SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY   2000-2001 Catalog
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Financial Aid
Financial Aid Office
Churchill 115
541-552-6161
Constance Alexander, Director

Southern Oregon University's financial aid program provides financial counseling and monetary assistance. Loans, scholarships, grants, and federally subsidized jobs are available separately or in various combinations.

The University has a limited amount of financial assistance available. The primary responsibility for meeting the student's educational expenses rests with the family, including both the parents and the student. A federal loan program is available for any student or parent.

Application Procedures

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be used to apply for loans, scholarships, grants, and the work-study program. In addition to using the hard copy form, students may access the FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Students who requested aid for the 1999_2000 school year should receive a renewal application by mail from the Department of Education. All other students may obtain a FAFSA application from any college financial aid office or their high school counselors. An admissions application must be on file before an aid offer can be made.

Application Deadlines

Applications must be received by March 1 to receive first consideration for funds. Students are advised to have aid forms mailed to the processor by February 1 for arrival at the University by March 1. Therefore, families should not wait to do the FAFSA based on a completed federal tax form.

Applicants normally receive notification of their financial aid awards beginning in April. Financial aid awards are for a one-year period. Applicants must reapply each year to receive continued consideration for financial assistance.

Perkins Loan

The Federal Perkins Loan is a 5 percent deferred interest loan. First priority in awarding is given to early FAFSA filers with high financial need. At Southern, the average award is $1,000 a year. These funds must be repaid. Repayment begins nine months after graduation or leaving school.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan

Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan. This loan is available to all students. Needy students borrow first from the subsidized Stafford/Ford Loan (interest deferred). Students categorized as "no need" borrow through the unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loan (interest accrues while enrolled). Annual limits are: freshmen, $2,625; sophomores, $3,500; juniors/seniors, $5,500; graduate students, $8,500.

Students defined by aid law as independent may qualify to borrow both the subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loan amount each year. This allows the eligible independent student to borrow approximately twice as much as the dependent student.

Cumulative loan limits (including undergraduate and graduate work) are $138,500 for independent students and $65,000 for dependent students.

Postbaccalaureate students or those pursuing a second bachelor's degree are limited to borrowing the appropriate undergraduate amount.

The interest rate is variable, not to exceed 8.25 percent. Repayment begins six months after leaving school.

Federal Direct PLUS Loans. This auxiliary loan program is available to the parents of undergraduate students. No family income restrictions are attached to this program. A credit check is required. The interest rate is variable, not to exceed 9 percent. Parents may borrow up to the cost of attendance minus other aid. These loans may be used to offset expected contributions by the parent.

Employment

Federal Work-Study. The Federal Work-Study Program provides federally subsidized part-time employment for students with analyzed financial need. Job hours are coordinated with the student's class schedule. Positions are available with campus departments and nonprofit agencies off campus. The program encourages community service work.

Part-Time Employment. The Student Employment Office helps students find other, non work-study part-time jobs on campus and in the community.

Scholarships, Awards, Grants, and Gifts

Last year, students received more than $2,500,000 through Southern Oregon University sources or other public and private scholarship donors. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information about scholarships.

Scholarships. Southern Oregon University offers a number of scholarships, ranging from $100 to $3,000. Many scholarships are awarded to students already attending the University. However, approximately eighty freshman scholarships are available, including the SOU Diversity, Presidential, Laurels, Smullin, Robert W. and Betty F. Root, and Ruth Kneass Memorial scholarships. Many scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement and financial need. Check with the Office of Financial Aid for scholarship application deadlines. Applicants must file the FAFSA for need-based scholarships. Institutional scholarships are coordinated through the Financial Aid and Awards Committee.

Federal Pell Grants. This award provides students with up to $3,125 for each undergraduate year. Pell Grants establish a foundation of financial aid, to which aid from other federal and nonfederal sources may be added. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be paid back.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG). These grants provide up to $600 a year to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. Students must be Pell-eligible to receive SEOG consideration.

State Need Grant. Oregon residents are eligible to apply for the State Need Grant given by the Oregon Student Assistance Commission. State Need Grants are based on financial need, and students may receive up to $1,170 a year. Grants are renewable annually, provided financial need and satisfactory progress are continued.

OUS Supplemental Tuition Grant. Undergraduate students who are Oregon residents are considered for the OUS Supplemental Tuition Grant. The student must be enrolled full time each term. The maximum award is $1,000 a year.

 

Departmental Scholarships
The scholarships listed below are administered by Southern Oregon University.

Department of Biology

School of Business

Department of Chemistry

Department of Computer Science

Department of Criminology

Department of Education

Department of English

School of Arts and Letters

Department of Foreign Languages

Department of Geography

Department of Geology

Department of Health and Physical Education

Department of History

Department of Military Science

Department of Physics

Department of Political Science

Department of Psychology

School of Sciences

School of Social Science and Education

Department of Sociology

General and Foundation Scholarships

This material is from the 2000-2001
Southern Oregon University Catalog.

Page revised August 14, 2000
Copyright 2000, Southern Oregon University.
1250 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, Oregon 97520
541/552-7672