iModules Scholarship Program for 2012-2013 School Year

iModules launched the iModules Scholarship Program in 2008 as part of its commitment to social responsibility. In 2012, 10 scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1,500 each.

How to Apply?

Fill out an online application and submit an essay by logging in to www.imodules.com/scholarship. When you're ready to start, simply click "Get Started" to create your application account. Once you've begun, you will be able to log back into your account to update your application and submit your essay until April 1, 2012. Applications must be completed by midnight on April 1, 2012. The scholarship winners will be announced on May 1, 2012.

Who Qualifies?

• Full time student for the Fall 2012 semester
• Attending or will be attending a school that is an iModules client for the Fall 2012 semester (Bay Path qualifies)
• A minimum C grade point average

For more information on iModules, visit www.imodules.

Contact Informationscholarships@imodules.com913-888-0772

ScholarshipExperts.com - a Wonderful Search Engine!

Scholarshipexperts.com is a free scholarship matching service with a database of over 2.4 million scholarships worth over $14 billion. Their full-time staff of researchers updates and adds scholarship awards daily. The process begins with a quick registration, which enables them to narrow down the search results so that they are customized for your personal eligibility. The following scholarships are just a few of the many that are available to students. The deadlines are December 31, 2011 - APPLY TODAY!

• Top Ten List Scholarship - 3 awards at $1,000 each
• Zinch Super Student Stimulus Scholarship - 1 award at $5,555
• College Prowler "No Essay" Scholarship - 1 award at $2,000
• Scholarship Points Scholarship - 1 award at $1,000
• Cappex "I Don't Want to Pay for College" Scholarship - 1 award at $1,000.
• Campus Discovery "Advice to Your High School Self" Scholarship - 1 award at $2,500

LEAP Foundation DC Scholarship Opportunity

LEAP Foundation DC is proud to offer the distinguished Scholar-in-Residence program for Spring 2012. The Scholar-In-Residence program is an exciting opportunity for college students seeking to advance their professional career in education, public health, and/or social work, while gaining academic credit. The Foundation’s Scholar will be afforded housing and the unique opportunity to participate in a 16-week program that plays an instrumental role in fostering the growth and development of residents in the District of Columbia and surrounding communities.

The scholarship experience focuses specifically on strengthening expertise in public health, education and human development. By implementing traditional institutional research methods and applied clinical practice, scholars will acquire the knowledge and leadership expertise on how to carefully examine communities and organizations as a level of intervention for addressing serious health concerns facing individual, communities, and our nation.

The application deadline for the Spring program is December 23, 2011. Scholars will begin no later than January 16, 2012.

Should you have any questions, please contact Harold Mitchell, Chief of Staff via e-mail at: hmitchell@leap4staffing.com.

To learn more information about LEAP Foundation DC, please visit http://www.leapfoundationdc.org/

BUYER BEWARE: FAFSA.com

It's getting to be that time again...time to complete your 2011 tax return and submit your new 2012-2013 FAFSA for next year! Before you get your new application started, make sure you are logged in under the correct website http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

We have received several disturbing phone calls from students that used an alternative website, fafsa.com to complete the form. DO NOT USE THIS SITE unless you are prepared to pay $80 - $300 for their services, which include all the same services that the Department of Education and Bay Path's Student Financial Services Office offer at no cost to you.

Free
Application for
Federal
Student
Aid

The FAFSA has always been and will always be free of charge. So, save your money and use it for your books, parking pass, or studying treats. College is expensive enough!

Sign It! Student Alliance Campaign

Please take a few seconds of your time to sign an important statement calling for the preservation of federal student aid programs, particularly the Pell Grant and student loan programs.  Signing the statement will demonstrate to our elected officials that we care about access to higher education, and that this access becomes more important, not less, in tough economic times.

This campaign is being organized by the Student Aid Alliance, a coalition of 74 higher education associations and advocacy groups.  The Alliance announced a campaign recently to fight possible cuts to federal financial aid as the bipartisan Congressional committee on deficit reduction enters the final month before its November 24th deadline to cut $1.2 trillion from the federal deficit.

The statement of support affirms that, given the tough economy, it is “more important than ever to preserve, protect and provide adequate funding for the core federal student aid programs – such as Pell Grants and student loan benefits.”  Currently 100,000 signatures have already been collected – but we need your help to support this cause!

