STUDENT S GUIDE TO SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Transcription

1 STUDENT S GUIDE TO SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS Federal regulations require that students seeking financial aid maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward an educational objective during all periods of enrollment. Even if you have never applied for or received financial aid, your overall academic history at IVC will be evaluated before you are awarded financial aid to make sure you are meeting the SAP standards. A. Declaration of Major/Certificate You must declare an educational objective in order to receive financial aid. You may choose an associate degree, a certificate program, or a transfer program. If you are undecided about your course of study we suggest you speak with an academic counselor. B. Other College Attendance Official academic transcripts from all other colleges attended must be sent to the IVC Admissions Office. Units attempted at all colleges will be evaluated to determine if you have exceeded the maximum units. C. Maximum Units Completion of an Associate Degree usually requires 60 units. Federal regulations allow a maximum time frame not to exceed 150% of the length of the educational program (60 units x 150% = 90 units). High unit majors such as RN and Liberal Studies have extended units (see the Financial Aid Office for details). 1. You may receive aid until you have attempted 90 degree applicable semester units). All classes completed with a grade of A, B, C, D, F, I, CR, NC, or W are counted toward your 90 unit maximum. 2. The unit cap for pursuit of a certificate is 150% of the total number of units required by that certificate. 3. You may receive aid until you have completed your educational goal. If you change your major, the unit calculation will be adjusted to include only those units required by the new major. Two changes of major that require additional course work are allowed after which the number of units attempted will not be adjusted. 4. Non-degree applicable classes such as ESL or remedial math/english will not be included in the calculation for maximum units. 5. Repeated courses will be included in the calculation for maximum units. D. Determination of Academic Progress To maintain satisfactory academic progress a student must complete at least 70% of their unit load and achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 each term. Your academic progress will be measured at the end of every term of enrollment and you will be notified if you should fall below the SAP minimum. Your cumulative progress will again be determined at the end of two full years of enrollment to determine your continued eligibility. Probation Status You will be placed on probation at the end of every term in which you: 1. Complete less than 70% of units attempted, or 2. Have a GPA below 2.0

2 Disqualified Status You will lose your financial eligibility if you: 1. Complete 4 consecutive terms with a less than 70% completion rate, or 2. Complete 4 consecutive term with a GPA of less than 2.0, or 3. Complete 2 years with a cumulative completion rate of less than 70% or a cumulative GPA of less than Exceed your maximum unit cap. Financial Aid Reinstatement If you are in disqualified status due low GPA or unit completion problems, you may have your financial aid reinstated by meeting the following: 1. Maintain satisfactory progress during all periods of enrollment, and 2. Complete at least 12 units, and 3. Achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 and a cumulative completion rate of 70% E. Appeals If you are disqualified or denied financial aid for any reason and extenuating circumstances exist, you may appeal your disqualification. 1. The first step of the appeal process is to meet with your academic counselor to prepare the Financial Aid Appeals Petition. 2. Next, you make an appointment with the Financial Aid Secretary to appear before the Appeals Committee, which meets monthly. All decisions of the Appeals Committee are final. FINANCIAL AID UNIT COMPLETION CHART Units Enrolled 1/2 All Units To Be Completed (70%) Effective

