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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
2) How do I know what programs are eligible for financial aid?
3) How do I remain eligible for financial aid?
4) When do I get my money?
5) What if I don't want or need financial aid (declining loans and canceling aid)?
6) Can I use my financial aid to purchase books?
7) What do I do if I change my enrollment level?
8) What is WebRunner (previously SIS)?
9) How do scholarships or other financial assistance affect financial aid?
10) What is FREE federal aid?
11) What is Federal Work Study?
12) What about loans?
13) What if my financial situation is different now than what is reflected on my tax return?
14) Can I borrow against my financial aid before it is disbursed?
15) How do I apply for scholarships at LBCC?
1) What is a Financial Aid Award Notification?
Your Financial Aid Award Notification lists the amount and types of financial aid for which you are eligible if your enrollment is full-time (12 or more credits). When your file has been awarded you will receive an automated e-mail asking you to login to your WebRunner account. You may view your Financial Aid Award Notification on your WebRunner account (we do not mail them). Students reaching maximum time frames and students with approved petitions may have prorated terms of aid. If you are not enrolled at full time status at the time of payment, your disbursement will be adjusted based upon your actual enrollment level.Based on your eligibility, your award may include grants, which do not need to be paid back; loans, which MUST be repaid; and federal work study, which must be earned. Please refer to the LBCC catalog for a listing of Federal and State Student Aid Programs. Additional reference for detailed descriptions of specific aid types can be found in Funding Education Beyond High School, which is available at the Financial Aid Office.
Receipt of your award notification confirms that you have completed the FAFSA application process for this year.
2) How do I know what programs are eligible for financial aid?
Generally, eligible academic programs are those that are at least one year in length, lead to a degree or certificate, or provide full credit toward a baccalaureate degree. Check with the LBCC Financial Aid Office if you are unsure of the eligibility of your program.UNDECIDED: Still haven’t decided on a major? You must declare an eligible major before you earn 30 credits if you want to remain eligible for LBCC financial aid.
3) How do I remain eligible for financial aid?
Dropping classes after the tuition refund deadline or withdrawing from courses may impact you. Students who drop classes after the tuition refund period or who do not complete classes may owe a repayment of their financial aid and may be denied financial aid at LBCC and all schools.SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS: We monitor your academic progress each term. You must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements to be eligible for your financial aid. SAP failure revokes all your financial aid for all terms unless you petition this office for reinstatement.
REPORT INFORMATION: Did you receive a scholarship or attend another college, university, or trade school this academic year? Failure to report this information to the LBCC Financial Aid Office may result in you having to repay your LBCC financial aid.
FINANCIAL AID CHECKS WILL ONLY BE MAILED OR DIRECT DEPOSITED THE THIRD WEEK OF EACH TERM FOR STUDENTS WITH AWARD NOTIFICATION LETTERS.
* YES: This includes LBCC aid awarded and non-LBCC scholarships and grants. If aid is awarded after the third week of the term, a check will be mailed by the Business Office or direct deposited to student bank account on a twice weekly schedule.
* NO: You won’t receive your entire financial aid award for the year. You will receive funds one term at a time after bookstore charges, tuition, and fees owed on your billing account are paid.
5) What if I don’t want or need financial aid?
DECLINING AID: If you would like to decline or modify any part of your award, please submit a Revision Request Form to the financial aid office. If you request a modification, it will be considered and approved within the constraints of aid availability, institutional guidelines, and professional judgment. 6) Can I use my financial aid to purchase books?
BOOKSTORE CREDIT: Students who have been awarded (check your WebRunner account to view your award) and have enough aid to cover their tuition and fees owed may charge their books and supplies at the LBCC Bookstore prior to the term and during the 1st two weeks of each term. You may charge up to the balance of your account after tuition and fees and other charges have been deducted from your aid. If you have no aid balance after tuition has been deducted, you will not be eligible to charge.To charge books and supplies, simply tell the cashier that you have financial aid and they will verify whether you can charge. When you receive your refund check, tuition, fees, and bookstore charges will have been deducted from your aid. Students receiving Federal Stafford Loans in excess of tuition will be able to charge at the bookstore once they have signed the Master Promissory Note and completed the Entrance Counseling requirement. Should you want to buy books and supplies from somewhere other than the campus bookstore, stop by the Financial Aid Office for a short-term loan approval. Funds will be available the next day. No service charge will be assessed and the short-term loan will be deducted from your financial aid.
7) What do I do if I change my enrollment level?
If you are enrolled full-time, full-year, your financial aid will automatically post to your account. If you are not enrolled full-time at the time of payment, your disbursement will automatically be adjusted based on your actual enrollment level on the date of disbursement.8) What is WebRunner (previously SIS)?
WebRunner is the electronic Student Information System, a secure database containing your personal information. In addition to many other items, it allows you to view your outstanding financial aid requirements and your award notification. 9) How do scholarships or other financial assistance affect financial aid?
