Senator Robert C. Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat and the United States Congress’ unofficial constitutional scholar, believes that American primary, secondary, and post-secondary students lack significant knowledge regarding the United States Constitution. In December 2004, Senator Byrd offered an amendment that was passed by both the United States House of Representatives and the Unites States Senate in an attempt to increase students’ knowledge about the Constitution.
The legislation requires that all educational institutions that receive federal funds implement educational programs related to the United States Constitution on September 17 of each year. September 17th was selected as the date for the celebration due to the fact that on September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the United States Constitution and present it to the American public. Click here to visit the official Constitution Day website.
For federal aid to pay for a course in your major, minor, or other degree requirement, if must be part of your approved Course Program of Study (CPos) and must count in the evaluation of your approved program using the degree evaluation tool. You need to make sure all courses count when you meet with your academic advisor and plan your schedule for each semester.
First: Officially Declare Your Major and Minor
It is essential that your major and minor are officially declared and noted in your student record. If you have been planning to declare or change a major or minor, but have not yet done so, you should consult with your academic advisor immediately to make the official declaration.
Courses can only be determined to be eligible based on the officially declared major and minor as noted in your student record Second: Assumptions About Financial Aid Offers
Financial aid offers are based on the assumption that undergraduate students will enroll full-time and graduate students will enroll at least half-time in eligible coursework during the fall and spring semesters.
Third: Keep Your Eligibility
Remember that dropping or not attending your courses can negatively impact your eligibility for current and future aid. It is important that your discuss your Course Program of Study with your advisor when your enroll for next semester’s classes. if your current coursework is not correct, work with your advisot to make the appropriate changes to your major or minor.
Why is this important?
Taking courses that are not required to completed your program could result in your receiving less or no federal aid or in owing money back. Taking classes that are not in your Course Program of Study for your officially declared major and/or minor may result in a reduction of your overall financial aid offer since courses that are not eligible cannot be counted toward your full-time status. In other words, the full-time Cost of Attendance (COA) requirements for undergraduates says that you must be enrolled in at least 12 eligible credit hours. For example, if 9 of your 12 hours are in your Course Program of Study, but 3 of your hours do not count toward your major or minor, your COA will reflect that you are not a full-time student (only 3/4 time), which could reduce your state and university aid. Remember: We cannot award aid in excess of your Cost of Attendance.
What types of aid are affected by this?
Federal Aid (Examples: Pell Grant, FSEOG, Teach Grant, Direct Loans, and Work-study) may only be paid for eligible courses that count toward your program. state, university Aid, and other aid (TSAA Grant, HOPE Scholarship, C-N Grant, and Alternative Loans) are currently not subject to the same regulatory restrictions. However, your Cost of Attendance will be reduced for courses that are not counting towards the program of study; which can result in a lower about of state, university, and private aid that you may receive.
How does this affect Cost of Attendance?
The Cost of Attendance is an estimate of your cost to go to school for a specific amount of time (semester or year) and is based on your enrollment status, and we cannot award aid in excess of your Cost of Attendance. Enrollment status for financial aid is based on eligible courses only. If you are in 12 hours that count towards your program of study, you will be considered a full-time student for cost of attendance purposes. If you are enrolled in 12 hours and only 9 hours are required toward your officially declared program of study, your federal aid will be reduced to 3/4 time based on 9 hours, as will your Cost of Attendance. However if your Cost of Attendance allows, you may still be eligible for a full-time university grant/scholarship and/or TN state grant/scholarship. Federal Direct Loans require 1/2 time attendance (at least 6 credit hours). If you are enrolled in 6+ hours, but only 3-5 hours are required for your program of study, you will not be eligible to receive a Federal Direct Loan.
If your federal aid has been reduced due to enrollment in coursework that does not apply towards your outstanding requirements in your program of study, you should contact your academic advisor to discuss your academic options. Otherwise, if you have questions regarding financial aid, contact our office located in Butler Welcome Hall or by emailing financialaid@cn.edu.
