foreign institution must prove their ability to speak the English language. See "English-speaking Ability for Graduate Teaching Assistants" in this section of the graduate catalog for more information.



• Students may receive half-stipend or full-stipend assistantships. In rare circumstances, students may be granted more than a full-stipend assistantship. Requests for this exception must be submitted using the Excess Hours Form (available at www.graduate.ucf.edu).

Graduate teaching assistants are not faculty and are not able to receive faculty parking privileges or faculty ID cards.

English-speaking Ability for Graduate Teaching Assistants

Effective with Fall 2004, the English-speaking skills of graduate students with English as a second language who plan to serve as graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) will be evaluated as part of the GTA Orientation that is offered in August each year by the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning. This requirement applies to all students from countries where English is not the native language; however, such students will be exempt if they have completed a previous degree from an accredited U.S. college or university. Only exempted students and those who have attended the GTA Orientation and satisfactorily passed the evaluation of their English-speaking skills may be employed as GTAs.

English-speaking ability will be evaluated using the SPEAK test provided by the Educational Testing Service. If students do not pass this evaluation administered as part of the GTA Orientation, they are required to complete course work to improve their English-speaking skills through the Center for Multicultural and Multilingual Studies. As needed, the university will provide each student one or two month-long sessions with post-evaluations. If students achieve a satisfactory post-evaluation following the first session, they may be employed as GTAs. Otherwise, students must complete the second session and a second post-evaluation. Students who require more than two sessions to speak English effectively will have to rely upon personal or department resources to pay for additional course work and post-evaluations.

GTA Performance Assessment

The teaching-related performances of all Graduate Teaching Assistants (Position Code 9184), Graduate Teaching Assistant-Graders (Position Code 9187), and Graduate Teaching Associates (Position Code 9183) must be assessed at the end of each term that the student serves as a GTA. Except as noted herein, the timing and methodology of the required assessments are at the discretion of the departments and colleges. Departments and colleges may use any assessment tool available and gather information from any source that they determine to be relevant in order to conduct assessments of GTAs. For example, departments may rely upon classroom visits, other informational observations, student ratings of instruction, other input from students, interviews and discussions with the GTA and other evidences of performance that are available to the department.

In addition to the assessment that might be required by the department or college, the university also requires that the GTA performance assessment be documented through the submission of the university GTA Performance Assessment Form. This form constitutes a summary rating based upon the areas of performance that were required in the GTA's teaching-related assignment(s). This form should be completed and submitted to the Division of Graduate Studies at the end of each term of assignment. The GTA's assigned Faculty Supervisor (the person so listed on the student's GTA contract) must complete the form after appropriate consultation with the department Chair, Graduate Program Director, or other relevant individuals. This summative assessment will be discussed with the student, and the student will be given an opportunity to respond to the assessment in writing.

The Division of Graduate Studies will store the completed GTA Performance Assessment Form electronically in the student's academic file.

Employment of International Students

For information regarding the employment of international students, see International Students in the Admission and Registration section of this catalog.

Tax Obligations

All students must obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) in order to receive payments from the University, including fellowships, assistantships, and tuition support. Students are responsible for determining their tax obligations. For forms and information, students should contact the Internal Revenue Service (1-800-829-1040) or consult their personal tax adviser.

For more information on international students and tax obligations, see International Students in the Admission and Registration section of this catalog.

FICA and FUTA Exemption Guidelines

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) excludes certain types of student wages from the IRS definition of "employment" for purposes of FICA and FUTA tax withholding. The Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 3121[b][10][B] provides in part that wages paid by a university to one of its student employees who is enrolled at least half-time and regularly attending classes are exempt from the FICA and FUTA tax withholding. The university has the sole discretion whether to treat a student's employment at UCF as exempt from FICA and FUTA withholding taxes.

The university provides assistantships for graduate students to gain research and/or teaching experience as part of their education toward a graduate degree. Graduate students are defined as those with pay classifications of 9181-9185.

To be eligible for this IRS exemption, a graduate assistant must:

• Be enrolled at least half time at UCF
• Attend classes regularly

Under this classification, services that are performed by graduate students as a general rule qualify as incidental to their primary purpose of pursuing a course of study at the university.

Criteria for FICA/FUTA Exemption Eligibility

• Graduate students are eligible for the FICA and FUTA exemptions only if they are enrolled at least half time. Graduate students are considered half-time when they are registered for at least 4.5 hours in fall or spring terms, at least three hours in summer term, or enrolled in at least one hour of thesis or three hours of dissertation during any term.



