FAQs

No. Regular operating hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday. However, during peak times, hours may be adjusted to expedite the processing of student files. Lines will be closed at an appropriate time to avoid excessive wait times and allow the service of students by the published closing time.

Always update your address on OneACCS. Financial Aid checks are mailed to the address on file in the Admissions and Records Office.

Yes, especially if you are interested in the Federal Work-Study, a scholarship or private student loan.

Please contact the Help Desk.

Visit the Gadsden State Catalog to identify your program of study. Each program has a list of contacts that can be called to connect you with the appropriate advisor.

Your financial aid offer may be reduced if you fail to begin attendance in classes, withdraw from classes prior to the Pell Recalculation Date/Freeze (10 days after the first day of full term classes), and/or enroll for classes not required for your declared major. You may be obligated to repay the difference between the amount of funds offered and the amount recalculated.

Additionally, if you do not successfully complete your full period of enrollment (either completely withdraw or do not pass at least one class that spanned your entire enrollment period), you may owe a repayment to the U.S. Department of Education and/or the College. The amount of the repayment is determined by the federal Return of Title IV Funds calculation. Note, reducing your enrollment status may also affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and cause you to lose your eligibility to receive financial aid.

You need to apply for financial aid every year. The easiest way to remember when to file a new FAFSA application is to do so when you file your federal taxes. Please keep deadlines in mind.

Gadsden State’s priority date is April 15 for the upcoming school year. To ensure financial aid processing before classes begin, the FAFSA must be completed at least 15 business days before the first day of the semester, and all verification documents must be received at least 10 business days before the first day of the semester.

001017

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Be sure to add the Gadsden State college code (001017), so your application will be sent to Gadsden State. Follow up on your Gadsden State email account and OneACCS approximately 5-7 business days after completing your FAFSA to see what requirements, if any, are needed. All submitted documents requested will be reviewed and any necessary corrections made. Continue to check OneACCS for your award by clicking on Student > Student Landing Page > Financial Aid Dashboard > Award. 

The online application process has been simplified and is user-friendly. If you don’t have access to a computer, there are computers available for use on all Gadsden State campuses or at your local public library. Paper copies are available by calling 1-800-433-3243. You must mail paper applications to the Federal Student Aid Program.

The parent you lived with the most during the past year should complete the FAFSA with you. If you lived alone or lived equally with each parent, use the information of the parent who provided you with the most financial support. (It does not make a difference which parent claimed you as a dependent for tax purposes.) Also remember, you will need to enter the stepparent’s personal and tax information if the parent you lived with has remarried.

Unless you can truthfully answer “yes” to at least one of the dependency questions on the FAFSA, the Federal Government requires you to enter your parent’s personal and tax information.

If there is no income earned from work and Social Security benefits are untaxed, answer tax-related questions as "Not Filing a Tax Return" with zero income.

 Students and parents who have completed their tax returns may be eligible to use the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) and transfer tax information directly into the FAFSA.  The DRT is the easiest way to provide your (or your parents’/spouse’s) tax information on your FAFSA.  The DRT accurately enters your tax information into your application.  There are some situations where an applicant will not be eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

Get Transcript from the IRS website is the most convenient way to get your transcript.

The Federal Processing Center randomly chooses applicants and requires the College to verify the information provided. Again, it is a random process and does not necessarily mean anything is wrong. If selected, no award will be made until all verification is complete.

Award notifications post in your OneACCS account. Check OneACCS under Student > Student Landing Page > Financial Aid Dashboard > Award. 

Full-time enrollment is not required to receive Federal Pell Grant funds. If attending less than full time, your award will decrease accordingly. However, if your EFC is very high, you may not be eligible unless enrolled full time.

Bookstore purchases can be charged to your financial aid typically 10 days before the first day of class. At the start of classes, aid will be adjusted based on attendance.

Mini-terms may or may not be covered by financial aid depending on the date you register for the course. Financial aid disburses based on enrollment as of the Financial Aid Enrollment Freeze/Census date listed on the college calendar. FREEZE will be 10 days after (and not including) the first day of full-term classes.  (Remember, if the freeze/census date falls on an off day - holiday or weekend – the freeze will occur the next business day.) The freeze date is a snapshot of the student’s enrollment for the term and aid disburses based on enrollment on this date.

The award amount posted on OneACCS is for the academic school year (August-July). Pell Grant awards assume full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours) and are decreased accordingly for any status below full time. If enrolled during the Fall and Spring terms for less than full time, the difference will be available for use in the Summer semester. Check OneACCS under Student > Student Landing Page > Financial Aid Dashboard > Award.

Pell-eligible students making Satisfactory Academic Progress may receive up to 50% of the initially-scheduled award (full-time amount awarded for Fall and Spring). Students must be enrolled at least half-time (6-8 credit hours) during the Summer term to receive additional funds.
 

If a student has not used all of the initially-scheduled award, the rest of the scheduled award will be used first. If less than 100% of the scheduled award remains, then the remainder and part of the additional 50% will be used. Below are some examples for a student who is eligible for $4,000 for the year. 

• If a student enrolled full time ($2,000) in the fall and three-quarter time ($1,500) in the Spring, funds ($500) from the initially-scheduled award would remain.  If enrolled half-time in the Summer, the student would be eligible for $1,000.  The Pell payment would include the remaining amount of the initially-scheduled award ($500) plus additional year-round funds ($500).
• If a student attends full time in the Fall and Spring, no Pell funds from the initial schedule award would be remaining.  But, the student could receive Year Round Pell funds so long as the student registers for at least six credit hours.

Remember that aid will continue to be prorated based on enrolled and attended hours.  All Pell Grant funds received, including additional funds beyond the initially-scheduled award, must be counted towards the student’s overall lifetime eligibility limits.