Qualitative FASAP
Quantitative FASAP In addition to the above, students must earn 67% of Attempted Credit Hours to qualify as listed below:
Maximum Timeframe
Zero Term GPA (0.00) If you have a 0.00 GPA in a term, the Registrar will determine if you completed and earned all F’s in your classes. If the Registrar determines that you stopped attending every class, you will be processed by the Financial Aid Office as an unofficial withdrawal. Refer to the “Withdrawal from Carson-Newman” section for more information. FASAP Evaluation Process (Process Illustration)
Carson-Newman University College Navigator
Information on various programs are available here: Global Education Study Abroad Information
It is recommended that the financial aid forms and other required University approvals be completed no later than the following dates in order to meet all eligibility requirements. Financial Aid reviews are not able to be made until all other University approvals are completed.
at least 6 weeks prior to your program deadline.
University Aid is available for students studying through an approved exchange program. University aid is not available for all other types of study abroad programs. Students must also continue to meet all financial aid eligibility guidelines, such as Satisfactory Academic Progress. Should financial aid be processed and it is determined that the student is no longer eligible, the aid will be cancelled and all cost associated with the Study Abroad becomes the student’s responsibility.
Verification is a process used to confirm certain information you provided on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Some students are selected by the U.S. Department of Education randomly or because FAFSA data was incomplete, estimated, or inconsistent, while others may be selected by our office based on conflicting information.
If you are selected for verification, Carson-Newman is required to collect documentation from you to confirm or correct the information reported on your FAFSA. If selected, you will receive a letter detailing the documentation needed from you to complete the process. The verification process ensures that eligible students receive all the aid for which they qualify.
Regardless of why you were chosen, our office will work with you to collect the proper documentation. Carson-Newman may issue you an award letter with tentative aid, but we will not be able to apply aid to your student account until verification is complete. Please understand that your financial aid is subject to change as a result of verification.
Not all students will need the same documentation, so pay special attention to your letter. Please do not send documents unless requested. Generally, however, you will need at least the following:
It is important that all documents requested be returned as quickly as possible to avoid delays. If you have amended your tax return(s), we will need a copy of the original and the amended version. If you have requested an extension for filing your tax return(s), please send a copy of the extension until you are able to provide that filed tax information. Completing this process as soon as possible cannot be overstressed. We want to be able to give you accurate financial aid, rather than tentative aid that is subject to change. Please understand that all information will be kept confidential in our office. Once your file has been reviewed, it may be necessary to correct your FAFSA information. If we have corrected information while you are in verification, please do not correct your FAFSA back to what you originally filed, as this will create further delays.
All documents and forms may be mailed or faxed to the Office of Financial Aid.
For questions about the verification process, please contact the Office of Financial Aid by phone at (800) 678-9061, (865) 471-3247, or by email at financialaid@cn.edu.
The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS) HOPE funding requires a student to meet certain renewal GPAs at each renewal benchmark:
-OR-
Cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 AND a semester GPA of at least a 3.0 in the preceding term of receiving the award (provisional status)
The TELS HOPE GPA may not be the same as your Carson-Newman University GPA, so use the following Excel calculator to determine your estimated TELS HOPE GPA:
HOPE GPA Calculator (Excel Version)
Students without Excel may review the calculation process below:
Official TELS HOPE GPAs will be calculated by the University and are completed at the end of every semester for every Tennessee HOPE eligible student. Students are notified via email when the official calculation indicates a student is no longer eligible for lottery funding. Students that have lost HOPE Lottery funding are eligible to regain at the next benchmark by meeting the renewal GPA requirements.
The TELS HOPE Lottery funding eligibility ends when a student has attained a baccalaureate degree OR has attempted 120 semester hours OR 5 years have passed from initial enrollment at any post-secondary institution—whichever occurs first. Exceptions may be available to students with documented medical disabilities. Students enrolled in a program of study greater than 120 hours may receive the award for up to 136 attempted hours OR the number of hours required to earn degree, whichever is less. Most undergraduate degree programs at Carson-Newman University require 120 semester hours, so funding ceases at 120 attempted hours.
Apply for Summer Aid
To be eligible for summer aid, you must complete the FAFSA. C-N’s federal school code is 003481.