Please go to http://action.studentaidalliance.org/5371/save-student-aid-statement-support/

Society for Human Resource Management Scholarship

If you are a member of the SHRMS community, you are eligible to apply for the scholarship below:

Scholarship Criteria
Scholarship recipients will primarily be selected on merit. Undergraduate applicants must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale and must have completed at least one HR management course.

Graduate student applicants must be enrolled in a master’s degree program and clearly pursuing an emphasis area in HR or an HR-related program (such as business, psychology or labor relations) and have completed at least six hours of graduate course work with at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. 

Timeline
December 1, 2011: Deadline to submit all application materials.

How to Apply
All award applications must be submitted electronically at www.shrm.org To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must submit the following information:

Academic scholarships:  

• Completed application
• Resume
• One or Two letters of reference       

Assurance of Learning scholarships:

• Completed application   
• Resume    
• One letter of reference from advisor or professor

Questions? Contact Maureen Flaherty at (703) 535-6423 or SHRMScholarships@shrm.org.

Abbott and Fenner Scholarship

Abbott & Fenner are committed to continuing efforts at helping those who have the desire and ambition to succeed. The winner(s) of this annual scholarship will receive their award within 2 weeks of the listed deadline. All applicants should include their full name and mailing address with their submissions. The A&F Scholarships are available to all high school juniors and seniors as well as all students currently registered in any accredited post secondary institution.

To apply for this scholarship you will need to write an essay on the topic below. The essay should be between 500 and 1000 words. Your submissions must be sent to us by email at: scholarships@abbottandfenner.com

What was the most difficult time in your life, and why? How did your perspective on life change as a result of this difficulty?

RENEWED DEADLINE: June 15, 2012

AWARD VALUE: $1,000

For more information please go to www.abbotandfenner.com/scholarships.htm



Application Procedure for 2012

When Can I Expect to Receive My Credit Refund?

Are you expecting to receive a credit refund this semester? When you check your online bill on Cafe Web, is there a negative balance?

Every school year many students decide to take out extra student loans to help cover the cost of additional educational expenses - whether it be gas to get to campus, a laptop to do your homework, or child care costs to attend class. Unfortunately, this money is not available at the time of your request. We have to wait for the Business Office to receive these funds from the Department of Education...and that takes time, and usually two disbursements.

So the question remains: When can I expect to receive my credit refund?

One way to track it is to check your online billing statement for verified aid. This is the amount of financial aid that we expect to come in, but isn't here yet. Once your verified aid = zero, you will automatically be mailed your credit refund check within 14 days and certainly before the end of the semester. If you register on time, apply for aid by the deadline, and requested your additional monies before the semester begins, you will have a greater chance of the disbursement coming through on time.

*Please Note: Our policy has changed from years past and we no longer need to receive an email request from you to send the checks. Our systems now do it automatically.

Institute for Humane Studies Scholarship

Humane Studies Fellowships are awarded to graduate students and outstanding undergraduates embarking on liberty-advancing careers in ideas. The fellowships support study in a variety of fields, including economics, philosophy, law, political science, history, and sociology. 


Awards range from $2,000 to $15,000 and fellowship winners may re-apply for each year of their studies. In 2011, the Institute for Humane Studies awarded more than $750,000 to 195 students.

The program is open to full-time and prospective graduate students, including law and MBA students. There are a limited number of fellowships open to undergraduate juniors and seniors with a demonstrated interest in pursuing a scholarly career.

For more information please visit www.TheIHS.org/pursuit
Application deadline: December 31, 2011

2011-2012 Scholarship Essay Contest Announcement

Mensa Education and Research Foundation is offering scholarships for students enrolled in an accredited U.S. institution of post-secondary education for the fall semester of 2012. Awards range from $300 - $1000.

Please visit www.mensafoundation.org/scholarships to download an entry form for your area by zip code. Note: applicants need not be Mensa members to qualify. Scholarship deadline is January 15, 2011.

SMART Scholarship

SMART - The premier scholarship program supporting the education of America's future scientists and engineers. The Department of Defense is proud to offer scholarships and post-graduation career opportunities to our nation's research leaders of tomorrow.

SMART Scholars Receive:

• Generous Cash Award
• Full Tuition and Fees
• Health Insurance
• Book Allowance
• Summer Internships (multi-year participants)
• Career Opportunities

For more information and to apply to to http://smart.asee.org/
Direct all questions to smart@asee.org

Big Sun Scholarship

The BigSun Organization is proud to be able to continue to help young athletes succeed in their academic pursuits. We are offering an annual scholarship to a deserving student. All student athletes are eligible for this award, regardless of which sport they are participating in.

