Financial Aid Application Procedures
Instructions on Electronic Filing
Please Read CarefullyThe purpose of this instruction sheet is to provide you with the necessary information that you need to successfully complete the financial aid application process. We want to be sure that you receive all of the financial aid for which you are eligible. Please contact us if you have any questions. We are here to assist you! You can email us at: MA-FinAid@mcc.commnet.edu
Student's Responsibility
Manchester Community College expects the student to initiate the application process in a timely manner, and considers it the student's responsibility to complete the application on time. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Students and their families should be aware that they are completing applications for federal, state, and institutional funds. Students are also expected to be familiar with the general provisions of financial aid. To help you understand this process, Financial Aid Workshops are held throughout the year. Information on financial aid programs, regulations, and procedures are found in the College catalog as well as the Financial Aid Office web page. Deliberately misreporting can result in criminal and civil liabilities. Late applicants will be awarded based on fund availability. Application materials cannot be accepted after the student's last date of attendance.Priority Timetable
While we accept applications all year, in order to ensure priority consideration, your results from the FAFSA and any other required documentation must be received in the Financial Aid Office at Manchester Community College by May 15 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester.Getting Started
Manchester Community College, in conjunction with all other community colleges in Connecticut, has developed this new on-line financial aid process to encourage students to electronically apply for financial aid. Our effort supports the activities of the U.S. Department of Education in making electronic delivery of student financial aid a reality for students. We hope to improve our services to students and assist you in completing the financial aid process.Important: You do not have to own a personal computer to participate in this project or to apply for financial aid from Manchester Community College. However, you do need to have access to a computer with Internet access. Many public libraries, high schools, adult education centers and community centers offer FREE access to students. Also, there are many computers available for student use at Manchester Community College. These computers are located in computer labs, Financial Aid Office, the Library and Academic Support Center.
To participate in this electronic project, you must have a basic understanding of a personal computer and the Internet. If you need assistance, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 860-512-3380 or come by our office, Lowe 177.
Also, please remember that MCC cannot award you financial aid until you are officially accepted into an eligible certificate or degree program.
Getting an Email Address
It is essential that you have an email address to participate fully in this endeavor. If you do not already have a personal email address, you can obtain one for FREE at many web sites on the Internet. For example, both Yahoo! (www.mail.yahoo.com) and MSN Hotmail (www.hotmail.com) provide free email services and registration and it only takes a few minutes.You will provide your email address to the U.S. Department of Education and Manchester Community College, and both will communicate with you about your financial aid application by sending information to your email address.
Applying for a PIN (Personal Identification Number)
It is important that you apply for a PIN. You can obtain a PIN electronically by going to the government's PIN site (www.pin.ed.gov). If you are not sure whether or not you have a PIN already, you can go to the same website to check. Now that you have an email address, the Department of Education will email you directions on how to obtain your PIN from a secure website. Allow 3 days to secure your PIN.FAFSA on the Web
To apply for financial aid at Manchester Community College, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) You will need to visit the FAFSA on the Web (www.fafsa.ed.gov) site for the application. You will need personal information documents to complete the electronic application.What do I need to fill out the FAFSA?
You will need records for income earned in the year prior to when you will start school. You may also need records of your parent(s)' income information. For the upcoming school year, you will need the prior year's information. (For example, 2010 income records for academic year 2011-12, 2011 records for academic year 2012-13).You will need to refer to:
- Your Social Security card and driver's license
- W-2 forms or other records of income earned
- Your (and your spouse's, if you are married) Federal Income Tax Return
- Your parent(s)' Federal Tax Form
- Records of other untaxed income received such as welfare benefits, social security benefits, TANF, veteran's benefits or military or clergy allowances
- Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds, and other investments
- Business or farm records, if applicable
- Your alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
Since you have a PIN, you can sign your application electronically. If your parent(s) is required to sign the application, your parent(s) can obtain a PIN by following Step 2 as indicated previously. By filing this electronic application, you are applying for federal, state and college financial aid. This electronic application process takes 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete. If you provide the Department of Education with your email address, you will be notified when the results from your application are available to you at a secure website.
Need help filling out your FAFSA? MCC is a host site for College Goal Sunday. For more information, visit collegegoalsundayct.org.
Using the Student Information Online System
Now that you've applied for financial aid from the U.S. Department of Higher Education and Manchester Community College, you can track your financial application and award information on the Internet by using Manchester Community College's online student information system (myCommNet).To use this system, you need to know your Banner ID number and Banner PIN (this PIN is different from your U.S. Department of Education PIN mentioned earlier). When you applied for admission at Manchester Community College, you were given these numbers. Your User ID is Ò@Ó followed by your 8-digit student number (for example: @12345678.) Your initial PIN is your date of birth in the format mmddyy (for example: 010482). You will be asked to change your PIN when you first log in. If you don't remember your Banner ID number, you must contact the Registrar's Office at Manchester Community College to get this information.
In addition to being able to track your financial aid application online, you will be able to download any documents you may need to complete your application requirements. You can then print out these documents and either mail or drop them off at the Financial Aid office. To inform you of your application status, we will periodically email you and direct you to visit the online system to check your list of missing documents. You should make sure you log into the Online student information system weekly to stay current with your financial aid information and news.
Your Financial Aid Award
When we complete our review of your financial aid application, we will notify you at your email address and direct you to the online student information system. You will be able to view your financial aid award and make decisions about your awards over the Internet. We will assume that you want to accept any grants (free money) that you are eligible for, but there may be additional awards (like student loans or work-study jobs) that you have the option to accept or decline.Accepting Financial Aid Awards/Book Credits
Online, you can review and adjust your financial aid awards, complete award requirements, and email the Financial Aid Office with your questions and concerns. Your use of the student information system allows you to have access to your financial aid information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For further information, please contact:
Phone: 860.512.3380
Fax: 860.512-3381
Email: MA-FinAid@mcc.commnet.edu
Verification
You may be selected by the Department of Education or the MCC Financial Aid Office for a process called verification, in which case you will be required to submit certain documentation in order for processing to continue on your financial aid application. Students will be notified of the documentation required. Failure to submit completed verification documents to the Financial Aid Office can result in:- Loss of financial aid for the semester or academic year.
- Loan not being approved.
- Future applications for aid not being processed.
Student Direct Loans
- You must first have your financial aid application reviewed before you can apply for a student direct loan. Loan applications are available at the MCC Financial Aid Office.
- Students are advised to wait for a complete review of their eligibility for other forms of financial aid before submitting loan applications.
- Students who are applying for loan must also have completed the above application process.
- The deadline for submission of loan applications to the MCC Financial Aid Office is April 1. At this time the student must have all the necessary paperwork on file.
