Student
Financial Aid
Teaching and Research Assistantships
Teaching
Assistantships are available on a limited basis in most graduate programs.
Also, many faculty members have research projects which provide Research
Assistantships. These Teaching and Research Assistantships normally involve
half-time employment and are awarded on the basis of merit. Students holding
these assistantships must be enrolled for a minimum of nine semester hours for
each regular semester in which the assistantship is awarded. The Dean of each
school designates the minimum semester hours for a summer session. A student on
a Teaching/Research Assistantship who is enrolled in the minimum number of
hours and wishes to drop a course must obtain the signature of the Dean of
Graduate Studies. Students on probation will not be supported on an assistantship.
Applications should be made to the appropriate Graduate Program office at least
60 days prior to the date of registration.
Prior
to their appointment as Teaching Assistants, international students must meet
the English requirements described in the “English Requirements for Teaching
Assistants” section. All TA’s are required to attend TA Orientation held
immediately prior to fall and spring semesters.
Student Financial Aid Office
The Student Financial Aid Office is
available to assist students in obtaining funds to attend the University. Aid
is available in the form of loans, grants, and part-time employment or any
combination of those programs. Limited numbers of scholarships are available.
The total amount of aid the student receives depends on the level of financial
need, submission of appropriate financial information and applications,
academic records, and the availability of funds.
Students are encouraged to contact
the Office of Financial Aid to obtain appropriate application materials and to
determine eligibility for the various forms of aid available. They may also
apply for financial aid and check the status of their application. Students are
also strongly encouraged to view the Office of Financial Aid web site for up-to-date information.
Eligibility for Financial Aid
Most
of the aid listed in this catalog is awarded on the basis of financial need.
Students are encouraged to determine the amount of resources that they can
provide toward their education and to compare it with the average cost of
attending the University. Student budgets are reviewed annually in accordance
with federally accepted guidelines. Federal guidelines outline what can be
included in student budgets. The costs of tuition, fees, books, supplies, room
and board, transportation, and a limited amount for other personal expenses are
the basic components of student budgets. Unusual expenses, such as childcare
costs or educational costs related to the student’s medical disability, may be
considered when they have been properly documented.
Financial
need is defined as the difference between the cost of
attending the University and the amount a student and family can reasonably
provide. The amount of the expected family contribution is based on federal
guidelines reflecting total family income, assets, household size and number of
family members currently attending post-secondary educational institutions.
In
determining whether a student is considered independent or self-supporting, the
Office of Financial Aid adheres to the standards set by the Department of
Education to establish an applicant’s dependency status. Graduate students are
considered by these standards to be independent of their parents for the
purpose of calculating a family contribution. Students must submit a Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form in order that a determination
can be made of the expected resources available to the applicants.
Selective
Service
Male students between the ages of 18 and 26 must be
registered with Selective Service to qualify for federal student loans or grant
programs. This includes College Work Study, Federal Stafford Loans, Graduate
PLUS Loans, and Federal Perkins Loans. The Selective Service requirement also
applies to Texas student loans or grant programs. Students may register with
Selective Service by visiting their local postal office or online. Graduate students wanting to
verify their Selective Service registration may do so online by visiting the Selective Service site.
Students subject to selective service registration will be
required to file a statement that the student has registered or is exempt from
selective service registration in order to be eligible to apply for federal
financial aid. In addition, effective January 1, 1998, the selective service
requirement is also applicable to students applying for financial assistance
funded by State revenue.
Required
Course Load
To be considered for federal financial aid a graduate
student has to be enrolled for a minimum of five semester credit hours of
graduate coursework during each long term and a minimum of three semester
credit hours of graduate study during any summer session.
Basis
for the Type of Financial Aid
The aid package awarded to a student may consist of a loan,
grant, scholarship, part-time job, or any combination of these programs. The
total amount of aid the student receives depends on the level of financial
need, submission of appropriate financial information and applications,
academic records, and the availability of funds.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Policy for Federal Financial Aid
The
University of Texas at Dallas has a “Satisfactory Academic Progress” policy for
a student receiving student financial aid.
Generally,
the student is expected to remain in good standing by the satisfactory
completion of a minimum number of credit hours, based on a percentage of the credit
hours attempted and completed. This completion rate may vary depending on the
student’s academic level and credit hour load. In addition, graduate students
must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above. For online information on the Satisfactory
Academic Progress policy, visit http://www.utdallas.edu/student/finaid/SAP.htm. For more detailed information the student should contact
the Office of Financial Aid. A copy of the Satisfactory Academic Progress
policy is made available to all recipients of financial aid and is available
online on our web site.
Renewal of Financial Aid
For
a student to be considered for a renewal of financial aid, a new Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and supporting documents must be submitted for
each academic year. The awarding of renewal aid is subject to the same
considerations used in awarding all previous financial assistance.
Revocation of Aid
Financial aid packages are reviewed
by the Office of Financial Aid and canceled if the student fails to maintain a
satisfactory record of academic progress or to enroll for and maintain the
minimum number of course load hours. Aid packages may also be revoked because
of changes in financial status. Partial or full repayment of awards may be
required. In some instances, immediate repayment may be required.
Any change in a recipient’s
financial situation, such as receipt or anticipation of additional scholarships,
loans, or outside funding toward your educational expenses not represented on
your award letter must be reported to the Office of Financial Aid because
compliance with federal regulations may require a reduction or revision of
current awards.