Deadline - June 22, 2012    
Amount of Award  - $500.00

The successful applicant will be a high school senior or be attending a post secondary institute and currently involved in some sport at that institution or in the community..

Please visit our website at http://www.bigsunathletics.com/ to learn how to apply.

Linda Lael Miller Scholarship

Educate a woman, and countless generations to come
will benefit from the investment

That is Linda Lael Miller’s philosophy and what inspired her to launch her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women. Now, each year, Linda encourages women who want to improve their lot in life through education to apply for scholarships that she personally finances.

Linda’s scholarships are awarded annually to women who are 25 years or older, non-traditional students who have a difficult time finding scholarships for which they qualify. As in previous years, the scholarship funds may be used not only for tuition and books, but also for childcare, transportation and other expenses not covered by traditional scholarships.

Applications are being accepted for the 2012-2013 school year. You can find more information at http://www.lindalaelmiller.com/

The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest 2012

The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics is an annual competition that challenges college students in the U.S. to submit essays on the urgent ethical issues that confront us in today's complex world. Since 1989, this essay contest has encouraged students to write thought-provoking personal essays that raise questions, single out issues, and develop rational arguments for ethical action. Awards are granted up to $5,000. The deadline is December 5, 2011. For more information, including contest guidelines, please visit http://www.ethicsprize.org/

Science Scholarships, Internships, and Fellowships

UNCF/MERCK Science Initiative is an innovative approach that creates opportunities in the biological, chemical and engineering sciences for African American students throughout the country.

UNDERGRADUATE

• Scholarships up to $25,000
• Internships with stipends of more than $5,000
• Eligibility: College juniors, science or engineering majors, 3.3 GPA

GRADUATE

• Fellowships up to $53,5000
• Eligibility: Ph.D. or equivalent degree candidates engaged in dissertation research in the biological, chemical or engineering fields

Apply online at umsi.uncf.org by the deadline: December 1, 2011

Talbots Scholarship

In keeping with their tradition of serving the community, the Talbots Charitable Foundation is proud to offer the 2012 Talbots Scholarship Program for women pursuing a college degree later in life.

Since its inception in 1997, the program has awarded more than $1 million dollars in scholarships. This year, the Talbots Scholarship Foundation will award $200,000 in scholarships for the 2012 academic year, including seventeen $10,000 scholarships. It will also present the $30,000 Nancy Talbot Scholarship Award, named in honor of the founder of Talbots and granted to one extraordinary finalist who demonstrates courage, conviction and an insatiable entrepreneurial spirit.

The application deadline is January 3, 2012, but don't wait!!! Only the first 5,000 eligible applications submitted will be processed.

For more information and application details please visit www.talbots.com/scholarship

How to Pay Student Loans: Too much debt? Too little income? Find a game plan that works for you.

Article found at Kiplinger.com by Jane Bennett Clark, Senior Associate Editor

You got through college with straight A's, but now you face your first big test as a young adult: squaring a starting salary with the payments on your student loans.

That's a pressing issue for June grads as their six-month grace period on student-loan repayment ends. The challenge is especially great for borrowers whose debt includes private loans. Whereas federal loans -- including Staffords as well as Grad PLUS loans -- generally carry a fixed interest rate (Staffords issued before July 2006 have variable rates) and flexible repayment terms, private loans usually have variable rates and less-forgiving repayment policies. You could end up paying far more than you expected, with no relief in sight.

Best strategy? Figure out a way to make the federal loans manageable, then throw every spare nickel at the private loans (assuming the lender allows you to prepay), says Edie Irons, of the Project on Student Debt. "Because there are fewer protections, it should be a priority to try to pay off private loans first."

Luckily, you have plenty of choices on the federal-loan side, whether your loan comes from a private lender who participates in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program or from the government's Federal Direct Loan program.

I have Stafford loans and want to repay them as painlessly as possible. Which plan should I choose? You're automatically enrolled in the standard repayment plan unless you say otherwise. Stick with this plan, under which you make 120 equal monthly payments over a ten-year period. Be sure to take advantage of any discounts, such as 0.25% off the interest rate for having payments deducted automatically. If you want to unload your loans on a faster timetable and save on interest, pay a bit more than the allotted amount each month. Be sure to specify in writing that you want the extra amount to be applied to the principal.

