Rights and Responsibilities

Rights

As a financial aid recipient you have the right to:

• Know the types of aid programs available to you. This includes all federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.
• Know what resources (parental resources, assets, etc.) were considered in the calculation of your financial need.
• Know your cost of attendance and how much financial need is being met, as determined by Brooklyn College.
• Know what portion of your aid package is grant or gift aid, and what portion must be repaid.
• Know the conditions of any loan you accept or apply for (interest rates, repayment amount, length of repayment, and when repayment starts).
• Know the deadlines for submitting applications for all available financial aid programs.
• Request re-evaluation of your eligibility or appeal if your circumstances change.
• Appeal failure to meet Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• Know the method and frequency of financial aid disbursements.

Additional Information

• Cost of Attendance
• Federal Aid Unusual and Special Circumstance Appeal Process
• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Federal Work-Study Student Process Guide
• Federal Direct Loan Information
• Federal Direct Loan Repayment

Responsibilities

As a financial aid recipient, you have the responsibility to:

• Be aware of your ability to pay institutional charges based on your available financial aid and personal resources.
• Reapply for financial aid (federal and state programs) every year by the specified deadlines.
• Review and understand the terms of your financial aid offers annually.
• Use financial aid and bursar services, including advisement, to help you better understand your aid package and tuition liability if necessary
• Report all outside financial assistance or additional resources that you receive to the Brooklyn College Office of Financial Aid.
• Comply with all of the Federal-Work Study (FWS) processes and program requirements if employed in a FWS position.
• Repay any loans (public or private) you receive.
• Understand all forms/agreements you are asked to sign as you are responsible for all agreements and forms that you sign.
• Provide/upload all documents requested by the Brooklyn College Office of Financial Aid in a timely manner to avoid a delay in processing your aid. You must meet any published deadlines.
• Keep your contact information (postal address, e-mail, and telephone) current in CUNYfirst.
• Regularly check your Brooklyn College e-mail for correspondence regarding your financial aid or tuition and fees balance.
• Regularly check CUNYfirst for outstanding “to do” list items or “holds” that affect your aid eligibility, or due to a balance you might owe or to enroll and take action accordingly.
• Continue to make satisfactory academic progress for federal and state student aid  programs.
• Know and comply with all policies and procedures of Brooklyn College- CUNY.
• Attend classes for which you enroll.
• Manage your financial aid experience.

Your Responsibilities

• Keep all your contact information (postal address, e-mail, and telephone) current by updating your CUNYfirst account as soon as any changes occur.
• Check your Brooklyn College e-mail and your CUNYfirst account frequently for messages regarding your financial aid status and your student account.
• Complete your applications accurately and provide correct information at all times. Reporting false information is a violation of the law and may be considered a criminal offense.
• Be aware of and meet all deadlines for applying or reapplying for financial aid. You must complete your applications sufficiently in advance so that processing may be completed by the stated deadline.
• Submit any additional information or documents required by the Financial Aid Office before the stated deadline.
• Keep your parents informed of all financial aid requirements and deadlines if you are a dependent student.
• Read and understand all forms you are asked to sign and keep a copy of each.
• Notify the Financial Aid Office if the information reported on your financial aid application has changed.
• Notify the Financial Aid Office if at any time during the year you receive any type of financial assistance that is not listed on your award notice.
• Notify the Financial Aid Office if you are receiving financial aid for attendance at another institution while attending Brooklyn College.
• Know and comply with all terms, conditions, and policies associated with the awards you receive.
• Begin attendance in your classes to qualify for any financial aid payments. Financial aid is awarded with the expectation that you will attend school for the entire period for which your aid was intended.
• Continue to make satisfactory academic progress in your program of study according to college, state, and federal standards.

Your Rights

• Know what financial aid programs are available, including information on all federal and state grants, loans, and institutional financial aid programs.
• Know the application procedures and deadlines for each of the available financial aid programs.
• Know how your financial aid eligibility is determined.
• Know how financial aid is awarded and the basis for these decisions. Know how and when financial aid is disbursed. Learn more.
• Know how and when financial aid is disbursed. Learn more.
• Know how Brooklyn College determines whether you are making federal satisfactory academic progress, and what happens if you are not. Learn more.
• Meet with a financial aid adviser to address special or unusual circumstances. Learn more.
• Confidentiality of your personal information. All records and information submitted with your application for financial aid are confidential and subject to legal requirements concerning disclosure of such information.
• Know about the college’s tuition refund policies if you have to withdraw from school after the semester begins. Learn more.
• Know what effect withdrawals will have on your eligibility for financial aid payments. Learn more.
• You have additional rights and responsibilities if you receive a Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct Loan, or Federal Work-Study.