Housatonic Community College

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

Please Read Carefully

The purpose of these instructions is to provide you with the necessary information to successfully complete the financial aid application process.  We want to be sure that you receive all the financial aid for which you are eligible.  Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you have any questions.

2010-2011 Priority Deadlines for Financial Aid Application

All students requesting financial aid must complete a new application each academic year.
Housatonic Community College accepts applications throughout the year.  However, in order to receive priority consideration for financial aid, you should complete your application by the following dates:
            May 1, 2010 for the Fall 2010/Spring 2011 academic year
            November 1, 2010 for the Spring 2011 semester only

How to Apply For Financial Aid

1. Get an email address
2. Apply for a PIN
3. Complete application online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
4. Track your financial aid status (with Banner ID)
5. Receive notification of award

1. Get an email address

The financial aid office at HCC will use email to keep you informed.  If you don’t have an email account, you can get one for free at www.gmail.com, www.yahoo.com, www.hotmail.com, and other providers.  You will need to provide your email address to both the U.S. Department of Education and Housatonic Community College.  The U.S. Department of Education and HCC will communicate with you about your financial aid application by sending information to your email address.

2. Apply for a PIN

If you don’t already have a federal student aid PIN (Personal Identification Number), go to www.pin.ed.gov.  The PIN will allow you to sign your federal student aid application online, saving you several weeks in processing time. 
Your PIN serves as your password to access private information on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
If you are under the age of 24, unmarried, and have no children you support, you are most likely a dependent student according to federal aid guidelines, and you must include your parents’ information in your application.  If you have to include parents’ information when you complete you federal aid application, your parents will also need to request a federal student aid PIN.  If you are not sure whether or not you have a PIN already, you can go to the same website to check. 

3. Complete application online at www.fafsa.ed.gov

Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and complete the federal student aid application online.  This site has a useful “pre-application worksheet” you may want to print out first.  You will need the Housatonic school code, 004513.  You can use computers to get on the internet at many public libraries (including the HCC library), high schools, adult education centers, community centers, as well as the HCC computer labs in Lafayette Hall, rooms A230 and A232, as well as labs in Beacon Hall, rooms 111, 111a, and 114.

Additionally, the financial aid office at HCC offers workshops to assist students with their federal applications for financial aid.  Workshops are generally offered year round. 

What do I need to fill out the FAFSA?

You will need records for income earned in the year prior to when you will start school.  You may also need records of your parents’ income information.  For the 2010-2011 school year, you will need 2009 information. 
Remember, if you are between the ages of 17-23, are not married, and have no children you support, you are most likely a dependent student and you will need your parents’ information to complete the FAFSA.

Overall, you will need:

• Your social security number
• Your driver’s license (if any)
• Your W-2 forms and other records of earnings
• Your (and your spouse’s if you are married) 2009 Federal Income Tax Return – IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, foreign tax return, or tax return for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia
• Your parents’ 2009 Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
• Your parents’ social security numbers and dates of birth
• Your 2009 untaxed income records – Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records
• Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds, and other investments
• Your alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

Once you submit your electronic application your information goes to the U.S. Department of Education’s Central Processing System (CPS).  If you have listed HCC as one of your schools and you have been admitted to the college, it typically takes us about two weeks for us to receive CPS’s analysis of your financial need.

4. Track your Financial Aid Status

Now that you’ve filed the FAFSA and received a Student Aid Report from CPS, you can track the status of your financial aid application and award information by going to http://my.commnet.edu or from the HCC website’s home page by clicking on the myCommNet button.

To use myCommNet, you need to know your Banner NetID number and Banner PIN (this PIN is different from your FAFSA – U.S. Department of Education PIN mentioned earlier).  When you applied for admission to HCC, you were given these numbers.  If you do not remember your Banner NetID, you must contact the Registrar’s Office at HCC to get the information.

Once you log in to myCommNet, navigate to the Student tab and the Student Self-Service panel.  Now you can check on the status of your financial aid application and manage your financial aid record. 

MyCommNet offers you 24/7 access to the financial aid office at HCC.  In addition to being able to follow the progress of your financial aid application online, you will be able to download forms needed to complete your application process.  You can print these forms and either mail or drop them off at the financial aid office.  We recommend that you access your account weekly to stay current with your financial aid information.
NOTE: Your financial aid status may change at any time due to additional requirements.

5. Receive Notification of Award

When the review of your financial aid application is complete, the award notification will be sent to you via regular mail or to your email address. 

NOTE: You do not have financial aid until you have received an official award notice.

If you have any questions, please contact the financial aid office.