We are adding "DL ADVANCE" to provide funds to:
They will receive $450 for 9-11 credits or $300 for 6-8 credits TODAY. Expect an email from me later this afternoon and you can see a DL ADVANCE in MyCSN now.
We just completed posting the GROUP 2 & 3 FA ADVANCEs;
2,857 recipients....check MyCSN for yourself. Peter CSN-DFA
Today's first fall semester disbursement includes all aid types for GROUP 1 students, and will disburse FA ADVANCEs for eligible GROUP 2 / 3 students.
OFA is adding FA ADVANCEs to GROUP 2 and GROUP 3 students this morning; it's a big population (greater than 2,500) for disbursement later today. Our process for assessing and calculating eligibility had to be modified to account for OBBBA changes - so it took longer than usual.
GROUP 1 students:
OFA has made great progress on the Federal Direct Loans issues mentioned on earlier posts, but cannot yet fully calculate the required Schedule of Reduction required for student borrowers enrolled in 6-11 fall credit hours.
For students registered in 6-11 FA eligible credit hours who only have Federal Direct loans (no other financial aid) and the loan amount (after SoR recalculation) is enough to pay the fall bill:
DL ADVANCE is not new aid; it's an advance on your delayed loan proceeds and will be paid back once your Federal Direct Loan is ready for disbursement.
OFA should be able to disburse less than full-time loans over the next two Wednesdays (8/26 or 9/2).
I hope this is the start of something life-changing for all of you at CSN!
Peter, CSN-DFA
Despite our best efforts, Federal Direct Student Loans (DL Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and Parent PLUS) are not going to be ready for disbursement next week.
What's happening: New requirements and new data file formats were introduced by the federal government and our software vendors have been trying to update our processing platforms. We aren't finished yet and it looks like we won't be ready until late September.
Who's affected? Anyone who wants to borrow a Federal Direct Loan for fall 2026. As I have previously explained, we assign aid recipients into GROUPs and Group 2 & 3 students already have their disbursements delayed. Group 1 students who intend to borrow will now have their loan proceeds delayed.
The Good News: We will begin disbursing grants and scholarships next week. Work-study students can begin earning paychecks as soon as the semester starts. The CSN Cashier will waive any late-fees charged to affected borrowers.
What can you do? If you plan to borrow, visit studentaid.gov to complete a Master Promissory Note and finish Entrance Counseling if you haven't previously done so. If you have changed your mind and no longer want to borrow, go into MyCSN and DECLINE your loan offer.
I apologize for the difficulties this announcement brings affected students and welcome your comments.
Best, Peter-DFA
Financial aid regulations dictate that my office only provide aid funds for classes that fulfill the academic requirements of your DECLARED MAJOR. It makes sense when you think about it because CSN offers such a wide variety of programs- the government doesn't want to pay a Nursing student to take a Welding class.
CSN has a software package that reviews a financial aid student's registration and assesses whether or not those classes meet your degree requirements. When you have classes that appear to be outside of the major requirements, OFA sends an email to you alerting you of your options:
OFA is here to help and I encourage you to check MyCSN to ensure your fall classes are FA ELIGIBLE!
My Best- Peter, DFA
Hi everyone.
CSN delivers financial aid payment differently depending upon your Group designation:
GROUP 1 students are continuing CSN students who have earned at least 14 credit hours at the College of Southern Nevada prior to the summer of 2026.
GROUP 2 and GROUP 3 students are new to CSN, including those who have earned between 1-13 CSN academic credit hours.
More details are available on our website
Borrowing is a serious decision and should be a last resort. New student loan program changes for 2026-27 may impact the amount you can borrow.
The rules have changed regarding the Direct Loan Program and student annual borrowing limits. To receive those maximum amounts the student borrower has to be enrolled and complete FULL TIME attendance during the course of the Loan Period (fall semester and spring semester).
So, my office will be looking for you to enroll in 24 or more credit hours over the course of the fall and spring. The credits must be required for your academic major. We will check at the start of the semester and at the end of each semester.
If you cannot enroll in that many financial aid eligible credits, your loan eligibility will be prorated (reduced) based upon your actual enrollment; further reductions may be necessary if you withdraw, partially withdraw, receive an F Grade due to incomplete attendance, switch to Audit, or if the college cancels a class. The government has published the Schedule of Reduction formula for schools to use:
The fraction produced by this formula is applied to each loan amount to establish student specific eligibility.
More information to come, but this is a new regulatory environment that we are obligated to enforce.
True to my word, we spent the weekend simulating and testing packaging. (forgoing the World Cup even) We have begun posting aid to MyCSN, but nothing is official until Financial Aid Notifications are distributed (likely on Monday).
We're putting over $100 MILLION out there.
More information will be coming quickly. Shout out to my staff and our consultant for the extra hours and for putting Students First!
All my Best - Peter, DFA
I'm back everyone, and happy to have this opportunity to communicate with you.
For those who don't know, I am the Director of Financial Aid at CSN and will often respond to your posts or create my own when important issues arise. This is one of those times.
The Office of Financial Aid is finishing up our packaging parameters and will soon begin issuing Financial Aid Notifications (FAN) to you and posting aid to MyCSN.
This has been a challenging aid year - we have been dealing with mid-cycle Federal changes and software adjustments - your patience is greatly appreciated. Honestly, we still don't have all the answers and we will all have to work together to make 2026-27 a successful year.
Do me a favor and check your "TO DO LIST" in MyCSN (Self-Service) so when packaging gets turned on, your record will be ready.
I hope you have had an enjoyable summer, and if I can help, post a reply, just say 'hi', or share some encouraging words.
All My Best, Peter - DFA