Following
is a summary of the types of assistance that are available to graduate students
at The University of Texas at Dallas. The student should be aware that many of
the programs are subject to change without notice by the state or federal
government. Information on all programs may be obtained from the Office of Financial
Aid unless otherwise noted.
Texas Public Education Grant
An
act of the 64th Texas Legislature established a grant program to provide
financial assistance to students. This program is funded through appropriation
of a portion of the tuition charge for resident and nonresident students. Texas
Public Education Grants may be awarded through the Office of Financial Aid
depending upon need and availability.
Educational Assistance Grant
Funds through this program are made
available through a set-aside of Designated Tuition. Graduate students
demonstrating financial need, as determined through a completed FAFSA, will be
considered for aid. Amount of award will vary each year based on availability
of funds.
International Education Fund
Scholarship
Through the proceeds from the
International Education fee, scholarships are available for study-abroad
programs. These scholarships are open to both graduate and undergraduate
students enrolled at least one-half time. Graduate students must be admitted to
a degree program and have a GPA of 3.0. While abroad, the recipient of this
scholarship must be enrolled in a full-time course of study. Course work
undertaken must apply to the student’s degree program.
Hazlewood Veteran Tuition Exemption
Certain
veterans, who have served on active military duty, are eligible for exemption
from the payment of tuition, general fee and laboratory fees. These exemptions may
also apply to the children of those veterans who have served on active duty. Detailed
information regarding this program is available at the College
for All Texans website. Applications
are available in the Office of Financial Aid or online at http://financial-aid.utdallas.edu.
Federal Perkins Loan Program
This
loan program provides a combination of federal and institutional funds to
students who qualify on the basis of financial need. Priority is given to those
students who demonstrate exceptional need.
A
graduate student may borrow up to a maximum amount of $30,000 which includes
all undergraduate Federal Perkins loans.
A
Federal Perkins loan bears a modest interest rate. Borrowers are required to
begin repayment of principal and interest nine months after they cease to be at
least half-time students. Repayment may extend over a ten-year period; however,
there is a minimum rate of repayment.
The
application for this program is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA).
Hinson-Hazlewood College Student
Loan Program
Texas residents who meet eligibility
requirements may borrow funds to meet a portion of their school expenses. The
loan carries a modest interest rate. Repayment begins six months after
graduation or withdrawal from the university. The application for this loan is
found at hhloans.com
Federal Stafford Student Loan
Program
Funds from this program are made
available to the student through the Federal Direct Loan Program. As of July 1,
2012 all graduate Stafford Loans will be unsubsidized. Financial need is not a requirement for the
unsubsidized loan. The unsubsidized Stafford Loan loan
accrues interest while the student is in school; a student may choose to pay
the accruing interest while in school.
The loans are made at a modest
interest rate and there exists a maximum amount which can be borrowed for a
given academic year. The borrower will be required to begin repayment of
principal and interest upon graduation or after he or she ceases to be at least
a half-time student. Repayment may extend over ten years, but the program
requires a minimum monthly payment. See http://www.utdallas.edu/student/finaid/dirlending.htm
or studentloans.gov for
additional information.
Short-Term Emergency Loans
Students needing emergency help with
educational expenses may borrow from the short-term loan fund. Loans must be
repaid within 60 days from the date of issuance or one week prior to the end of
the term for which the student applied for the short term loan, whichever comes
first. A late fee of $30.00 per month will be charged, up to a maximum of
$90.00 per loan. Contributions to these funds have been made by Mrs. Lloyd V.
Berkner, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Castelli, the Kiwanis Club of Richardson, Rotary
Club of Richardson, Richardson Savings and Loan Association, the First Texas
Savings and Loan Association of Dallas, Richardson Altrusa Club, Chaparral
Steel Company, and funds set aside out of student tuition.
Federal Work Study Program
Work-Study
is a federal financial aid program based on a student’s financial need. Federal funds are used to subsidize the
student’s hourly wages, making the eligible student more attractive to
potential employers. Students are
selected based on their demonstrated financial need as a result of submitting
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Compensation depends on the type of
job, qualifications, and classification. The number of hours and work schedule
will vary depending on the position. For information on job availability, visit
http://www.utdallas.edu/career/students/employment/workstudy.php or contact the Career Center at (972) 883-2943.
Other On-Campus Employment
Various programs and schools of the
university employ students in positions that are not work-study positions and
are not based on need. In accordance with appropriate guidelines, pay scales
depend on the type of job, qualifications, and classification. Students
interested in these positions should contact the Career Center at (972)
883-2943.
Information concerning student
financial aid is accurate at the time of printing. Changes in regulations or
policy on a federal, state, university, private lending, or donor level could
affect the type and amount of programs available and/or program requirements.
The Office of Financial Aid has detailed information available upon request.
Scholarship
Programs
Information about a variety of
scholarships awarded on the basis of academic merit and achievement is
available from the Office of Financial Aid. The University of Texas at Dallas
also offers a number of endowed scholarships that are administered by a school,
department, or program. Students are encouraged to contact their school dean or
program office to obtain information about eligibility criteria and scholarships
awarded in the student’s area of study
In accord with Chapter 51, of the
Texas Education Code, all applications for competitive academic scholarships for
graduate study are reviewed by the Committee on Student Scholarships and/or the
Graduate Scholarship Committee in the appropriate academic unit.
Please visit UT Dallas Scholarships for
more information.
Graduate Scholarships Selection
Criteria:
• Good academic standing
• Show academic promise
• Full or part-time
• Pursuing a program of study leading to a degree
• May show financial need but not required