In 2015, The Education Trust released "The Pell Partnership: Ensuring a Shared Responsibility for Low-Income Student Success." This analysis of over 1,000 public and private institutions revealed that while Pell grant recipients graduate at rates averaging 14 percentage points lower than non-Pell eligible students, many institutions do…

Community colleges have maintained a mission and commitment to open access. Likewise, Federal Pell Grants have historically served as a primary means for low income populations to afford higher education. Thus, community college students and Federal Pell Grants are important parts of the American higher education landscape and a mode of social and…

In recent months, some legislators, government agency officials, segments of the media, and campus administrators have called attention to perceived and proven instances of abuse of the federal student financial assistance programs. Concerns have focused on students enrolling in courses primarily to secure student financial aid funds rather than…

This year, more students are applying and qualifying for need-based financial aid and more financial aid offices are being asked to reassess financial aid packages to reflect recent changes to families' financial situations, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. "This survey…

The Academic Competitiveness (AC) and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants were established by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The grants provide merit-based financial aid to certain low-income college students eligible for Federal Pell Grants and are administered by the Department of Education (Education).…

This training manual is intended for higher education institutions that process Federal Pell Grants under a new system called the recipient financial management system (RFMS). The RFMS system is part of the electronic data exchange process which allows schools to send and receive Title IV student financial aid application data to and from the…

Information is provided on the Student Aid Report (SAR), which is used to determine student eligibility for Pell Grants. Four to six weeks after a student submits a 1986-87 "Application for Federal Student Aid" or one of the non-federal applications, the student will receive the SAR. The student's eligibility status determines which of…

This guide is intended to assist institutions of higher education as they evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of their administration of financial aid programs and compliance with federal laws and regulations, especially Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The guide goes beyond federal requirements to include other good administrative…

This workbook for financial aid administrators was intended for use at a four-day workshop and provides information and detailed instructions on how to apply for and document applications for student financial assistance. Each section first outlines some basic rules and timetables and then uses a questions-and-answer format and sample documents to…

Module 10 of a 17-module self-instructional course in student financial aid administration (for novice student financial aid officers and other institutional personnel) examines the Pell Grant program's eligibility requirements and award calculation procedures. It is part of a complete system teaching management of federal financial aid programs…

This workbook for financial aid administrators was intended for use at a 4-day workshop and provides information and detailed instructions on how to apply for and document applications for student financial assistance. Each section first outlines some basic rules and timetables, then uses a question-and-answer format and sample documents to guide…

The primary purpose of this handbook, which provides information on sources of financial aid and how to apply for it from the programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education, is to help financial aid administrators advise students in seeking financial aid for postsecondary education. The handbook is divided into three sections: (1) Part…

The seventh module in a 17-module self-instructional course on student financial aid administration (designed for novice student financial aid administrators and other personnel) teaches how to calculate the cost of attendance. It provides a systematic introduction to the management of federal financial aid programs authorized by the Higher…

This guide is intended as a self-evaluation questionnaire for those institutions conducting internal reviews of financial aid programs and of their compliance with federal regulations. It addresses recommended good administrative practices with a view to minimizing incidents of misrepresentation and providing a clear audit trail. Title IV programs…

The need for efficient and effective systems to deliver financial assistance to students and to administer the Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL) program is assessed, and recommendations for improving delivery systems are provided. Attention is directed to the delivery of Pell Grant and campus-based assistance, the provision of information to current…