3 DISBURSEMENT OF FINANCIAL AID Financial Aid is disbursed to your IVC student account every Thursday. At that time, any fees, loans, or book vouchers will be deducted and the remaining amount will be posted to your IVC One account on Friday of the following week. Prior to using your IVC One debit card for the first time, you must log onto the Higher One website and activate your card by choosing your preferred method of payment, either debit card or direct deposit to your own bank. If you wish to have a paper check, please contact the IVC Business Services Office to make that request. To avoid missing a scheduled disbursement, please activate your card and choose your method of payment promptly after receiving the card in the mail. Pell and SEOG grants are disbursed in two equal payments. Your first payment date will be determined by the date you complete your financial aid file while the second payment is 3 weeks before the end of the term. Cal Grant B & C, EOPS, CARE, ACG and ACG2 are disbursed in a single payment. No disbursements are scheduled for the winter session however just prior to the 2 nd payment date, all winter units are added to your spring enrollment and your final payment will be based on this new enrollment status. Summer Pell is based on your remaining eligibility from fall and spring and is disbursed in late July. A complete payment schedule will be sent to you with the award letter that explains which grants you have qualified for. In addition, your disbursement information can be found on WEBSTAR under the Student/Financial Aid menu. ABILITY TO BENEFIT To be eligible for federal financial aid you must have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED, CHSP) or achieve an appropriate score on an approved Ability to Benefit test. At IVC, the approved tests are the CELSA for students enrolled in ESL classes and the ACCUPLACER for non- ESL students. Students who fail to achieve a passing score on one of these tests may meet the Ability to Benefit requirement by completing 6 u units of degree applicable coursework with a C or better. See the Dean of Financial Aid if you think you meet this requirement. REFUND POLICY Imperial Valley College s general refund policy also applies to students receiving Title IV funds who are eligible for a refund of tuition and fee charges. Reimbursement will be made for fees or tuition collected in error or collected for a discontinued class. Refunds must be credited to over-awarded Title IV programs in the following order: Federal PELL Grant Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants Academic Competitiveness Grants If no refund is due to a Title IV program, then you will receive the total refund. ENROLLMENT STATUS 12+ units Full-time 9-11units 3/4 Time 6-9 units ½ Time 1-5 units Less than ½ time Your financial aid award is based on full time enrollment however your actual disbursement will be adjusted to reflect your actual enrollment status at the time of disbursement. Please use caution when dropping classes as this may negatively effect the amount of financial aid you will receive. In addition, dropping all classes prior to completing 60% of the semester may require you to repay a portion of your aid. (See Return to Title V on the next page).

4 RETURN TO TITLE IV Title IV funds (Pell Grant, FSEOG, and ACG) are awarded under the assumption that you will attend school for the entire semester for which the funds are awarded. If you withdraw before completing more than 60% of the semester, you may be required to repay that portion of the aid which was unearned. If you withdraw after completing 60%, you will have earned 100% of the Title IV funds awarded. If you are required to repay any unearned portion of your award you will receive a letter detailing the percentage earned, the amount owed, and the process for repayment. You will have 45 days from the receipt of that letter to repay the amount in full to the college or your overpayment will be reported to the US Department of Education, which will then contact you for repayment. You will be ineligible for any additional Title IV funds until repayment is made in full. To contact the U.S. Dept of Education regarding an overpayment, call

5 FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and do not require repayment unless a refund is due. It is recommended that applications be made early since funds are limited. You must apply each year for grants. Federal PELL Grant Federal PELL Grant is used as the foundation for undergraduate student awards. YOU MUST APPLY FOR A FEDERAL PELL GRANT in order to be considered for any type of Federal financial aid. Applications are available at the Financial Aid Office, or on the Internet at You must be enrolled full-time (12 units per semester) to receive the maximum award. Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) FSEOG eligibility is based on financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office based on Financial Aid Application needs analysis. Priority is given to PELL Grant recipients as per Federal regulations. Federal Academic Competitive Grants (ACG) Students who graduated from high school after January 2005 and who have completed a rigorous high school program as defined by the grant regulations, may be eligible for this grant. The second year ACG is available to those students who maintain full time attendance and a 3.0 GPA. The rigorous high school program must be verified by the student s high school of record. For specific information regarding this grant please speak with a financial aid staff member. For the purposes of determining eligibility for ACG2, an academic year is defined at completing 24 units and a minimum of 30 weeks. Federal Loan Program At this time Imperial Valley College does not participate in any of the Federally subsidized loan programs. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) This grant assists Native American Students. In order to qualify, you must be at lease one-fourth Native American, Eskimo or Aleut. For further information, contact the Financial Aid Office. Cal Grants Cal Grants are state-funded cash grants given to California college students to help pay for college expenses. These awards do not have to be paid back. You must: 1. Be a California resident, and 2. Not have a bachelor s or professional degree (except for Cal Grant T), and 3. File a completed FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification form by March 2 or September 2, and 4. Not owe a refund on any state or federal grant or be in default on any student loan, and 5. Have remaining financial need. Community College students hare eligible for Cal Grant A and B awards, Transfer Entitlement award, and/or Cal Grant C. Cal Grant A: This grant is for students from low and middle income families. The grant assist with tuition and fees at a four-year college or university. If you are awarded a Cal Grant A, you will have your award placed on reserve for up to three years until you transfer. The award is renewable. There are two types of Cal Grant A: an Entitlement and a Competitive award. Entitlement Award: Every graduating high school senior who has a grad point average of at least 3.0, meets the Cal Grant financial and eligibility requirements, and applies before March 2 nd, is guaranteed this award. Competitive Award: Other students who meet the basic Cal Grant eligibility requirements and who have at least a 3.0 GPA may compete for this award. Selection is based on a composite score that takes into account a variety of factors such as family income, parent s educational level, etc.

