Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this document is to record policies and procedures surrounding the delivery of financial aid at Worship Arts Conservatory (WAC).
Financial Aid Philosophy and Objectives
The objectives of the Financial Aid Office revolve around the major functions of the office. Those functions include:
- awarding and disbursing funds,
- reporting at the institutional level,
- providing a satisfying, open-door policy to assist students.
Purpose
WAC Financial Aid Office offers scholarships, grants, and work study employment opportunities. We offer aid for these reasons:
- For qualified, deserving students who can benefit from further education, but who lack financial resources to continue their education.
- To stimulate student growth as a new un-accredited higher learning institution.
- To encouraged highly qualified students to attend WAC.
- To make private Christian higher education affordable to every Christian, especially for those who wish to serve in Christian ministry.
Financial Aid Code of Conduct
The Financial Aid Office at WAC believes that an institutional financial aid professional is expected to always maintain exemplary standards of professional conduct in all aspects of carrying out his or her responsibilities, specifically including all dealings with any entities involved in any manner in student financial aid. In doing so, the Financial Aid Office at WAC is bound by the following:
- Refrain from taking any action for our personal benefit.
- Refrain from taking any action that we believe is contrary to law, regulation, or the best interests of the students and parents we serve.
- Ensure that the information we provide is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential gain.
- Remain objective in making decisions and advising the administration of WAC regarding relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
- Refrain from soliciting or accepting anything other than of nominal value from any entity involved in the making, holding, consolidating or processing of any student loans, including anything of value (including reimbursement of expenses) for serving on an advisory board or as part of a training activity sponsored by any entity.
- Disclose to the administration of WAC any involvement with or interest in any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
Policies
Records Management
Confidentiality Of Records
All records and conversations between an aid applicant, his/her family and the staff of the Financial Aid Office are confidential and entitled to the protection ordinarily given a counseling relationship. WAC strives to assure the confidentiality of student educational records. As a rule, all currently enrolled and former students have the right to review their records to determine their content and accuracy. A student who wishes to obtain access to his/her financial aid record must schedule an appointment with a financial aid staff member.
Authorization To Release Information
WAC complies with the provisions of the 1974 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA assures students attending a postsecondary educational institution that they have the right to inspect and review certain educational records and to seek corrections of inaccurate or misleading data through informal or formal procedures. FERPA also protects student privacy rights by setting strict limits on disclosure of students’ educational records without their consent. Students can seek enforcement of their FERPA rights by filing complaints with the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. S.W., Washington, DC 20202-5920. Information about this office is available on the Internet at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OM/fpco.
WAC has designated the following information as directory information under FERPA and, as such, may be disclosed, without consent, to a third party upon request:
- Student’s name
- Degrees, honors and awards received Major field of study
- Dates of attendance
- Institutional email address
- Photograph
A student must submit a written release for additional information to be given to any person or agency.
Award Terms and Conditions
Financial Aid Application
The student is responsible for submitting all required documents for Financial Aid. No aid will be offered to a student until the documents are submitted.
Estimated Awards
Awards are estimates and are subject to change. The aid listed on an Award Notification Letter will be processed based on estimated eligibility.
General Scholarship Rule
A student’s combined aid is not permitted to exceed the combined cost of actual tuition and fees. If the combined aid exceeds the total cost as specified, WAC aid will be reduced to resolve the excess aid.
Anti-discrimination Statement
WAC does not engage in unlawful discrimination or harassment because of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability or military veteran status in its educational programs and activities. WAC maintains its Christian mission and reserves its right to discriminate on the basis of religion to the extent that applicable law respects its right to act in furtherance of its religious objectives.
Disbursement
- Disbursements are based on enrollment
- Student must meet all eligibility requirements based on the award
- Pays towards outstanding balance items first
- May be subject to the General Scholarship Rule
- Disbursements are paid toward tuition and fees and are never disbursed directly to the student
Factors Influencing Financial Aid
The factors below could lead to a recalculation of a students financial aid. They could ultimately lead to a change, reduction, or elimination of financial aid eligibility.
- Not attending, dropping, or withdrawing from courses and/or sub-terms you are registered to attend
- Completely withdrawing from the university
- Failing to properly withdraw from the university
- Enrolling in courses that do not apply to your degree completion plan
- Failing to maintain Financial Aid satisfactory academic progress
- Providing incomplete or inaccurate information during the application process
- Receiving additional sources of aid (such as outside grants or private loans)
- Receiving aid above the amount of tuition (which may lower WAC scholarships)
- Changing enrollment level (some scholarships require full-time or half-time enrollment)
- Changing grade level or academic programs
- Changing Residency (some scholarships may require a specific city residency)
- Providing false or misleading information
- Repeating a course for which you already received a passing grade more than once