Elements of Athletic Financial Aid
Athletic financial aid (athletic scholarship) is defined by the NCAA as a Grant-In-Aid (GIA). The GIA is restricted to educational expenses consisting of tuition and fees, room and board, and the use of required course-related books.
The GIA does NOT include, for example: P.O. boxes, health insurance, late fees, parking fines, communication fees, in-room connection fees, damage charges, replacement cards for a lost/stolen ID, or interim housing charges.
The NCAA limits each Division I sport to a maximum number of GIAs.
Maximum Individual Financial Aid Limitation
The maximum financial aid (athletic and non-athletic) that an individual student-athlete may receive is limited to the Cost-Of-Attendance (COA) as determined by the Financial Aid office. PFW's COA includes the elements of the GIA along with travel, dependent care, and miscellaneous categories.
Therefore, a student-athlete may receive the following aid up to the maximum value of a GIA:
- Athletically related institutional aid (i.e., amount as described on the "Fort Wayne Athletics Financial Aid Agreement")
- Outside aid with athletics participation as a major criterion, if a GIA is used
- All PFW institutional scholarships, if a GIA is used. Possible exceptions are scholarships that qualify as the "Academic Honor Award" or the "Institutional Academic Scholarships" as defined in the NCAA Manual Bylaw 15.
In addition to the value of a GIA, a student-athlete may receive the following aid up to the value of the COA:
Financial aid from sources outside the institution for which athletics participation or ability is not a major criterion such as:
- Non-PFW scholarships/awards (ex. Community Foundation awards, Dollars for Scholars, awards from parent's employer, etc.)
- Loans (ex. Stafford, Perkins, Parent Plus, Outside, etc.)
- Government grants (ex. Pell, Higher Ed Awards, Robert Byrd Awards, etc.)
- If a student-athlete receives athletic scholarships AND other forms of institutional aid or other athletically related outside scholarships, the NCAA individual limits could be impacted.
Therefore, under all circumstances, any outside scholarships received must be reported to the financial aid office and the Fort Wayne Athletics Business Office.
Any institutional scholarships and federal work-study employment must be reported to the Fort Wayne Athletics Business Office.
If the total amount of countable athletic aid (athletics, grants, etc.) awarded to a student-athlete exceeds the NCAA individual limits, PFW is required to reduce institutional aid.
Maximum Team Financial Aid Limits
Each sport has a particular team limit (a specific number of GIAs) in accordance with NCAA regulations.
Since student-athletes with athletic scholarships may receive other forms of athletically countable aid (institutional or other outside scholarships) the NCAA team limits could be impacted.
If the total amount of countable athletic aid (athletics, grants, etc.) awarded to student athletes on a particular team exceeds the NCAA team limits, PFW is required to reduce institutional aid.
Textbook Policy
NCAA Bylaw 15.2.3 states than an institution may provide a student-athlete financial aid that covers the actual cost of required course-related books. Student-athletes on full GIA in Head Count Sports of men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball may receive a "loan of books."
Student-Athletes on a "loan of books" are expected to adhere to all check-out and check-in policies as established by the bookstore and Fort Wayne Athletics.
For student-athletes on a "loan of books" as a portion of their athletic GIA, the book scholarship policies and procedures are as follows:
- The equipment manager orders all required books from a list provided by the business office of student-athletes on book scholarship.
- The university book store personnel pulls and boxes required course related books for the student-athletes per the order.
- The equipment manager delivers the books from the book store to the equipment room.
The boxed books are available for pick up from the equipment room during the first week of classes. - All books are required to be returned at the end of the academic session.
Student-athletes will be charged the value of the books not retuned at the end of each semester. - This aspect of financial aid does not permit the purchase of any other supplies or goods at the bookstore.
Period of Award
A GIA is set up as a one year or multi-year award using the Athletic Financial Aid Agreement.
It may not be reduced or cancelled during period of award due to athletic performance, illness, or injury.
Athletic Aid may only be reduced or cancelled during the period of award if the student-athlete:
- Fails to meet eligibility requirements for athletic participation
- Fraudulently misrepresents any information on an application, letter of intent, or aid agreement
- Engages in serious misconduct
- Voluntarily leaves his/her team
Athletic Financial Aid Appeals Process
PFW has a Financial Aid Appeals Committee so that students will be offered the opportunity to appeal the loss of any scholarship or funding.
