for Student Financial Recipients
A student receiving Federal Title IV financial aid or other financial aid directly administered or certified by the college must maintain satisfactory academic progress towards the completion of a certificate or degree program of study. Satisfactory academic progress for financial aid recipients is measured by both quantitative and qualitative standards and is an assessment of a student's cumulative academic record at the college. A student must complete successfully two-thirds (66.66%) of the credits (earned credits/attempted credits) s/he attempts and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 to be making satisfactory academic progress and be eligible to receive financial aid. The student's cumulative academic history will be evaluated prior to each term's financial aid disbursement. This policy will be used to evaluate full-time and part-time students. All attempted credits resulting in either an academic grade or administrative transcript notation will be included in the quantitative calculation. Transfer credits will be counted as attempted and earned credits in the calculation for determining satisfactory academic progress.
- Probation Period
- Termination
- Maximum Credit Hours
- Reinstatement Policy
- Appeal Policy
- Withdrawal from Classes
- Withdrawal from College
- Other
Any student who fails to meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress standard will be placed on Financial Aid Probation once. The probationary period will be the student's next semester of enrollment at the college. The college will communicate the Probation status to the student and inform the student that s/he must meet the academic progress standard by the end of the Probation Period in order to maintain eligibility to participate in the financial aid program at the college.
Any student who fails to meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress standard at the end of the Probationary Period will be dismissed from the financial aid program at the college. The college will communicate the Termination status to the student and inform the student of the Reinstatement and Appeal Process available to the student.
A student may receive student financial aid for any attempted credits in his/her program of study that do not exceed 150% of the published length of the student's educational program at the college. For example, a student enrolled in a 60-credit degree program may receive financial aid for a maximum of 90 attempted credit hours. Similarly, a student enrolled in a 30-credit certificate program may receive financial aid for a maximum of 45 attempted credit hours. Any attempted credits at the college must be included in the calculation. This 150% maximum credit hours rule is applicable to students who change majors or who pursue a double major.
A student's financial aid eligibility will be automatically reinstated at such time as the student meets the minimum satisfactory academic progress requirements. Reinstatement to the financial aid program may also occur upon a successful appeal by the student.
A student may request reinstatement to the financial aid program by submitting a written appeal to the Director of Financial Aid. The letter should cite the extenuating circumstance to be considered in the re-evaluation.
Students who plan to withdraw from any classes must complete the appropriate Withdrawal Form and report to the Financial Aid Office. Withdrawals from classes may have a negative impact on the student's financial aid eligibility. Please refer to the section on "Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients."
In compliance with [the Higher Education Act of 1992] 34 CFR 668.22 (b) and (c) of the United States Department of Education Title IV regulations, the Board of Trustees of Community Colleges authorizes a pro-rated refund for students Return of Title IV Program Funds for Withdrawn Students.
The law now requires that, when you withdraw during a payment period or period of enrollment, the amount of SFA Program assistance that you have "earned" up to that point is determined by a specific formula. If you received (or your school received on your behalf) less assistance than the amount that you earned, you will be able to receive those additional funds. If you received more assistance than you earned, the excess funds must be returned.
The amount of assistance that you have earned is determined on a pro-rata basis. That is, if you completed 30 percent of the payment period or period of enrollment, you earn 30 percent of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive. Once you have completed more than 60 percent of the payment period or period of enrollment, you earn all of your assistance. (Source: The Student Guide, Financial Aid, from the U.S. Department of Education 2001-2002)
Return of Title IV Funds Policy for Official Withdrawals
(effective October 7, 2000)
Students who received, or are eligible to receive, federal Title IV financial aid funds, and officially withdraw from all classes, prior to the 60% point in the semester, are subject to a pro-rated calculation to determine the amount of earned and unearned Title IV aid they are eligible to receive. Any unearned portion of Title IV aid must be returned to the Title IV program(s). This is the responsibility of the student. If the student owes a refund to any federal aid program, the student is not eligible to receive Title IV funds, and possibly other forms of financial aid, until this is resolved. The Title IV programs include Pell and SEOG grants and Perkins Loans.
The formula is as follows:
The percentage of Title IV aid earned equals the number of days in attendance, divided by the number of days in the semester, times the amount of Title IV aid received. The unearned Title IV aid is calculated by deducting the amount of Title IV aid earned from the total amount of Title IV aid received. Any student allowances are deducted from this amount to determine the amounts to be returned to the Title IV programs, per federal regulations.
In addition to owing a refund to one or more of the Title IV programs, the student may owe an outstanding debt to the college. This is the student's financial responsibility. The student will be notified in writing, according to federal regulations, of the amount of earned and unearned Title IV aid and the amount of outstanding debt to the college. The student is responsible for contacting the institution to make satisfactory repayment arrangements to Title IV programs and the institution. All funds will be returned to the appropriate Title IV funds according to federal regulations.
Students who withdraw from classes beyond the 60% point in the semester will have earned 100% of the Title IV financial aid and will not owe a refund to any financial aid programs.
Return of Funds Policy for Unofficial Withdrawals for Title IV Student Aid Recipients
Students who withdraw from all classes and do not earn any credits for the semester will be considered unofficial withdrawals.
If the institution cannot determine the student's last day of attendance, the student will be considered to have attended 50% of the semester.
The student's financial aid may be applied to the student's account for the semester, but the student may be determined ineligible for future financial aid assistance, due to unsatisfactory academic progress. It is the student's responsibility to pay any outstanding debt owed to the institution, if financial aid is not applied.
All funds will be returned to the appropriate Title IV funds according to federal regulations.
Please contact Financial Aid Services for more information if you intend to withdraw, or have withdrawn, from your classes.
The Dean of Learning and Student Development is authorized to modify the tuition refund policy for specific students on a case-by-case basis under the following extenuating or extraordinary circumstances: severe illness documented by a doctor's certificate; erroneous advisement by the college; and military transfer. Exceptions, which are not normally considered, include change in job, mild illness, poor decision, or a student's change of mind.
Student Responsibility
Pay special attention to your FAFSA application. Complete it accurately and submit it on time to the proper office. Errors can prevent or delay the receipt of financial aid.
Provide all required documentation, verification, corrections and/or new information requested by either the Financial Aid Office or the agency to which you submitted your application. .
Read and understand all forms that you are asked to sign, and retain a file copy.
Accept responsibility for signed promissory note and all other agreements that you sign.
If you have a loan, you are responsible for repayment. Notify the lender/institution of changes in your name, address or school status.
If you withdraw from classes, follow the proper institutional procedures and notify Financial Aid Services and repay any refunds due to federal financial aid programs.
Perform, in a satisfactory manner, the work that is agreed upon when accepting a college work-study job.
Know and comply with the deadlines for application or re- application for aid.
If financial aid funds are not applied due to an incomplete application, or if financial aid funds do not pay the student's entire costs for attending Middlesex Community College, the financial responsibility for debts owed to the institution is the student's responsibility.
Financial Aid Refund Checks
Financial Aid student refund checks for grant aid and Perkins Loan checks are scheduled for disbursement early in the semester for which the student received Financial Aid. The student must be currently attending classes, and the student's financial aid file must be complete, with all necessary documentation, prior to the release of refund checks.
