About Your Award

• In order for funds to apply to your student bill and disburse, you will need to read and accept the award terms and conditions on PAWS.
• Any requested documentation MUST be submitted before funds can be disbursed.
• Federal regulations require that, when including federal and state aid, your financial aid award does not exceed your Cost of Attendance (COA) budget. Your COA is available on the award page in PAWS. Any awards over this will be adjusted as stated in the award terms and conditions.
• Review your awards and award messages on PAWS as additional information about your award is available and may not be listed on this message. You are able to print your award letter in PAWS.
• If you have pre-registered and plan not to attend the semester, you must have your classes removed prior to the beginning of the semester. If you attend classes, you are responsible for the amount of your bill that is not covered by financial aid.
• You must attend class on the first day of the semester. Your enrollment must be verified before funds can be disbursed. If you do not attend on the first day of classes for the first semester you attend, you may lose your awards.
• Your award is based on attending the Fall and Spring semesters. Summer awards are added at a later date. If awarded and you do not plan to attend, or plan only to attend one semester, please send an email with your name and ID to finaid@savannahstate.edu.
• You must only take classes that are in your program of study. Federal Financial Aid funds will not pay for classes outside your program of study. In addition, for federal funds, you may only repeat a “pass” course once.
• Funds disburse based on attending hours and attendance verified. Hours from mini sessions are not counted until the mini semester starts.
• All awards are awarded based on 12 or more credit hours per semester. However, the following awards disbursed based on a percentage of the award:

• Eligibility for the Georgia Hope Scholarship and the Georgia Zell Miller Scholarship are checked at the end of the spring semester and at the 30, 60 and 90 attempted credit hour check points. Student must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA for the Hope scholarship and 3.7 cumulative GPA for the Zell Miller scholarship. Student must also be a Georgia resident, working towards a degree. Additional eligibility requirements can be found at GAFutures.org. Students are ineligible for the Hope Scholarship and the Zell Miller Scholarship if the student has:
  • Received payment from any combination of Hope Scholarship, Zell Miller Scholarship, Hope Grant, and Accel Program funds (through Spring term 2011) totaling 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of credit; or
  • Attempted 127 semester (190 quarter) hours of college degree credit, regardless of whether or not Hope or Zell Miller funds were received while attempting the hours; or
  • Receives a scholarship that pays more than 30% of the tuition (i.e. NROTC Scholarships); or
  • Earned a baccalaureate (four-year) college degree, regardless of whether or not Hope or Zell Miller funds were received while earning the degree; or
  • Reached the Seven Year Expiration of Eligibility date.
• If eligible, a student may receive the Federal Pell Grant for no more than 12 semesters of a full time enrollment (roughly six years).
• Students awarded Federal Work-study must work first before receiving payment or funds being applied to student account.
• Federal Student Loans must be accepted in PAWS.  In addition, first time students will need to complete the master promissory note and entrance counseling at www.studentloans.gov before funds can disburse.
• Special admit, transient, and high school joint enrolled students are not eligible for federal and institutional funds. Transient students receive their federal award from their home institution.
• Any refunds due as a result of federal funds (Pell, SEOG, federal student and parent loans) credited to your PAWS student account will be disbursed to you within 14 days of the date the funds were credited to your PAWS student account. Refunds, as a result of state funds credited ARE NOT subject to the 14 day rule and a refund will be issued when funds from the State of Georgia are received.  Contact the Bursar’s Office if you have questions about your refund.
• Refer to the Loan Disclosure Statement for the U. S. Department of Education and Banner Web for the expected student loan disbursement date. Disbursement notifications are sent by email to your SSU campus email address after each loan disbursement.
• If you withdraw before the 60% mark of the semester, federal funds will be adjusted based on the federal funds awarded for the semester times the percent attended for the semester. In some cases, state funds will be removed.
• All students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) each semester to remain eligible for federal, state and institutional funds. That is:
  • Earn 67% of the cumulative hours attempted.
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA (1-29 earn hours, 1.7; 30-59 earn hours, 1.85; 60 or more, 2.0; Graduate Students 3.0).
  • Do not exceed 150% of the hours to complete the program of study.
• Awards are based on the current SAP calculation. SAP is calculated at the end of each semester. If suspended, aid may appear on PAWS. However, aid will not disburse until your SAP appeal is approved.
• Parents of dependent students can apply for the Federal Direct Parent Plus Loan to help cover the cost.  Parents can apply at https://www.studentloans.gov.
• Please check PAWS for changes to your award. An email will be sent when an adjustment is made. 
• You must complete a new FAFSA for the next academic year, starting October 1.