My salary is low now, but I expect it to jump in the next few years. The graduated repayment plan suits your situation. Monthly payments start low and rise in increments over the ten-year period. Because you pay less in the early years, you pay a bit more in interest over the life of the loan than you would with the standard plan.

Say you have a total of $25,000 in Stafford loans, each with a 6.8% interest rate. With a standard repayment plan, you'd pay $288 in 120 monthly payments, for a total of $34,524. With a graduated plan, you could pay $142 a month for the first three years and $375 a month for the remaining seven. Your total payments would add up to $36,590.

I have $40,000 in Stafford loan debt and can't afford the monthly payments. The extended repayment plan applies to borrowers who owe more than $30,000 on their federal loans. The plan lets you stretch the payments as long as 25 years, lowering the monthly amount but increasing the cost of the loan. On $40,000, you would pay $227 a month for 25 years, for a total of $83,289.

I'm a freelance writer. I don't expect to earn enough to make my payments affordable anytime soon. If you're in the Federal Direct Loan program, look into the income-contingent plan, which calculates monthly payments according to your income, family size and the total amount of your loans. You get up to 25 years to repay the debt, after which the feds forgive the remainder.

Thanks to recent legislation, borrowers who work in the public sector -- say, as a firefighter, teacher or government employee -- and who make 120 payments after July 2008 in this or the standard plan qualify for loan forgiveness after ten years. The income-contingent plan is available only to borrowers in the Direct Loan program, which you can switch into by consolidating your loans in that program (go to http://www.loanconsolidation.ed.gov/ for details).

Unique Scholarship Opportunity for the 2012-2013 School Year

Since 1981 the Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund (MMMF), a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit, public charity, has awarded educational grants to outstanding women from developing countries, who are completing degrees at US/Canadian universities and are committed to improving the well being of women and children in developing countries. Individual MMMF educational grants are between $12,000-$15,000 and must be used during the 2012-2013 academic year. For more information please visit http://www.mmmf-grants.org/

A woman is eligible to apply for an MMMF grant if she meets ALL the following criteria:

• has a record of service to women and children and a commitment to improve the lives of women and children in developing countries 
•  resides in the U.S. or Canada at the time she submits the application
• is enrolled (in residence) at an accredited U.S. or Canadian educational institution for the academic year 2012-2013, and intends to be enrolled for the 2012-2013 academic year
• will use the grant toward the completion of her degree 
•  is a national of a lower or middle income developing member country, as designated by the MMMF Country Eligibility List (see http://www.mmmf-grants.org/)
• is not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, permanent U.S. resident or Canadian Landed Immigrant
• intends to return to her country (or other developing country) within two years of completing use of the MMMF grant and perform at least two years of service
• demonstrates financial need and satisfactory academic performance
• is at least 25 years old by the application deadline

The required online MMMF Scholarship application for 2012-2013 is available on our website as of October 2011. The application deadline is Tuesday January 17, 2012 at 4pm.

Parking Sticker Clarification

All students on campus must have a valid parking sticker for the 2011-2012 school year. If you are looking for a parking application, please check your Bay Path email, as several attachments have been sent to you. Once we receive the application, we will be happy to give you a parking sticker.  You may send them to cdame@baypath.edu, fax to 413.565.1171, or drop off in person Monday - Friday 9am - 12pm or 2 pm - 2 pm.

Stickers will not be available for pick up on Saturdays as our Business Office is closed.

American Associate of University Woman - Career Development Grant

American Association of University Women (AAUW) is offering Career Development Grants for graduate students for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year.

Career Development Grants support women who hold a bachelor's degree and are preparing to advance their careers, change careers, or re-enter the work force. Special consideration is given to women of color, and women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in nontraditional fields. Grants provide support for course work beyond a bachelor's degree, including a master's degree, second bachelor's degree, or specialized training in technical or professional fields. Funds are available for distance learning. Course work must be taken at an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the United States, or at a technical school that is fully licensed or accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Funds are not available for PhD-level work.

Award: $2,000 – $12,000
Applications available*: August 1 – December 15, 2011
Application deadline*: December 15, 2011
Grant year: July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

* All supporting documents must also be received by this date. If an application deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, supporting documents must be received the next business day.