• Generally, students who are only on fellowship support are not subject to FICA and FUTA taxes, since they do not have to account for hours of employment per week.



• Graduate students will be exempt from FICA/Medicare taxes during pay periods that overlap with the academic term and during breaks of less than five weeks. Graduate students who are not enrolled for longer than five weeks and employed by the university are subject to FICA/FUTA.

Student Financial Assistance

Executive Director: Mary H. McKinney
MH 120; 407-823-2827; e-mail: finaid@mail.ucf.edu
Website: http://finaid.ucf.edu

Students are encouraged to apply for financial assistance by completing the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" (FAFSA). The following Financial Assistance policies and procedures are based upon federal, state, and University regulations current for the 2004-2005 academic year. Regulations are subject to change at any time.

Determining Eligibility

In order to qualify for federal and state financial aid programs, a student must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, the Mariana Islands, or the Pacific Trust Territories. Some financial aid programs are available to part-time students; for graduate students at least 4.5 credit hours enrollment per Fall/Spring term is required.

The Student Financial Assistance Office encourages all students to apply for financial aid and to begin the process early. There are fellowship, loan and employment programs available. Most programs require the determination of financial need.

Financial need is calculated by the federal processor who uses a standardized formula: financial need equals the cost of education (specific to the school to be attended) minus the expected family contribution (specific to each applicant) and minus any Veteran's Educational Benefits or other expected resources available. Students and/or parents provide detailed financial information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which generates a need analysis. The results are forwarded to the UCF Student Financial Assistance Office by the federal processor.

More Specific Eligibility Requirements Are Listed Below

• The applicant must be admitted as a degree-seeking student at UCF in an eligible program.



• The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen (e.g. resident alien). Eligible non-citizens include I-151, I-551 and I-688 cardholders as well as some I-94 classifications.



• The applicant must be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress toward his/her degree. See the "Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy" in this section of the catalog or refer to the Student Financial Assistance website for more information.



• The applicant must not be in default on any Federal Student Loan and must not owe a repayment on any grant program.



• The male applicant must be registered with Selective Service (if applicable).



• The applicant's aid may not exceed the published cost of attendance (refer to the Student Financial Assistance website for more information).



• The applicant must not have received Federal loans in excess of the established annual or aggregate limits.



• The applicant must show a financial need as computed on the FAFSA (for need based programs).



• The applicant must meet minimum hours of enrollment and other program-specific criteria.

Application Procedures

The following steps may take up to four weeks to complete. Students should apply well in advance of the March 1 priority deadline of the year for which aid is being requested. Students who desire to enter UCF in spring or summer term must also apply by the March 1 priority deadline of the preceding Spring in order to be considered for the maximum aid available.

1. File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid - UCF requires that the student complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA. Applications should be filed electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Follow-up promptly on all corrections to the FAFSA. If the student's record is "rejected in analysis" by the federal processor, the student should provide them with the information they request as soon as possible. Processing of the student's file will be held up until corrections are made.
   
   NOTE: The results of the student's FAFSA must be in the Student Financial Assistance office by March 1 for the next fall and spring semesters, to meet the priority deadline, so that the student may be considered for all aid available.



2. Follow-Through - The student's application will not be complete until all documents requested have been filed and reviewed in the financial assistance office. Whenever the student receives financial aid correspondence (primarily sent via e-mail), he or she should review it thoroughly and follow directions promptly. Delays can be frustrating, as well as costly.



3. Verification - Federal regulations require that some students verify the information submitted on their applications. If selected for verification, the student will be asked to provide additional information (such as copies of tax return forms, documentation of household size, untaxed income, etc.). It is not unusual for additional documents to be requested after the initial review of the file. Prompt responses to requests for additional documentation will expedite completion of this process. Financial aid cannot be processed or received until verification is complete and all necessary corrections have been made.



4. Professional Judgment - Students should contact the Student Financial Assistance Office for an appointment with a counselor if they experience an extenuating circumstance that they were not able to state on the original FAFSA.



5. Award Notification - Award notification and important additional information will be available to the student on POLARIS after Student Financial Assistance processes the data.

