2016-2017 LSCPA Catalog | Page 35

Lamar State College Port Arthur 2016-2017 Catalog Revised 9-13-16 The College considers an applicant’s degree of need before awarding financial aid. New and continuing students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) criteria according to standards established by federal regulations for continued eligibility. application process and learn more about federal financial aid. The amount and type of assistance is determined by the Financial Aid Office. Notification of awards is mailed during late spring and early summer. A Student seeking financial aid, who is ineligible to apply for federal student aid but meets the residency requirements under House Bill 1403/Senate Bill 1528 can complete the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA). The TASFA Application and eligibility requirements can be downloaded at the following website: www.collegeforalltexans.com. Student will also need to submit all income supporting documentation. Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you have additional questions. The College will continue to award aid as long as funds are available. However, the most desirable types of aid normally are expended early. So, students should make every effort to meet the April 1st deadline. Students applying for scholarships must complete the Application for Scholarship for Lamar State College Port Arthur that is available in the Admission Office and on the website. High school seniors should meet the April 1st deadline to be given first priority. All other scholarship applicants should meet the June 15th deadline for the following academic year. Qualifications Students applying for need-based grants, loans or work-study employment must have their eligibility established by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Scholarship awards to entering freshmen are determined by the applicant’s high school class rank and/or financial need. Freshmen may be able to obtain required forms from their high school counselors or directly from the Financial Aid Office. Scholarship awards for upperclassmen are determined by their cumulative grade point average at the college level. Scholarship applicants must have at least a 2.5 grade point average to be eligible for a college administered scholarship. Current students may obtain the forms from the Admission Advisors Office in the Student Center. Students must reapply annually to be considered for continued assistance. Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FASFA) Federal Student Aid, a part of the U.S. Department of Education, is the largest provider of student financial aid in the nation. The office of Federal Student Aid provides more than $150 billion in federal grants, loans, and work-study funds each year to more than 13 million students paying for college or career school. To apply for federal financial https://fafsa.ed.gov/index.htm to aid, go to begin the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) Grants The Federal Pell Grant is the foundation source for all other aid programs. Applicants must submit the Student Aid Report for all grants. No other needbased assistance grants, loans, or work-study can be awarded until a student’s eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant is determined. When a student files a Free Application for Federal Aid, the government processes the application and sends a Student Aid Report to the student’s address. Student The student then should submit the Student Aid Report to the Financial Aid Office for an estimated grant amount to be determined. The final Pell Grant will be determined at the time of enrollment. Other available grants are the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) and Leveraging Educational Assistance Program (LEAP). Students with exceptional need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid may be awarded one of these grants. TEXAS Grant Program The TEXAS (Toward Excellence, Access & Success) Grant Program provides grants to help academically-prepared, eligible students attend higher education institutions in Texas. To compete for a grant, a student must be a Texas resident; a graduate of a public or accredited private high school in Texas since fall 1998; enroll in college and receive his/her TEXAS Grant within 16 months of high school graduation; have completed the recommended or advanced high school curriculum or its equivalent; have financial need; have applied for any available financial aid or assistance; be Page 34 of 135