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What types of Financial Aid are available for students in ���Ĵ�ý’s Online GPS Programs?

All students are eligible to apply for Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, and some grants may be available to eligible students. Additionally, your application for admission automatically enters you into consideration for any ���Ĵ�ý Scholarships. Online GPS Students are not eligible for Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) per regulations by the Virginia Department of Education.

Please visit our����page for detailed information about the different Federal loans and grants available to our GPS students, including current interest rates and borrowing limits.

Is attendance in the Online GPS Program considered full-time?

This depends on how many credits a student takes during a term. VA Benefits are based on your calendar (please contact ���Ĵ�ý’s VA representative for information.)

Where can I obtain consumer information about ���Ĵ�ý’s financial aid process?

Consumer information about ���Ĵ�ý’s financial aid process can be obtained online at��.

How do I begin to apply for financial aid?

The first step in applying for aid is completion of the correct FAFSA at

Please visit our��How to Apply page��for an overview of the process and links to necessary forms. No aid can be determined without valid results from the FAFSA.

What is ���Ĵ�ý’s Federal School Code?

���Ĵ�ý’s school code, which you need when filling out your FAFSA, is 003702.

How do I begin to apply for financial aid?

You can apply for financial aid after you are enrolled in a GPS program. Please visit our for an overview of the process and links to necessary forms.

I don’t need financial aid now, but what if I want to apply in the future?

���Ĵ�ý GPS Students can apply for financial aid at any time while enrolled. However, if you apply after you start your first course, you must contact the Financial Aid Office immediately to ensure receipt of your FAFSA. The required paperwork may be different from when you first started in the program, or your application may not be placed into a “high-priority” status.

I have documents that need to be sent to the Financial Aid Office. How can I send them?

You can send most documents to the Financial Aid Office via postal mail, fax or email. The mailing address is:

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GPS FA Office
420 W Main Street
Danville, VA 24541

Our fax number is 877-275-5578. Documents can be emailed to [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]. Please be sure to indicate your name, ���Ĵ�ý ID number, and the document you are sending in the body of your e-mail.

Can I drop the documents by your office or schedule an appointment to meet with my Financial Aid Counselor?

Most financial aid counseling is done via telephone and email. If you will be in Danville, Virginia, you can drop by the Financial Aid Office anytime during normal business hours. We recommend you contact your Financial Aid Counselor to schedule an appointment to ensure counselor availability.

We are located on the main campus at 420 West Main Street on ���Ĵ�ý Central, Danville, Virginia.��

Call the Financial Aid Office at 800-283-7388, or use the following extensions and e-mails to reach individual staff members:

• Pam Harris, extension 15871 or [email protected]
• Jeremy Jennings, extension 17147 or [email protected]
• Charles Phillips, extension 14995 or [email protected]

What is a Master Promissory Note (MPN)?

A promissory note is the legal agreement between you and your lender. The MPN is valid for ten years, which means that after you submit it for this year, you will not have to sign another note.

The Department of Education (your lender) requires completion of your Master Promissory Note (MPN) before they will disburse any of your Federal Direct Stafford loans eligibility.

How do I complete my Master Promissory Note?

You can complete your MPN after you have obtained a PIN and filled out your FAFSA by visiting .

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What is a Private Educational Loan?

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Students whom have met or near meeting their maximum aggregate Stafford loan limits and unable to pay tuition charges out of pocket and have exhausted all other resources (i.e. company reimbursement, tuition assistance) may be interested in applying for a Private Educational loan. This type of loan should be considered if additional funds are needed beyond your Direct Stafford Loan. You should only apply for this������ type of loan as a last result. Private loans are based on your credit worthiness and ability to pass a credit������ check. It is recommended that students apply for a private loan with a co-signer. A co-signer assumes responsibility for a loan should the borrower fail to repay. Having a co-signer on the loan often results in a lower interest rate and increases your chances of approval. If you are interested in applying for a private student loan, you should contact your financial aid counselor on how to apply.

What is the verification process and why was I selected?

The Federal Government requires all students selected by the Central Processing Unit (CPS) be verified. This is to ensure that Financial Aid Offices are in compliance with federal regulations and that the majority of students are entering correct information.

Any applications with conflicting information (determined by the Financial Aid Office) must also be resolved. The Student Aid Report (SAR) informs the student if they have been selected for verification and that the Financial Aid Office is authorized to request documentation, including Federal Tax Transcripts, W2 forms, and any other documentation need to resolve conflicting issues.

Failure to submit all requested documentation will prevent a student from receiving any financial aid funding.

I need an IRS Tax Return Transcript. Where can I get one?

To obtain a free of charge, IRS Tax Return Transcript, you may request it online at ; by telephone request at 1-800-908-9946; OR print and mail an IRS Form 4506TE-EZ . to the IRS. You can request that the transcript be forwarded to our office.

