Disclosure Policies for Financial Aid Information

Custodial parents, non-custodial parents, spouses, and interested third parties should seek financial aid award information directly from the student. Students have quick and easy access to their financial aid, billing, and grade report records via Self Service. If information will be required by a third party, an Information Release Form must be signed by the student and placed on file with the Office of Student Records.

Greenville Technical College’s Financial Aid staff may provide custodial parents with financial aid information services, but are not required to do so. In some instances, the Financial Aid office reserves the right to refer some custodial parents’ questions back to the student to protect the confidentiality of student records.

For financial aid purposes, parent definitions and independent student definitions are defined by federal student aid regulations and may differ from the Internal Revenue Services dependent exemption tax rules and definitions. Any exceptions to these financial aid release practices are subject to dean approval.

• Parent Financial Aid Record Release
  Parents’ income tax information will be treated confidentially. However, during the verification process, if additional information is required, the parents’ income tax return may be returned directly to the student at the address of record for further action. Students and parents may not request copies of income tax returns they have submitted to the Financial Aid office. Copies must be requested from the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
• Non-Custodial Parent Information Inquiries
  Greenville Technical College’s Financial Aid office will not release student financial aid information to the non-custodial parent(s) of a student considered dependent for financial aid purposes.
• Parents of Independent Students Information Inquiries
  Greenville Technical College’s Financial Aid office will not release student financial aid information to the parent(s) and or spouses of a student considered to be independent for financial aid purposes.
• Student Written Requests
  A student may submit a written and signed request for the release of student financial aid information to Greenville Technical College that includes the following: 1) exactly what information is to be released; 2) the time period the information is for; and 3) the reason the information is being sought.
• Third-Party Requests
  No student-specific financial aid information is provided to any third party by phone or in person.

• Student Identity Confirmation in Person
  The preferred method for confirming students’ identities is their personal presentation of a valid Greenville Technical College student ID, driver’s license, or state issued photo ID.
• Student Identity Confirmation on the Telephone
  Over the phone, a student’s identity will be verified by asking a series of questions: full name, date of birth, and student identification number. To preserve the privacy of student records, the Financial Aid office reserves the right to deny telephone service to a caller if the identity of the caller cannot be confirmed or is in doubt.
• Dependent Student Custodial Parent Confirmation in Person
  Custodial parent identity will be verified by asking a series of questions: full name of student and parent, student identification number, and parent SSN as reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Dependent Student Custodial Parent Confirmation on the Telephone
  Custodial parent identity will be verified by asking a series of questions: full name of student and parent, student identification number, and parent SSN as reported on the FAFSA. To preserve the privacy of student records, Greenville Technical College reserves the right to deny telephone service to a caller if the identity of the caller cannot be confirmed or is in doubt.
• Independent Student Parents on the Telephone or in Person
  No student-specific financial aid information will be released to the parents or spouses of students considered independent for financial aid purposes.

The Greenville Technical College Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Affairs uses the information students provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility to receive federal, state, and institutional student financial aid and the amount of eligibility. Sections 483 and 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, gives the Federal Student Aid Programs (FSAP) the authority to ask students and parents these questions, and to collect the Social Security Number (SSN) of students and parents. The Financial Aid office, FSAP, and the state aid agency uses the SSN to verify, identify and retrieve records, and may request the SSN again for these purposes.

Without a student’s consent, FSAP may disclose information provided on the FAFSA to entities under a published “routine use.” Under such a routine use, FSAP may disclose information to third parties that are authorized to assist them in administering the above programs; to other federal agencies under computer matching programs, such as those with the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, Selective Service System, Immigration and Naturalization Service, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Veterans Administration; to a student’s parents or spouse; and to members of Congress if a student asks them to help with student aid questions.

If the federal government, the U.S. Department of Education, or an employee of the U.S. Department of Education is involved in litigation, FSAP may send information to the Department of Justice, or a court of adjudicative body, if the disclosure is related to financial aid and certain conditions are met. In addition, FSAP may send student information to a foreign, federal, state, or local enforcement agency if the information submitted indicates a violation, or potential violation of law, for which that agency has jurisdiction for investigation or prosecution. Finally, FSAP may send information regarding a claim that is determined to be valid and overdue to a consumer report agency. This information includes identifiers from the record, the amount, status, and history of the claim, and the program under which the claim arose.