Student Financial Support

The Winter Term Student Financial Support (SFS) program is designed to help DePauw students with demonstrable financial need participate in off-campus Winter Term projects. It is important that all DePauw students have access to these projects, as they encourage adventurous and experiential learning and foster creativity and independence, and offer opportunities for new forms of collegiality among students and faculty members.

Awards from the SFS program are based primarily on the financial need of the applicant, as determined by the Financial Aid office. Other criteria, including previous Winter Term support awards, may be considered in the determination of award recipients. All applicants for Winter Term SFS should have current FAFSA forms on file with the Financial Aid office. We make use of “Winter Term need codes,” a “translation” of financial need created for us by the Financial Aid office. The need codes range from 6 (very high need) to 0 (no need or no FAFSA forms on file). Students may view their Winter Term need codes on student e-services, at the “financial aid award” link.

In the past, students in the highest need code categories have typically received funding for 40% to 50% of the fixed costs of a project. However, no student is guaranteed an award, as demand for awards is likely to exceed available funds. Awards vary in size, and all recipients are expected to contribute in part to their expenses. Students who receive awards must be in good academic standing (as verified by the Registrar’s Office) and must be current with all financial obligations to the University (unpaid account balances may jeopardize registration and participation in Winter Term). Please note that all awards are taxable income, and DePauw will provide each recipient with a 1099 tax form, in compliance with federal tax laws, at the end of the 2008 year. International students will receive an equivalent tax reporting form.

Award monies are expected to be applied only to project-related expenses. Award recipients participating in faculty-led off-campus study projects will have their award amount automatically applied toward the project cost, and will therefore pay a reduced project amount. Award recipents who intend to complete an internship, independent study, or study with another institution are required to prepare and submit a collection of receipts that document all project-related expenses, such that the original award amount can be shown to have been spent entirely on the approved Winter Term project. Internship, Independent study, and Study at another School or Institution students will be reimbursed up to an amount based on the student's proposed budget, submitted receipts and Need Code. Students needing support for any up-front expenses (i.e. airfare, housing deposits) should contact the Winter Term Office. Additionally, upon completion of the project, all award recipients will be required to write a short essay describing their off-campus Winter Term experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Is financial support available for Winter Term projects? Who is eligible to apply?
  2. How do I apply for Winter Term Student Financial Support (SFS)?
  3. What criteria are used when assembling SFS awards?
  4. Where do I find my Winter Term need code?
  5. My need code is reported as “0”. What does this mean?
  6. I know my Winter Term need code, and it does not accurately reflect recent changes in my family’s financial situation. What, if anything, can I do to communicate this change?
  7. I haven’t submitted a FAFSA application, and I currently do not have an accurate need code. How can I get a Winter Term need code so that I can be eligible to receive SFS?
  8. I’m an international student—and I have not submitted FAFSA information to DePauw—how can I get a Winter Term need code so that I’m eligible for SFS?
  9. Who typically gets SFS awards? How much money can I anticipate receiving?
  10. If I have received SFS monies for a previous Winter Term, am I eligible to receive support this year? And what can I expect for future award amounts relative to those I have already received?
  11. If I’m given a SFS award, do I have to spend the money on project-related expenses?
  12. What if, at the end of Winter Term, I cannot account for all the money I’ve been given? Do I have to pay back this outstanding amount?

