Misc.
Customer Service & Escalation
Systems and Tools
Financial Aid Basics
Academic/Enrollment impacts
100

If you cannot answer a question confidently, your safest professional action is this.

Ask for help!

100

A student wants you to promise their appeal will be approved. Your correct response is- 

do not promise anything, share we will review and give timeline

100

This PeopleSoft screen shows a student’s overall financial aid status.

FA status

100

This state application is used for undocumented students in California.

CADAA

100

Students must maintain minimum GPA and completion rate under this policy.

SAP

200

The period in which counselors review student enrollment and determine if aid needs to be increased/decreased based on unit enrollment.

Enrollment revisions

200

A student is visibly upset because aid hasn’t disbursed. What do you do?

Show empathy, bring them in to chat with a counselor

200

This screen allows you to see charges and payments on a student’s account.

Customer Accounts

200

This figure limits the total amount of aid a student can receive.

COA

200

Withdrawing before completing 60% of the term may trigger this calculation.

R2T4

300

Summer financial aid is based on the FAFSA information for which year? Same academic year or next?

the same FAFSA from that aid year, fall-summer

300

An angry parent demands a policy change at the counter. What is your safest course of action?

remain calm, refer to Christie/ have an advisor help you

300

This screen helps you determine if aid has disbursed or is pending.

View disbursement status

300

This term refers to the data record sent from FAFSA that schools use to determine eligibility.

ISIR

300

A student drops from 12 units to 5 units after disbursement. This enrollment change may change their- 

aid eligibility

400

A student adds units after the add/drop period. Will their financial aid award change?

No, # of units locks after add/drop

400

It’s closing time. A student approaches the counter with a complex dependency override question. What is the appropriate response?

Bring them inside and get them some help either with you, an advisor, or counselor depending on the situation
400

A student comes to the counter and all they say is they want to talk to the counselor. What do you do?

Ask for more info

400

What is the maximum amount of Federal Student Loans that a 1st year dependent student can borrow?

$5,500

400

A student studying abroad in a higher-cost program may receive aid adjustments based on this factor.

COA

500

A student says, “My mom is on the phone, I give you permission to talk to her.” There is no Authorization to Release on file.

Give instructions to set up FERPA, can share since they gave verbal authorization

500

When transferring a student to SAO, you should first do this to avoid “ping-ponging” them between offices.

Ensure there are no issues on our end then explain clearly why they are being transferred

500

What is the financial aid application priority deadline?

March 2nd

500

What is the maximum amount of Federal Student Loans that a 1st year independent student can borrow?

$9,500

500

A dependent undergraduate reaches their aggregate loan limit mid-year. What option may remain?

Private loans/ Parent PLUS loans

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