General Policies

Evening division students are eligible to apply for Pennsylvania State grants, Pell grants, and Stafford loans.  Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Because of the discounted tuition in the Continuing Studies Division, students are not eligible for Alvernia College aid.

Students must be accepted in a degree program to be eligible for financial aid.  This form is available in the Continuing Studies Division, an academic year consists of four eight-week modules.

Pennsylvania State Grant
For the Pennsylvania State Grant, the first "semester consists of modules 1 and 2 and the second "semester" consists of modules 3 and 4.  Grants are credited twice during the academic year: after the add/drop period of the second module of each "semester." If students have not used up all of their Pell Grant eligibility in the first and second semesters, they may receive a state grant in the summer.  These forms are available in April.  Grants are credited after the add/drop period of the second module each "semester."

Full time status: To receive a full time state grant, a student must enroll in a total of 12 credits in each "semester."

Part time status: To receive a part time state grant, a student must enroll in at least 6 credits in each "semester."

Pell Grant
For the Pell Grant, the first "semester" consists of modules 1 and 2 and the second "semester" consists of modules 3 and 4.  Grants are credited twice during the academic year: after the add/drop period of the second module of each "semester." If students have not used up all of their Pell Grant eligibility in the first and second semesters, they may receive the remainder in modules 5 and 6.

Stafford Loan and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
Loan applications will be mailed from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) after the student completes a FAFSA.  Loans will be certified on a case-by-case basis depending upon the academic level and transfer credits of the student.  Annual loan terms for Stafford and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are based on a minimum of 4 modules per year.  In order to make progress, students who receive maximum loan eligibility during this period must complete a minimum of 24 credits before they are eligible for another loan maximum.  For certification of loans, six credits per module is considered full time and three credits per module is considered half time.  In all cases, students must be making satisfactory progress (see "Academic Progress Standards") toward a degree before they eligible for another loan.

Deferment and Out-of-School Policy
For deferment purposes, six credits per module is considered full time and three credits per module is considered half time.  Enrollment status if verified throughout the year and is reported to a clearinghouse by the Registrar's Office.  A student will be reported out-of-school to his or her lender if he or she does not enroll for two consecutive modules.

Academic Progress Standards
To maintain eligibility for financial aid, Continuing Studies Division students must follow the Financial Aid Academic Progress Standards.  In order to make progress, students receiving maximum loan eligibility must complete a minimum of 24 credits before they are eligible for another loan maximum.  Pell and Pennsylvania State Grant recipients must complete credits attempted and achieve a certain GPA.  These standards are available in the Financial Aid Office and are distributed to every student who applies for financial aid.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Alvernia College
Financial Aid Office
(610) 796-8356

Updated: September 6, 2005

Your comments are welcome.