Questions about applications must be directed to the Iowa City office. Please do not contact the AAUW office in Washington, D.C., or local branches for application information. Please call 319/337-1716 ext. 60, e-mail aauw@act.org, or write to the customer service center at

AAUW
Fellowships and Grants
101 ACT Drive
P.O. Box 4030
Iowa City, IA 52243-4030

One Day - Important Add/Drop Reminder from the Registrar's Office

If you are a One-Day Saturday student please pay attention to these important dates from the Registrar's Office. If not followed closely, you may make a very grade-impacting and expensive mistake!

Please note that the last day to add or drop classes for Session I of the Fall 2011 semester is Wednesday, September 7th.   A $100 late drop fee per class will apply after the 7th and up to September 16th.  *Classes cannot be added to Session I after September 7th.

Requests to be dropped from a session I class after September 16th will be processed as a W (permanent grade) and a 10% charge will apply.  A 100% charge and W will apply at the start of the second Saturday.

Please consult with your advisor regarding any Session I changes.  Requests to add or drop must be submitted in writing using your Bay Path College email account. 

• On-Campus classes start September 17th.
• Online classes start September 11th.

Mass Grant Letter - Are You Confused? Read On!

Many of you have recently received a letter or an email from the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) reminding you that you have at least one ineligible condition that still remains with your 2011-2012 MASSGrant record.  The email also notifies you that you have two weeks to fix said conditions or face losing your MASSGrant altogether.  Although some of you may need to change or update information with the state, I will list for you below a few of the ineligible reasons that can not be fixed.  *Please note: If you were eligible for the MASSGrant, the Financial Aid office will have already awarded it to you.  If the grant was not listed on the award letter you received, it is because one or all of the following reasons below rendered you ineligible.

1. You must be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts.  This does not apply to those who live here while attending school.   
2. The Federal Processor must receive the FAFSA by May 1st, in order for the student to meet the MASSGrant application priority deadline date. This means anyone who files after May 1st will not receive the grant.
3. You must not not have received a prior bachelors degree or its equivalent. This means if you are a Graduate student you are not eligible.
4. You must be eligible for Title IV financial aid.  This means if you do not already receive a Pell grant you will not be eligible for the MASSGrant.

For more information about the MASSGrant or how you may be able to avoid being disqualified in the future please visit http://www.osfa.mass.edu/default.asp?page=massGrant.

Parking Passes for 11-12 School Year

Parking Passes are now available to all resident and commuter students who have already completed the parking application. They will be available Monday - Friday in the business office (the Annex 2nd floor) from 9 am - 12 pm, and 2 pm - 5 pm. 

For any RESIDENT STUDENT who has not completed the parking application with payment, the deadline for applying is this Friday (8/19/11). Limited spaces are still available, but on a first come first serve basis, however a space is not guaranteed at this time.

Commuters can also pick up their passes, or have them mailed to the home address the school has on file by request.  Applications may also be faxed to (413) 565-1171

Traditional, MOT, MPY, and MFS Health Insurance Deadline - August 1st!

If you are an Undergraduate Traditional, Masters in Occupational Therapy, Masters of Psychology, or Masters of Forensic Science student, the deadline to waive your $1799 health insurance charge on your fall semester bill is THIS Monday, August 1st (the original deadline was July 1st...we gave you a 30 day extension!!!)

If you already have comparable coverage and don't want to be unnecessarily charged $1799, please go online this weekend to http://www.chpstudent.com/ and waive the charge by selecting from the drop down menu under "Bay Path College -Traditional Undergraduate".

If you do not decline coverage by this Monday, August 1st you will need to complete a written petition and fax it to both CHP at 413-747-8418 and Student Financial Services at 413-565-1101. Deadline for the petition is Friday, August 19th. The form will be available at http://www.chpstudent.com/ on Monday, August 1st.

One Day Saturday - Fall Semester Reminders

Ahhh...it's almost time for August break! Before you run off to the Cape or to your next family reunion, we urge you to please check your account and email to make sure you are ready for the fall semester.   

Please use the following ten questions below to gauge your status:

1. Have you registered for classes?
2. Are you happy with your course load? 
3. Did you receive a bill for your fall semester?
4. Did you follow the instructions to waive or accept the health insurance?
5. Did you reconcile your balance (if you had a balance due)?
6. Have you completed and sent in your Tuition Deferment application (if you are utilizing that benefit)?
7. Have you completed your 11-12 FAFSA?
8. Have you submitted your 2010 tax information and Bay Path Financial Aid Application?
9. Did you receive an award letter in the mail?
10. Did you send in and/or complete the missing documentation indicated on the letter?