Remaining funds should mail approximately two weeks after the drop/add period ends. Checks will mail to the address on file in the Admissions and Records Office. It is recommended you confirm your address is correct on OneACCS.

This is the amount of your credit balance. The Business Office begins issuing refund checks approximately two weeks after the drop/add period ends for the semester.

No. It is College policy that all checks are mailed.

The first credit balance checks are issued approximately two weeks after the drop/add period.  After this initial disbursement, credit balance checks are issued by the Financial Aid Office weekly and are typically mailed on Fridays.

You should wait two weeks from the date your check mailed to allow sufficient time for the Post Office to deliver the check or for the check to be returned to the College if undeliverable. Once two weeks have passed, please contact the Financial Aid Office if you would like to request a stop payment on your check and have another check issued. Please note, once a stop payment has been issued, that check is null and void.

Several issues may have caused your check amount to be reduced. If your class attendance has not yet been reported, funds are reduced. Enrollment in a course outside of your major could cause your funds to decrease. Also, if you are taking a class that begins later in the term (Mini II), your award will be reduced until you start attending that class and attendance is reported.

Always update your address on OneACCS when you move. Checks are mailed to the address you have in the Admissions and Records Office. If your check is returned to the College, you will receive a call from the Financial Aid Office.

Withdrawing before the freeze/census date or completely withdrawing from the College before the 60% date could cause your award to decrease, thereby possibly making you owe money. Withdrawing from classes will also affect your SAP, potentially causing you to lose your financial aid eligibility. It’s best to talk with someone in the Financial Aid Office before you withdraw from a class or completely withdraw.

If you fail to achieve the required cumulative GPA or do not successfully complete the required percentage of hours, you will be placed on financial aid warning for one semester. You can still receive Pell funds in your warning semester. The warning will be lifted in a subsequent term if you attain the required cumulative GPA and successfully complete the required percentage of hours. If you do not achieve required SAP, you will lose your eligibility.

Your financial aid (Pell Grant or loan) cannot be applied until grades have officially posted for the classes you are currently taking and until your SAP is re-evaluated.  Of course, if you want to register before grades are officially posted, you can register and make payment. If you are meeting SAP after grades post, your aid will apply to your tuition charges.

Per federal regulations, you have one-and-a-half times the length of your chosen program to complete it. Once you reach this maximum time frame, MAX will appear as your eligibility. Students with MAX status are not eligible to receive federal financial aid.

If a student failed to make SAP or has reached MAX, the student may file an appeal by submitting a Financial Aid Appeal Form and any required documentation to the Financial Aid Office. These forms are available on OneACCS under your student requirements after failing to meet the SAP eligibility standards. If an appeal is approved, be sure to follow all instructions of the appeal decision. Incomplete appeals will not be reviewed; and, there is no appeal for Lifetime Eligibility.

Appeal decisions post in OneACCS. View the decision under Student > Student Landing Page > Financial Aid Dashboard > Notifications. You can also view your current status by selecting the Satisfactory Academic Progress menu item across the top of the page.

Filing academic bankruptcy will not improve your SAP. If you are interested in academic bankruptcy, please visit the Admissions and Records Office or reference the catalog for this information.

The maximum Pell Lifetime Eligibility a student is eligible to receive is limited to 12 full-time semesters (six years) or 600%.

To find out the amount you have used, visit the National Student Loan Data System. If you have questions about the percentage used, please call the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-621-3115. 

Yes, a completed FAFSA application is important for those interested in a private school loan, scholarship or Federal Work-Study.

Gadsden State accepts private loans. Participating lenders include KHEAA, Lendkey, PNC Bank, Regions Bank (partnered with Sallie Mae) and Sallie Mae. In addition to the lenders listed, Gadsden State will certify a private educational loan from any lender for eligible students. Visit the Loans page for more information.

No. Gadsden State only accepts private loans.

Learn more in the Financial Aid Policies and Procedures Manual.

The Federal Work-Study Program provides part-time jobs for students with financial need allow students to earn money to help pay educational expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to fields of study.

Review the work-study student regulations form.

Your hourly wage will be at least the current federal minimum wage. The current rate of pay is $9.00/hour for those working on campus and $9.50 for those working at community service jobs off-campus.(NOTE: This rate is subject to change.)

Students are paid at the end of each month. All student employees are required to have payroll checks direct deposited. Student employees are given a payroll calendar when hired displaying the actual date of the direct deposit.

Both. If you work on campus, you will work in one of the departments at Gadsden State. If you work off campus, your employer will typically be a nonprofit organization or a public agency, such as the Boys and Girls Club and the Red Cross.

No. Federal work-study students can work in only one department at a time.

The number of hours will be determined once hired based on remaining need and the departmental needs. The FWS contract will have the assigned department, the rate of pay, the number of hours eligible to work and the contract length. You and your supervisor will determine your work schedule around your class schedule. Students typically work between 8 and 15 hours per week.

Students can work only during the dates listed on the contract. Students cannot work when the campus is closed or during scheduled class times.

Yes. It is the official policy of the Alabama State Board of Education and Gadsden State Community College, a postsecondary institution under its control, that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, disability, sex, religion, creed, national origin or age, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any of its programs, activities or employment. Inquiries related to this policy may be directed to Dr. Tera Simmons, Executive Vice President, 256-549-8230, tsimmons@dos5.net.

• Ayers Campus | Princess King | 256-835-5423 | pking@dos5.net 
• Cherokee Campus | Kaley Tidmore | 256-835-5467 | ktidmore@dos5.net
• Gadsden Campuses | Susan Smith | 256-549-8207 | ssmith@dos5.net