REPORT OF THE

NCAA DIVISION III FINANCIAL AID AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

 

 

1.                  ACTION ITEM.

 

·                    Appeal Requesting an Exemption from the Financial Aid Annual Electronic Reporting Process.                                                                                                                        

 

(1)        Recommendation.  Approve the appeal from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy requesting an exemption from the financial aid annual electronic reporting process per NCAA Bylaw 15.4.1.1. 

 

(2)        Rationale.  Bylaw 15.4.1.1 requires all NCAA institutions to annually compare the financial aid packages of freshman and transfer student-athletes with the aid packages of other freshman and transfers.  All institutions are required to submit the following data elements for each student’s financial aid package: (a) cost of attendance; (b) expected family contribution; (c) financial need; (d) total financial aid award; (e) Pell grant; (f) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant; (g) total state gift aid; (h) total private gift aid; (i) total institutional gift aid; (j) other gift aid; and (k) work study award.  The Merchant Marine is a federal service academy, and does not charge tuition or fees for room and board.  The Merchant Marine offers financial aid to help midshipmen with the cost of certain fees, but the aid is not institutional gift aid.  The Merchant Marine participates in the Pell grant program and the PLUS loan program.  The committee determined that the appeal should be approved because there was no concern with Academy personnel manipulating the funds from the Pell grant and PLUS loan programs. 

 

(3)        Budget Impact.  None.

 

 

2.         INFORMATIONAL ITEM.

 

·                    Frequently Asked Questions Document.  The committee reviewed a frequently asked questions document prepared by NCAA staff.  The document references the most frequently asked questions from the membership regarding issues involving the 2004 division-wide pilot, the financial aid annual electronic reporting process and the Financial Aid Data Management System.  The committee directed staff to post the document on the NCAA Web site and include the document in the October version of the NCAA Division III Commissioners Monthly Update.

 

 

 

Committee Chair:    Phil Creighton, Pacific University (Oregon)

Staff Liaisons:          Susan Peal, Membership Services

                                 Stephanie Quigg, Membership Services