Mission

The Financial Aid Office is primarily responsible for providing all information, services, and assembling financial resources that are available to and/or needed by students who are attending Gallaudet University in order to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree. Financial aid resources are those that are provided by both internal (university and/or endowment funds), governmental (federal and state) and private agencies or organizations. The Financial Aid Office will provide the highest quality of services and offer as many opportunities for financial aid as possible, in combination with resources expected from student, family, state Vocational Rehabilitation offices, and other sources, to support an eligible student in completion of a degree at Gallaudet University.

Vision

The Financial Aid Office (FAO) is an integral part of and partner in carrying out and actualizing Gallaudet University's overall purpose and strategic planning. Gallaudet University has a unique purpose in providing educational, social, cultural, and personal development programs to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf Blind undergraduate students, as well as specialized graduate training programs for both hearing and Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf Blind individuals seeking to establish careers in the broader field of deafness. With this purpose in mind, Gallaudet University will continue to promote various scholarship, loan, and employment opportunities for students who meet qualification standards for these funds. The fundamental purpose of the financial aid program at Gallaudet is to make college education possible for students who might otherwise be deprived of this higher education opportunity due to inadequate funds and /or previous limited educational opportunities; to support the recognition of high academic and co-curricular achievement through administration of merit based awards; and to seek and support funding sources to provide financial support for Gallaudet University students.

Goals

  1. Establish essential manual and automated processes to support awarding financial aid in a timely manner.
  2. Award financial assistance to qualified students, according to institutional and federal requirements and with a focus on individual student needs.
  3. Establish regular communication flow between the FAO and the students/parents.
  4. Publish required consumer information concerning financial aid program expenses, requests for reconsideration of financial aid results, application requirements, eligibility criteria, award procedures, student rights and responsibilities, important deadlines, and other pertinent information.
  5. Maintain regular contact with the Chief Enrollment Management Officer and other university administrators to support essential policy development and revision and to evaluate institution-wide needs related to financial aid.
  6. Maintain a flexible, open-door operation for students who need adjustment in financial assistance or assistance in seeking, obtaining, and retaining appropriate levels of financial aid.
  7. Provide individual student/parent assistance in completing necessary applications and managing personal resources as they are needed to augment financial assistance in covering educational expenses.
  8. Maintain active working relationships and communication with all university offices involved in the provision of financial assistance to students and with external agencies, organizations, and individuals. This includes Student Accounts, Graduate and Undergraduate Admissions, Registrar, Enrollment Marketing, Career Center, and Development Offices. Additionally the following agencies and organizations will be included in this collaborative effort, such as: Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR), VR State Coordinators and/or Counselors, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA - national, regional and local associations, and State Grant Programs).
  9. Provide up to date training and information opportunities to all financial aid office staff through in-house training and attendance at professional organization training meeting/workshops.
  10. Conduct internal program evaluation activities and contribute directly to all Enrollment Services or university-wide research efforts which will require financial aid office input.