Helpful Tips

• Make a copy of tax return forms before submission to IRS.
• Start a folder NOW to save financial aid information and photocopies of all documents filed and received.
• Include student's name and SSN on all documents submitted to Student Financial Assistance.
• Maintain a current mailing and e-mail address on POLARIS; most financial aid correspondence is sent via e-mail.
• Complete all items necessary to apply for a Federal Stafford Loan, if one is desired.
• Online access is available at http://finaid.ucf.edu/
• If the student has extenuating circumstances or runs into major problems at anytime, call the appointment line, 407-823-5285, to meet with a counselor. Call 407-823-2827 for other information.
  
  

  Office Hours:
  Monday:	9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday:	9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  Thursday:	1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Transfer Students

To apply for financial aid at UCF, complete all the application procedures listed with one exception. If a need analysis for the year in question has already been filed, the student need only request that the processor forward the information to UCF Code 003954 by utilizing Part II of his/her SAR, or by calling 1-800-4-FED AID.

Independent Student Status

The financial resources of parents do not have to be included in the determination of student's financial need if the student satisfies any of the following conditions:

• Graduate/Professional
• 24 years of age or older as of the award year
• An orphan or ward of the court
• A veteran
• Legally and financially responsible for dependents other than a spouse
• Married

UCF Financial Assistance Programs

First-time UCF students will be mailed an award notification. Other students will recieve an email award notification only after their file is complete. Admission to UCF must be finalized with no contingencies, the student must be classified as Degree-Seeking, the verification process must be completed, and the student must meet the standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress before a financial aid award will be disbursed.

Student awards will be based upon the student's financial need, the amount of funds available to UCF, the number of UCF students who qualify for aid, and the date the student completes the application process. The amounts listed on the award notification are estimates based on full-time registration. Awards are subject to change. Check the chart below to see the number of hours for which the student must enroll each semester to receive an award from each program. The results of the FAFSA will determine eligibility for these programs. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of minimal hourly requirements for each program. When requirements are no longer met, awards will be adjusted as necessary. The adjusted awards will appear on POLARIS.

Loans

Federal Family Educational Loans are made through private lenders. Graduate students must be enrolled at least half-time at UCF in UCF classes at the time of disbursement to receive a loan check. First-time borrowers at UCF must complete an Entrance Interview before a loan will be processed. Entrance Interviews may be completed by entering the Student Financial Assistnace website at http://finaid.ucf.edu/ and going to "Entrance Interview." Exit Interviews are required for graduation or whenever enrollment drops below half-time. Exit Interviews are available through the Student Financial Assistnace website. Payment is deferred until students graduate or drop below half-time enrollment at UCF. Once eligibility has been determined by the FAFSA, students must complete and submit a Federal Stafford Loan Response Form by the dates printed below so that processing can be completed in time to receive funds during the term indicated.

November 15 - Fall Semester Loan
March 15 - Spring Semester Loan
June 30 - Summer Semester Loan

Employment

Federal Work Study (FWS) jobs are awarded as part of a student's financial aid package: a minimum of half-time enrollment is required for graduate students. Jobs are on- and off-campus and efforts are made to match job assignments with the student's academic program. Awards are paid as an hourly wage.

OPS (Other Personnel Services) jobs are available on-campus and are not related to financial need. Application is made directly to the department advertising the position.

Short Term Advances

Short Term Advances are available to students currently enrolled at UCF. Loans are granted at the beginning of the semester for books and emergencies. This is not for the payment of tuition and fees. A $5.00 nonrefundable service charge will be assessed for processing the advance. This service charge, like other debts owed the university, will be deducted at the time of check disbursement. If the advance is canceled, the $5.00 service charge still must be paid. The specific repayment date of the advance is noted on the contract.

Deferrals of Tuition and Fees

Financial assistance awards normally will result in the student being granted a deferment of tuition and fee payments. This process occurs automatically if the student has enrolled for sufficient hours, is meeting all general eligibility requirements, and is making satisfactory academic progress. This program makes up for the time lag that normally occurs between the date that tuition and fees are due and the date on which financial aid disbursements are made, which normally is two to three weeks after the semester begins. Students registering for classes during Registration or Late Registration must pay, or be deferred for, tuition and fees by the published deadline.

