Financial AidAssistance Renee Volak
Colby McCarthy, Director, Tilghman House, x3112
The services and resources of the Office of Financial Assistance are available to all students. Financial assistance awards are based on a student’s academic and extracurricular accomplishment and financial need. Over 80% of Drew students receive some form of financial assistance, available in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and federal work-study. Students are encouraged to contact this office to utilize the information and financial counseling services available.
Procedure for Applying:
Holloway Hall, 973-408-3112
Drew is very generous with financial assistance and is committed to making a Drew education accessible and affordable. We also know that financing your college education can be complicated, that’s why we are with you every step of the way. You will be assigned a dedicated financial assistance counselor to help you understand the process. At Drew you won’t be transferred to anonymous call centers or shuffled between counselors unfamiliar with your situation.
Here is some helpful information to provide you with an overview of the financial assistance process:
Procedure for Applying
To apply for financial assistance, simply complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online by visiting fafsa.gov. Drew’s FAFSA code is 002603.
The FAFSA is a federal financial aid application used by all school in the nation for undergraduate and graduate students. You complete it based on your most recent tax returns.
Completing the FAFSA is the only way to:
- Determine your eligibility for need-based grants from the Federal or State government as well as Drew University (available only to undergraduate students).
- Receive a low interest student loan.
- Determine your eligibility for Federal Work-Study.
Deadlines
It is important to file early because some financial aid is given on a first come, first served basis.
| Fall Enrollment | Spring Enrollment |
First-Year Students | Feb. 15 | Dec. 1 |
Transfer Students | April 1 | Dec. 1 |
Returning Students | April 1 | Dec. 1 |
...
Please keep in mind the following
• Students must be in good standing and maintain satisfactory academic progress according to University policy.
• Any change in status (such as moving from full- to part-time) may change your award package.
• Any change in housing status (such as changing from resident to commuter or vice versa) may impact your award package.
• Withdrawals from Drew must be made officially through the Dean of Educational AffairsRegistrars office, via Treehouse.
Campus Work/Study Employment
Zarinah Smith, Student Employment Coordinator, Tilghman House 2nd Floor, x3717Holloway Hall, 973-408- 3717
Federal Work-Study and Community Service Program
Description: Employment on and off campus for students in good standing who have been assigned jobs as part of their aid package. This program does not assign students a particular job, but those qualified for this program are likely to find a job. Students who can cover the authorized earnings expectation from other sources may choose not to work.
Jobs: Hourly rate of $7.25-$8.60. Rate is determined by the nature/specialization of the work. Check is sent directly to student.
How to apply: File student employment information with the Student Employment Office; be sure I-9-U.S. form is completed and on file. Please note that each student only needs to complete the W-4 and I-9 forms once while working at Drew University. Conduct your own job search, consulting with the office supervisor, who runs a clearinghouse on available jobs. Once hired, obtain clearance from the Student Employment Office. Clear each job separately, if more than one. Students interested in off-campus Community Service employment should contact the Career Planning and Placement Office.
Regular Campus Employment
Description: For students enrolled at Drew at least part-time.
Jobs: Hourly rate of $7.25-$8.60. Rate is determined by the nature/specialization of the work. Check is sent directly to student.
How to apply: File student employment information with the Student Employment Office; be sure the I-9-U.S. form is completed and on file. Please note that each student only needs to complete the W-4 and I-9 forms once while working at Drew University. Conduct your own job search, consulting with the office supervisor, who runs a clearinghouse on available jobs. Once hired, obtain clearance from the Student Employment Office. Clear each job separately, if more than one. Students interested in off-campus Community Service employment should contact the Career Planning and Placement Office.
Procedures & Contact Information
Students may not apply for positions prior to arriving on campus
- Coordinator: Zarinah Smith
- workstud@drew.edu
- 973-408-3717
Students may participate in any of several part-time university employment programs, for which the federal government appropriates funds for post-secondary institutions under the Federal College Work/Study and Community Service Program. Under the FWSP, students are hired on campus in part-time jobs that range from clerical positions to career-related work. Eligibility is determined through the filing of the FAFSA. A number of other campus-based, part-time employment opportunities are available to students through the Office of Student Employment. In addition, a variety of off-campus employment opportunities may be available through the Career Center.
The Federal Immigration and Control Act of 1986 requires Drew to certify identity and determine the eligibility of every employee for the FWSP, including students who work at Drew or in a Drew-referred job. Therefore, all students who work at Drew (and/or their spouses who work) must file in advance of their employment an I-9 form with the Student Employment Office. Along with this form we’ll need a copy of your passport, or your driver’s license and social security card. Other forms of identification are also accepted, please call the Office of Financial Assistance for further details. We also require that you fill out a W-4 form for tax filing purposes. Both forms can be picked up at the Office of Financial Assistance, on the second floor of the Tilghman House, or downloaded from our Web site.
The I-9 form is also available at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, while the W-4 form can also be downloaded from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
**Please note that each student only needs to complete the W-4 and I-9 forms once while working at Drew University.
FEDERAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID PENALTIES FOR DRUG LAW VIOLATIONS
Drug Convictions and Financial Aid Eligibility
Under the Higher Education Act, a student may become ineligible for federal student aid upon conviction of any offense involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs while receiving Title IV federal financial aid.
Penalties for Drug Convictions
Possession of Illegal Drugs:
- First Offense: 1 year from the date of conviction
- Second Offense: 2 years from the date of conviction
- Third and Subsequent Offenses: Indefinite ineligibility from the date of conviction
Sale of Illegal Drugs:
* First Offense: 2 years from the date of conviction - Second and Subsequent Offenses: Indefinite ineligibility from the date of conviction

How to Regain Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid After a Drug Conviction
There is a way that you can regain eligibility for the federal programs. You must successfully complete an acceptable drug rehabilitation program that meets the standards set by Congress and the Department of Education. You will regain eligibility on the date you complete the program.
What is an Acceptable Drug Rehabilitation Program?
An acceptable drug rehabilitation program must require passing TWO unannounced drug tests AND it must be either:
- Be qualified to receive funds from a federal, state or local government agency or program, or from a state or federally licensed insurance company, or
- Be administered or recognized by a federal, state or local government agency or court, or by a state or federally licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Question 23 on the FAFSA form asks if the student has ever been convicted of a drug related offense. Failure to answer this question will automatically disqualify the student from receiving Federal aid. Falsely answering this question, if discovered, could result in fines up to $20,000, imprisonment, or both. If you are not sure how you should answer this question, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
Convictions During Enrollment
According to the United States Department of Education, if a student is convicted of a drug offense after receiving Federal aid, he or she must notify the Financial Aid Office immediately and that student will be ineligible for further aid and required to pay back all aid received after the conviction.
Even if you are ineligible for federal aid, you should complete the FAFSA because you may be eligible for nonfederal aid from states and private institutions. If you regain eligibility during the award year, notify your financial aid administrator immediately. If you are convicted of a drug-related offense after you submit the FAFSA, you might lose eligibility for federal student aid, and you might be liable for returning any financial aid you received during a period of ineligibilityIf you have filed a FAFSA form, you may be eligible for Federal work-study. Hundreds of students take part in this program. The coordinator assesses students’ interests/skills in order to match them with an appropriate office on campus. If you’d like to earn a little extra cash, call Ms. Smith.