News & Events

 

UPDATE to ALL State Aid Programs (including HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship)

As a result of legislation recently passed during the 2013 Legislative Session (House Bill 324), and signed by the Governor, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will NOT be required as part of the application for those students seeking HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships. A FAFSA will remain an acceptable application for state scholarships and can be submitted if the student desires. If a student chooses not to submit a FAFSA, the GSFApps application at http://www.gacollege411.org can continue to be used to apply for state scholarships.
A FAFSA is still required for students applying for federal student financial aid such as Federal Pell Grants, Federal Work Study and Federal Direct Student Loans. Students who already have a GSFApps Application on file are not required to complete a new one.

Spring Aid Request Deadline

The deadline to submit a request for Spring 2013 aid is April 23, 2013. This includes requests for HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship and/or loan funds.

Financial Literacy Month

How can credit affect your future?  Find out on April 23rd and 26th at 10 AM in the Student Union, Skidaway Room.

Do you want a job on Campus?

The College Work Study Program (CWSP) has positions open on campus. The CWSP provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn a bi-weekly pay check while working a flexible schedule. Students interested in applying for a CWSP position should verify with the Office of Financial Aid that they are eligible then search and apply for student positions online.

Impact of sequestration on Title IV student aid programs

The following is a summary on the impact of sequestration:

• Federal Pell Grant Program – No impact.
• FWS and FSEOG Programs – No impact for 2012-2013, but funding reduced for the 2013-2014 award year.
• Direct Loan Programs – Increase in Loan Fees for Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans and for PLUS Loans.
• Iraq - Afghanistan Service Grant Program – Reduced award amount for any grant that is first disbursed during the time the sequester is in effect.
• TEACH Grant Program - Reduced award amount for any grant that is first disbursed during the time the sequester is in effect.

We will provide additional updates as more information becomes available.

February is Financial Aid Awareness Month

The Office of Financial Aid would like to remind you that February is Financial Aid Awareness Month. It is the time to learn about financial planning and financial aid options for the 2013-2014 school year. The Office of Financial Aid is sponsoring several events for students to assist with planning their financial future.

The following information sessions are open to all students and will be held in the Student Union, Skidaway Room, 12 to 1 pm.

Got Aid? It is time to get your financial aid ready for 2013-2014!

The Office of Financial Aid would like to remind you that students receiving financial aid must reapply for financial aid by completing the 2013-2014 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Armstrong’s school code is 001546.  The Armstrong priority deadline is March 15, 2013.

If your FAFSA is selected for the verification process, you must provide an official IRS Tax Transcript, obtained directly from the IRS, and copies of your W-2s.

The Office of Financial Aid is here to help!

A FAFSA and Scholarship information session will be held Friday, March 1, 2013, 12 to 1 pm, in the Student Union, Ogeechee Theatre.

College Goal Georgia

College Goal Georgia is an event offering FREE professional assistance with completing the 2013-2014 FAFSA. This event will be held March 6, 2013, 1 to 4 pm, in the Student Union, Savannah Ballroom C. 

Summer 2013 Financial Aid

The priority deadline for submitting your Summer Application for Financial Aid is April 12, 2013.  Have questions about your eligibility?  Feel free to stop by or give us a call at 912.344.3266 to make sure you have enough financial aid to cover you summer balance.

Fall Aid Request Deadline

The deadline to submit a request for Fall 2012 aid is November 30, 2012. This includes requests for HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship and/or loan funds. 

Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)

Armstrong The Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) Application for Selected Health Profession Programs is available for Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) and Master of Public Health (MPH) students. The priority deadline to submit the application is November 2, 2012.  

Armstrong Commitment Fund

Armstrong recognizes that these are challenging economic times for our students and we would like to assist our valued students who are seeking financial assistance. The Armstrong Commitment Fund is designed to enhance not only your financial capability to attend, but also your financial literacy and connection to the Armstrong community. Armstrong has a long and rich history of community service. We value the surrounding community and the partnerships we have made through service and volunteerism. If selected, you will become an integral part of this proud history and will have the opportunity to build relationships that we hope will last you a lifetime.  For more information about the Armstrong Commitment and how it may assist you financially, please read more about the Armstrong Commitment Fund.

