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Financial Restrictions/Holds
A restriction/hold will be placed on a student’s academic record if the student has an outstanding account that is past due to the University. A financial hold will prevent the student from receiving or accessing academic records, transcripts or diplomas, and will not allow future registrations. When the student pays the account in full, financial holds will be removed.
Emergency Loans
If payment cannot be made by published due dates, students can apply for an emergency loan for tuition and fees through Buff Advisor. There is also a loan program for books up to $300. Other arrangements will have to be made for charges such as room/board, parking and some fees. These loans are short-term loans (due in 90 days, 45 day in summer sessions).
Texas Tomorrow Fund
A student who is a beneficiary of the Texas Tomorrow Fund should notify the Office of Accounting and Business by presenting his/her identification card. After the 12th class day, the University will bill the fund for tuition and required fees covered by the contract. The fund does not pay for room/board, books, course fees and any other expenses.
Hope Tax Credit
The Hope Tax Credit can be claimed for the qualified tuition and related fees (does not include books, supplies, room or board) of each eligible student in the taxpayer’s family who is enrolled at least half time in one of the first two years of post-secondary education in a program leading to a degree or certificate. The amount that may be claimed as a credit is generally equal to 100 percent of the first $1,000 of tuition and eligible fees and 50 percent on the second $1,000, for a total maximum benefit per student of $1,500. The credit is deducted directly from the amount of federal income tax owed.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate teaching assistantships are available to students pursuing graduate degrees. Interested students should contact the head of the department in which they plan to pursue the graduate degree.
Veterans’ Exemptions
Exemptions are offered for some veterans under the Hazelwood Act. To be eligible, a veteran must demonstrate that he or she:
- At the time he or she entered the service,
- Resided in Texas as indicated by his/her place of entry on a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD214); or
- Was a resident of Texas, as determined in accordance with state law in Determining Residency Status for Tuition Purposes.
- Is classified as a current resident by West Texas A&M University for the term or semester for which the veteran applies for Hazelwood Act Exemption.
- Has an honorable discharge from service, general discharge from service under honorable conditions or an honorable separation from service.
- Has served at least 181 days of active duty beyond basic training.
- Is not in default on an education loan made or guaranteed by the federal government or by the state of Texas.
- Has attempted fewer than 150 credit hours using the Hazelwood Act Exemption beginning with fall 1995.
To obtain Hazelwood benefits, a qualified veteran must:
- File a copy of his or her DD214 (discharge document) with the registrar.
- Sign a Hazelwood affidavit by 12th class day.
- Obtain a letter from the Veteran’s Affairs Office in Muskogee, OK, stating status of federal benefits.
- Provide documentation of Texas residency at the time the veteran entered the service.
Tuition/Fee Exemptions and Waivers
AFDC/TANF - Exemption from payment of tuition/fees for one year; must start using exemption within one year of high school graduation.
Blind/Deaf–Exemption from payment of tuition and all fees.
Border County–Waiver of non-resident tuition.
Border State–Reduction of non-resident tuition.
Children of Disabled Firemen/Peace Officers–Exemption from payment of tuition/fees other than room/meals and property deposit.
Competitive Scholarship–Waiver of non-resident tuition for student receiving competitive scholarship of at least $1,000.
Distance Education–Waiver of certain fees for student not reasonably able to participate in activity.
Early High School Graduate–Reimbursed from Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for payment of tuition only.
Educational Aid Exemption–Reimbursed from Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for payment of tuition and mandatory fees other than course fees; based on financial need.
Faculty/Dependent–Waiver of non-resident tuition.
Foster Care–Exemption from payment of tuition/fees.
Good Neighbor–Exemption from payment of tuition by students from other nations of the Western Hemisphere (other than Cuba).
Hazelwood Act–Exemption from payment of tuition/fees except student service fee, property deposit and room/meals.
Mexico Student Pilot Program–Waiver of nonresident tuition.
Military Personnel and Dependents–Waiver of nonresident tuition.
Senior Citizens (Golden Ager)–Exemption from payment of tuition only, up to six hours; must be 65 or older.
Teaching Assistant/Graduate Assistant–Waiver of non-resident tuition.
Valedictorian–Exemption from payment of tuition only during the first two regular semesters following graduation from an accredited Texas high school.
For more information, contact the Office of Admissions at 9(806)651-2020.
Vocational Rehabilitation
The Texas Rehabilitation Commission offers payment of tuition and other services to students who have qualifying physical or emotional handicaps. The vocational rehabilitation counselor must approve the student’s major field of study and an additional services needed in advance. Information about this program is available through the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, 5809 S. Western Street, Amarillo, Texas 79110 or call (806)353-7491.
Financial Aid
The Office of Financial Aid, located in Old Main, Room 108, advises students and their families about federal and state financial aid programs and awards monetary assistance to eligible students. The Office of Financial Aid acts as the institutional connection between the student and various government agencies in the application, awarding and delivering of financial aid. West Texas A&M University provides a comprehensive program of loans, grants and work opportunities to assist students in their academic pursuits.