Please allow 2-3 weeks for your request to be processed and submitted to ���Ĵ�ý’s Financial Aid department.

Why does the Financial Aid Office say my name is not correct?

Federal regulations require all financial aid paperwork to be completed in the student’s true legal name. The Department of Education performs a name match using the information submitted on the FAFSA. If your name, social security number and date of birth do not precisely match Social Security Administration records, the Financial Aid Office is required to request copies of birth certificates, social security cards and marriage or divorce decrees.

Please be sure to complete your FAFSA and school application under your true legal name to prevent delays in the processing of your financial aid package. If your name changes after you have applied, you will need to submit name change documentation to all appropriate offices.

I have prior loans that are listed as being in default. How does this affect my eligibility for financial aid at ���Ĵ�ý?

Students with prior loans reported as being in default are not eligible for additional financial aid until the default has been resolved with the lender(s). If you have already resolved a default, you will need to obtain documentation from the lender verifying your current repayment status. This documentation must be less than 45 days old and can be submitted to the Financial Aid Office by fax, email or postal mail.

If the default has not been resolved, you will need to pay for any tuition incurred until such time as the lender clears the default.[/expand]

When will I receive my award offer?

Your award offer cannot be issued until after the Financial Aid Office has received your course registration. You must also have provided all documents, including those requested during the verification process, prior to issuing your award packet. Everything must be completed before the student can start class.

How do I access my award letter?

Once you have registered for classes and your financial aid eligibility has been calculated, you will be e-mailed a notification letter instructing you to visit the��.

You will need to create a NetPartner account using your ���Ĵ�ý Student ID number. You can find your student ID at the top of your award notification letter or on your student ID card. When creating your account, ensure that you:

• Enter your Student ID as “POOO” plus the rest of your ID number.
• List your date of birth as mm/dd/yy instead of mm/dd/yyyy
• Make sure the city in your address matches the one entered on your FAFSA application

After creating your account for the NetPartner website, you log in can view your Financial Aid Award and accept/decline your loan funds. To accept or decline your funding, click on the Accept Awards tab. To view additional documents needed to complete your financial aid file, click on the Documents tab.

NetPartner Error Message Troubleshooting

If you receive the message: “We are unable to activate your account. Please contact your financial aid office and refer to Code IA”, return to the main page and select Forgot your PIN? to activate your account.

If you receive the message: “Invalid user account. Please contact your financial aid office for assistance.” return to the main page and select “First Time User” to activate your account.

I need more help creating my NetPartner account. Where can I find it?

Download complete instructions for .

Why is my financial aid delayed?

Financial aid may be delayed for the following reasons: you are chosen by the government for Verification, or you are in default on another student loan.

Verification: If your FAFSA contains conflicting or incomplete information, the Federal Government may select your file for verification. You will need to submit additional documentation, such as IRS Tax Return Transcripts, to complete the process. You will not be able to receive financial aid until verification is complete.

Use the Data Retrieval Tool to��complete your FAFSA. ��The Data Retrieval Tool reduces errors��that cause selection for verification. The Financial Aid department can receive any documents you are asked to provide during the verification process.

Resolve a Default: You’ll need to resolve any previous student loans in default with the lenders involved, whether it is the government or a private lender. To become eligible for financial aid, you must then submit proof from the lender that is no more than 45 days old which shows you are in good standing.[/expand]

How do I receive the proceeds of my loans?

Loan funds are disbursed to the school in four separate disbursements based on when you start. The total amount a student borrows is spilt into four disbursements which are two in the fall term and two in the spring term . This is if a student starts in August of the award year. If a student starts later in the year, then the disbursements will be less. When the funds are disbursed, tuition and fees are deducted first. If there are excess funds and a student has marked on their authorization form to receive a refund each term, it is then sent to the student.��

Any excess funds above tuition and fees will be sent to you by the accounting department approximately 14 business days after the loan funds have been disbursed to the school. Please be advised that excess funds are not always available from the first loan disbursement.

When do I receive excess funds from my loans?

Available excess funds are sent by GPS Student Accounts by direct deposit. If a check is requested, a check request form must be submitted. Please be advised that it takes the GPS Student Accounts office 10-14 days to process any excess funds.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding excess funds, please contact GPS Student Accounts at 1-800-948-2810.

Can financial aid pay for my books?

If you are an undergraduate student eligible for a Pell Grant, you may be eligible to participate in the Book Voucher Program. Pell Grant eligibility is determined by the Department of Education and is based on the information submitted on your FAFSA application.

You must have a completed financial aid file at least 10 days before you are scheduled to start your first course and will have a credit balance after all tuition and fees are covered for the awarded period of time.

Graduate students are responsible funding their own book costs. In some cases, students may have excess funding from financial aid that can be used to reimburse book expenses.

