Financial Aid Programs

The financial assistance program at the Technology Center is designed to aid students who require financial assistance to attend the educational program of their choice.  To determine financial need, the Center utilizes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which takes into consideration certain factors related to family status.

Financial aid applications and forms are available in the Student Services Office as well as on the World Wide Web.  Assistance is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis as long as funding is available.  Renewal of financial assistance is not automatic; students must re-file each year and demonstrate satisfactory progress and attendance.

NOTE: Regulations and funding for institutional, state and federally supported programs are subject to change.  The Technology Center reserves the right to administer the program accordingly.

Financial assistance is available through a combination of various programs which are funded through federal, state, local and private sources. The aid is designed to assist those students who find it difficult or impossible to attend school without financial assistance. A brief description of the programs are listed below.

Federal Pell Grant—The Pell Grant is a federal aid program available to eligible students. The grant is based on need. Repayment of this grant is not required as long as the student completes all scheduled requirements.

Federal Supplementary Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)—The Center administers these funds which are provided by the federal government. Funds are limited.

Federal College Work Study (FCWS)—This program enables eligible students to earn a portion of their educational expenses through part time employment at school. Funds are limited.

Families First— Families First is Tennessee's new welfare reform plan which replaced the AFDC program, on September 1, 1996. The program provides temporary cash assistance, job training, employment assistance, and support services.

Scholarships—Occasionally, scholarship funds are made available by civic groups, church organizations, business organizations, and professional groups. The groups may sponsor a student’s daily expenses, books, and other supplies.

Veterans’ Benefits—All training programs at TTCW are approved for Veteran’s benefits. A veteran should confer with the Student Records Officer prior to filing for VA benefits or to inquire about VA related problems.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA)—funds are available to eligible students. Your career counselor will discuss WIA funds with the student/applicant during the initial interview process.

Student Loans—The Technology Center at Whiteville does not participate in the Student Loan programs.

Student Financial Aid Eligibility

The Center's Counselor/Financial Aid Officer is in charge of administering all financial aid programs.  In order for a student to receive financial assistance from federal or state financial aid programs, he/she must:  

1. Complete and submit the free application for Federal Student Aid.

2. Be enrolled at least half-time as a regular student in an eligible program (Refer to Federal Guidelines for exceptions).

3. Be a U.S. citizen/national or an eligible non-citizen.

4. Show that he/she has need.

5. Attain and retain satisfactory progress in accordance with policy.

6. Not be in default on Federal Perkins/National Direct Student Loan, any Federal Family Education Loan Program (Stafford Student Loan, PLUS Loan, Supplemental Loan for Students, Income Contingent Loan, or a Consolidated Loan) and must sign a statement to that effect.

7. Not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant, Tennessee Student Assistance Award, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, or a Byrd Scholarship, and sign a statement to that effect.

8. Have a signed statement of updated information.

9. Provide verification of a High School Diploma, GED, or be beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in Tennessee, and have the ability to benefit from the education or training offered.

10. Must take and pass an independently administered examination approved by the Secretary of Education if without a high school diploma or GED.

11. Male citizens of the U.S. and male immigrant aliens 18 through 25 years old must be registered with the U.S. Selective Service System to be eligible for federal student loans and grants.  Men can register at any post office, or register now on-line at http://www.sss.gov/regist.htm.

How do I apply for student aid?

All you have to do is complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and mail it to the address indicated on the application. You may obtain this from our Student Services Department, or you may be able to apply electronically from your home computer, from a computer at a central location like your high school, your local public library, or your local educational opportunity center using FAFSA Express.

FAFSA Express is designed to be the easiest and fastest way to apply for federal student aid. It's a user-friendly program that allows you to apply for federal student aid from a personal computer equipped with the Windows operating system and a modem. You can complete the application and transmit it over a regular telephone line in just a few easy steps.

The screens on FAFSA Express resemble the paper FAFSA.  FAFSA Express has extensive on-line instructions, pull-down menus with multiple choice questions to guide you through the program, and a convenient list of participating schools built in.

The FAFSA Express application process will be faster if you have a printer because you can print, sign, and send in the "Releases and Signatures" page of the application. Otherwise, you must wait to receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) asking for your signature. A SAR is what you receive in the mail as a result of your application.

You might also be able to apply for aid at the school you plan to attend. Contact the school to find out if you can apply electronically through its financial aid office. If the school has electronic FAFSA capability, just fill out a paper FAFSA and bring it to the school. The school will then enter your information into a computer and transmit it to the Department's Central Processing System (CPS).

What should I know before I apply?

You'll need a valid Social Security Number (SSN) to apply for federal student aid. You have to put this number on your FAFSA or enter the number in FAFSA Express. We use your SSN to find your application in our records. If you don't put a valid SSN on your FAFSA or if you don't enter one in FAFSA Express, your application won't be processed. If you don't have an SSN yet, you should apply for one at your local Social Security office.

Most students who, like you, are entering college or a career school straight from high school are considered dependent students. If you are dependent, you have to report both your and your parents' financial information on the FAFSA. This information will be considered when your eligibility is determined. You are a dependent student if you do not meet the following definition of an independent student.

To be considered an independent student, at least one of the following criteria must apply to you:

• you were born before January 1, 1975,
• you're married,
• you're enrolled in a graduate or professional educational program,
• you have legal dependents other than a spouse,
• you're an orphan or ward of the court (or were a ward of the court until age 18), or
• you're a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.

If you're independent, you must report only your financial information (and your spouse's if you're married).

In special or unusual circumstances, a college's or career school's financial aid administrator may determine that an otherwise dependent student should be considered independent. (A parent's refusal to provide financial assistance or to provide the required FAFSA information is not a valid reason for such a determination.)

If you're dependent and your parents are divorced or separated, you'll need to complete the FAFSA using information about the parent you lived with more in the 12 months before the date of application. If you did not live with either parent, or if you lived with each parent an equal number of days, use information about the parent who provided the greater amount of support during the 12 months preceding the date of application.

If the parent you receive support from is divorced or widowed and has remarried, the financial information of your stepparent is required on the FAFSA. This does not mean that your stepparent is obligated to give financial assistance to you, but his or her income and assets represent significant information about the family's resources. Including this information on the FAFSA helps us form an accurate picture of your family's total financial strength.