FAQ

The remainder of the balance must be paid to Bursar Financial Services before the registration hold will be cleared. Visit www.etsu.edu and click on “GoldLink”.

If the balance is from a prior semester in the same award year, we can issue a referral in person, by fax, or by email, to show that the aid for the upcoming semester (in the same award year) will cover the balance (if amount of aid is sufficient).
If the balance is from a semester prior to the current award year, we can issue a referral that will cover up to $200 of the past due balance.

How Much Does It Cost To Attend East Tennessee State University?

You may find the latest version of the ETSU fee schedule at http://www.etsu.edu/fa/fs/bursar/tuitioninfo/feeschedule.aspx.

When Are My Fees Due?

Generally, fees are due the last business day before classes begin.
For Fall 2009, tuition and fees are due by August 28, 2009.

I Transferred From Another College/University. What Do I Need To Do To Get My Aid Transferred To ETSU?

First, be sure you have the aid cancelled at your previous college/university for the upcoming semester. Since the federal records are not always updated in a timely manner showing the aid has been cancelled, please request that the Financial Aid Office at the previous institution fax us a confirmation that the aid for the upcoming semester has been cancelled or e-mail us at finaid@etsu.edu.

If your FAFSA does not have our school code, visit http://fafsa.ed.gov and click on “Add a School Code.” Enter 003487 and submit the FAFSA. We will receive it in approximately one to two weeks.
You will need to check the status of your FAFSA and read your Student Aid Report (SAR) comments to see if your application was processed and results were sent to ETSU.
You must also check SAR comments to see if you were selected for verification by the federal processor.
If you are selected for verification, please go to the Office of Financial Aid website, click on "Verification" in "Forms" http://www.etsu.edu/finaid/faforms/verification.aspx and print out the appropriate verification worksheet. Complete the verification worksheet thoroughly, entering $0 for amounts where applicable. Have the verification worksheet signed by all who are required to sign it. Attach signed copies of all appropriate Federal Income Tax returns and all W-2’s. Submit all paperwork to the Office of Financial Aid at ETSU.
You may request an affidavit in the Office of Financial Aid if you are bringing, faxing, or e-mailing all required verification documents.
You must submit a Mid-year Enrollment Form, which is available online at http://www.etsu.edu/finaid/documents/General/MidYearEnrollmentform.pdf, or by phone.
If you received the Hope Scholarship or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA) at your previous school, you must list ETSU as the first school on the FAFSA or complete a TSAC Change of Institution form.
If you had student loans at your previous school(s), notify your student lender that you have transferred to ETSU. This will enable you to continue your student deferment. After you graduate, consolidate your previous loans with your new loans through the Direct Loan Consolidation Program.

Where Do I Sign Up for a Meal Plan?

Housing and Residence Life, on the first floor of Burgin Dossett Hall, for Resident Advantage Plans
- (423) 439-4446
The ARAMARK office, located on the 3rd floor of the Culp Center, for all other meal plans
-(423) 439-4389

How do I get an ETSU E#?

If you have applied to ETSU or filed a FAFSA with the ETSU school code on it, then you will be assigned an E#. If you have been assigned an E#, you can look up your E# on GoldLink.

When Will My Financial Aid Be Applied To My Student Account?

The earliest date financial aid can be applied to the student’s account for Fall 2009 is August 25, 2009 (except Direct Loans). Direct Loans (Stafford & PLUS) will begin disbursing to student accounts on August 28, 2009.

How Do I Check My Financial Aid Status? Click on the following link to read "How To Check Your Financial Aid Status."

My Financial Aid is Not Showing on My Account. What Should I Do?

You can pay your balance.

Check your financial aid status on GoldLink for any unsatisfied requirements (Example: Financial Aid and Prior Balances Authorization Form, Loan Counseling, etc.), view/accept awards, and/or sign the online Financial Aid Agreement Promissory Note (affidavit).
Make sure that you have confirmed your registration if you expect to receive financial aid that covers your tuition and fees. All students must confirm their attendance on or before 6:00 p.m. the last business day before classes begin.
Review your student account: Go to www.etsu.edu and click on GoldLink, Student, and Student Account.
-Confirm registration
-Sign online Financial Aid Agreement Promissory Note (affidavit)
-Pay your balance
-Sign up for direct deposit

How Do I Confirm My Attendance?

