Award Offer Information and Policies

What you need to know about your financial aid award

Your financial aid award is valid for the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is not transferable to another institution.  

Your award offer is valid for 30 days.  Your award will be cancelled if you do not accept or decline your award offer within this time frame.  If your aid is cancelled, you may request to have your aid reinstated.  Please be aware that some funds may no longer be available (i.e. Federal Work Study, Manoa Opportunity Grant, Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, Perkins Loan, etc.)

You must apply for financial aid annually. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov in January.  March 1 is the priority date for all documents to be received by FAS.

 All information contained below may be subject to change.  Please check your MyUH account, your hawaii.edu e-mail, and the financial aid website (www.island.hawaii.edu/finaid) regularly for important information and announcements.

 OTHER FINANCIAL RESOURCES: If you receive any other form of financial assistance in addition to those shown on your Award Offer (e.g., Kamehameha/Hawai`i Community Foundation/UH Foundation scholarships, University departmental tuition waivers, increased Veterans or welfare benefits, etc.), you must notify FAS immediately.  As required by federal regulations, an adjustment to your award(s) may be necessary to reflect the increase of your resources.  Failure to notify FAS may delay your financial aid disbursement and/or may require you to repay the university.

 CREDIT LOAD: Your financial aid award will be based on full time enrollment (12 credits for undergraduates, 8 credits for graduates, 12 or more credits for professional students).  Your financial aid disbursement will be pro-rated based on your enrollment.

 If you will be concurrently enrolled at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa and at one of the Community Colleges, you must be enrolled for at least 6 credits at UH-Mānoa in order to be eligible for financial aid.  If you want your Community College courses to be counted toward your UH-Mānoa enrollment, you must complete the 2008-2009 Community College Enrollment Form.

 Federal regulations mandates a “Return of Title IV Funds” policy for all students who are receiving federal financial aid and who process a complete withdrawal on or before 60% of the semester has elapsed.  You may be required to repay a portion or all of the financial aid disbursement or tuition waiver received.

 During the first 60% of the enrollment period, a student “earns” financial aid in direct proportion to the length of time they were enrolled.  The percentage of the period that the student remained enrolled is determined by dividing the number of days that the student completed, by the number of days in the term.  Any unearned aid, other than Federal Work Study, must be returned to the proper Title IV program(s).  Unearned aid is the amount of disbursed aid minus the amount of aid earned.   

The Institution will hold you responsible for the entire amount of unearned aid.  Until this overpayment is cleared, you will not be able to receive any services from the Institution or enroll at any other institution in the University of Hawai`i system.

 OVERAWARDS:  An “overaward” situation may result if funds have already been disbursed and one or more of the following occurs:

 1)       You receive additional resources (if not already accounted for in original award offer)

2)       Your residency status changes

3)       Your living situation changes

4)       Your enrollment is below full time (12 credits for undergraduates, 8 credits for graduates, 12 or more credits for professional students)

5)       Verification information changes your expected family contribution (EFC)

 Repayment may be required, and/or adjustments may be made to other types of aid and/or future disbursements within the academic year.  Please note that you will not be eligible for future financial assistance until repayment is made.

 ACADEMIC STATUS: All students receiving financial aid are expected to make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree.  To remain eligible for financial assistance, you must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative Grade Point Average for undergraduates or as required by your department and a 3.0 cumulative Grade Point Average for graduates or as required by your department, complete 75% of your attempted courses, and complete your degree program within the time frame allowed.

 NAME/TELEPHONE/MAILING ADDRESS/REFUND ADDRESS CHANGES: Please update your information on your MyUH account or at Admissions and Records QLCSS 001.

 CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION/FINANCIAL AID:  If you will not be attending UH-Mānoa, please cancel your registration via the MyUH portal.  It is also your responsibility to notify Financial Aid Services.