Authorization Request in WINGS
Students who receive federal (Title IV) financial aid will see the Authorization Request Form immediately upon entering the my.georgiasouthern.edu portal. For students awarded federal (Title IV) aid, the financial aid authorization is located in the middle of the portal page. Students will be asked to “Authorize” or “Do Nothing” on up to two selections: Federal Funds Authorization, and Prior Year Charges Authorization.
Current regulations for Title IV financial aid govern how those funds are spent. Federal Title IV financial aid funds are restricted to payment of current term tuition, fees, housing and meals. Students are allowed to authorize Georgia Southern University to pay other charges that appear on the student’s account from excess Title IV financial aid funds before refunding any excess. This is now available electronically.
Please use the FAQ’s below to learn more about the new authorizations.
Authorization FAQ
What is Title IV aid?
Title IV aid is federal financial aid from the University. Department of Education. It includes
- Pell Grants
- SEOG Grants
- Perkins Loans
- Federal Direct Stafford Loans
- Federal Direct PLUS Loans
- SMART Grants
- ACG Grants
More information is available on the Office of Financial Aid website.
What does the Federal Funds Authorization do?
If you are receiving Title IV aid, those funds are restricted to payment of current term tuition, mandatory fees, housing and meals. The Federal Funds Authorization allows Georgia Southern to use any excess Title IV funds over your current term tuition, mandatory fees, housing and meals to pay other charges (such as mandatory insurance, returned checks, emergency loans, resident life fines and damages, books and supplies) on your account before refunding the excess to you.
What does the Prior Year Charges Authorization do?
Title IV regulations restrict payments to only current term tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and meals. The Prior Year Charges Authorization allows Georgia Southern to use any excess Title IV funds over your current term tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and meals to pay prior term or prior year non-institutional charges (not to exceed $200) on your account before refunding an excess to you.
What types of charges can be paid by these authorizations?
These authorizations will allow Georgia Southern to pay any charges that appear on the student’s account. These include but are not limited to:
- Mandatory Insurance
- Residence Life fines and damages
- Returned check charges
- Emergency Loans
Why should I grant these authorizations?
The main reason to grant the authorization is convenience to the student. Any unpaid charges on the account can be paid, and the excess HOPE and Title IV financial aid funds can then be mailed quickly to the student. If the authorization is not given and the student has outstanding charges on the student account, any excess funds will be held in the Office of Student Accounts to allow for review of the account with a Student Accounts representative.
What if I choose “Do Nothing”?
If you choose “Do Nothing”, you will continue to have an opportunity to grant authorization each time you log into WINGS. If you have excess financial aid that exceeds your current term charges and you have unpaid charges on your student account, you must pick your refund check up in the Office of Student Accounts so that you may review your account with a Student Accounts representative.
Why do I continue to see the authorizations after I have chosen “Do Nothing”?
You will have the opportunity to review and grant the authorizations each time you log into WINGS.
How do I rescind the authorization?
The student may rescind the authorization in WINGS.
Please note that you may rescind this authorization at any time prior to incurring such charges, but you may not cancel it once such charges have been paid on your behalf. Your rescission is only applicable to charges that have not been paid and is effective on the date it is received in the Office of Student Accounts. You will have future opportunities to grant the authorization.
Helpful Links
For a comprehensive costs and affordability analysis, please visit COSTS & AFFORDABILITY
Last updated: 11/9/2023