Go to FAFSA
The 2019-20 FAFSA is the current financial aid application that must be on file with our office for the summer 2020 term. If you receive aid from us during fall 2019/spring 2020, you already have a FAFSA on file for the summer. For summer 2020: You should register for all your summer classes by May 8 and accept your summer aid in your MyCN Account before your first scheduled class begins to ensure aid processing by the payment due date.
Processing will begin after summer registration opens- approximately April 20th. Processing is in order of term start dates. Check your C-N email for aid notification(s).
If you qualify for Tuition Waiver, please make sure that your application is on file with the Human Resource Office. Email our office with the number of credits you have registered to take for faster processing since we will only check the list of eligible awardees at the start of each module.
TN HOPE recipients taking classes at another University should meet with a Financial Aid Counselor to make sure the appropriate paperwork is completed by May 8th.
Viewing your Aid
Once the FAFSA is complete and you have registered for classes, your financial aid eligibility for summer will be processed and viewable through your MyCN Account within two weeks. You will be sent an email to your C-N email account when your aid is ready to view. Your initial aid eligibility will be calculated based on your projected enrollment as noted in the Registrar’s file and information from your FAFSA.
Should your enrollment change, your projected aid WILL change. The Office of Financial Aid will conduct audits at the census date of each module, but it is your responsibility to notify our office ahead of time if your class schedule changes for any reason.
You must have your FAFSA and any other required paperwork completed as soon as possible since federal aid must be processed before the end of your enrollment during the summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours do I need to enroll to get Financial Aid?– You must be enrolled at least 6 credit hours (half-time) to receive most forms of financial aid. TN Promise Students must be at least 12 hours (full-time) and submit service hours by April 1 for summer funding.
I received a notice that I am not eligible for financial aid. What other options for aid do I have to pay for my classes?- If you are an undergraduate, dependent student, one of your parents may apply for a summer loan through a Federal Direct Parent Loan (PLUS). If your parent is denied, we can offer you an additional Unsubsidized Stafford loan (provided your annual limit has not been reached), which you then must accept. For more Parent Plus Loan Information, visit studentaid.gov. Additionally, private loans are available to research via the internet. Please be aware that alternative loans should be borrowed from a trusted source of lending. Carson-Newman University now has a recommended lender list to assist students in finding an alternative loan option, but students are welcome to borrow from a lender not on the list as well. Private/Alternative Student Loans
Why did my aid change after I began enrollment?– Your financial aid is based on your enrollment status of either full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, or less than half-time. It is also based on meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards, and/or State benchmark guidelines for HOPE scholarship, etc. If, after you begin enrollment, our office determines you are no longer eligible for the financial aid offered, we are required to update your eligibility which can mean removing some or all of your aid. You will be sent a notice to your C-N email account any time your aid has been revised.
Am I eligible for a Federal Pell Grant this summer?– If you have received your annual fall and spring disbursements limits, you may qualify for a summer disbursement if you enroll at least half-time. Federal Pell Grant has lifetime eligibility rules which limit students to the equivalent of twelve full-time semesters of attendance. Therefore, students that have reached lifetime limits will not be eligible for continued Federal Pell Grant disbursements.
Am I eligible for my Federal Direct Loans this summer?- If you have received your full annual grade level limit during fall and spring, you will not be eligible for a summer disbursement unless you have progressed to the next grade level. If you have not borrowed your fall/spring annual limit, you will be eligible for the amount remaining in your annual limit within your cost of attendance. All first-time Federal Direct Loan borrowers at C-N must complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note. If you have borrowed at a previous institution, simply log into your FSA account and add C-N to receive your Entrance Counseling electronically. Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Notes for Federal Direct Loans may be completed online at studentaid.gov. You will need your FSA ID.
When will I receive my aid?- Please note that if your enrollment of at least half-time is between two or more summer sessions, loans will be disbursed in more than one disbursement after you begin attendance in the first summer session. The first disbursement will occur after the census date of that term with a second disbursement scheduled after the next census date that you will be attending. Please be aware of this when looking at your student bill. Summer fees charged in excess of summer aid are the responsibility of the student and must be paid according to the policies of the Student Accounts Office. It is advised that you review important summer terms and dates (Registrar’s Office). Study abroad has different dates of disbursement. Please see that information at the bottom.
