FAQ
A. Application
1. When should I apply for financial aid?
Check regular financial aid-related announcements on LAU’s Web site. The application period for current students is normally around February/March for the Fall term and November for the Spring. New students will find their application period in a pamphlet enclosed with the admissions application.2. What happens if a deadline is missed?
Such cases are studied individually. Applicants are urged to abide by the deadlines.3. Can an applicant pick up more than one application for the same term?
No. However, if an application is lost before the submission deadline, an applicant can ask for a replacement with the same deadline.4. Is an applicant required to submit a new application in the Spring term in case an incomplete application has been submitted in the preceding Fall Term?
No. An applicant is expected to petition and complete the file requirements.5. What documents are needed upon applying for financial aid?
Documents needed are listed under Instructions on page 2 of the financial aid application as well as in the attached checklist. Some extra documents may be required, if deemed necessary.
B. Procedures
1.Can an applicant benefit from financial aid during the first term of enrollment?
Yes. If granted financial aid, an applicant can benefit from it upon enrollment in a regular program.2. f a new student enrolls in summer, can he/she apply for financial aid starting in summer?
No.3. If one of the applicant’s brothers or sisters was or is benefiting from financial aid, does that mean the applicant will automatically be entitled as well?
No. Files are studied individually and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.4. If a financial aid decision is made but the applicant does not enroll in that term, will the decision be automatically carried forward to the subsequent term?
Yes, if the applicant is joining in the same academic year in which the decision is made. Once the academic year has passed, the student should reapply.5. Is financial aid renewed automatically year after year?
No. Students have to reapply every academic year. The financial aid application covers one academic year, i.e. a student should submit a new application for the Fall of the subsequent year even if he/she was granted financial aid in the Spring term.6. Is it true that a student who has previously been rejected and is now petitioning for a change in decision will automatically be rejected?
No. Files are re-studied in that case.7. How many credits should a student be registered in to be eligible for financial aid? How many credits should a student be registered in to be eligible for financial aid?
Twelve credits in a regular term (unless there are course restrictions or a student is graduating), and three credits in any summer module.8. How long can a student benefit from financial aid?
It depends on the total number of credits required for graduation.9. How can financial aid be increased within the course of the same academic year?
By petitioning to the Financial Aid Council. If new givens are being introduced, relevant documentation should be submitted and the file will be re-studied.10. What happens in case of a course withdrawal?
The number of credits withdrawn will be deducted from the total number of credits covered by financial aid.11. Does a student apply for scholarships and other grants separately?
No. The Financial Aid Office will grant Honor Scholarships and Special Grants to eligible students according to LAU’s Financial Aid Policy.12. Can a student apply for a loan without having to work?
No.13. Can a student get a loan covering the whole tuition?
No. LAU reserves the right to grant the appropriate loan depending on need and budget constraints.14. Is it true that students who benefit from outside help may not apply to financial aid?
Outside help does not preclude a deserving student from getting financial aid from LAU. However, outside help should be declared to LAU and the total aid should never exceed overall tuition.15. What are possible constraints to financial aid eligibility?
- Normally a maximum of three siblings per family may benefit from financial aid.
- A cumulative GPA lower than 2.00.
- LAU budget limitations.
- Relative lack of need of applicant.
- Number of credits registered.
- Misrepresentation of facts or inconsistency in submitted information.
- Failure to complete more than 50% of scheduled work hours or failure to satisfy work requirements.
- Two warnings.
16. Is it true that financial aid is cancelled if a student gets a GPA below 2.00 from the first term?
Yes.17. Is a student eligible for financial aid if enrolled in the Intensive English Program?
No.
C. General
1. What is the difference between graduate assistantships and other forms of financial aid?
Graduate assistantships are evaluated by relevant schools and granted as per set criteria to a number of master’s degree students, whereas other forms of financial aid are granted by the Financial Aid Office to undergraduate students only.2. What is the difference between student employment and Work-Study?
Student employment is handled by the Human Resources Office based on a request from a Chairman/Director for students with work skills. Work-Study is a basic part of LAU’s financial aid program and is granted depending on need and budget constraints.
D. The Work-Study Program
1. Who is considered as a student assistant?
Any student who has been granted Work-Study hours as part of the financial aid package.2. What happens if assigned hours are not worked or completed?
Student assistants will be required to pay back the unworked hours as well as a prorated amount of the loans and grants.3. What is an e-time sheet?
An e-time sheet is an electronic form in which worked hours ought to be recorded on daily bases as access is denied to previuos days' records. Supervisors are expected to validate their assistants' time sheets at the end of every month and term.4. What is an assignment letter?
An assignment letter is a form given to each student assistant at the beginning of every term indicating where the student should work his/her assigned hours. To be valid, the form needs to be signed by the supervisor and returned to the Financial Aid Office within the first two weeks of each term. A student assistant who does not fulfill this requirement jeopardizes his/her own eligibility for the relevant term.5. Who is responsible for submitting assignment letters, etc.?
The student assistant is responsible for submitting all forms to the Financial Aid Office unless otherwise advised by the supervisor..6. Can a student assistant choose where to work?
No. But while assigning student assistants to different offices or tasks, their majors are taken into account and students are assigned, whenever possible, accordingly.7. May employment location be changed within a term?
No.8. May employment location be changed in a subsequent term?
Yes, provided the supervisor submits a release letter.9. What happens if a student assistant starts working the assigned hours and later finds out that financial aid has been denied due to a low cumulative GPA?
Financial Aid will be stopped irrespective of whether hours have been worked or not, and the student assistant will not be paid for the worked hours.