Contact number: 479-394-7622, Ext. 1420, 1421, or 1424
Email: financialaid@uarichmountain.edu
UA Rich Mountain
Financial Aid Office
1100 College Drive
Mena, Arkansas 71953
To organize your information, you can print and complete a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet before you begin entering your information online. Follow this link to view FAFSA information online, FAFSA on the WEB.
Yes, you can apply before or after the semester starts!
A student that applies before the semester starts and meets the July 1st priority deadline have a greater chance of having his/her financial aid posted by the time college classes start. This is if all necessary paperwork has been sent in.
A student applying after school starts must set up a payment plan with the Business Office until his/her Financial Aid eligibility has been determined and has been processed.
Depending on the college you are attending, you may be eligible for a consortium (receive your financial aid by counting the hours you are enrolled in at another college). You should apply for aid at the college you are obtaining a degree from. Then, you must contact the Financial Aid Office at your home institution (institution you will receive degree from) to determine if you can complete a consortium agreement for the hours at the host institution (institution you are taking additional classes from).
If you are getting an Associate degree from UA Rich Mountain and transferring to another college, you will want to apply for aid at the college that you are enrolled in the most hours.
How do I apply for academic scholarships at UA Rich Mountain?
UA Rich Mountain Academic scholarship application is located on our website. You can click on the following link to access the UA Rich Mountain Scholarship webpage https://uarichmountain.awardspring.com. UA Rich Mountain Academic scholarship deadline is November 15th.
How much is my scholarship?
UA Rich Mountain Academic scholarship amounts are:
All of the academic scholarships will pay for fall and spring terms only. No summer funds will be available unless in a program that requires the student to enroll in the summer term (example: LPN program). This term will be counted in the two years (four semester total).
Will I receive all of my scholarship?
The amount that will be credit to your account will vary based on your scholarship and your actual charges. Your actual charges are dependent on the number of hours you enroll in each term. This amount can vary from each semester due to your actual charges accrued on your account.
What are the criteria to keep my scholarship?
How long will I be able to keep the scholarship?
The academic scholarship will can be used for up to two years at UA Rich Mountain. The student does however have to maintain progress and meet the above criteria in order to continue eligibility.
When will I get my refund?
The Financial Aid Office sends out notifications via UA Rich Mountain student e-mail. Students should check their UA Rich Mountain e-mails for this and other important financial aid notifications.
In what order will my aid apply to my account?
It will depend on the combination of aid you receive. Most often your aid will be applied in this order: (1) Federal grants will be applied, (2) any state aid you receive, (3) any institutional aid and (4) Federal Loans/Private Loans. NOTE: This is not all inclusive in reference to awarding. Some funds may be reduced depending on the amount of financial aid a student receives.
Why has my scholarship not credited to my account?
If your scholarship is not credited to your account, determine the following:
Why did my scholarship credit for the fall term, but not the spring term?
Can I appeal a lost UA Rich Mountain Academic scholarship?
Under extreme circumstances, such as severe illness or a death in the immediate family, scholarship appeals are considered. Please send a detailed letter including supporting documentation, if appropriate, to the attention of VP for Academics and Student Affairs. Decision notification from the scholarship appeals committee will be sent to your mailing address.
I want to take some classes that are not in my degree plan. Can I use my Pell grant funds to pay for these classes?
No! You must take classes that go towards your degree only! If you enroll in classes that are not part of your degree program, your Pell funds will be reduced to the hours that apply towards your program at UA Rich Mountain.
I finished my degree at UA Rich Mountain. I want to take more classes that will help me when I transfer and receive my Bachelor’s degree. Can Pell grant pay for these courses?
No, because these courses are not in your degree plan at UA Rich Mountain. If the classes were taken for the degree that you were in at the time, then, yes.
Pell can only be used if you are enrolled in a program that is approved for Federal Pell Grant funds.
I want to take the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at UA Rich Mountain. Is it covered by Pell grant?
No, this program is not covered by the Federal Pell grant.
If you are applying for other financial aid assistance, you will be required to complete the FAFSA. This is a requirement for the program that you are applying. It does not mean that you will receive Pell grant funds.
What is the withdrawal process?
A student that needs to withdrawal from one or all classes must contact the Associate VP for Student Affairs Office. After completing the required document for withdrawing, the student must contact Financial Aid and present the official document for a signature. All students are required to come by the FAO even if they do not have financial aid. FA personnel will counsel with the student in refer to what the consequences of withdrawing from one or all classes.
If I withdrawal from classes, am I still entitled to my Pell grant funds?
You may be entitled to receive Pell grant and other Title IV funds even if you withdrawal from classes. The following are a few scenarios:
If I withdraw, will I have to return my Pell grant funds?
You may be required to return a portion of your funds if you have not completed at least 60% point of the semester (Example: The fall term 60% is usually at the end of October. The spring term 60% is usually at the end of March.)
If you have not reached the 60% point, you may be required to pay a portion of your Pell grant funds back. The FAO will complete a Return to Title IV calculation to determine if you owe funds or in the case of a post-withdrawal disbursement are entitled to funds.
How do I know what percentage of the semester I have completed?
To determine what percentage you have completed the following formula is used:
This is used to determine the percentage of the semester the student has completed at UA Rich Mountain.
Will the Federal Pell grant pay for repeated class(es) students have failed or withdrawn from?
Yes, students can repeat classes that they fail as long as they need a “C” or better in order to advance to another course. For example, if a student makes an “D” in English Composition I, then the student would need to repeat this course to advance to English Composition II.
Students that pass a class with a “D” cannot repeat the course and Pell pay for it. For example, if the student takes US History I and makes a “D”, then this is passing for UA Rich Mountain purposes. The student does not need a “C” to advance to another class.
Students can repeat a passed course for a better grade one time and still be eligible for financial aid to pay for course.
Students can repeat a failed class or withdrawn class up to two times and still receive funding. On the third attempt, the student will have to use his/her own funds to pay for the class.
What is an NF grade and how does it impact my Pell funds?
If you receive all “NF” grades for the semester, your instructor is notifying Financial Aid that you stopped attending classes. NF grades have the Last Date of Attendance (LDA) that you attended that class. For financial aid purposes, the LDA is used when determining if you are required to return some or all of your Pell and/or other Title IV funds. This notification is called an unofficial withdrawal. This means that you stopped attending classes; however, you never officially withdrew from the class. You will be notified if you are required to return your Title IV funds. This notification is sent to you by mail and/or e-mail.
What if I withdrawal before completing the FAFSA?
If you withdrawal and have not completed the FAFSA, your financial aid eligibility cannot be determined because we have not record to determine if you would have been eligible for funds.
If I attended some of my classes and did not attend all of them, what happens to my Pell funds?
The following situation could happen in the even that you did not attend some of your classes:
Can my attendance affect my Pell grant funds?
Yes, if you do not attend classes regularly, your grade will show it! Remember that you must maintain progress to continue receiving Pell grant funds.
Do I still get my scholarship if I am not enrolled fulltime?
Yes, you can receive the scholarship even if you are not fulltime. The amount of your scholarship may be adjusted.
I received the Foundation scholarship for the fall semester. Will I receive it in the spring as well?
Yes, since you were awarded the scholarship in the fall, you will receive it in the spring as long as you maintain progress and meet the renewal criteria.
Foundation scholarships are for one year only, if awarding during the fall term. If you are awarded during the spring, you will only receive the scholarship for one term.