Fee Payment Deadlines

You are a priority to Armstrong and the fee payment deadlines are quickly approaching.  If your balance is not resolved by the posted deadlines, your classes may be dropped for non-payment and you may be assessed a late payment fee.  For questions about your financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid. If you anticipate a third party will cover you balance, please contact Bursar to ensure they have confirmed your third party billing information.  Otherwise, please make a payment via Touch Net or SHIP to protect your classes from being dropped.  Thank you for resolving your balance as quickly as possible. 

Changes for Pell Grant Beginning Fall 2012

A new federal law has placed a limit on the amount of Federal Pell Grant awards a student may receive over his or her lifetime. The federal law will only allow for six full time Pell Grant awards (or 600%). The percentage of Pell Grant funds each student has used is called Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU.) A full time Pell Grant award is considered 100% for the academic year. A student attending full time uses 50% each term. A student attending full time in Fall would use 50% and full time in Spring would use another 50% totaling 100% used. The six-year equivalent is 600%. If a students LEU equals or exceeds 600%, the student will no longer receive Pell Grant funding. No students are exempt from this and students having used 600% or more will become ineligible for Pell Grant as of Fall 2012.  

Disbursement Schedules

Disbursements occur if your Financial Aid is complete and once your attendance has been verified. After the first disbursement date, disbursements occur every Wednesday, unless it is a Federal holiday. You should be aware that your registration for classes that begin in the later part of the term also may result in a delay of your financial aid disbursement as attendance cannot be verified until the classes begin. For more information check out the Verification of Attendance page.
Note that you must be half-time in order to receive loan disbursements. For all undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, limited graduate, and provisionally-admitted students, half-time is at least six credit hours. For all regularly-admitted graduate students, half-time is at least three credit hours.  

Disbursement Schedules

2012-2013

Bookstore Credit Information

The Bookstore Credit is available to assist students with the purchase of books. It is a privilege offered by Armstrong for students who have completed all of their Financial Aid requirements by priority deadlines. A Bookstore Credit will be authorized for students who have grant, scholarship, or loan funds that exceed their charges. The maximum Bookstore Credit available is $1000. Please note that if your balance increases after you have spent your Bookstore Credit, you will be held responsible for those funds. There are no Bookstore Credits available during flex terms.

Bookstore Credit Schedule

2012-2013

You may view your Bookstore Credit through your SHIP account. For your convenience, please use these simple steps:

1. Go to http://www.armstrong.edu
2. Click on Logins on the top right corner of the page
3. Click on SHIP
4. Enter your student ID number and pin number to log in
5. Click on Student Services and Financial Aid
6. Click Select Term and using the drop down box, select the appropriate term
7. Click on Financial Aid Menu
8. Click My Bookstore Credit

Fall 2011 HOPE Scholarship Changes

As you may have heard, HOPE Scholarship and other Georgia Lottery funds have outpaced Georgia Lottery revenues.  Because of this, changes have been made by legislators to save the HOPE Scholarship program for future students.  As of March 15, 2011, these changes were passed into law.  To help you in this transition, here are some of the proposed changes to the HOPE Scholarship program:

• For HOPE Scholarship purposes, the GPA requirement remains at 3.0.
• HOPE Scholarship will cover 90% of general rate tuition charges instead of 100%.
• The Zell Miller Scholarship has been introduced and requires a 3.7 High School GPA and a 1200 SAT Score or ACT Composite Score of 26 or you must graduate a valedictorian or salutatorian from your high school.  You must maintain a 3.3 GPA while enrolled in a higher education institution to keep this scholarship.
• The Zell Miller Scholarship will cover 100% of general rate tuition charges.
• Neither the HOPE Scholarship or the Zell Miller Scholarship will cover any fees associated with tuition.
• Book allowances will not be awarded for Fall 2011.
• Learning Support courses will no longer be funded.
• HOPE Scholarship and Zell Miller Scholarship recipients can no longer receive funds from either program if they have reached 127 attempted credit hours. 
• Students have seven years after high school graduation to utilize their HOPE Scholarship or Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility.  If it is not used within seven years, they will never be eligible again unless they have served active duty in the military (please contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information).

Please keep in mind that these regulations are subject to change and will be effective beginning Fall 2011.  We will keep you updated through this transition.  For more information, please visit the HOPE announcement page from the University System of Georgia and Georgia's Program Changes website.