Financial Aid Audit

XV. If in year two or beyond, has your institution performed a financial aid audit of the intercollegiate athletics program per Constitution 6.2.3?

 YES

It is imperative that we do not do anything which would result in giving financial aid based on athletics’ ability, leadership or participation. In response to NCAA Division III Bylaw 15.4.1 that calls for the equitable treatment of student-athletes and other students within the domain of the financial aid packaging process, the data submitted by MUW for the NCAA Division III Financial Aid Reporting Program did not identify any triggers to indicate a sport outlier. Each section was designed to compare financial aid packaging for student-athletes and other students. We address this in our compliance manual, as well as had our directors for financial aid and admissions participate in the NCAA III videoconferences. In addition to the information provided, we provide additional communication to ensure compliance.

Financial Aid

No financial aid shall be awarded to any student conditioned upon his or her participation in intercollegiate athletics. NCAA Division III financial aid rules will be followed at all times. Financial aid to student-athletes shall be granted on the same basis as similar awards are given to any student and shall be paid from institutional funds through the Office of Financial Aid. No financial aid shall be reserved specifically for student- athletes. No coach shall promise admission, allocate financial aid or serve on any committee that is responsible for admitting or granting financial aid to prospective student-athletes.

Financial aid matters, including the application of financial aid awards to admitted students, are the sole responsibility of the Office of Admission and the Office of Financial Aid. No one outside of the Office of Financial Aid has access to the system which is used to apply student financial aid to student accounts. All members of the athletics staff will avoid associating themselves with the amount of aid a student is to be awarded since parents and student-athletes often assume the coach or athletics director can influence the ultimate decision in awarding aid. Members of the athletics staff will disassociate themselves from the financial aspects of student financial aid for counseling and assistance.

Mississippi University for Women Financial Aid programs operate on the premise that college costs are primarily and individual and family responsibility, and University merit and need based assistance allows students and their families to make college more accessible and affordable.

The academic scholarship is the foundation of every financial aid package. This scholarship is awarded by an Office of Admission Advocate using a matrix based upon high school and/or college academic performance measures. Academic award amounts are set annually by the University, and are assigned to prospective students at the time of their application to the University via the Office of Admission. Awards are renewable annually. There are additional supplemental scholarships available such as church matching, arts scholarships and scholarships

in specific colleges within the University. Office of Admission Advocates are aware of all scholarship possibilities and work individually with prospective students and their families to create appropriate financial aid packages, and to complete their Financial Aid file.

Following the academic scholarship, students may qualify for additional need-based aid.

• Federal Pell Grant • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) • Teachers Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH) • Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant • Mississippi State Grants • Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)

All financial assistance received by the student-athlete from sources outside of the institution shall be reported to the Mississippi University for Women Office of Financial Aid (NCAA Bylaw 15.2.3.1).

When a student receives scholarships from non-institutional sources, the University may use this additional aid to first reduce unmet need, then institutional grants/scholarships, and finally loans. If the student receives additional outside aid that results in an over-award, the student’s subsequent loan disbursement(s) may be reduced or the Federal Work Study award may be reduced or eliminated. In addition, other campus-based and institutional aid amounts are reviewed; finally, the subsidized loan may be reduced and re-awarded as an unsubsidized loan. Guidelines and regulations regarding over- awards may be found in the Federal Student Financial Aid Handbook.

Returning students have their financial aid package reviewed annually. If changes are made from year to year, the student is notified by the Financial Aid Office and given proper guidance.

At no point in the Admission or Financial Aid process are members of the Department of Athletics involved in arranging or modifying the financial aid of a student-athlete, nor are Office of Financial Aid staffers influenced due to athletic status of a prospective student. All awards are given based on already established matrix which do NOT include athletics as a quadrant.