The charge of the committee is to review all appeals from students regarding any financial aid issues, including appeals related to academic and athletic scholarship denials, satisfactory academic progress standards, and eligibility determinations.
Any student can initiate his/her appeal by submitting a typewritten or legibly handwritten narrative statement of the circumstances leading up the cancelation of funding.
Appropriate documentation should be provided for any claim made with the appeal.
Specific losses may have additional forms to complete, such as satisfactory academic progress appeals related to Federal Title IV funding.
Each scholarship appeal must include the following information:
- Student name
- Student ID number
- Student email address
- Description of lost funding/scholarship title
- Number of credit hours successfully completed
- Cumulative GPA
- Written statement (reason for appeal)
- Supporting documentation related to the appeal such as verification of family related issues or death, illness, or injury
Appeals should be submitted to the committee chair within 30 days of the notification date of the reduction or cancellation.
A committee review will take place within eight weeks of submission or sooner, depending upon the availability of the committee.
All decisions will be communicated to the student athlete in writing.
Pregnancy Policy
Consistent with Title IX regulatory requirements, PFW will not terminate financial aid on the basis of pregnancy or the impact that this has on female athletic participation.
The NCAA identifies pregnancy as a condition included under Bylaw 15.3.4.3, that states financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability may not be reduced or canceled during the period of award due to an injury or any other condition that prevents the recipient from participating in athletics.
The Yearly Cycle of Athletic Scholarships
To offer an Athletic Scholarship to a prospect complete the Request a National Letter of Intent process.
Initiating the renewal and non-renewal of existing Athletic Scholarships commences in May for the next fiscal year's awards.
The process begins with the Athletic Business Manager providing the Head Coach (or designee) with a form listing existing Athletic Scholarship Recipients and national letter of intent signees.
Complete the form using the directions on the form and turn it back into the athletic business manager by the end of May.
If, after the initial renewal/non-renewal process is completed, the Head Coach wants to increase a Student Athlete's Athletic Scholarship, they should complete the Request to Increase Grant-in-Aid form.
If, after the initial renewal/non-renewal process is completed, the Head Coach wants decrease a student athlete's scholarship, a meeting is required with the athletic director, compliance coordinator and athletic business manager before action is taken.
If, after that meeting, the student athlete will remain on the roster but their athletic aid is to be reduced, complete the Request to Decrease Grant-in-Aid process.
If, after that meeting, not only is athletic aid is to be removed but the student athlete is to be removed from the roster, complete the Add or Delete a Student Athlete from a Roster process.
Summer School Athletic Scholarships
Student-athletes are not guaranteed a GIA for summer school at PFW.
If it is given, it is limited to an amount proportional to the aid received during the preceding regular academic year or to the credits needed/requested.
Aid cannot be awarded to attend a summer session at another institution.
PFW Athletics reserves the right to deny payment of credit hours for repeat courses.
To request an Athletic Summer School Scholarship complete the Request for Summer Aid Form
SOAF or Student Athlete Opportunity & Special Assistance Funds
PURPOSE: The Student-Athlete Opportunity Fund (SAOF) and the Special Assistance Fund (SAF) are intended to provide direct benefits to student-athletes.
As a guiding principle, the funds shall be used to assist student-athletes in meeting financial needs that arise in conjunction with enrollment in academic curriculum.
Accordingly, receipt of SAOF or SAF monies shall not be included in determining the permissible amount of financial aid that a member institution may award to a student-athlete.
All student-athletes, including international students, are eligible to receive SAOF or SAF benefits, regardless of whether they are grant-in-aid recipients, have demonstrated need or have either exhausted eligibility or no longer participate due to medical reasons.
USE OF FUNDS: PFW has chosen to use these funds primarily for the tuition of 5th year student-athletes who have exhausted eligibility. Secondarily, remaining funds will be used for the tuition of summer school, emergency expenses and graduate/professional testing fees.
To apply for SOAF Funds complete the Student Athlete Opportunity Fund Application