Consortium Agreements

Consortium Agreements allow students registered at more than one school in a given semester to receive the maximum amount of federal aid for which they are eligible considering registration at both schools. A student may receive federal financial aid from only one school during any given semester. If a student is registered at more than one school, a Consortium Agreement between FHSU (the home institution) and another participating school (the host institution) will allow a student to count classes from both schools during one semester and receive the maximum amount of financial aid for which the student is eligible. If either school chooses not to enter into a Consortium Agreement, a student's financial aid will be based solely upon his/her registration at only one of the schools. The FHSU Financial Aid Office and any other institution reserve the right to deny consortium agreement requests.

On this page

• Criteria for Consortium Agreements
• Important Notes to Consider Before Requesting a Consortium Agreement
• Consortium Agreement Application Instructions

Criteria for Consortium Agreements

Before requesting a Consortium Agreement, with FHSU acting as the home institution, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Admitted as degree-seeking and actively pursuing a degree from FHSU;
• Registered at FHSU; and
• Concurrently registered or planning to register at another Kansas school. The hours you are taking at the other school must be transferable to FHSU and be necessary for the degree you are pursuing at FHSU. 
  
  Please note that while a Consortium Agreement allows a student to receive full eligibility for Title IV Aid (Pell Grants, Direct Loans, etc.), academic scholarships require the student be registered in at least twelve (12) credit hours at FHSU.

Important Notes to Consider Before Requesting a
Consortium Agreement

After any Title IV aid has been disbursed, no increases in financial assistance can be made due to registration level changes. If hours are added after aid has been disbursed, no adjustments can be made to the student's financial aid package.

Students are advised to request a Consortium Agreement at least four (4) weeks prior to the beginning of the semester so proper eligibility can be determined.

Disbursement of aid cannot take place until your registration can be certified at both institutions. 

A Consortium Agreement must be completed for each semester a student wishes to take classes simultaneously and receive financial aid. Students must contact the FHSU Financial Assistance Office prior to each semester.

It may be difficult to obtain an in-school deferment for prior loan payments when a student is registered at two institutions. Contact your lender or servicer for details on obtaining an in-school deferment while simultaneously registered.

Consortium Agreement Application Instructions

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and list FHSU (code: 001915) as a school to receive the information and respond to all requests for additional information. The student's Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) will be processed and an award letter will be sent to the student with estimated financial aid eligibility amounts based on total registration/tuition for that semester. The student's cost of attendance will reflect actual tuition/fees assessed by the host and home institutions. The remaining cost of books, supplies, room and board, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses will be based upon FHSU's standard cost of attendance. Adjustments will be made at the time of disbursement ifregistration changes or original estimates of expenses differ from actual expenses.

2. Determine registration level and make any desired changes before any federal financial aid is disbursed. Aid eligibility cannot be changed, for any reason, after funds are disbursed.

3. Submit a Consortium Agreement form to the FHSU Office of Financial Assistance. A formal institutional Consortium Agreement will then be submitted by the Financial Aid Office to the other school for registration certification. Note: Some institutions cannot certify registration until after 30 days of class; therefore, it is the student's responsibility to make whatever arrangements are necessary for fee payment and books at each school. Financial aid cannot be disbursed until the Consortium Agreement has been certified and returned to the FHSU Financial Aid Office. 

4. The Student Fiscal Services office will apply all available funds to any outstanding university charges. Excess financial assistance will automatically be forwarded to the student based on the method selected on TigerEnroll during the Registration Finalization stage. It is the student's responsibility to make fee payment arrangements at both the home and host institutions.

5. Unless already completed at FHSU, all Federal Direct Loan borrowers must complete Entrance Counseling.

6. Request an official academic transcript be sent to the FHSU Registrar's Office at the end of the Consortium Agreement semester for determination of satisfactory academic progress. This must be completed before the student can receive financial aid for the next period of registration.

All other federal regulations and FHSU policies and procedures are applicable while a Consortium Agreement is in place. For questions regarding the Consortium Agreement procedures, please call the Consortium Agreement Coordinator at Fort Hays State University at (785) 628-4408.