Answers to FAQ's

    1. Financial support is available for those students involved in all types of Winter Term projects, with the exception of on-campus courses. DePauw seeks to make off-campus Winter Term projects available to all students, and achieves this by offering need-based awards that are meant to reduce project cost. Winter Term “financial-aid” is referred to as Student Financial Support (SFS). All students participating in internships, independent study projects, studies at another school, or off-campus study and service projects are invited to apply. [top]
    2. The type of Winter Term project that you are involved in will determine the appropriate application to complete for SFS. In most cases, an application must be submitted. Application material and associated deadlines are available online, at: http://www.depauw.edu/admin/winterterm/sfs.asp.
      • Off-campus study projects: If you are participating in a faculty-led study project, you should complete the application entitled “Off-Campus Study”. The Winter Term Off-Campus Study application asks for your Winter Term need code. (check website for specific dates). Students have the option of waiving their consideration for SFS.
      • Off-campus service projects: If you are participating in a service-based project, please contact the Hartman House to speak with either Ms. Jessie Scott (jscott@depauw.edu, ext. 4617) or Ms. Sarah Ryan (sryan@depauw.edu, ext. 4619). Service-based projects make use of a unique financial support system for their participants; these funds are separate and distinct from those available to other Winter Term projects.
      • Internships, Independent Study Projects, Study at Another School: If you are interning, completing an independent study project, or studying at another school, you should complete the application with these keywords in the title. The application requires that you provide your student contact information, Winter Term need code, and a budget accounting for your anticipated project expenses. Recipients of SFS for internships, independent study projects, and studies at other schools will be required to account for their SFS award by submitting receipts that demonstrate project-related purchases and expenses.  Applications for Internship, Independent Study, and Study at Another School SFS apps are due to the Winter Term Office no later the final week of October (see website for specific dates).[top]
    3. SFS is awarded on a need-basis:the primary determinate of the award amount is your Winter Term “need code”. This is a number from 0-6. Recall that your financial need at DePauw is calculated, in large part, from information that you and your family submit through the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application. You must submit FAFSA information in order to be assigned a Winter Term need-code. SFS awards are also dependent upon the number of past WT SFS awards you’ve been given: if you’ve already received SFS monies in past years, you may receive smaller awards in subsequent years. [top]
    4. Students can find their Winter Term need code by logging into e-services online, and opening the “financial aid award” link. [top]
    5. Students may be assigned a need code of “0” for one of two reasons:
      • Based upon FAFSA information, the student is considered to have no financial need, and therefore is assigned a “0” for “zero” need.
      • Need codes of “0” are also the default number for those students who have not submitted FAFSA (or equivalent) information to the Financial Aid Office. If you and your family have not submitted a FAFSA form (for whatever reason), you will be issued a “0”. Please contact the Financial Aid Office with further questions. Because international students are not allowed to submit FAFSA applications, the Financial Aid Office will generate an appropriate need code according to the student’s family financial records. If you are an international student and your need code is reported as “0”, please contact the Winter Term Program for further assistance. [top]
    6. If your Winter Term need code does not accurately reflect your current financial situation, you will need to submit supporting documentation with your SFS application to clarify your financial need. Please contact the Winter Term Program with additional questions. As a student, it is your responsibility to also contact the Financial Aid Office to have your need code updated. [top]
    7. The Financial-Aid Office is able to create need codes for those students who have demonstrable need, but for whatever reason, have not submitted a FAFSA application. The resulting need code will be based upon a similar set of data, and will be an accurate representation of the student’s financial situation. Students who have not already submitted FAFSA information should visit the Financial-Aid Office to receive additional assistance and information. [top]
    8. The Financial-Aid Office will generate an appropriate need code based upon financial information supplied by your family. International students should contact the Winter Term Program so that an accurate need code can be requested for you. [top]
    9. The Winter Term Program strives to allocate significant awards to as many students as possible, and therefore no one will have their entire experience paid for. Historically, students with need codes of four (4) and higher have been awarded SFS monies, though no student is guaranteed an award. Awards for students in the highest need code categories have typically received funding for 40% to 50% of fixed project costs. Awards vary in size according to reported student need; all recipients are expected to contribute in part to their project expenses. [top]
    10. DePauw’s SFS program seeks to help as many students with off-campus Winter Term experiences as possible, and gives preference to those students who have not yet been off-campus. Students who have received SFS awards for previous Winter Term(s) are eligible to receive money again this year; however, any future award may be smaller relative to past award amounts. (For example: if you received 40% of project costs in a previous Winter Term, and your need code is unchanged and all else is equal, you might receive 25-30% of project costs for the current Winter Term). [top]
    11. Students receiving SFS are expected to use award money toward project-related expenses. Award recipients who are enrolled on an off-campus study project will have their award amount applied directly to the fixed project cost; consequently, these students pay a discounted final project price. Award recipients who are participating in an internship, independent study, or study at another school must account for the entire award sum by submitting receipts that demonstrate project-related expenses. [top]
    12. For those students participating in an internship, independent study, or study at another school: any portion of the original award amount that cannot be re-created through receipts of purchase will be billed to the student’s university account. All award recipients participating in an internship, independent study, or study at another school will be required to attend an orientation session prior to receiving their award.[top]