Middlesex Community College

A book voucher is a document that is given to the current year financial aid applicants. This document is treated as money and assists the student in purchasing their semester books and up to $20 in supplies at the MCC Bookstores.

How are students eligible for a book voucher?

To be eligible for a book voucher, a student must apply for financial aid by completing both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a MCC Financial Aid Application. Additionally, the student’s accepted aid for the term must exceed the semester charges that they are being billed for by the Bursar’s Office. These charges include tuition, fees, and health insurance for students registered in 9 or more credits.

How much is a student’s book voucher each semester?

Each student’s book voucher amount may vary depending on the student’s enrollment and how much of their semester accepted award amount exceeds their semester charges. The following table an example of the book voucher amounts:

Enrollment	Maximum amount of initial book voucher
12 or more credits	$300
9-11 credits	$225
6-8 credits	$150
Less than 6 credits	$100

How are students notified of their eligibility for these book vouchers?

The Financial Aid Office is very much aware of the importance of students receiving their books during the first week of the semester. Due to this high importance, the Financial Aid Office begins mailing book vouchers home to eligible students at least two weeks before the start of the semester courses. If a student applied for financial aid prior to the first week of classes, the student would receive a book voucher (if eligible) by the end of the first week of classes

The Financial Aid Office continues to mail the book voucher home daily to any student who becomes eligible up until the Wednesday of the third week of the semester. Any student who becomes eligible during these last three days receives a telephone call to inform them of their eligibility.

Students who apply for financial aid just before the start of the semester or after the semester courses have begun are asked to complete a bill extension/book voucher with the Financial Aid Office. At the time that the bill extension/book voucher is completed, we provide the student with a date to come back to pick up their estimated award letter and notify the student of their eligibility for a book voucher. We usually ask that the student return no later than 1 week from the date that the bill extension was completed.

Is there a date during the semester when a student may no longer use a book voucher?

Yes, the book voucher expires on the Friday of the third week of the semester courses. This date is printed directly on the book voucher.

Are book vouchers available every semester?

No, book vouchers are only available during the fall and spring semesters. We do not offer any book vouchers during the summer sessions.

What happens if a student’s semester books cost more than the amount on the book voucher?

If a student needs additional assistance in purchasing the semester books, he should have a MCC Bookstore employee complete a Petition for Additional Book Voucher form. This form lets the Financial Aid Office know how much of the original book voucher was used to purchase books and how much each additional book is that the student needs to purchase for his semester courses.

The student is responsible for bringing this form over to the Financial Aid Office. We will then provide the student with a date to come back to pick up the completed form (usually we have a 3-4 work day turn around time on these requests). When the student returns we will notify him if he is eligible for any additional book voucher money. To be eligible for additional book voucher funds, the student’s accepted semester financial aid awards must exceed the semester charges on the bill and the original book voucher amount.

At what locations are the book vouchers honored?

What would prevent a student from receiving a book voucher at the beginning of the semester?

Students may not receive a book voucher for a number of reasons. Some of these reasons may include:

The student did not apply for financial aid (completing both the FAFSA and MCC Financial Aid Application) until after the third week of classes.
The student indicated on their completed MCC Financial Aid Application that they did not authorize the Financial Aid Office to use the financial aid funds to pay related charges such as a book voucher.
The student was eligible to waive the health insurance charge on the bill but did not do so until after the third week of classes.
The student was only eligible for a Federal Stafford Loan and did not complete the required documents until after the third week of classes.