6 Cal Grant B: This is for high-potential students from disadvantaged or low-income families who otherwise would not be able to pursue a higher education. For most first-year recipients, the award helps with living expenses, books, supplies, and transportation, but not tuition and fees. If renewed after the first year, a Cal B can be used for tuition and fees. There are two types of Cal Grant B: an Entitlement and a Competitive award. Entitlement Award: Every graduating high school senior who has a GPA of at least 2.0, meets the Cal Grant financial and eligibility requirements, and applies on time, is guaranteed this award. Competitive Award: Other students who meet the basic Cal Grant eligibility requirements and who have at least a 2.0 GPA may compete for this award. Selection is based on a composite score that takes into account a variety of factors such as family income, parent s educational level, etc. California Community College Transfer Entitlement Award: This is either a Cal Grant A or B. High school senior who graduated after June 30, 2000, attend a California community college and then transfer to a 4-year school may be eligible for this award. Eligible students must have at least 2.4 GPA, meet the Cal Grant financial and eligibility requirements, and be under 24 years of age as of December of the award year. Cal Grant C: This grant helps vocationally oriented students acquire marketable job skills. Full or part-time training must be for a least four months and lead to a recognized occupational goal; diploma, associate degree, license qualification, or certificate. Cal Grant financial need criteria must also be met. Cal Grant T: Helps cover one year of tuition and fees at a program of professional teaching preparation in California in exchange for teaching service. Recipients must commit to teach at a lowperforming K-12 school for one year for each $2000 received. employment after graduation. You must be in good academic standing (not on probation) in order to be approved for college work study. BOARD OF GOVERNORS FEE WAIVER PROGRAM State law requires that students attending California Community Colleges pay an enrollment fee for classes. (In addition, out-of-state residents pay nonresident fees.) However, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOG) permits enrollment fees to be waived for California residents who meet certain financial criteria. The waiver is based on your income, not on academic performance. Eligibility: If you are a California resident, you will qualify for a BOG if one of the following statements describes your current status: 1. You have already completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have been determined by the college to have financial need. 2. You or your family are receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF/CALWORKS), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), State Supplemental Program (SSP) or General Assistance. You must file the BOG application. 3. You have certification from the California Department of Veterans Affairs or the California National Guard Adjutant General that you are eligible for a dependent s fee waiver. You must file the BOG application. 4. You meet the established income criteria. You must file the BOG application. Applicants will be required to provide supporting documents to complete the application process. WORK STUDY PROGRAMS Part-time work adds to the educational experience, and can be a valuable asset when seeking