Confirm your Attendance through GoldLink online.

Go to https://goldlink.etsu.edu .
Click on Enter Secure Area.
Enter your ‘E’ number and PIN.
- Social Security and Birth Date
- Old ETSU ID number and Birth Date
- PIN is initially set to your birth date, mmddyy…unless you have changed it)
At Main Menu, click on Student.
At Student Menu, click on Student Account.
At Student Account menu, click on Account Detail/Confirm Attendance/Payment and Refunds.
Select Term (only select COM or COP if you are a Quillen College of Medicine student or a Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy student).
Click, Yes, I will attend; you will receive a confirmation number to print.
If your financial aid does not cover all your charges, you will be directed to the student payment suite to pay your charges.

I have a Financial Aid Agreement Promissory Note (affidavit). Why is there still a balance due on my account?

A Financial Aid Agreement Promissory Note (affidavit) is a legal instrument that holds your classes and your account balance in anticipation of your expected financial aid. If, for any reason, your financial aid is not received, you will be responsible for payment of the account.
You have the option of paying your fees (at least half plus a $50 deferred payment fee) and you will be reimbursed when your aid comes in.

I have not completed the verification process and can’t confirm registration. What can I do?

As long as we have everything we need for verification, we may be able to give you a counselor-signed paper affidavit in the Financial Aid Office. If we have not received everything we need for verification, see the information regarding the Short Term Loan below.

I can’t pay my fees now and I am not eligible for a Financial Aid Agreement Promissory Note. Is there any other way you can help me?

If you are unable to pay the fees and are ineligible for a Financial Aid Agreement Promissory Note (affidavit) because you just completed your FAFSA or you are still in the verification process, you may apply for a Short Term Loan (STL) as funds permit through the Office of Financial Aid. The STL application must be submitted in person or by fax and requires a co-signer who is employed full-time, not self-employed, and someone other than the student’s spouse. The STL application is available online (click here).
If you need money for books, you may apply for the SGA Loan for $250 through the Office of Financial Aid. The SGA Loan application must be submitted in person or by fax and requires a co-signer who is employed full-time, not self-employed, and someone other than the student’s spouse. The SGA Loan application is available online (click here).

When Can I Get My Balance of Financial Aid Refund?

If your aid has been applied to your student account, the refund via direct deposit may be as early as August 25, 2009 (for Fall 2009). Direct Loans (Stafford & PLUS) will begin disbursing to student accounts beginning August 28, 2009. Students enrolled for direct deposit will generally receive the financial aid direct deposit 2-3 business days after the aid is applied to their student account. If you choose not to enroll in direct deposit, paper checks will be mailed to your mailing address. No checks may be picked up in the Financial Services/Bursar’s Office.

How do I set Up, View, or Update My Account for Direct Deposit?

Go to www.etsu.edu.
Click on Goldlink.
Enter secure area with your E number and PIN.
Click on the Student tab (top of page).
Click on Student Account.
Click on Account Detail/Confirm Attendance/Payments and Refunds.
Select a term (NOT –COM OR –COP).
Click, ‘Yes, I will attend’ if you have not yet confirmed, OR if you have confirmed, View Payments and Refunds and it will re-direct you to GoldLink Student Payment Suite.
Create refund profile.
Payment profile, electronic check (for checking account).
Enter nickname for refund profile (ex. my refund acct, SunTrust, primary checking, etc.), routing number, account number, etc. Check the box to use for refunds, and enter the last four digits of your E number. This completes your refund profile and allows ETSU to direct deposit your financial aid refund.

I Got Purged/Dropped from My Classes. What can I Do?

Your financial aid is showing on your account:
-You will need to re-register first. Once you are re-registered, see if you are able to confirm registration on GoldLink and/or complete an online Financial Aid Agreement Promissory Note (affidavit). If not, please contact the Office of Financial Aid for information about a paper affidavit or Short Term Loan.

