FAQ's

College Appeal Process.

Online Appeal

Student Spotlight

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**College Requirements:

To maintain ACE eligibility, every ACE graduate must:

Complete the Financial Aid Folder at the college you are attending, by the college specified deadline every year.
Maintain a 2.0 grade point average or better every semester.
Register for, pass and complete not less than 9 hours each semester.
Be enrolled in either Amarillo College or West Texas A&M University within one year of graduating from Palo Duro High School. You must attend each consecutive semester.

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**Federal Financial Aid Requirements:

Checklist:

Application/Renewal
Student Aid Report
Verification
Completion of the Financial Aid Folder by College Due Date

Application

Graduates are required to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March every year that you plan to attend college. Federal financial aid is used to pay for tuition, books and fees for those who qualify, therefore, it is important to renew this application every year. To complete the FAFSA, students must use income tax returns and W-2's of their parents and themselves. This process can be done manually by using the renewal form received each year, or students may submit applications over the Internet. The "FAFSA on the Web link will take you to the Department of Education's Web site.

Student Aid Report

After submission of the FAFSA, students will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail. Review the SAR to ensure all information is correct. Corrections can be submitted through the FAFSA Web site or by mail. The SAR will be sent to each college that you specify on the FAFSA. Once this is received, you should contact the college you plan to attend to ensure that they have received a copy of your SAR.

Verification

Typically one out of every three random applications is selected for verification. If your FAFSA is selected for verification, your college will contact you and request additional information. This may require providing copies of W-2's and tax returns for you and your parents, copies of social security cards, selective service registration or other documentation. It is important that you submit this documentation as quickly as possible. You cannot receive ACE funds or federal funds without this step being completed.

Completion of your Financial Aid Folder

Students should contact the college they plan to attend to ensure that all requirements for federal financial aid have been met. When the college acknowledges receipt of all required verification, a student's financial aid folder is considered complete. It is the student's responsibility to contact the school and to submit all required documentation by the college due date. Contact the ACE College Liaison, Ms. April Riggs, at 381-7348 or at april.riggs@amaisd.org, if you have any questions concerning any procedure.

"FAFSA on the WEB" Link

www.fafsa.ed.gov

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**College Deadlines:

(To be updated)

Amarillo College

Financial Aid Deadline		Dates
Fall semester		June 15, 2001
Spring semester		October 30, 2001

Registration
Advance Fall Registration		June 24th through August 16th
Regular Fall Registration		August 23rd -24th
Advance Spring Registration		November 4th through Jan. 3rd
Regular Spring Registration		January 11th
Last day to drop/withdraw for Fall semester		November 21, 2001
Last day to drop/withdraw for Spring semester		April 19,2002

West Texas A&M University

Financial Aid Deadline		Dates
Fall semester		May 1, 2001
Spring semester		November 1, 2001

WTAMU Registration for Fall 2001 Semester

Registration		Dates
New Freshmen		See WTAMU's New Student Conferences under WTAMU's web site.
Currently enrolled freshmen undecided majors and TASP-affected students		Pre-registration April 16- 24th. Call the STARR Center, (806) 651-5300, to arrange an appointment.
New transfer students or students that have sat out a semester.		April 23rd and 24th by appointment
Non-freshmen, decided majors and students that have passed TASP.		TREG phone registration opens April 2 through April 26th, April 29th through June 20th, June 24th through July 23rd and July 29th through August 30th.
Regular Registration		August 23rd and 24th

**Helpful Contact Information

ACE College Liaison

April Riggs

1400 N. Grant

Amarillo, Texas 79107

(806) 381-7348 - Office and Fax

april.riggs@amaisd.org

Amarillo College
www.actx.edu

P.O. Box 447

Amarillo, Texas 79178-0001

(806) 371-5000 - Main Number

(806) 371-5310 - Financial Aid Office

(806) 371-5030 - Admissions

(806) 371-5445 - Testing

(806) 371-5431 - ACcess Division

West Texas A&M University
http://www.wtamu.edu

2401 4th Avenue

Canyon, Texas 79106-0001

1-800-99-WTAMU

(806) 651-2020 - Admissions

(806) 651-2022 - Registrar

(806) 651-3000 - Residential Living

(806) 651-5300 - STARR Center

(806) 651-2055 - Financial Aid Office

(806) 651-2350 - Student Support Services

(806) 651-2341 - Educational Services (testing)

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**FAQ's

Q. "What will ACE pay for?

A. ACE pays for the balance of tuition, books and fees after all federal financial aid and scholarships are applied. ACE will only pay for required supplies that are listed on the class syllabus that can be purchased through the college bookstore. ACE will not pay for musical instruments or tools that are non-consumable. Call the ACE office if you have any questions regarding ACE eligible items.

Q. "If I start at a college other than AC or WTAMU, can I transfer back and use my ACE eligibility?

A. A student can transfer to AC or WTAMU within a year after graduation and request to use their ACE status regardless of hours or grades received at the college previously attended. You must contact the ACE College Liaison and complete all requirements prior to enrolling in classes.

Q. "Do I have to attend every semester once I've started with ACE?

A. Yes. ACE students must stay continuously enrolled at Amarillo College or WTAMU once they start as an ACE student.

Q. "What do I do if I run into problems with passing a class and feel that I need to drop a class?

A. Before you do anything, contact either the ACE College Liaison, the ACcess Division at Amarillo College or Student Support Services/STARR Center at WTAMU. ACE students have added support for success in college.

Q. "What happens if I don't complete my financial aid folder prior to the start of college each year?

A. You lose ACE eligibility. If you need assistance, contact the ACE College Liaison.

Q. "I didn't qualify for federal financial aid last year, do I have to complete my financial aid folder this year?

A. Yes, this must be completed every year.

Q. "Why should I keep my ACE status if federal financial aid or scholarships are paying for my college?

A. ACE students receive many benefits other than scholarship money including extra support services at both colleges and through the ACE College Liaison, newsletters, updates, and assistance with financial aid are available. ALSO, ACE is a safety net in case your financial situation changes and you no longer receive federal assistance or scholarships.

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**College Appeal Process

ACE college students who lose their eligibility due to grades or hours may now submit an appeal to the College Selection Review Committee to request reinstatement of their ACE eligibility. The committee has the option to:

Give an automatic reinstatement of ACE eligibility in the case of an extreme extenuating circumstance.
Allow the student to earn back their ACE eligibility by completing 9 hours with a 2.0 GPA without the use of ACE funds.
Deny the appeal

Students must request the appeal and provide any required documentation within two weeks from the end of the semester in which eligibility was lost.

The committee does not have the option of looking at eligibility that was lost prior to the semester completed.

For more information call the ACE College Liaison at 381-7348.

**Appeal On-Line

Now it is easier than ever to make an appeal. Click here to fill out the appeal application online.

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**Student Spotlight

Shauna Arriaga

Shauna Arriaga has been attending college at West Texas A&M University since she graduated from Palo Duro High School in 1998. Shauna's major is Education and her goal is to graduate with a teaching degree and eventually find a job in the Amarillo Independent School District.

Shauna said that deciding on a major was one of the hardest parts of college, along with finding time to study between work and school. Shauna has enjoyed the new experiences of college and meeting all types of people. Also, she enjoys knowing that she is making choices for herself without anyone telling her that she has to do something.

When asked what advice she would give to new college students, Shauna related that the first day on a big campus could be overwhelming. Everyone will be having first day jitters and they will be feeling the same as you. Set aside plenty of time to study and listen to your advisors.

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