• The student's "Fee Invoice/Schedule" reflects the dollar amount of tuition and fees and estimated aid. Students must use POLARIS to obtain up-to-date information. If the total amount of tuition and fees exceeds the amount of estimated aid, the difference must be paid by the due date on the "Fee Invoice" (class schedule). Different financial assistance programs require different hours of enrollment for eligibility. The student must make sure he or she is registered for the required number of hours. Students must register for at least half-time enrollment to receive a Federal Stafford and/or Federal Perkins award.
• The following programs are not included in the calculation of estimated aid: work study programs, third party deferrals, other waivers, and direct-pay scholarships.
• Since awards are subject to change, deferments are also subject to change.
• Estimated aid based on estimated Stafford loans will be canceled if the student does not complete the loan process.
• Estimated aid based on federal or state programs that require a FAFSA will not be available to students who do not complete a FAFSA in time for the results to be in UCF's computer system by fee deadline dates. Federal loans cannot be processed without FAFSA data online to support the award.

NOTE: Both Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans will result in a deferral in the amount of 97 percent of the award, since origination fees are taken out by the lender and the guarantee agent in the amount of 3 percent. It is the responsibility of the student to properly drop classes prior to the end of the add/drop period. Additionally, under any circumstance where previously estimated financial aid cannot be paid and a deferment must be canceled, the student is liable for the cost of tuition, whether or not he/she attended classes. If classes are not dropped by the student, a financial aid deferment may keep them active. Students will be responsible for payment of these classes even if they never attended, and may receive a grade of "F."

Financial Assistance Deadlines and Qualifications

	Priority Deadline	Fall/Spring* Minimum Credit Hrs. Required	Available to Graduate Students
Federal College Work Study On-campus jobs; award earned as hourly wage.	March 1	4.5 at UCF in UCF classes	Yes
Federal Stafford Loan Program Repayment may be deferred. Loan amounts vary as well as interest rates and repayment options.	Posted each term	4.5 at UCF in UCF classes	Yes
Federal Perkins Loans Currently are made at 5 percent interest rate; loans deferred until 6 or 9 months after the student graduates or drops below 1/2-time.	March 1	4.5	Yes
Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans These loans operate under the same terms as regular Federal Stafford Loans except that financial need is not necessary. In addition, the student is responsible for the payment of interest as it accrues, (alternatively the interest can be capitalized into the loan balance).	Posted each term	4.5 at UCF in UCF classes	Yes

*For summer information, refer to the Program Eligibility Charts on the Student Financial Assistance website.

Fund Disbursements

Financial assistance disbursements are not available at the time of registration. Funds will be disbursed after the second week of classes. Therefore, students should make themselves aware of the automatic deferment policies and procedures and should be prepared to use personal savings or a UCF Short Term Advance for books. Late applicants (those who apply after June 30) will likely find themselves caught up in a processing backlog that could dramatically delay the disbursement of their aid. These individuals should be prepared to cover their own living expenses out-of-pocket well into the semester.

Financial assistance funds for most programs are mailed directly to the student by the UCF Office of Student Accounts unless the student has a SunTrust Bank account linked to his/her UCF Smart Card. If that is the case, the net check amount will be directly deposited in the SunTrust account. Initial disbursements should take place after the second week of each semester. Most fellowship checks go through a process in which debts owed to the university are deducted from the available assistance. Federal Stafford Loan disbursements will also go through the process, if two conditions are met: 1) the student has authorized Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) on the promissory note; and 2) the student's lender participates in UCF's EFT program. All of the lenders on UCF's preferred lender list participate in the EFT program.

For most students who do not participate in EFT, Federal Stafford checks will be mailed to the student. It is the student's responsibility to pay outstanding debts to the school within 21 days of receipt of funds to avoid a late charge. Graduate students must be enrolled at least half-time at UCF in UCF classes at the time of disbursement of each Federal Stafford Loan.

NOTE: The verification process must be complete before financial assistance funds will be released. Students on Financial Assistance Cancellation will not receive funds.

Federal Stafford Loans

Stafford loan funds will be received from the lender by EFT (or by check if the lender is non-Florida) after the University is able to certify eligibility and a valid promissory note is on file with the lender. Follow up with the lender is recommended if funds have not been received within 21 days of the mailing of your promissory note and after the second week of classes. Funds will not be received and disbursed until the add/drop period is over, usually after the second week of classes.

• First-time borrowers at UCF: must complete an on-line "Entrance Interview" before the loan award can be processed by visiting http://finaid.ucf.edu.
• Two-term loans: to receive the second half of a two-term loan, the student must have received the first disbursement, and be enrolled at least half-time at UCF for the second semester to receive the second disbursement. If the student did not accept the first term loan disbursement, he or she cannot receive the second term disbursement and must cancel the original loan request and reapply for a new loan through Student Financial Assistance.
• Summer Term: graduate students must have a minimum of 3 hours at UCF in UCF classes to receive assistance. If the student's hours include Summer B hours that are needed to meet the minimum requirements, funds will not be disbursed until Summer B term.

