ETSU students have expressed concern for changes being made to financial aid for this year and upcoming years. 

Due to federal requirements, financial aid for all students will not be able to be applied to courses that do not count toward their major. This will impact students’ ability to take certain courses and advance with minors if the program of study doesn’t require it. 

“Federal requirements have placed limitations on using aid for classes outside of a student’s course program of study. This means students cannot use federal or state financial aid for classes unless they count toward a student’s major,” said chief marketing and communications officer Jessica Vodden.

Students will still have the opportunity to take classes that contribute to their minor through electives.

(Contributed/inclubmagazine.com)

“Students whose majors allow for elective credits may be able to use their electives to take classes toward a minor while utilizing financial aid for those classes. If you are unsure if you have elective hours remaining or if your classes count toward your major, reach out to your academic advisor,” Vodden said.

Any federal or state aid that a student receives will only count toward registered courses that fall under their major requirements. Courses that count toward majors will be covered normally by financial aid. 

Students who are unsure of which classes will be covered can reach out to their academic advisor or a financial aid counselor for questions. 

“Meeting with your academic advisor is one of the best ways to ensure you are taking classes that count toward your major. Students who have questions about financial aid can also meet with a financial aid counselor in the Office of Financial Aid,” Vodden said. 

ETSU continues to provide all students with opportunities to take the classes they need and are interested in. While students are navigating changes to financial aid, ETSU can provide help with courses and payment plans through the Office of Financial Aid. 

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