Admissions and Financial Aid

Debralee Divers, M.Ed., director of enrollment management & student retention services
Cheryl L. Chafee, B.S., assistant director of admissions and financial aid
Victoria Kontos, B.A., secretary 2, admissions
Denise Miller, secretary 1, admissions
Julie A. Freitas, student services counselor, financial aid
Sharon R. Velliquette, student loan specialist

The procedures for admission to Bowling Green State University are described in the Admissions Policies section of this catalog. Students seeking admission to BGSU Firelands should follow the same procedures; however, test scores are not required. If a student has not taken either of these tests, he/she will be required to take the ACT Compass Placement test before or during New Student Orientation/Registration. This allows for accurate placement in courses. For specific information, tours or an interview, contact the BGSU Firelands Office of Admissions.

The Financial Aid Office provides counseling services to all students who are interested in applying for federal, state, and campus-based financial aid. A variety of printed materials are maintained by this office for student use. Additionally, the Financial Aid Office provides enrollment certification services for students who are eligible for veterans administration educational benefits.

More than $120,000 in annual scholarships is administered by BGSU Firelands. Applications for these scholarships are available from the offices of admissions and financial aid and must be filed by May 1 to be considered for the next academic year. Special need analysis forms are not required for scholarships administered directly by BGSU Firelands.

Short Term Extension Plan (S.T.E.P.)
The objective of the special loan fund is to assist students who, for one reason or another, find it extremely difficult or impossible to make payment for University instructional and general fees by the payment due date. The maximum loan that may be granted is two-thirds of the total for instructional and general fees. (It is expected that the borrower will be able to pay one-third of the total as a down payment. However, the amount of the loan is contingent upon the time of the application and is determined by the person administering the loan fund.) All loans may require a co-signature. The special loan program is available to continuing BGSU Firelands students who have at least a 2.0 ("C") accumulative grade point average. Exceptions to these criteria may be considered on an individual basis.

During any semester, all loans become due as specified in the loan agreement. Students may request an extension. The finance charge for all loans is established by the Ohio State Loan Commission prior to the beginning of each calendar quarter. Students who fail to repay special loans by the date due are charged a late payment fine. If the payment is not received by the due date or by an approved extension date (which can be no later than the last class day of the academic tern in which the money is extended), the amount due is subject to a late charge of the current monthly interest rate per month and/or a monthly service charge of 1.50% for each subsequent month that the amount remains unpaid. Payments received later than the due date will be subject to the late charge calculated as if the amount due were a full month late. Students not repaying loans by the end of the grace period may have their class registrations for that semester canceled and all records in the Office of the Registrar frozen. Also, they will be denied registration for any future semesters until the loan and penalty are repaid. If the payment for this deferred payment plan becomes delinquent and remains unpaid for 30 days past the original due date, BGSU may exercise its right and duty to assign the collection of the promissory note to the Ohio Attorney General’s Officer per State regulations . If your account does get submitted, they will charge you a collection fee in addition to the principal amount. The account may be further assigned to another collection agency with additional costs borne by the debtor as well. This plan/note is determined to be a deferred payment plan for educational costs and cannot be discharged via bankruptcy proceedings.

Emergency loan program
The emergency loan program is available to continuing BGSU Firelands students who have at least a 2.0 ("C") accumulative grade point average. Exceptions to these criteria may be considered on an individual basis.

During any semester all loans become due as specified in the loan agreement. Students may request an extension. The finance charge for all loans is established by the Ohio State Loan Commission prior to the beginning of each calendar quarter. Students who fail to repay special loans by the date due are charged a late payment fine. Fines are assessed at a rate of $.50 per day (including Saturdays and Sundays), but will not exceed $25. Students are granted a three-day grace period. If payment is not made during the grace period, the fine on the fourth day is $2. Students not repaying loans by the end of the grace period (three days after the due date) will have their class registrations for that semester canceled and all records in the Office of the Registrar frozen. Also, they will be denied registration for any future semesters until the loan and penalty are repaid.

Harry G. Beare Memorial Loan Fund
This loan is available to BGSU Firelands students who are graduates from Edison High School in Milan, Ohio. The loan is based on proven financial need and is interest-free. However, it is suggested that the student make a gift to the loan fund after repayment of the loan.

Third and Fourth Degrees of Sandusky Knights of Columbus, Firelands Shrine Club, and Singara Grotto Loan Fund
A loan fund has been provided by these organizations since BGSU Firelands was opened. Typically, the loans are for up to $350 and are issued for up to 45 days.

Charles E. Schell Foundation student loan program
This loan fund was made possible by the Charles E. Schell Foundation in an effort to assist students in achieving their college education. Schell was raised in a family of moderate means, and he worked to support himself through law school. Upon his death, he provided for his wife and a few relatives, but the remainder of his estate was used to establish the Charles E. Schell Foundation, a program of educational assistance for students who would not otherwise be able to achieve an education. It was Schell's belief, and he so specified, that students should be lent money for educational expenses and repay it without interest.

Students are eligible for the Schell loan fund if they are between the ages of 15 and 25, were born in and are now a citizen of the United States, are loyal to the United States and its institutions, have a 2.0 minimum cumulative grade point average, and have parents who were born in and are currently citizens of the United States. Except in unusual circumstances, repayment of the total amount of this loan should be completed within 10 years of the date after which the student leaves BGSU.