If you answered no and/or are unsure of the answer to any of the above questions, please contact the Student Financial Services Office asap to reconcile your account. Bills are due August 19th. We will be placing holds on all unreconciled accounts by that date. This will block your access to all grades, schedules, homework, and syllabi's. Don't start off the new semester on the wrong foot - contact our office today!

Protecting Your Information and Privacy

Have you called the Student Financial Services Office lately? Did you find anything different about the beginning of the call? You may have noticed that we are screening our calls a bit more intently than we have in the past. We are not only asking you to identify yourself with your first and last name, but are also requiring further confirmation with your student ID, the last four digits of your social security number, and/or any other identifying personal information. Please do not be impatient or annoyed with us (especially if you are a more frequent caller!) as we are only doing this for the protection of your information and privacy.

If you are a parent or spouse of a student, and your information is on their account and/or FAFSA, please have the student's information handy when you call. If you are a parent, spouse, or friend of the student and we don't have your information on their account, we will not be able to release any information to you until the student gives us permission by completing a Release of Information Authorization form.

Release of Information Authorization

Credit Balances - Clarification

If you have a credit balance on your account, and wish to keep it on there to pay for future charges, please send an email from your Bay Path account noting your request to finaid@baypath.edu. If we do not have such a request on file, your refund check will automatically be mailed to you within 14 days of the credit appearing.

Not sure if your credit balance is valid? Once you notice that your verified aid = zero on your online billing statement, you will know that the money is here and to expect your check in the mail very soon!

Bills, Due Dates, and Deadlines

The new academic year is quickly approaching and we have a few important dates for you to keep in mind:

Traditional students are coming back to campus at the end of August, and fall semester bills and paperwork were due on July 1, 2011. If you still have a balance on your account, please contact the Student Financial Services Office to reconcile, as your online resources have been placed on hold which is limiting your access to your grades, schedule, and syllabus. The second notice went out this week with an August 1, 2011 due date. Failure to submit payment, a loan certification, or payment arrangement will result in a finance fee and/or withdrawal from fall semester courses.

One-Day Saturday students are coming back to campus on September 17, 2011. Fall semester bills are going to be sent out next week. Please make sure your 11-12 FAFSA is completed, and that your Bay Path Financial Aid Application, 2010 Federal Income Tax Return AND W-2's are all submitted to the Student Financial Services Office. (If you attend one of our satellite campuses in Charlton or Burlington, please fax the information directly to our office at 413-565-1101). We will not be able to award any aid for the 11-12 school year without the proper documentation.

**If you need assistance or additional consideration because your financial situation has changed recently, please submit an Appeal for a Special Circumstance to the Student Financial Services Office.

Looking for the forms noted above? Click here!

July 1st - Fall Bills Due and Scheduled Computer Maintenance!

We were just notified by our IT department that our computer systems are scheduled to have maintenance on the morning of July 1st.  We realize that our traditional program's fall bills are due that day. If you plan to make a payment or access your account that morning, and are having trouble, please try again in the afternoon, and I'm sure the systems will be up and running by then.

Thank you for your patience, and we apologize for any inconvenience!

The Student Financial Services Staff

One Day Saturday Registration Information and Deadlines

Confused by 10% tuition charges or $100 drop fees on your bill? The Bay Path Registrar's Office sent out this information to all Longmeadow One Day Saturday students this week as a reminder to help you avoid these unnecessary charges for the upcoming June session of the spring semester. Keep these dates in mind if you're still unsure of your schedule!!!

SESSION III SPRING 2011:

• On-campus classes start on Saturday, June 18th.  Online classes begin on Sunday, June 12th. 
• The last day to add/drop for session III without penalty is Wednesday, June 8th. Classes cannot be added to session III after the the 8th.
• Classes dropped within the 10 day period leading up to the first scheduled class will result in a $100 late drop fee per class.
• Once classes have started, a drop will result in a course withdrawal (W grade) and 10% charge up until the second Saturday.  Course withdrawals after June 24th will result in a W grade and 100% charge.
• Requests to add/drop courses must be submitted in writing via email to your advisor.

...but I only attended ONE class!!!

Have you ever wondered why you were charged for a percentage of a class, even though you didn't complete it or attend most of the classes? This is a very common question that our office is faced with on a daily basis, and for those of you who think the percentages are selected at random, please read further! Bay Path's Institutional Refund Policy as noted in our Financial Information brochure is listed as a refresher below.