LBCC SCHOLARSHIPS: Refer to http://www.linnbenton.edu/go/scholarships for a listing of our institutional scholarships. Sources of information for off campus based scholarships include the Library, Scholarship Kiosk in Takena Hall, the Career Center’s aid database in Takena 103, and web-based scholarship searches.OFF CAMPUS FUNDS: If you know you will receive, or expect to receive, off-campus scholarships, grants, or loans or assistance from state educational assistance programs, Clemens Scholarship, Tribal or CSC Grants, you are legally obligated to report the amount(s) to the financial aid office.
IMPACT: Private or institutional scholarships and other resources that you might receive will be listed on the award letter as a resource. These benefits do not affect Pell or Oregon Opportunity Grant eligibility but may affect your total eligibility for other types of aid. Updated award letters will be sent to you indicating any modifications of aid as this office is notified of off-campus resources
FEDERAL PELL GRANT: LBCC awards PELL to students who have met federal eligibility requirements.
OREGON OPPORTUNITY GRANT: LBCC awards Oregon Opportunity Grants to students who meet the Oregon Student Assistance Commission eligibility requirements.
FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT: LBCC awards SEOG to students with exceptional financial need who are receiving Federal Pell Grants. FSEOG funds are very limited.
11) What is Federal Work Study?
Your federal work study (FWS) eligibility is listed on your award notification. If you have been awarded FWS, follow the link on your WebRunner account or follow the steps on the FWS website. As with most jobs, you list hours on a time sheet and get paid monthly. The wage rate starts at the current Oregon minimum wage for most jobs. Generally, students work 10 to 12 hours per week.
If you have not been placed in a job by the end of the fourth week of classes and have not made alternative plans with this office, your work study certification may be canceled without further notice and offered to other students waiting to work. Students who have been awarded FWS for summer term, but secured a position that doesn't start until fall term, may submit a Revision Request Form asking for their award to be revised. This will prevent their entire award from being canceled for not securing a position in the summer.
DIRECT LOANS: If your original FAFSA application indicated an interest in student loans, we will first determine your eligibility for all other types of financial aid. If any eligibility remains, we will award Direct loans. The Direct Loan limits are listed on our website under Types of Financial Aid. Students must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) the first year they wish to receive a Direct loan. Failure to complete the promissory note promptly will delay the disbursement of your funds.
NEW BORROWERS: Students who have not previously received a Direct Loan at LBCC must complete the federal entrance counseling requirement.
30 Day Delay: Federal Regulation
If you have never attended Linn-Benton Community College, your loans will be disbursed after you have
attended class for 30 days. All New Borrower funds will be disbursed on the 31st day of the term.
One term loans: Federal Regulation
If your loan period covers one term, your disbursement will be in two equal payments. If you are a new borrower,
you will get the first half on the 31st day and the other half when you are mid-way through the term.
PRIOR BORROWERS: LBCC students who have received loan funds in prior terms will receive their Federal Direct loan funds during the third week of the term.
13) What if my financial situation is different now than what is reflected on my tax return?
SPECIAL SITUATIONS: If your household has experienced a situation that has caused your income to change significantly and you would like the Financial Aid Office to consider the effect on your aid eligibility, please request a form at the FA Office in Takena Hall. Substantial documentation is required and only extenuating circumstances are approved. Quitting work to go back to school is usually not considered an extenuating circumstance. You should consider meeting with a financial aid advisor to discuss your situation.14) Can I borrow against my financial aid before it is disbursed?
ELDON SCHAFER LOANS: This short-term loan is available only once each term. Applications are at the Business Office. The loan maximum is $200, with a $10 fee. You must be registered for at least 6 credit hours to be eligible and not have any outstanding LBCC charges, excluding a current tuition installment note. This must be repaid within 45 days or per the date set by the Business Office. Regardless of the repayment date, this loan will be deducted from any future federal financial aid disbursements.15) How do I apply for scholarships at LBCC?
Go to: http://www.linnbenton.edu/go/scholarshipsClick on: Scholarship Database
Click on: Sort by Term
Number of terms awarded will vary per scholarships
• Look at each scholarship making sure that you are eligible: major, GPA, etc.
• Make sure to see where to apply for each scholarship, some are applied through LBCC Departments, the others are through the Financial Aid office. Applications are accepted the 1st 4 weeks of the term, with 5 pm on Friday of the 4th week as the deadline. No late applications will be accepted.
Applications
1. Regular Scholarship and Awards application
2. Supplemental Scholarship application – this is used if you turned in a regular application during spring term. The supplement will list the scholarships
to be processes through the Financial Aid Office, you mark the ones that you are eligible to apply for. Turn it in during the application acceptance time line.
• Neatness and spelling count.
• Complete all areas of the application.
1. 2 page application
2. Budget sheet
3. 2 letters of recommendation (faculty member or business professional)
4. Essays – if the individual scholarship requests it.
5. Portfolio – if the individual scholarship requests it.
6. Make sure to provide anything else those individual scholarships requests.
LBCC Writing Desk in the Learning Center
• Help is available in writing your essays (they won’t write it for you but certainly can help you).
Best of Luck to You.