Exit Interviews are required upon graduation or departure from UCF. Be sure to file address changes online at https://connect.ucf.edu as they occur.

Award Notification

In the spring of each year, most students will be notified of the estimated awards they should receive in the coming school year. Award notifications may not go out to students who were selected for verification and have not completed that process, since verification corrections often alter award eligibility. Award notifications that are sent out anytime prior to the beginning of the semester will disclose estimated awards based on full-time enrollment. If the student enrolls for less than full-time, some estimated awards will change. In addition, new information brought to the attention of our office (such as third party payments, waivers, prepaid tuition plans, or newly awarded scholarships) can cause a reduction in the amount of previously estimated assistance.

Award notifications are available to students who miss the application priority deadline once there is enough information on file to make an awarding decision. Verification students will have access to their award notifications once that process is complete. Regardless of when the notification is available, comprehensive information can be found on the Student Financial Assistance website. Students should read this information carefully and follow the instructions.

Please note that although an estimated Federal Stafford loan may appear on the award notification to disclose loan eligibility, the student still must apply for the loan by completing the requested information on the "Federal Stafford Loan Request Form."

Overawards/Overpayments

Awarding of a financial aid package involves matching the student budget with the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), which is calculated from the FAFSA information. The office attempts to award students as much of the difference (unmet need) as possible. From time to time, the office will establish an aid package for a student and later the budget or EFC changes or aid will come in from some unexpected source (such as a departmental payment). This may result in what is called an "overaward." If no adjustment to the aid package occurs and the financial aid is actually paid, this is called an "overpayment." State and federal regulation require adjustment or repayment of overawards and overpayments for many programs. If the student receives notification of scholarship or other third-party payment after the initial award notification, please notify the office. Student Financial Assistance may be able to correct an overaward before it becomes an overpayment. If an overpayment does occur, the office will notify the Student Accounts Office and the student will be required to work with them on a repayment.

Late Drops, Withdrawals and Medical Withdrawals

The following information is provided to give you a general overview of the policies on Refunds and Return of Title IV Funds. Prior to dropping or withdrawing, students are encouraged to seek individual counseling by visiting the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

If you receive financial aid, the effects of each action listed below apply; regardless of the tuition refund policy. *

Late Drops

The Office of Academic Services approves late drops for special circumstances. A late drop results in the course/s being removed from your class schedule, as if you were never registered in them. As a result, you may be ineligible for all or a portion of your financial aid, depending on the number of hours that you are dropping and the number of hours remaining. This action may affect all types of aid awarded. Here are questions to ask when considering petitioning for a late drop:

• What aid did I receive that is dependent on the number of hours I am enrolled in? (Please refer to the Program Eligibility Charts on the Student Financial Assistance website.)
• How much will my awards be reduced if this drop is approved?
• What will the tuition credit be for the drop? (This amount will be applied towards the amount of aid owed back.)

Withdrawal/Medical Withdrawal

If you withdraw on or before the 60% point in time of the semester, which is calculated using calendar days, a portion of the total Title IV funds awarded must be returned, according to the provisions of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. The calculation of the return of these funds may result in the student owing a balance to the University and/or the Federal Government. This calculated amount will be returned to the Title IV Programs in the following order:

1. Unsubsidized Federal Stafford loans
2. Subsidized Federal Stafford loans
3. Federal Perkins loans
4. Federal PLUS loans
5. Federal Pell Grants
6. Federal SEOG
7. Other grants or loan assistance authorized by Title IV of the HEA

Things you should consider before withdrawing from one or more of your courses:

• If your last date of attendance is on or before the 60% point in the semester, you may owe funds back to your federal financial aid program/s if withdraw from all of your courses.
• If your aid has not been disbursed when a withdrawal occurs, you may lose eligibility for all or some of your financial aid program(s) if you are no longer enrolled in the minimum required credit hours for the program(s).
• Withdrawn and medically withdrawn classes do not count as completed hours and may affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress and renewal requirements for individual aid programs.
• Additionally, students who repeatedly withdraw from all classes may be canceled for not meeting the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Questions to ask:

1. Will I meet the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress if this withdrawal is approved? If not, what do I do?
2. Will I meet specific renewal requirements for specific programs for the next year? (Some of the programs that have additional requirements include Bright Futures, Florida Student Assistance Grant and High Achievement Scholarship.)

