A Guide to Financial Aid

By Jane Haugland
Financial Aid Officer, Eastern Iowa Community College District

Clinton, Muscatine and Scott Community Colleges work with students to provide them with many different financial aid options. The primary purpose of financial aid is to provide assistance for students who otherwise might find it difficult or impossible to attend college. To receive maximum consideration for all types of financial assistance, student financial aid files must be completed by April 1. Financial aid is available for eligible degree-seeking students enrolled in credit classes. Students must re-apply each academic year.

GRANTS
Grants including the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), the Iowa Vocational/Technical Tuition Grant Program, the Iowa Grant and the EICCD Grant are awarded to students who demonstrate the greatest financial need.

COLLEGE WORK STUDY
The Federal College Work Study (CWS) Program provides limited part-time employment for students. Funding is provided by the federal government. In order to qualify for this program, students must demonstrate financial need.

FEDERAL LOANS
Three different federal loan programs are available to students. These programs include Subsidized Stafford Student Loans, Unsubsidized Stafford Loans and Federal Parent Loans.

SCHOLARSHIPS

College Foundation Scholarships - The foundations at Clinton, Muscatine and Scott Community Colleges provide funding for a wide range of scholarship opportunities. Scholarships are not based solely on academic merit. Many scholarships are based on financial need, geographic location or special talent.

Outside Scholarships - Outside scholarships are funded through local and civic organizations. Please contact your local community organizations about scholarship opportunities and eligibility criteria. A free scholarship search may also be done over the internet by accessing FastWeb. For more specific information regarding these different options, look on our website at www.eicc.edu/financialaid or contact the financial aid office at one of our colleges:

Clinton Community College
Financial Aid
563-244-7070

Muscatine Community College
Financial Aid
563-288-6060

Scott Community College
Financial Aid
563-441-4040

Muscatine Community College's Horticulture Club has a unique
fundraiser turning red, pink and white poinsettias into green cash.

Each year, students in the club raise and sell poinsettias to support the club's activities. Horticulture Instructor Janet Freeborn said work on the project begins in August when the plants are first started as seedlings.

From there, horticulture students place a lot of tender loving care into the plants as they are prepare for the holiday sale. Many of the plants are sold to faculty, staff and students at the college, but the sale is also open to the public.

Students enrolled in MCC's Horticulture program learn much more in addition to working in the greenhouse. Classes include turf management for those working in maintenance of athletic fields or golf courses, as well as landscaping, and
floral and nursery management.

For more information about the program, give the college a call
at 563-288-6000 or toll free 1-888-336-3907. Information is also available online at
www.eicc.edu/agcareers.