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You should apply for financial aid after January 1st for the school year that begins in the Fall. You only have to apply for financial aid one time per school year but you have to apply every year that you remain in school. For the 2008-2009 school year, you can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after January 1, 2008. You can complete the FAFSA at any time during the school year, however, there are deadlines that can eliminate you from eligibility for certain grants and scholarships.

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ISAC MAP Grant Deadline
Continuing Students	June 30, 2008
New Students	September 30, 2008
FAFSA Application Submission	June 30, 2008
Kaskaskia College Priority Processing Date	April 30, 2008
Special Circumstances Appeals
Fall Semester	August 1,2008 - August 30, 2008
Spring Semester	January 1, 2008 - January 30, 2009
Summer Semester	May 30, 2008 - June 15, 2009
Satisfactory Progress Appeals
Fall Semester	July 1, 2008 - August 30, 2008
Spring Semester	January 1, 2008 - February 1, 2009
Summer Semester	Jun 1, 2008 - June 15, 2009
Refund Disbursement Priority Dates
Fall Semester	August 15, 2008
Spring Semester	January 15, 2009
Summer Semester	June 15, 2009

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1. Approximately 4 weeks after sending your FAFSA to the processor, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Review your SAR for any errors and if it is correct, contact the Office of Financial Aid & Veterans’ Affairs. If corrections are needed, make corrections on Part 2 of the SAR and send it back to the processor. You should receive a corrected SAR within two weeks. Once you receive an accurate SAR, do NOT mail it back to the processor, it is for your records. If you listed Kaskaskia College first on your application, your information will be electronically submitted to the Office of Financial Aid. If you plan to attend and did not list Kaskaskia College first on your application, you should make a school change by contacting the Illinois Student Assistance Commission at (800) 477-ISAC and by contacting the Department of Education at (800) 4-FED-AID.
2. Some applications are selected for a process called verification. You will be informed of your selection on your Student Aid Report and the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) number on your SAR may be flagged with an asterisk (*). If conflicting or inconsistent information appears your SAR you will also be selected for verification by the Office of Financial Aid. If your form is selected for verification you will be required to complete a verification worksheet and submit copies of your income tax returns as well as documentation of non-taxable income and assets and other required information that will be outlined on the notice you will receive from the Office of Financial Aid.
3. After your financial aid file is complete, the Office of Financial Aid will send you an Announcement Letter outlining the types and amounts of aid for which you are eligible.

Read your Announcement Letter very carefully. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your Announcement Letter, contact the Office of Financial Aid. Back to Top

The family information you provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is calculated by the federal government’s comprehensive formula. This formula determines the amount you and your family can afford to contribute to educational costs and is considered the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is then subtracted from your total Cost of Attendance, which includes tuition, room and board, and an estimate of personal expenses and transportation. Some of the items calculated in the Cost of Attendance are not directly charged to you by the school, i.e., room and board, transportation, etc., but are estimates of personal living costs. The remaining amount is your financial need, which becomes the basis for the financial aid award.

The student budget for 2007-2008 used to estimate Cost of Attendance is as follows for a full-time in-district student during the nine-month school year.

Direct Costs
Tuition (based on 16 credit hours for 2 semesters)	$2,336
Books/Supplies (estimate for 2 semesters)	$1,300
ESTIMATED TOTAL DIRECT COSTS	$3,336

Room, board, transportation, and personal expenses vary greatly with each student’s individual situation, however, for financial aid purposes, these costs are estimated as follows:

For dependant students
Room and Board	$4,040
Transportation	$2,424
Personal Expenses	$1,900
TOTAL (for dependant Students)	$8,364
For independant students
Room and Board	$8,808
Transportation	$2,424
Personal Expenses	$1,956
TOTAL (for independant Students)	$13,188

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Completing the grant and scholarship applications for college can be a confusing and stressful time for families. Many parents refuse to help their children pay for college or even supply the necessary information for students to complete financial aid and scholarship applications. This is a major problem many students face when they make the decision to attend college.

According to the federal government, the family is ultimately responsible for the cost of a student’s education. Whenever a family’s resources are insufficient to cover the costs, the state and federal governments provide assistance in the form of grants, scholarships, work study and loans. A student’s eligibility is determined by the family information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

While there may be a host of reasons why parents may refuse to provide the necessary information to help their children, some of the more common reasons are:

• Parents think college is too expensive. With the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit, a family may claim a tax credit of up to $1,500 per tax year for each eligible dependent. For two tax years, a family may claim up to 100% of the first $1,000 of eligible expenses and 50% of the next $1,000 for a maximum of credit of $1,500. With the low tuition costs at Kaskaskia College and Hope Scholarship Tax Credit, an education is more affordable than ever. A typical year of tuition at Kaskaskia College (16 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters) at a tuition rate of $73 per credit hour is only $2,336! Many families are able to claim the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit for the entire amount of tuition they have paid!
• Parents may mistakenly believe they are no longer responsible for the child’s education when a child reaches the age of 18. However, for educational purposes, a student does not become independent until they are 24 years old by December 31 of the award year.
• Some parents are concerned about the privacy of their income information that must be supplied on the application forms. However, all information is protected under the Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and is strictly guarded by the financial aid office at the school the student will attend.
• In a divorce situation, a refusal is often used as a weapon against the other parent or there is fear that the information may be divulged to the other parent. Again, FERPA protects privacy and is strongly enforced by the financial aid office.
• Stepparents may feel it is unfair that the applications require their information when stepchildren attend college. However, when parents remarry, the stepparent assumes responsibility for the child for FAFSA filing purposes, regardless of the divorce decree or prenuptial agreement.
• Parents have not filed tax returns or paid their taxes. Tax evasion is a serious violation of law punishable by fines and imprisonment.
• Parents think they make too much money and that the application is a waste of time. Many families are very surprised to discover that children actually do qualify for financial aid after they apply.

If there are serious mitigating circumstances in a student’s life that are contributory to the student being unable to live in the family home, then a student may be able to appeal to the Financial Aid Administrator at the school he or she will be attending for a professional judgement dependency override. These circumstances include the student being unable to reside in the family due to health, safety, or welfare concerns. The student will have to provide the Financial Aid Administrator with proper documentation such as copies of protection, court documents, social worker reports, police records, medical reports, witness statements, etc. Keep in mind that a student who simply does not want to live with his or her family does not constitute a basis for an appeal.

We applaud those parents who accept their responsibilities and help their children achieve the education that is vital in the world today. The Kaskaskia College Office of Financial Aid is dedicated to the success of the student. If you would to speak with a professional regarding the financial aid process, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 618.545.3080 or toll-free at 800.642.0859.

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Contact the Financial Aid Office at 618.545.3080.

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