Sessions containing 8 weeks: (Graduate Program)
Within the first week - 90% refund
Within the second week - 30% refund
After the second week - NO REFUND

Sessions containing 6 weeks: (One Day Saturday Program)
Within the first week - 90% refund
After the first week - NO REFUND

Sessions containing 15 weeks: (Traditional Program)
Within the first week - 80% refund
Within the second week - 60% refund
Within the third week - 40% refund
Within the fourth week - 20% refund
After four weeks - NO REFUND

Please note: if you withdraw prior to the first scheduled class, you get 100% refund. You may be subject to a $100 drop fee if you withdraw within the 2 week deadline.

CSO Opportunity Scholarship

The Center for Student Opportunity's Opportunity Scholarship is a $2,000, four-year renewable scholarship awarded to first-generation college students graduating in the high school class of 2011 (entering the college class of 2015) enrolling at a CSO College Partner.

Scholarship winners are also given the opportunity to serve as bloggers on Center for Student Opportunity's blog to share their college journeys and offer advice to younger students like them on how to make it to college.

Qualifying incoming freshmen can apply by visiting http://csopportunity.org/scholarship/ and can contact scholarship@CSOpportunity.org with any questions.

Hurry up because the deadline is May 27, 2011! Good luck!

More Scholarship Opportunities for Adult Women!

Displaced Homemaker Fund - The Association on American Indian Affairs offers $1500 scholarships to men and women who would not otherwise be able to complete their educational goals due to family responsibilities. Funds may be used for childcare, transportation and basic living expenses in addition to educational costs. Please visit http://www.indian-affairs.org/ for an application - open for submission April 14, 2011 - June 13, 2011.

HORIZONS Foundation Scholarship Program - This program was established to encourage women to pursue careers related to national security and defense of the United States, such as Security Studies, Military History, Law, International Relations, Political Science, etc. It does not include Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice. Please visit http://www.horizonsfoundation.org/ for an application - deadline: July 1, 2011.

National Pathfinder Scholarship - Support provided by National Federation of Republican Women for undergraduate sophomore, juniors and seniors, as well as students enrolled in a master’s degree program. Please visit http://www.nfrw.org/ for an application - deadline: June 1, 2011

Women's Independent Scholarship Program - Funds for survivors of partner abuse who are in school to achieve the financial stability necessary for independence and self-sufficiency. Please visit http://www.wispinc.org/ for an application, they are accepted throughout the year.

Notification of Loan Disbursement

Have you ever received a letter in the mail informing you of an amount of money credited to your account? Have you wondered why you were mailed the letter, and why it is a negative amount?

Notification of Loan Disbursement Letters are sent to every student after a loan disbursement is made on your behalf. When you register for the semester, and are awarded student loans to cover your balance, the loan money is not given to the school immediately - it comes in disbursements. Federal regulations require that we notify each of you every time we receive money on your behalf to cover your tuition. This means, that you could receive up to 6 letters every school year! We recommend keeping these letters for your records. If you are familiar with your student account statement online (how could you NOT be? It is an amazingly helpful feature on Cafe Web) you will notice that shortly before you received your notification of loan disbursement, a loan amount was credited to your account.

"Can I Get My Deposit Back?"

Student Financial Services has received a lot of questions from returning traditional students regarding deposits and their refundability. To be clear: they are NOT refundable. When you deposit from one year to the next, that money goes toward your bill for the following semester. When you graduate, or end your year at Bay Path, the money is not available to you because we've already used it to cover your bill. So essentially, you are "getting it back" when your bill comes due in July because you will owe us that much less!

Deposit Clarifications:

1. They do not go toward the Alumni fund.
2. They do not pay for Student Financial Service's Spring Picnic.
3. They help pay your tuition.

Hope this helps! Have a safe and happy summer!

Dependent or Independent...THAT is the Question.

Have you ever wondered why the FAFSA requires your parent's information and signature? At the age of adulthood and as a high school graduate, sometimes students wonder why it’s deemed necessary. How does the Department of Education classify the status of each student applying for federal aid? Is it possible to get financial aid without your parent's consent? Let's take a look at how the FAFSA distinguishes an independent student vs. dependent and find answers to these questions. I think you'll be surprised to learn of the criteria they use to come to their decision.

Section Three of the FAFSA is used as a tool to determine whether or not you need to provide your parental data. If you answer "yes" to any of the stated questions, you are considered independent. If you answer "no" to every one, you are considered dependent and need to submit your parent's data.

