14.  How will I be notified regarding my financial aid awards? The Financial Planning Office will send you an Award Notification Letter which outlines the financial aid that has been awarded to you.  It is critical that you formally accept your financial aid awards before the last day of the term or your last day of enrollment, whichever occurs first.  Alternatively, you may accept your awards by logging into your personal Bearport account at http://bearport.mercer.edu.

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15.  When will I receive my financial aid awards?  Your financial aid will generally be credited to your student account at the beginning of each semester.  Financial Aid awards are first applied to the tuition and fees that have been charged to you by the Bursar’s Office.  If your financial aid awards total more than your tuition and fees, the Bursar’s Office will refund the excess to you.  Refunds are not available until after the term's drop‑add period.

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16.  What if I do not enroll for the number of courses or sessions indicated on my Mercer Financial Aid Award Letter? Contact the Financial Planning Office immediately so that your financial aid can be adjusted.  Failure to contact our office will delay the receipt of your financial aid awards.

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17.  What should I do if I'm not on my instructor's class roster?  You must be enrolled and attending class at the end of the drop-add period in order to receive financial aid for the class.  If you are enrolled in a class your name will be on the instructor's class roster.  Contact the Registrar's Office immediately if you are not included on the roster.  Only the Registrar's Office can add you to a class ‑ not the instructor or center coordinator.

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18.  Will dropping or withdrawing from a class affect my financial aid?  You may possibly lose all or some of your financial aid for the semester.  Contact your financial aid advisor prior to dropping or withdrawing from a class.  It is also imperative that you follow the appropriate drop/withdrawal procedures outlined in the Mercer University Catalog.

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19.  What is Satisfactory Academic Progress?  All students are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress standards in order to maintain Federal and State financial aid eligibility.  A student must successfully complete 67% of all courses attempted at Mercer, maintain the minimum GPA required for continued enrollment and complete their educational program within 150% of the published length of the program.  See the “General Financial Aid Information” section of this website for additional information.

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20.  Is there financial aid available for the summer term?  Yes; however, your Summer financial aid may differ significantly from your academic year award because Summer financial aid is based on remaining eligibility from the previous academic year.  Students who have exhausted their Pell and loan eligibility during the academic year may not receive any financial aid during the Summer.

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21. Can you explain the new federal income tax credits available for higher education expenses?  The Federal HOPE Scholarship, a tax credit worth up to $1500 per student, is available to first and second year students enrolled at least half‑time.  The Lifetime Learning Credit is a tax credit equal to 20% of a family's tuition expenses, up to $5000, for subsequent post-secondary education.  Please consult your tax advisor or IRS Publication 970 for additional details.

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22.  Who is my financial aid advisor?  All students are assigned a Financial Aid counselor according to the first letter of their last name as shown below:

Student's Last Name Begins With:     isor's Name:

A - J                                                  Yolanda Murphey
K - Z                                                  Shannon McGhee

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23.  Where do I call for help?  Please note the following phone numbers:

Financial Aid                            1-800-392-2830 or 301-5381 locally
Admissions                              1-877-840-8599 or 301-2650 locally
Admissions/Registrar                1-800-548-7115 or 301-5400 locally
Bursar                                      1-800-342-0841, ext 1111 or 301-1111 locally