Verification - Your Financial Aid Award may be subject to a process called Verification. A student’s file may be selected for verification by either the school or by the U.S. Department of Education. If a student’s file is selected for verification, the school will verify the information you provided on the FAFSA is accurate. Verification is done by collecting documentation such as Federal Tax Returns, Verification worksheets, and other information deemed necessary by the institution including, but not limited to, social security benefit documentation, divorce decrees, or W_2 forms.

It is the student’s responsibility to comply with any and all requests by the institution for verification material. The institution will withhold financial aid payments from any student who has not completed the verification requirements within the prescribed deadlines. Students will be required to correct any information that is found to be inconsistent as a result of the verification process. The verification process is not considered to be complete during periods of corrective action. Corrections generally include a recalculation of the student’s EFC, and resubmission through the Central Processor.

Students will forfeit their right to federal assistance for noncompliance with verification policies.

Types of Federal Title IV Assistance Available

PELL GRANT a need based federal grant; the amount of which is determined by the Pell Grant Expected Family Contribution (EFC) reported on the SAR, your Cost of Attendance, your enrollment status, congressional budget restrictions, and other factors.

SUBSIDIZED LOAN a need based loan, for dependent and independent students, the amount of which is determined by the EFC and Cost of Attendance. The interest is deferred during enrollment and during grace periods.

UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN a non need based loan available to independent students, or dependent students whose parent has been denied a Parent Plus loan.

PARENT PLUS LOAN a non need based loan available to qualifying parents of dependent students to use for expenses related to the Cost of Attendance not covered by grants or other aid.

All loans are subject to a loan origination fee, insurance premium, and interest on the principal. The subsidized and unsubsidized loans have a six month grace period until repayment begins. Failure to return from a leave of absence may affect the grace period. Repayment begins six weeks after the last disbursement on the plus loan. Defaulting (failure to repay) on the loans permits the guarantee agency and the federal government to take all legal measures to collect the loan including possible denial of issuance or renewal of a vocational license in your chosen profession. Students who have defaulted on a prior student loan or owe an overpayment on a Pell Grant or SEOG, are not eligible to receive federal financial aid until their default or overpayment is cleared. Entrance and Exit interviews are a requirement for subsidized and unsubsidized student loans.

Return of Unearned Title IV Funds

Federal regulations state that students may forfeit a portion of their federal student financial assistance if they fail to complete the program of study in which they were enrolled. This policy affects students who received or were eligible to receive federal student financial assistance authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act such as, Pell Grant and Stafford or Plus loans awarded under the Federal Family Education Loan programs, who withdrew or were terminated from Commonwealth Institute on or after October 7, 2000 during the first 60% of any payment period (quarter).

Eligible Title IV aid recipients who fail to complete over 60% of a payment period are considered to have NOT earned all the federal aid that may have previously been awarded for that payment period. Accordingly, a required calculation will be performed to determine the portion of the unearned federal student aid that must be returned to the U.S. Department of Education. This calculation will be done before a tuition refund calculation is performed in accordance with the institution’s refund policy. In many cases, the Return of Unearned Title IV Funds calculation will result in the student owing tuition and fees to the institution that would otherwise have been paid with federal student aid. This policy may also result in the student owing a refund of unearned federal aid to the Department of Education.

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION — Each state has a division of vocational and educational services operating in conjunction with the Department of Education offering aid to qualified applicants. Eligible persons must contact their respective state vocational rehabilitation office to determine sponsorship. Following counseling with the appropriate agency, the counselor must submit a purchase voucher to the college prior to the enrollment of the student.

VETERANS BENEFITS — The Associate of Applied Science Degree at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is approved for those individuals who wish to attend the college and receive benefits under the Veterans Educational Benefits Programs.

Students planning to attend with the aid of veterans benefits should inquire at the Office of Veterans Service prior to enrollment to obtain the necessary information relative to enrollment. The college should be contacted and informed of the intention of using veterans benefits. All completed forms must be returned to the Registrar’s Office at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service.

The college will send all necessary forms to the Veterans Service office at least 45 days prior to enrollment, provided the applicant has been accepted for enrollment. All students attending under the Veterans Educational Benefits Program must furnish the college with a copy of your Form DD-2 14.

SCHOLARSHIPS — Various scholarships are available to students enrolled and attending Commonwealth Institute through the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Information and applications concerning these scholarships may be obtained by writing the ABFSE, 38 Florida Avenue, Portland, Maine 04103 or by contacting Commonwealth Institute’s Financial Aid Office.

The Commonwealth Institute also conducts a scholarship program. Students who have successfully completed two quarters are eligible to apply. Available scholarships include: Sam and Elizabeth Garza Scholarship, Houston Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association Scholarship, John W. Morrow, Sr. Memorial Scholarship, Jack Renois Memorial Scholarship, Joe Montalbano Memorial Scholarship, R. E. Waltrip Memorial Scholarship, Texas Funeral Directors Association Scholarship, Rita Barber Scholarship, Trigard Vault Scholarship, and Southeast Texas Funeral Directors Association Scholarship.

Most scholarship awards are from $250 to $500, with the amount and number of awards based on funds available. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, leadership, and professional promise, as well as any stipulations by the donor, by a committee of Commonwealth Institute graduate employers, alumni, and benefactors.