Unofficial Withdrawals

Federal law requires that UCF evaluate federal aid recipients who fail to earn any credit during a semester, in order to determine if the student stopped attending classes on or before the 60% point in the semester. Professors are required to provide attendance information for all students who receive an F, I, N, or U grade.

Students who are reported to have stopped attending all of their classes prior to the 60% point of the semester will be identified as students who "unofficially withdrew" from classes. A calculation of the return of federal aid will be done as described under the Withdrawal/Medical Withdrawal section above, which may result in the student owing funds back to the university. Aid for future terms will be put on hold until the student provides a signed written statement, explaining why he/she unofficially withdrew from classes.

*For information on the tuition refund policy of the university, please visit the appropriate catalog.

Conditions and Requirements for Receiving Assistance

• The graduate student must enroll at least half-time (4.5 hours Fall/Spring and 3 hours Summer);



• The student must maintain UCF's standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (following section);



• The student agrees to inform the office of any additional assistance received beyond that listed on the award notification. Any subsequent awards or income may necessitate a revision of the financial assistance award;



• The student must not be in default on any educational loan or owe repayment on a grant at this or any other institution;



• The student must provide all information requested for the completion of his or her file. If selected, verification must be completed prior to the receipt of any funds or certification of a Federal Stafford Loan;



• The student must notify the Student Financial Assistance Office of any changes in housing status or corrections to the financial or household information from that listed on the student's assistance application;



• The student must reapply yearly for financial assistance; and



• The student's financial aid package may not exceed the cost of attendance as specified on the Student Financial Assistance website.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Federal regulations require the university to establish standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress as a general eligibility requirement for financial assistance. A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in a course of study regardless of whether the student was a previous recipient of financial aid.

It is recommended that students refer to the Student Financial Assistance website for more information regarding satisfactory academic progress. Students may not receive Title IV financial aid for courses that do not count toward program completion. Graduate students will have to provide verification from their Graduate Program for all undergraduate courses taken.

Time Limit

When a student meets or exceeds the number of allowed Overall Attempted Hours, the student will be placed on "Financial Aid Cancellation" at the end of the summer semester (even if financial aid was not received during previous terms).

Classification	Time Frame Allowed for Completing Degree
Undergraduate	180 Overall Attempted Hours (including transferred hours)
Second Degree	60 Attempted Hours
Master's	70 Attempted Hours
Specialist	100 Attempted Hours (including all graduate hours)
Doctorate	120 Attempted Hours (including all graduate hours)

Measurement of Progress within Time Limit

At the end of the Summer term of each academic year, the progress within the time limit will be monitored for the previous three terms (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Students are required to complete 75 percent of their attempted hours for the same period. (Students on probation must meet standards each term.)

Procedure for Appeals

If students do not meet the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress, they will be placed on "Financial Aid Cancellation." When students are on Financial Aid Cancellation, they are not eligible for aid, nor a deferment, until reinstated through the appeal process. Any student with extenuating circumstances who is placed on Cancellation may appeal to the Financial Aid Review Committee. To appeal, the student must:

1. Complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form; and
2. Submit acceptable documentation supporting the extenuating circumstances.

After a thorough evaluation of the written request and all documentation, the Financial Aid Review Committee will notify the student of the decision by email communication or the student may view the updated status on POLARIS, under Financial Aid Status. Aid remains canceled unless the student receives written notification of reinstatement.

Re-establishing Eligibility

Students may re-establish financial aid eligibility. Contact the Student Financial Assistance Office for more information about requirements.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

• Students have the right to full information about the financial aid programs available at UCF, application procedures and deadlines, and the criteria used to determine a financial aid package.



• Students have the right to appeal decisions made by the Student Financial Assistance Office.



• Students have the right to equitable treatment of their financial assistance applications. Although each student's case is analyzed individually, eligibility standards are applied uniformly without regard to race, gender, religion, creed, national origin, or physical handicap.



• All students' records are confidential.



• It is the student's responsibility to review and understand all information and instructions, meet all deadlines, and provide all information and documentation accurately. Errors and omissions can cause delays and prevent students from receiving assistance. Misrepresentation is a violation of the law.



• It is the student's responsibility to periodically check their financial assistance progress on POLARIS at https://connect.ucf.edu for application status, short-term advance status, deferment status, disbursement information, and "Fee Invoice."