For more information, call (806)651-2055 or access the website at www.wtamu.edu/financialaid.
Application Process
The application process is electronic using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The student and his/her parent or spouse should complete this application as early as possible after January 1 each year. Every effort should be made to provide the most accurate and current information at the time of filing. Financial and application priority dates are April 15 for the fall semester, November 1 for spring semester and April 1 for summer sessions.
Grants
Grants are provided by both the federal and state government as well as by West Texas A&M University. These awards are generally made according to the student’s need based on the information provided by the federal application. Generally, grants do not have to be repaid unless students fail to meet their obligations.
Numerous grant programs are available to students at WTAMU:
- Federal Pell Grant Program is available to all undergraduate students who can prove financial need. Application is made via the FAFSA.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant provides financial assistance to eligible students from families with low incomes.
- Toward Excellence Access and Success (TEXAS) Grant Program provides grant money to enable well-prepared eligible students to attend public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education in Texas. Eligible students compete who are Texas residents, who graduated from a public or accredited private high school in Texas no earlier than fall 1998, who have completed the recommended or advanced high school curriculum who have financial need as determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, who enroll at least three-fourths time in an undergraduate program, and who have not been convicted of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance. Males must also be registered with Selective Service. All applicants, both initial and continuing, must have valid federal application (FAFSA) results on file and all necessary documentation required by the Financial Aid Office submitted by October 15th of each year to be eligible.
- Texas Public Education Grant is a state-funded program which provides grants to eligible students who demonstrate need.
- Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership/Student Incentive Grant (LEAP/SIG) is a state/federal program created to provide grants to needy students.
- Student Deposits Scholarship is a state-funded program which provides need-based scholarship funds to students who are bona fide Texas residents.
Loans
Student loans allow many students a way to finance their education. Federal loans are low-interest or variable rate loans with an established interest cap and are very accessible.
- Federal Direct Student Loan Program provides students the opportunity to obtain low-interest loans directly from the federal government.
- Federal Direct PLUS Loans offer the parents of undergraduate students to borrow on behalf of their students directly from the federal government. Graduate students may borrow for themselves through the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Program.
- Federal Perkins Loan Program provides low-interest loans which students repay after graduation.
- College Access Loan is a state-funded program designed to assist full-time students who have proven to be ineligible for other types of federal and state aid.
- B-On-Time Loan is a state-sponsored loan with similar criteria to the TEXAS Grant Program. Repayment begins after graduation. Students must be enrolled full time, and amounts parallel TEXAS Grant eligibility. Contact the WTAMU Office of Financial Aid for eligibility.
Other Loans
- Emergency Tuition and Fee Loan is a state program established to provide students short-term emergency assistance with tuition and fee payments. With an interest rate of five percent per annum, payment is due within 90 days. Applicants should contact the Office of Accounting and Business.
- Friends of Nursing is a short-term, low-interest emergency loan program for nursing majors. Students are expected to repay the loans no later than two months following graduation. Applicants should contact the head of the Department of Nursing.
- Consolidated Loan Fund is a short-term, emergency loan program with an interest rate of 12 percent per annum. Students are expected to repay the loan within 90 days.
Employment
Student employment falls under two broad categories: work-student and regular employment.
- Federal College Work-Study Program and Texas College Work-Study Program are employment programs for students who demonstrate financial need. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid must be completed in order to determine eligibility. Students receiving work-study funding work for departments on the WTAMU campus. A student receiving $3,000 per school year will typically work 10 hours per week. However, additional hours may be available through work-study or regular employment depending on the student’s eligibility and the employing department’s budget/needs.
- Regular Employment–Student Employment Services attempts to find employment for all students who desire to work while they attend WTAMU. Jobs are on the WTAMU campus and the Canyon/Amarillo area. Students do not need to qualify for work-study for this employment.
Eligibility
The Office of Financial Aid monitors eligibility for financial aid. Students must make satisfactory academic progress, which requires both qualitative (grade point average) and quantitative (hours attempted/completed) progress. Failure to attain the standard will result in loss of eligibility, until the student meets or exceeds the standard. Satisfactory progress will be reviewed at the end of the spring semester for the academic year.
Return of Title IV Funds
Students receiving funds from various federal programs are subject to this refund policy placed in effect in fall 2000 by the U.S. Department of Education. The policy states that students withdrawing or ceasing to attend classes on or before the 60-percent point of the semester has been completed will be required to return the calculated unused portions of the funds received, including loan funds. Failure to do so could result in ineligibility for further aid consideration at any school as well as being prevented from returning to West Texas A&M University.
Students receiving all “F”s, incompletes or a combination of the two, will be calculated as withdrawn at the 50-percent point of the semester, or last date of attendance, as prescribed by the U.S. Department of Education unless other documentation is provided.
Institutions are required to perform the calculations and to determine that the necessary funds are returned to the proper entities. Programs included are Federal Pell Grant; Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG); Federal Leveraging Educational Assistance Program (LEAP); Federal Perkins Loan; Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan; Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan; and Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS).
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