1. What is the Carolina Covenant?
The Carolina Covenant is a college financing commitment between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and historically low-income youth throughout the state and nation. The Covenant pledges that the University will meet 100 percent of an admitted, eligible student's financial need with a combination of grants, scholarships, and a reasonable amount of Federal Work-Study. This combination of financial aid, together with the amount the family is expected to pay, will give students who qualify for the Covenant, and who work 10-12 hours per week in a work-study job, the opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree at Carolina without having to borrow to meet their financial need. By making this Covenant, the University hopes to encourage youth from low-income families who want to attend Carolina to prepare academically for admission, knowing they can afford to attend.

2. When will the Covenant begin, and how will it be phased in?
The Covenant has been phased in over a four-year period, beginning with the entering class in fall 2004. Fall 2007 marked the fourth entering class with sophomores, juniors, seniors and transferring sophomores and juniors all a part of the program.

Eligibility Criteria for the Carolina Covenant

Academic Admitted to, or enrolled at, Carolina Pursuing first undergraduate degree Enrolled full-time during regular academic year Continuing Studies students are not eligible Income Parents' adjusted gross income (AGI) does not exceed 200% of federal poverty guidelines (based on family size) For the 2008-09 academic year, the parents' adjusted income in 2007 did not exceed the following amounts: Family Size Max. AGI 2 $27,380 3 $34,340 4 $41,300 5 $48,260 6 $55,220 Add $6,960 for each additional family member Financial Need/Eligibility for Aid Financial need, based on information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Board's PROFILE application Eligible for federal student financial aid The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services updates poverty guidelines annually.

Where can I get more information about being admitted to Carolina?
Website: www.admissions.unc.edu.
E-mail: uadm@email.unc.edu
Telephone: (919) 966-3621

Where can I get more information about applying for financial aid at Carolina?
Website: www.studentaid.unc.edu
E-mail: aidinfo@unc.edu
Telephone: (919) 962-8396

Whose income is counted for the Covenant?
Parents' adjusted gross income is used to determine if a student may be considered for the Covenant. Student income is not counted for this purpose.

What year's income is used?
The adjusted gross income from the calendar year prior to the start of the academic year is used to determine if a student meets the income cutoff for consideration. For example, 2007 income will be used to establish eligibility for further consideration for the 2008-09 academic year.

Who establishes the federal poverty guidelines?
Poverty guidelines are established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services each year.

4. How do students apply for the Covenant?
Admitted/renewal students who complete an application for financial aid are automatically considered for Covenant funding. A separate application is not required.

How do students apply for financial aid?
To apply for financial aid a student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Board's PROFILE application. In addition, the student must provide any other documentation needed by Carolina to determine eligibility for financial aid and for Covenant funding. Please note that the priority deadline for financial aid application is March 1, and students must apply for financial aid each year.

Will the information on the FAFSA and PROFILE be checked?
Each student who meets the income criteria for Covenant funding will be required to verify information reported on the FAFSA and PROFILE applications.

5. What are the requirements for renewal?
To receive a financial aid award under the Carolina Covenant as a sophomore, junior or senior, a student who has been designated as a Covenant student must:

• Meet current income/financial need requirements;

• Be enrolled and making satisfactory academic progress at Carolina, and in compliance with federal financial aid standards and related institutional policies; and

• Meet the March 1 priority application deadline for financial aid.

6. For how long may a student receive a Covenant award?
An eligible student may be awarded under the Carolina Covenant until he or she has completed the requirements for a first baccalaureate degree, up to a maximum of nine semesters.

7. How much financial aid will be awarded to students who receive Covenant funding?
Covenant-eligible students will receive financial aid covering 100 percent of their documented financial need. In addition, Covenant-aided students will receive the "laptop" computer grant provided to entering freshmen with documented financial need, as part of the laptop computer requirement. (See www.unc.edu/cci for more information about the Carolina Computing Initiative.)

What is documented financial need?
Documented financial need is the difference between the financial aid-recognized costs of attending Carolina for a nine-month academic year and the amount the student and/or his or her family are expected to be able to contribute.