When will I get my credit balance refund?– If your financial aid exceeds your charges, your refund check will be issued by the Student Accounts Office within 14 days of your disbursement date credit. Your loans will be credited to your account in multiple disbursements based on your class schedule. For more information, contact our office.
Am I eligible for University Scholarships and Grants?– Funds for University merit scholarship and need-based grant programs are reserved for use during the fall and spring academic terms only. No institutional funds will be awarded for the summer semester except for Tuition Waiver and Accelerated Nursing programs (students must have the appropriate program type listing accelerated nursing for our office to make that determination).
How do I get the HOPE Scholarship in Summer?– You must enroll for at least 6 credit hours. Additionally, you must have initially received HOPE in Fall 2014 or thereafter. This summer HOPE will be processed from your 19-20 FAFSA on file. You must also be eligible for HOPE with your TELS HOPE GPA prior to the start of Mayterm. Students at benchmarks (24,48,72,96 TELS attempted hours) must also be meeting continued eligibility with the necessary GPA. This may require evaluation of spring grades, which are to be submitted by faculty in May. More information on continued eligibility is available in the Financial Aid Handbook (you may calculate your TELS GPA using this link: TELS GPA Information). The amount you may qualify to receive will depend on your hours enrolled, additional GAM eligibility, or additional Aspire eligibility. The amounts will range between $1,000-$2,750 for coursework at C-N, depending on part-time or full-time status and specific program eligibility. If you are attending a Tennessee 2-year community college as a transient student, the amounts will range between $500-$1750, depending on part-time or full-time status and specific program eligibility (see next question below for additional information).
How do I get HOPE to apply to another college this summer?- You may be eligible for summer HOPE if you meet the above eligibility guidelines and are taking courses at another HOPE eligible TN college this summer. Degree seeking students at Carson-Newman that would like to take coursework at another HOPE eligible TN college or university must first be approved to take courses by your advisor and Registrar by completing the Authorization to Take Courses at Another College form and complete the TELS Consortium Agreement for Transient Students form. Please meet with or email a Financial Aid Counselor for further guidance. IMPORTANT: All summer hours will count towards TELS attempted hours and TELS GPA. Every transcript MUST be submitted to the Registrar’s Office at least 4 weeks prior to the start of the fall term. Fall HOPE disbursements will be held until all transcripts have been received and evaluated for continued HOPE eligibility. Also, summer disbursements will be made to your student account first. Student Accounts will then need to issue you a credit balance refund if applicable. You will then take the proceeds to your transient school. You may be required to make payments to the school prior to your TELS HOPE disbursement, so plan accordingly.
I am working on my second bachelor’s degree or I am not seeking a degree from C-N. Am I eligible for aid at C-N?- If you are working on your second bachelor’s degree, you may qualify for limited amount and types of student loans. If you are a non-degree seeking student eligible for HOPE Scholarship this summer, please make sure to complete a consortium agreement through your home school, as you will not be eligible for other types of aid. Please speak with a Student Accounts representative to make payment on your account before classes begin.
I am studying abroad this summer. How do I get aid for my classes?– First, contact the Global Education Office. They will instruct you on further steps. You will also need to meet with a Financial Aid Counselor to complete other required forms. An Authorization to Take Courses at Another College will also have to be approved and on file in the Registrar’s Office. Review our Study Abroad page for more information.
Please note that you will need to make arrangements to pre-pay for your program if the payment is due in advance. The earliest that aid disbursement will be set is the start date of the program. Additionally, if disbursement is from a loan period that is a single term, the loan is required to be disbursed in two equal installments. The first installment will be no earlier than the start day of the program, and the second disbursement will be at the midpoint of the program/term.
Any charges owed to Carson-Newman for the term will be deducted from the posting of aid first, and the remainder will be available for a credit balance refund. Additionally, the credit balance refund checks that are generated from aid disbursements will be paid to the student. Students should make arrangements for checks to be deposited by their financial power of attorney while abroad.
