Financial Aid
UWF Student Athlete Handbook financial aid information.
Table of Contents
The UWF Financial Aid Office is located in Building 18. The athletic contact person is Amanda Hyder. Any questions about athletic financial aid, the grant-in-aid appeals process and any other financial aid questions should be directed to Mrs. Hyder at 850.474.2004. The Financial Aid Office provides workshops during the year to help students apply for other financial aid that is available.
UWF Financial Aid Links
Athletic Grant-In-Aid
In compliance with NCAA Bylaws, most athletic grants-in-aid cannot be awarded for less than one academic year. According to the NCAA Core Guarantees, if you have eligibility remaining and you received an athletic scholarship during your first academic year at UWF, the athletics department cannot reduce, cancel or not renew your scholarship for any reason related to athletics. Reasons related to athletics include, but are not limited to, injury, illness (including mental health), contribution to team success and athletic ability. UWF can include terms in your athletic scholarship that allow reductions, cancellations or non-renewals of your athletic scholarship for non-athletically related reasons, such as graduating or violation of team rules.
Reduction/Cancellation During Period of Award
An athletic grant-in-aid shall not be reduced or canceled during the period of award unless the student-athlete:
- Renders himself/herself ineligible for intercollegiate competition
- Gives false information on an application, financial aid agreement, attestations or disclosures
- Engages in serious misconduct warranting substantial disciplinary penalty
- Voluntarily withdraws from his/her sport for personal reasons
- Fails to comply with other non-athletically related conditions (including but not limited to academic policies or standards, team rules or policies)
- Provides written notification of transfer to UWF if transferring for the first time. However, the student-athlete’s financial aid may not be reduced or canceled until the end of the regular academic term in which written notification of transfer is received. If a student-athlete provides written notification of transfer to the institution between regular academic terms (winter break, summer break) UWF may reduce or cancel the financial aid immediately
4-4 undergraduate transfer: UWF may not reduce or cancel an undergraduate four-year transfer student’s athletics aid unless he/she:
- Transfers to another institution
- Loses amateur status and is no longer eligible for intercollegiate competition in the applicable sport
- Does not meet any conditions affecting transfer status at the certifying institution (for non-athletically related reasons) by the first regular term of the student-athlete’s aid agreement
- Is disqualified or suspended from receiving institutional financial aid by an institutional (as opposed to athletics department) proceeding (e.g., disciplinary process). However, the student shall remain a counter for the period of the award
If a student-athlete believes that his/her athletic grant-in-aid has been non-renewed or reduced unjustly, the decision may be appealed to the University’s Athletic Financial Aid Appeals Committee.
Renewals/Non-Renewals
By July 1, the UWF Office of Student Financial Aid shall notify each student-athlete who received an award the previous academic year whether the grant-in-aid has been renewed or not renewed for the next academic year. Even if a student-athlete has completed his/her eligibility, he/she will receive a “non-renewal” email. If a student believes his/her athletic grant-in-aid has been non-renewed unjustly, the decision may be appealed to the University’s Athletic Financial Aid Appeals Committee.
If a student-athlete receives athletically related financial aid in their first year of full-time enrollment at UWF, then their athletics aid cannot be reduced or non-renewed based on any of the following factors, for the remainder of their period of eligibility:
- A student-athlete’s athletics ability, performance or contribution to a team’s success (e.g., financial aid contingent upon specified performance or playing a specific position).
- An injury, illness or physical or mental medical condition.
- Any other athletics reason.
Student-Athlete Right To An Appeal
The student-athlete has the right to appeal any grant-in-aid reduction or cancellation. The Athletic Appeals Committee will process the appeal.
Appeal Procedures
The decision of ineligibility for renewal, reduction, or cancellation may be appealed by following the procedures below:
- The Financial Aid Office will notify you that your scholarship will not be renewed for the coming year and your option to appeal by July 1.
- Notify the Dean of Students in writing of your intent to appeal the decision within 14 business days from the date of the Financial Aid Office letter.
- The Athletic Appeals Committee will schedule a hearing where both parties (student-athlete and Athletic Department) will be present to present their case.
- The Financial Aid Office will provide you a copy of UWF’s policies and procedures for conducting the required hearing.
- UWF will conduct a hearing within 30 consecutive calendar days of receiving a student-athlete’s request for the hearing.
- The Athletic Appeals Committee will be composed of individuals outside of the Athletic Department.
Acceptance of Gifts
All student-athletes should remember that acceptance of financial assistance or gifts from a booster agent, or person outside your family is an NCAA violation and can result in your suspension and loss of athletics eligibility.
NCAA Student Assist Fund (SAF)
The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) is intended to provide direct benefits to student-athletes, including international student-athletes, as determined by the conference office.