What college costs are recognized?
Financial aid-recognized costs of attendance include tuition and mandatory fees and standardized allowances for room/board, books/supplies, travel, and personal expenses. For current costs of attendance, see www.studentaid.unc.edu.

How is the expected family contribution determined?
The amount the student and his or her family are expected to contribute toward college costs is based on information provided by the student on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Board's PROFILE applications. The amount families are expected to pay ranges from $0 (for the lowest income families) to the full cost of attendance (for upper income families).

8. What types of financial aid will Covenant students receive?
Covenant-eligible students will be awarded federal, state, institutional, and/or private grants and scholarships and the amount of Federal Work-Study that can be earned by working approximately 10-12 hours per week in an on-campus job. This combination of grants, scholarships, and Work-Study gives Covenant-aided students the opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree at Carolina without having to assume student loans to meet their financial need.

9. How will a student know he/she has received a Covenant financial aid award?
Students who qualify for the Covenant will receive a letter from the Director of Scholarships and Student Aid notifying them of their Covenant designation and special award.

10. Why are Covenant-aided students given Work-Study as a part of their financial aid?
Researchers have found that students who work a reasonable number of hours while enrolled in college tend to get better grades and are much more likely to stay in school than students who don't work (or who work too many hours). Work-Study also provides excellent work experience and helps students get to know faculty and staff who may become mentors.

11. How will a Covenant-aided student know how to get a Work-Study job at Carolina?
Covenant students will receive information explaining the Work-Study program and how to find a job. Many jobs are available, and the process is not difficult. However, students are encouraged to request assistance, if needed, in finding a Work-Study position.

12. Are there circumstances in which a Covenant-aided student may need to borrow?
Covenant-aided students will be encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to work 10-12 hours per week, rather than borrowing. However, a student who is eligible for a Covenant award may choose to borrow, without losing his/her designation as a Covenant participant. Like other financial aid recipients, a student funded by the Covenant may assume a non-need-based student loan, if necessary, to pay for some or all of the expected family contribution. A Covenant-eligible student may also need to borrow to cover the cost of a study abroad program.

13. Will the identity of Covenant students be made public?
Students who receive financial aid under the Covenant will be identified and tracked in the University's financial aid system. However, the identity of Covenant students will be protected, in keeping with Carolina's confidentiality policies regarding the disclosure of personal information. The names of Covenant recipients may be released to Carolina faculty and staff who have a legitimate educational interest, as defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Otherwise, at no other time will identification of Covenant participants be disclosed without the student's permission.

14. What happens to students who are needy, but who don't qualify for the Covenant?
Carolina offers an exceptional financial aid program to needy students. The University meets 100 percent of the documented financial need of undergraduate students who apply for aid on time. An on-time undergraduate financial aid recipient typically receives two-thirds of his or her financial aid in the form of grants and scholarships, and one-third in loans and/or Work-Study. In addition, the University awards a "laptop" computer grant (above and beyond the financial aid award) to all entering freshmen with documented financial need, as part of the laptop computer requirement.

15. Will the cost of providing Covenant awards reduce financial aid or eliminate work-study jobs for other students?
No. Funding will be added to cover the cost of the additional grants/scholarships awarded to Covenant Scholars, and work-study will still be readily available to other financial aid recipients.

16. What other services are available to Covenant Scholars?
Faculty and staff throughout the University are committed to helping ensure that Covenant Scholars who enroll at Carolina have every opportunity to succeed. Covenant Scholars, like all others admitted to the University, have demonstrated academic achievement. Also like other students, they may experience challenges in adapting to the large University setting or to various aspects of college life. Carolina provides excellent services to help students, including a Learning Center, a Writing Center, Math Help Center, and General Chemistry Resources Center. In addition, students have access to academic and other student services support organizations, programs, and assistance.

17. Where can I get more information about the Carolina Covenant?
Contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, #300 Vance Hall, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Telephone: (919) 962-8396
E-mail: aidinfo@unc.edu