Financial Aid Time Line for 2009-10

Summer 2008	Explore  all financial aid opportunities.  A good place to start:  Undergraduates or Graduates
Fall 2008	Investigate all scholarship opportunities and file applications by deadlines.  Visit our Outside scholarship page.
January/ February 2009	File  the FAFSA. Students who file after March will be considered for aid available.  Also, funds may not be available to students at the beginning of classes for late application completion. Students will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor within 4 weeks after filing the FAFSA.  This will be delivered by mail or e-mail. RU Financial Aid Office Open House for 2009-2010. High school students should watch for Financial Aid Nights during December and January at their high school.
March 1, 2009 Priority filing date	2009-2010 and Summer 2009 Financial Aid Application Priority Deadline.
After March 2009	Students will receive letters from the RU Financial Aid Office requesting documents needed to complete their application New Students - Award letters begin to go out late March or early April. Returning Students - Award letters begin to go out June 15. Reminder letters begin to go out for all students in late March with requests for documents to complete financial aid applications.  Documents that are requested must be returned within 30 days.  Students can use the Student Information System to check the status of their application and to see when documents sent have been received.
May 2009	RU tuition, fee, room, and board charges are determined. Stafford Loans will begin to be processed for students who have completed their application.  To understand the process, click here.  Students will receive notification by letter or e-mail that their loan has been processed.  New borrowers will need to sign a Master Promissory Note.  Review instructions in the e-mail or on the letter.
June 2009	Quest sessions will be held for new students. All students should compare the financial aid awarded to them to the university charges that they will owe and determine if they need to apply for Parent or Alternative Loans.  Cost information and calculators can be located on this site.  Click here for undergraduate costs and here for graduate costs.  Families may want to set up the Highlander Choice Payment Plan for balances owed.  Students who will have excess financial aid should apply for a Bookstore Voucher if they want to receive their books beginning with the week before classes begin. Students who receive a work award on their award letter may begin to locate a work position by reviewing open positions on the web. New Stafford Loan borrowers will need to do their Entrance Interview on the web.   New Perkins Loan borrowers will need to do an Entrance Interview on the web.
July  2009	Deadline for Payment of Fall Tuition and Fees Bills will be mailed to students in July.  If a student's bill shows that there is a balance due, the student must pay the difference or make arrangements to pay the difference - Highlander Choice, Parent Loans, Alternative Loans.  Students who have approved money coming from a Parent Loan, Alternative Loan, or private scholarship may use the tuition  voucher that is included in the billing statement to notify Student Accounts.  Please remember to attach documentation to your tuition voucher to show that money is being sent from a Parent Loan, Alternative Loan, or private scholarship to cover charges.  For more information on tuition vouchers, click here.  Students who have excess financial aid monies may want to complete a bookstore voucher.
August 31,  2009 Classes Begin	Payment of financial aid funds begin for finalized financial aid awards.  Students can check the disbursement of their funds by viewing their student account on the Student Information System. Student may also check the status of their financial aid application using the Student Information System. Students who have completed Stafford Loan applications and have set up  direct deposit will have their excess funds (money remaining after university charges are paid) delivered to their bank accounts beginning the first week of classes.  Refunds of excess money on student's RU account will begin the second week of classes.  Students can view their student account to see when refunds have been sent.
September 13, 2009	Any students may apply for work positions on campus that are open, regardless of filing the FAFSA.  Positions are posted on this website.
Fall semester	Students should be aware of the financial aid process and maintaining eligibility for financial aid: Enrollment is verified at census date.  Financial aid  will be adjusted or cancelled (if the aid award requires full-time enrollment) for students enrolling part-time.   Know the requirements for each of your awards.  Graduates should click here. Class attendance is checked twice each semester.  Failure to attend class could result in a student's repayment of financial aid funds and jeopardize future financial aid eligibility.  Click here for additional information. Students who have to withdraw from a class should be aware of the Financial Aid Progress Policy. Students who withdraw from all classes should be aware of the Financial Aid Progress Policy and the financial aid regulations regarding withdrawal.
Nov. - Dec. 2009	Federal processor mails 2010- 2011 Renewal FAFSA information  to students.
Dec. 4, 2009 DEADLINE	Last day to finalize financial aid applications for Fall 2009 All documents and forms needed to complete financial aid applications and receive funds for Fall 2009 must be received by this date. Student must be enrolled at the time of application completion.
Dec. 2009	Deadline for payment of tuition and fees for Spring semester 2010 Bills will be mailed to students in November.  If a student's bill shows that there is a balance due, the student must pay the difference or make arrangements to pay the difference - Highlander Choice, Parent Loans, Alternative Loans.  Students who have approved money coming from a Parent Loan, Alternative Loan, or private scholarship may use the voucher that is included in the billing statement to notify Student Accounts.  Please remember to attach documentation to your tuition voucher to show that money is being sent from a Parent Loan, Alternative Loan, or private scholarship to cover charges.  For more information on tuition vouchers, click here.
January 1, 2010	Reapply for financial aid for 2009-2010.  See calendar and home page for details.  Financial Aid Awareness Activities will occur in Late January.  Students should apply for Foundation Scholarships.  Applications will be available at Awareness Activities.
January 2010	Payment of financial aid funds begin for finalized financial aid awards.  Students can check the disbursement of their funds by viewing their student account on the Student Information System. Student may also check the status of their financial aid application using the Student Information System. Students who have completed Stafford Loan applications and have set up  direct deposit will have their excess funds delivered to their bank accounts beginning the first week of classes.  Refunds of excess money on student's RU account will begin the second week of classes.  Students can view their student account to see when refunds have been sent.
Spring 2010	Students should be aware of the financial aid process and maintaining eligibility for financial aid: Enrollment is verified at census date.  Financial aid  will be adjusted or cancelled (if the aid award requires full-time enrollment) for students enrolling part-time.   Know the requirements for each of your awards.  Graduates should click here. Class attendance is checked twice each semester.  Failure to attend class could result in a student's repayment of financial aid funds and jeopardize future financial aid eligibility.  Click here for additional information. Students who have to withdraw from a class should be aware of the Financial Aid Progress Policy. Students who withdraw from all classes should be aware of the Financial Aid Progress Policy and the financial aid regulations regarding withdrawal.
February 1, 2010 Priority filing date	2010-2011 and Summer 2010 Financial Aid Application Priority Deadline.
April 23, 2010 DEADLINE	Last day to finalize financial aid applications for Spring 2010 All documents and forms needed to complete financial aid applications and receive funds for Spring 2009 must be received by this date.   Student must be enrolled at the time of application completion.