While enrolled at ���Ĵ�ý, can I defer a previous student loan that was obtained at another institution?

Yes. ���Ĵ�ý participates with the National Clearinghouse and will automatically update your enrollment status once you have been registered for your courses. Please be advised that your prior loans cannot be placed into deferred status until you are attending classes at ���Ĵ�ý.

If you are already in repayment on prior loans, please continue making your scheduled payments until your lender notifies you that the loan has been transferred to in-school deferred status.

I have been attending classes with ���Ĵ�ý but my prior loans are still in repayment status. How can I get the loan payments deferred?

Most lenders participate with National Clearinghouse. However, if you have been attending courses at ���Ĵ�ý for at least 2 months and your lender has not notified you that the status has been transferred to deferred, you can obtain an “In-School Deferment Request Form” from your lender.��Complete sections 1, 2 and 3 and submit both pages to the Registrar’s Office by fax: 434-799-0658.[/expand]

I am transferring to ���Ĵ�ý from another institution where I received financial aid funds. How does this affect my financial aid eligibility at ���Ĵ�ý?

Students who are transferring to ���Ĵ�ý from another institution may have limited financial aid funding for their first academic year at ���Ĵ�ý. Federal regulations require ���Ĵ�ý to review the aid received at the prior institution. If the loan period at the prior institution and your loan period at ���Ĵ�ý will overlap, funds received at the prior institution will be deducted from the maximum allowed for your grade level.

The remaining funds will be used to cover the expenses for the remainder of the award year at ���Ĵ�ý. The federal government’s award year runs from July 1 to June 30. This may result in your having to pay some tuition costs out of pocket.

NOTE: Please have your Admissions Counselor forward a copy of your most recent transcript to the Financial Aid Office.

I am attending college at another institution and want to transfer my existing financial aid to ���Ĵ�ý. What steps do I need to take?

Unfortunately, Financial Aid funding cannot be transferred to other schools. You will need to add the ���Ĵ�ý school code (003702) to your FAFSA application, contact your current school to cancel the existing aid and contact the ���Ĵ�ý Financial Aid Office to determine your potential eligibility.

Federal regulations prevent students from receiving aid at two institutions during the same time period, so your eligibility at ���Ĵ�ý may be limited, or ���Ĵ�ý may not be able to process aid for you.

When will I be eligible for additional Financial Aid?

All students need to renew their financial aid each year by completing the correct FAFSA for that ward year. Example – the year is 2020 – 2021. Anyone starting during the time period of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 would complete the 20-21 FAFSA. New FAFSA’s come out each October for the following award year that begins on July 1.

Once you receive notification that it is time to renew your Financial Aid Application, contact your Success Coach to ensure you are registered for all the courses you need to meet graduation requirements. No aid can be warded without the student’s registration.

I need to sit out a course. Will this impact my financial aid?

Any changes a student makes to their schedule can impact their eligibility for financial aid. Prior to making any changes, students are encouraged to call the Financial Aid Office and discuss the potential impact as soon as possible. Students will also need to complete a Leave of Absence request form at least one week before the course begins.

Any break of attendance that is more than 45 days may result in any unearned financial aid being returned per federal regulations. Non-attendance puts the student at risk of being exited from the University.��

I need to withdraw from the program. How does this impact my financial aid?

Once the Financial Aid Office has received official notification of a student’s withdrawal from the program, a return of funds calculation is performed, in accordance with federal regulations. Any unearned funds are returned to the lender at this time.

The Accounting Department will forward you any excess funds that remain on your account after the return of funds has been completed. You may need to retain these funds to assist with covering tuition costs if you are planning on returning to ���Ĵ�ý in the near future.

PLEASE NOTE: In some cases, the return of funds may result in a student owing a balance to ���Ĵ�ý for tuition costs incurred during enrollment. These outstanding tuition costs must be paid by the student to the ���Ĵ�ý Accounting Department.[/expand]

How do I contact the Financial Aid Office?

You can contact the financial aid office by calling 1-800-283-7388.

• Pam Harris: 434-791-5871 or [email protected]

• Jeremy Jennings: 434-791-7147 or [email protected]

• Kara Hankins: Handles all Veteran and Post 911 benefits – 434-791-5665��or��[email protected]

Fax documents to: 1-877-275-5578

Mail documents to:
���Ĵ�ý
GPS Financial Aid Office
420 W Main Street
Danville, VA 24541

How does the financial aid department contact me?

Financial aid will only ever contact you via e-mail. We do not send postal mail. We will send any information or notifications to the e-mail address you provided on your FAFSA and to the ���Ĵ�ý e-mail you will be able to access as a student.

What if my question wasn’t answered?

Do you have an infrequently asked question about financial aid? Contact a financial aid counselor today for help or .