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Financial Aid Displacement Advisory

 

Financial Aid Displacement Advisory

Financial aid displacement occurs when a student’s financial aid is reduced due to receipt of a private scholarship or other reasons identified in this advisory. This practice occurs in Texas and should be taken into consideration while applying for financial aid. The institution to which you are applying is providing in this application a list of recommendations describing how to maximize your financial aid and ensure that you are prepared when financial aid displacement occurs. You are encouraged to reach out to the institution to which you are applying to receive advice on how to avoid financial aid displacement.

A student’s state-funded gift aid is most commonly revised or reduced because of:

  • Additional gift aid received from a private source, such that the student’s total gift aid exceeds financial need or cost of attendance.
  • Reduced cost of attendance as a result of dropped classes, a change in housing status, or withdrawal from the institution, among other causes.
  • Failure to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements or other merit-based criteria for the student’s gift aid.
  • A change in enrollment status that renders the student ineligible for certain gift aid programs.
  • Failure to complete required administrative processes or submit documentation by established deadlines.
  • A change in the student’s Student Aid Index as a result of verification, updates, and/or corrections to the student’s financial aid application which affects eligibility for some forms of gift aid or the amount of gift aid the student is eligible to receive

 

Understanding Gift Aid at UHD

Gift aid is a grant, scholarship, exemption, waiver, or other financial aid awarded to a student without a requirement to repay the aid or earn the aid through work. UHD offers a variety of institutional, state, federal, and external scholarships and grants to help students fund their education.

Texas law (TEC Section 56.0094(c)) requires schools to provide clear information about how to apply for and maintain gift aid. Below is what students need to know at UHD.

How to Apply for Gift Aid

  1. Complete the FAFSA or TASFA: Apply
  2. Apply for Scholarships: Gator Scholarship Center
  3. Submit Required Documents – Students should log in to their MyUHD portal regularly to check for requests. Missing documents can delay or cancel aid.
  4. Monitor financial aid portal to ensure all required documents are uploaded.

Important Timelines and Deadlines

  1. FAFSA priority deadline: April 1st
  2. TASFA Priority Deadline: January 15th
  3. UHD Scholarship Deadlines: Deadlines vary by program. Students should check the Gator Scholarship Portal for specific scholarship details.
  4. Report external scholarships/gift aid: Report as soon as possible, but no later than the start of the semester.
  5. Other Key Deadlines: Tuition payment dates, verification deadlines, and enrollment changes may also impact aid.

Recommendations to Maximize Gift Aid

  1. Apply early for FAFSA/TASFA and UHD scholarships
  2. Submit all required forms and documents on time
  3. Apply for multiple scholarships, including external ones
  4. Maintain enrollment status (full-time or part-time, depending on requirements)
  5. Keep GPA strong to meet renewal criteria

How to Avoid Having Gift Aid Reduced

  1. Do not drop or withdraw from classes without checking how it may affect aid
  2. Report all outside scholarships and grants to UHD’s Financial Aid office as soon as possible
  3. Avoid repeating courses excessively, as they may not count toward eligibility
  4. Stay in good academic standing and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements
  5. Monitor MyUHD portal for updates that may affect award eligibility

 

Contact Information

University of Houston-Downtown
Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
One Main Street, Suite S350
Houston, TX 77002

Phone: 713-221-8041
Fax: 713-223-7483
Email: uhdfinaid@uhd.edu
Website: uhd.edu/financial

Contact Scholarships and Financial Aid