7 VETERANS EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 30, is for Veterans entering service after June 30, 1985 or having entitlement from post Korean Conflict Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 106 is for selected Reserves and National Guard. Veterans who served on active duty after December 31, 1976, and made voluntary contributions into an educational fund may be eligible for benefits under the Veterans Educational Assistance Program, Chapter 32. A dependent of a veteran who died while on active duty or who is classified 100% disabled as a result of active service in the military may be eligible for educational benefits and/or fee payments under Chapter 35. Contact the Veterans Assistant in the Financial Aid Office for further information. BOOK VOUCHERS One week prior to the first day of each semester the Financial Aid Offices opens the Book Voucher request process. These vouchers are available to students who have been awarded financial aid and wish to purchase books and other school related supplies. The amount of the voucher will be deducted from your first financial aid disbursement. You must use the Book Voucher no later than the end of the second week of each term or the end of the official add/drop period, which ever comes first. Contact the Financial Aid Office for further information. SCHOLARSHIPS A significant number of scholarship opportunities exist for IVC students, on the local we well as regional and national levels. For scholarship information visit the IVC website at www. Imperial.edu/financialaid or contact the IVC Financial Aid Office.

8 STUDENT S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Rights = All students are guaranteed fair and equitable treatment in the awarding of financial aid. = Appeal procedures exist for anyone who feels that they have been treated unfairly. If you feel you have received unfair treatment of any kind, contact the Dean of Financial Aid. = All students have the right to apply for financial aid programs. In addition, they have the right to know the selection and review process used in awarding financial aid. = All students have the right to know the costs of attending Imperial Valley College, the academic and occupational programs offered, the faculty, the physical facilities of the institution, and student retention data. Responsibilities = Complete all application forms accurately and submit them by the established deadlines. = Return all requested documents to the Financial Aid Office in a timely manner. = Accept responsibility for all agreements you sign. = Activate your Higher One account and choose a method of payment. = Comply with all institutional, state and federal requirements. = Notify the Financial Aid Office of any changes in enrollment status. = Notify the Registrar s Office of any changes in your address. = If you have direct deposit, notify Higher One of any changes in bank information.

9 OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION Do I have to be a high school graduate to receive financial aid? A high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency is required. If you do not have a high school diploma, GED, or the equivalent, you must take the Ability to Benefit test. Contact the Financial Aid Office for information. Do I have to apply for financial aid every year? Yes. You must reapply for financial aid every year by completing the FAFSA or renewal FAFSA. The financial aid year is the same as the academic year fall, winter, spring and summer. Every spring you should re-apply for the next academic year so that you aid will be complete before classes begin in fall. Do I have to attend full time to receive financial aid? No. Most students are eligible for aid at less than full time however some programs such as FSEOG and Work Study require a minimum of 6 units. Who is eligible for financial aid at Imperial Valley College? Any student may apply for financial aid. A student must be enrolled in an eligible program and be making Satisfactory Academic Progress to receive financial assistance. In addition, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have a valid Social Security number and register for Selective Service if required. Is Financial Aid Taxable? Scholarships and financial aid grants must be included as taxable income on your tax return, except for the amounts used for tuition/fees and books, supplies and equipment required for courses. Keep track of the funds you receive and your expenditures in these areas. See IRS Publication 508 Important Privacy Information Access to your file is restricted by the federal privacy act. If you want us to release information to a third party (parent, guardian, etc) you must come into the Financial Aid Office and sign a waiver allowing such action. Absolutely no personal information will be released by telephone. Your financial aid status information is available on WEBSTAR on the student/financial aid menu. Cross Enrollment You can receive federal financial aid from only one school for each term of enrollment. If you will be enrolled in two schools at the same time, you will need to decide which is the one from which you want to receive aid and advise our office. Is This All I Need to Know? The regulations and policies governing financial aid are complicated and it would be impossible to include them all in a publication of this size. We have tried to outline the basic financial aid requirements. This handbook is as accurate as possible as of the date printed. Federal, state and institutional policies and procedures may change after this document is printed. Information Access Your individual financial aid information can be found on the IVC website student portal called WEBSTAR. Simply log in using your secure ID and PIN, select Student/Financial Aid from the menu, select current aid year, and you will have all of your pertinent financial aid information at your finger tips. Always check WEBSTAR for the latest updates on your awards, disbursement dates, outstanding requirements, or important messages. WEBSTAR is your personal link to all of your financial aid information.

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