Your financial aid is not showing on your account: -Check your financial aid status for any unmet requirements to complete immediately. Complete an online Financial Aid Agreement Promissory Note if available. Otherwise, contact the Office of Financial Aid

I Need to Drop a Class. How Will This Affect My Financial Aid?

Please see our Satisfactory Academic Progress policy at http://www.etsu.edu/finaid/policies/satisfactorypro.aspx.
If you have a Lottery Scholarship or Academic Performance Scholarship (APS) and will be dropping below full-time (less than 12 credit hours), please come to the Office of Financial Aid to speak with a financial aid counselor for further information.
If you drop classes, you must complete the Request for Hours Adjustment Form at http://www.etsu.edu/finaid/faforms/general.aspx .
After fourteen calendar days from the beginning of classes, you need to get pre-approval to drop hours or withdraw if you are a Lottery Scholarship recipient.
Dropping hours will affect your future financial aid eligibility!

I Need to Completely Withdraw from the Semester. How Will This Affect My Financial Aid?

Please see answers to the question above regarding dropping a class.

Please refer to www.etsu.edu/comptrol/bursar_refunding.htm for information about whether you will owe a repayment to ETSU.
A letter will be sent to you from Bursar/Financial Services if you owe a repayment.

Talk with the financial aid office at the college where you are seeking your degree.
You cannot receive federal financial aid at two colleges at the same time.
If you are receiving grants or scholarships, you may need to enroll in 12 hours between the two schools to be eligible to receive the grants/scholarships.
If you are receiving only loans, you must be enrolled in at least 6 hours between the two schools to be eligible for the loans.
For more help with consortium agreements, contact the ETSU Office of Financial Aid - Ammi Gouge, Counselor, gougeas@etsu.edu.

I Would Like To Go on a Study Abroad Trip. How Can I Get Financial Aid?

Contact the ETSU Office of Financial Aid - Ammi Gouge, Counselor, gougeas@etsu.edu.

Where Can I Get Verification of My Enrollment?

Go to http://www.etsu.edu/reg/records/enrollment.aspx.

I Transferred to Another College/University, but They Said I Can’t Get Financial Aid Until You Cancel it at ETSU. What Do I Need To Do?

Send a written request by mail, fax, or in person to the ETSU Office of Financial Aid requesting your aid be cancelled for the semester. Be sure to include your name, ETSU E#, semester and/or academic year, date, and signature. Let us know if you would like us to send notification by fax or email to the other college/university along with their contact information.

How Do I Request a Refund of My Tuition and Fees if I Must Withdraw?

The Refund Appeal Form is located at http://www.etsu.edu/reg/documents/PDF/Withdrawal_Appeals_Form_-_final.pdf. Follow the instructions on the form.

When Can I Apply for Summer Aid?

To receive financial aid in Summer, students have to fill out a special Summer Aid Application. Summer Aid Applications are available on our website at http://www.etsu.edu/finaid/faforms/SummerAid.aspx beginning the middle of February each year. The FAFSA for the current award year must be completed for Summer financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid begins accepting Summer Aid Applications around the middle of February.

When Can I Fill Out the FAFSA for Next Year?

You may file the FAFSA for the next award year beginning January 1 of that calendar year. Be sure to use accurate tax information and list ETSU School code 003487 at the end.

What is the Deadline to Apply for ETSU Scholarships?

ETSU scholarships are awarded on a Fall/Spring basis. The deadline is March 1 (or the first Monday in March, if March 1 falls outside of normal business hours) for the next award year.

How Can I Get A Parking Decal for My Car?

For information about parking decals go to http://www.etsu.edu/fa/fs/parking/default.aspx.

My Graduate/Teaching Assistantship has not been credited onto my account. What do I do?

As long as you have signed your contract with the department the scholarship will get credited onto your account.
The Bursar Financial Services will put a hold on your account. Your classes will not get canceled.
Program and Services fees must be paid (they are not covered by assistantship).
Check with the Graduate Studies Office to verify you’re on their list of recipients.