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Though these might be trying economic times, a certain group of students has gotten some good news recently. Students currently receiving the Federal Pell Grant during the 2009-2010 school year also qualify for the grant during the summer, which wasn’t always the case.
The Federal Pell Grant is for students who meet certain qualifications, determined by the Department of Education using the expected family contribution upon completion of the FAFSA. The grants received by students do not need to be paid back. Only undergraduate students can receive the Pell Grant.
The Federal Pell Grant is unlike state grants in that, though the funds might differ from year to year, every student that qualifies will receive it. Students receiving state grants must apply as soon as possible, because the grants are usually on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Before the legislation passed, students who qualified for the maximum Pell Grant that were enrolled full-time in a fall session and three-quarters in the spring session, could receive the remaining quarter of their award money and use it for the summer sessions. However, those students who used up all their Pell Grant money by enrolling full-time both fall and spring semesters, wouldn’t have any money left for summer sessions.
According to the new legislation passed under the Department of Education’s Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Federal Pell Grant has been extended to the Year-Round program, which means for students taking 12 hours in the summer of 2010, can get up to $2,675.
“If a student is going to summer school full-time, they can get up to two years worth of the Pell Grant,” said Elaine Rivera, director for Financial Services at UTPA. “Before, students only received a year’s portion of the grant, leaving no money for the summer, but now with this new legislation, they receive it for the summer as well.”
For the 2009-2010 school year, the maximum money awarded to students at UTPA is $5,350, an increase of about $800 from last year. Over 10,000 students attending UTPA currently receive the Pell Grant.
“A student can receive about 150 percent more of the Pell Grant with this new bill,“ said Jael Garcia, assistant director of Student Financial Services. “But that’s only if they enroll 6 hours during the summer and if they were full-time students in the fall and spring.”
Before the legislation passed under HEOA in May 2009, students attending full-time could only receive money for the fall and spring of their award year. But now, President Barack Obama proposed the legislation during his campaign to help the students continue their college education.
The HEOA states “students may receive up to two consecutive Federal Pell Grant Scheduled Awards during a single award year.”
“The eligibility for a student will not change,” Garcia said. “But the award money varies and depends on their eligibility determined according to the FAFSA.”
Rivera said that the program has no qualifications or application processes, so any student that currently qualifies for the grant will receive it during the summer session.
Next year, however, will be a little different.
“For the 2011 summer session, the student must complete 24 credit hours in the fall and spring sessions in order to qualify for the grant,” Rivera explains. “ Students will be notified during the fall semester to avoid confusion.”
Rivera also said if students need any additional aid, they should visit the financial Web site to request other forms of additional aid at utpa.edu/finaid, or askrio.utpa.edu.
“For this summer it will be easier to receive the Pell Grant,” Rivera said. “But next summer, the process might be different.”
To register for the summer sessions, students should notify their advisors. Mandatory advisement begins March 22 and registration for the summers, miniterm and fall sessions begins April 5. For more information on the Year-Round Pell Grant, visit the UTPA Financial Aid Office or the Department of Education at ed.gov.
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