I have decided not to enroll in summer classes. How do I cancel the aid I have been awarded?– If you have not accepted your aid, simply log into your C-N Connect Account and reject your aid before the first day of class. If you have already accepted your aid, email financialaid@cn.edu from your C-N email account before the first day of class, and we will cancel your aid for you. To avoid charges on your account, you must drop all your courses before the first day of class.
I started my classes, but I have decided not to stay enrolled in summer classes. What do I need to do?– You need to speak to a Financial Aid Counselor BEFORE dropping any courses. If you drop courses after the first day of class, you could be responsible for repaying financial aid to C-N. Also, HOPE and Promise recipients could permanently lose those scholarships, so aid recipients from those programs should not drop courses. See our Withdrawing from the University page for more information.
I will complete my degree requirements this summer. Is there any other paperwork I need to complete?– If you have borrowed student loans, you will need to complete Exit Counseling so that you understand your rights and responsibilities as you enter repayment on your loans. If you will be finished with our degree requirements, contact our office for more guidance.
At the census date each term (last day to make a schedule change), our office will adjust aid downward based upon your actual enrollment if less than full-time.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be aware that after the census date, you should take care to NOT change your schedule unless you consult with our office first. This is extremely important for TN HOPE Scholarship recipients. TN HOPE recipients that fail to contact our office before making a schedule change after the census date could forfeit TN HOPE Scholarship funding.
Below are some important aid programs and the amounts that you may qualify based on attendance each term. If you have other programs not listed, please contact our office so that we may assist you: Undergraduate Students, seeking first degree:
Graduate Students: (University Merit Scholarships, Need-based Grants, and Endowments are not available for Graduate Students regardless of hours enrolled)
1/2 time attendance
(5-6 hrs)
Although the Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors (DREAM) Act has never been passed into law by Congress, certain eligible young immigrants may now be eligible to apply for temporary relief called “deferred action.” Deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) provides individuals who are not in lawful immigration status and entered into the United States as minors a two-year grant of deferred action. The DACA does not provide a pathway to citizenship, nor does it confer lawful immigration status upon recipients. It does allow for work authorization, application for social security numbers, and potentially obtaining a driver’s license, depending upon the state of domicile. DACA Qualifications:
In certain states, undocumented immigrants are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at public universities. The good news is that Carson-Newman’s tuition and fees are the same regardless of state residency. However, DACA recipients are currently ineligible to receive federal student aid as they do not currently fit into any of the U.S. Department of Education’s categories for eligible noncitizens. Additionally, undocumented students are also ineligible for most state financial aid programs.
Carson-Newman does award merit aid to undocumented students upon acceptance even though students may not qualify for federal and state aid. Additionally, DACA recipients should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The student must have a Social Security number to complete the FAFSA online. This FAFSA will be used by Carson-Newman solely to determine if an undocumented student may also qualify for Carson-Newman need based aid. In comparison to public colleges who may charge out-of-state tuition, the cost of attending Carson-Newman is many times more affordable.
DACA students should also explore sources for outside funding. Students may be eligible for private scholarships, depending upon eligibility requirements. Students should conduct free scholarship searches in pursuit of funding.
Please contact us for additional information regarding enrolling to Carson-Newman. We are here to help students afford a great education at a great price!
Start now by clicking the link below:
Complainants not satisfied with the outcome of Carson-Newman’s internal process may appeal, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made, to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission at https://www.tn.gov/thec/bureaus/student-aid-and-compliance/postsecondary-state-authorization/request-for-complaint-review.html.
For purposes of this process, a complaint shall be defined as a formal assertion in writing that the terms of SARA or the laws, standards or regulations incorporated by the SARA Policies and Standards (http://www.nc-sara.org/content/sara-manual) have been violated by the institution operating under the terms of SARA.
For a list of SARA member States, please visit the NC-SARA website (http://nc-sara.org/sara-states-institutions). Students residing in non-SARA states should consult their respective State of residence for further instruction for filing a complaint.
To see an overview of the process: SARA Student Complaint Process: StudentComplaintProcedure