• Were you born before January 1, 1988?
• As of today, are you married?
• At the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program?
• Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
• Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you?
• Do you have dependents who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you?
• At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?
• As determined by the court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you an emancipated minor?
• As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you in legal guardianship?
• At any time on or after July 1, 2010 did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
• At any time on or after July 1, 2010 did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
• At any time on or after July 1, 2010 did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

So, now I will ask YOU: are you dependent or independent? Will your FAFSA require your parent's information or not? Basically, if you are under the age of 24, are not a parent, are not a graduate student, are not a veteran, and are not homeless...you are dependent. Count your blessings, get out your computer, and be nice to your parents because chances are, you'll need to ask for their information for every year you attend Bay Path!

*We make very rare and select exceptions to this rule. If you believe you are a candidate for this exception, and think you should be considered as an independent student, even though you don't qualify under the above explanation, please submit an Appeal for Independent Status by contacting the Student Financial Services Office at finaid@baypath.edu.

Big E Scholarship Opportunity

The Western Massachusetts Trustees Grant Fund Committee of the Eastern States Exposition is pleased to announce their intention this year to award scholarships to Western Massachusetts residents that have been involved with activities at the Eastern States Exposition.

Scholarships are awarded to students that have been involved with activities at the Exposition with a high emphasis on agriculture. If you wish to receive an application, or have any questions regarding the scholarship, please don't hesitate to contact the Exposition office at 413-205-5018 for further explanation.

We Have a Winner!!!

We are excited to announce that our blog has a name thanks to Jamie Maclone, a student from our One Day Saturday program. We received nearly 100 submissions and had a very hard time choosing between all of the creative entries. Thank you to all who participated!

Want Financial Aid for Next Year?

Have you completed your 11-12 FAFSA yet? If not, and you are planning to use financial aid to cover tuition costs for the 11-12 school year (July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012) please log on to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ to complete your application.

**This also includes the summer graduate courses that are starting next month!

Zonta International Scholarship Opportunity

The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley, a member of Zonta International, is pleased to offer a $500 scholarship opportunity to a woman studying business at the undergraduate level who has demonstrated outstanding potential in the field, and who lives in the Quaboag valley of Massachusetts (Belchertown, Brookfield, E. Brookfield, Hardwick Holland, Monson, New Braintree, N. Brookfield, Palmer, Spencer, Wales, Ware, Warren, and W. Brookfield).

To apply, please download an application for the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship application and cover letter from the Zonta website at http://www.zonta.org/ by following the "What We Do" tab. The deadline for submission is May 1, 2011. Complete scholarships should be mailed to:

Kristin M. Goold
Chair, Jane M. Klausman Scholarship Committee
82 Catalpa Terrace
Springfield, MA 01119

Name Our Blog Competition Deadline

Just a reminder...the deadline for submitting your entry for our Name Our Blog Competition is this Monday, April 18th 2011. We have received an over-whelming amount of submissions already, and have several great contenders. We will announce the winner on Tuesday, April 26th. Thanks!

ECE Scholarship - June 1st Deadline

• Are you an Early Childhood Education major in our One-Day Saturday program?
• Have you been employed for at least one year in a program that is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care?
• Are you still working there while you're completing your degree?

If you answered "Yes!" to all of these questions, you may be eligible to receive an ECE Scholarship! Please click on the link below to find out more information, and apply. The scholarship is awarded on a first come, first served basis so get your application in early - and definitely before the deadline of June 1, 2011.

http://www.osfa.mass.edu/default.asp?page=ecescholarship

For more information please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions posted on the application website or contact the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance at 617-727-9420.

Name Our Blog Competition

Welcome to our blog! We are very excited about our newest endeavor for reaching our Bay Path community! We know how daunting and confusing funding your education can be, and we hope to relieve some stress by tackling your questions and concerns via the world wide web! Please visit us at http://www.baypathstudentfinancialservices.blogspot.com/

Our first (and very important) task is to name our blog. "Bay Path College Student Financial Services" is too obvious, and we would like your help to make the title more distinguishable! Do you have a more creative name to suggest? Please email your entries to Student Financial Services at kmurray@baypath.edu with your title and school ID. The winner will not only have bragging rights for all of eternity, but also a $100 bookstore voucher to be used at our Follett bookstore. The deadline for submission is April 18, 2011. We will announce the winner live! on our blog on April 26, 2011.