Piedmont College Financial Aid Handbook

Transcription

1 Piedmont College Financial Aid Handbook The Financial Aid Handbook provides information regarding tuition, payments, charges and fines, financial aid, scholarship programs, work study, and satisfactory academic progress standards and requirements. Financial Aid & Payment of Fees Student tuition and fees produce substantially less revenue than is required for an education at Piedmont. Contributions from churches, foundations, trustees, businesses, friends, and alumni provide the balance required for current expenses and major building programs. Generous contributions to Piedmont College also provide annual scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities for a major portion of the students. These programs are set forth in the Piedmont College Catalog. All questions concerning financial aid should be referred to the Office of Financial Aid. Payment of Fees, Charges or Fines Students are required to pay fees, charges, and fines within a specified time. Failure to do so may result in the withholding of grades and/or transcripts until the bill is paid in full. The College reserves the right to charge a student's account for any unpaid fees, charges, or fines. Terms of Payment The following terms of payment should be carefully read and understood. Exceptions may be granted only by the Vice President for Finance and Administration. 1. If at any time a credit balance is established on a student's account, the balance will be disbursed to the student within 14 days from the date the balance is created. 2. If students are not able to make payment by the published due dates, deferred payments may be discussed with the Business Office. 3. The Piedmont College payment plans offers a low-cost, flexible way to pay for educational expenses through regularly scheduled monthly payments. There is no interest accrued on the unpaid balance, only a one-time application fee of $40. Applications for participation in PPP are available in the Business Office. No student whose PPP account is in arrears may receive credit or transcripts of credit or register for subsequent classes. Financial Aid Piedmont College is committed to assisting students and parents in their effort to obtain sufficient resources to meet educational expenses. Further, it is the policy of the College to meet 100 percent of demonstrated unmet financial need, through grants, loans, work and/or scholarship programs, for those students who apply for aid by May 1 st for the following fall semester. For students enrolling in spring or summer semesters, please inquire at the Office of Financial Aid for application deadlines. In order to demonstrate financial need, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once submitted to the federal processor, a Student Aid Report (SAR) is sent to the student. This form must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid to determine unmet

2 need and eligibility for aid. The student will be sent an official Award Letter outlining aid eligibility and expected expenses. Piedmont College Scholarship Programs Piedmont College is fortunate to have scholarship programs that are designed to assist a wide array of students from various backgrounds. Funds are awarded annually to students who are exceptional in academics, leadership skills, in need of financial support, and have demonstrated an enthusiasm for learning. For more information on specific scholarships, please refer to the Piedmont College Catalog. It is the policy of Piedmont College to use scholarship funds to assist the greatest number of students possible. Therefore, any scholarship or grant funds (including HOPE and PELL Grants) received for an individual student above the direct cost of tuition and fees, room and board (for residential students) will be refunded to the specific scholarship fund. In this way the College can better serve all the students and avoid over awarding aid to any student or group of students. Work Aid & Work Study Programs Piedmont College has two programs for students who desire to earn part of their college expenses by working at jobs on campus. The work-study program is funded in large part by the federal government, and students must meet financial need criteria in order to qualify as work-study students. For students who do not qualify for assistance under federal programs, Piedmont College maintains a work-aid program. Job availability for both of these programs is limited, so interested students should contact the Human Resource Office as early as possible. Student acceptance of assistance under the federal government's work-study and Piedmont College's work-aid programs carries with it an understanding by the College and by the students of certain obligations and commitments. These obligations and commitments can be found in the Student Employment Handbook or by contacting the Human Resource Office. To apply, please contact the Human Resource Office. Financial Aid Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress The U. S. Department of Education mandates that institutions of higher education establish minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving financial aid. Piedmont College applies these standards to all applicants for Federal Grants (Pell, FSEOG, and Teach Grant), Federal Stafford loans, Federal Work Study, state scholarships/grants (HOPE, GTEG, et al.), and Piedmont College Scholarships. Satisfactory Academic Progress for Undergraduate Students All types of financial aid require that a student make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward a degree. To be viewed as making satisfactory academic progress a student must (a) have a minimum 2.0 institutional grade point average (GPA), (b) successfully complete 67% of all college-level coursework attempted at Piedmont College, and (c) finish his or her educational program before attempting 150% of the number of hours required for the program. Standards

3 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is determined by careful evaluation of qualitative and quantitative criteria. Determination of SAP will be made at the end of each semester. A. Qualitative Criteria - To be eligible for financial aid, a student must have the equivalent of a C average. Any current or former student of Piedmont College must have a minimum institutional grade point average (GPA) required for their grade level. The GPA scale can be found in the college catalog under academic exclusion. B. Quantitative Criteria - Financial aid recipients must show measurable progress toward earning a degree by successfully completing at least sixty-seven percent (67%) of all college-level courses they attempt at Piedmont College. This standard will be applied to current students, former students, and transfer students. Semester hours completed will be those college level courses in which a student has received a grade of A, B, C, D or P. Semester hours attempted will include all college level courses for which a student has received a grade of A, B, C, D, F, P, I, NP, W, WF, or NR. Hours and grades for repeated courses will be used in this determination. The Financial Aid Office receives a report from the Registrar s Office of students who receive all F s for the semester and whether or not the student unofficially withdraws. C. Maximum Length of Study at Piedmont College- Federal regulations prohibit a student from receiving aid after they have attempted 150% of the hours required for their degree. A student accepted into a degree program may attempt no more than 150% of the required hours in required courses for the degree. (Hours for repeated courses will be included in the total number of attempted hours.) Once a student exceeds the maximum length of study, they will no longer be considered making satisfactory academic progress and will not be eligible for financial aid. D. Academic Exclusion - If a student is placed on academic exclusion, eligibility for financial aid will be terminated. When students are removed from academic exclusion, they must contact the Financial Aid Office to request a review of their SAP. E. Financial Aid Warning - Failure by the student to attain the minimum GPA and a 67% completion rate of all college level courses attempted at Piedmont College will indicate the student is not making SAP. In most cases, the first time it is established that a student is not making SAP, they will be placed on financial aid warning and will be eligible for financial aid for one semester. F. Financial Aid Probation - A student who fails to meet SAP for two consecutive semesters or is academically excluded from Piedmont College may appeal to be placed on Financial Aid Probation. Students are eligible to receive financial aid for one semester while on probation at which time they must meet the condition of their academic plan or meet SAP. G. Appeals Process - A student who has lost eligibility may feel there were unusual circumstances that prevented the student from meeting the SAP requirements. The student may submit an appeal to Financial Aid. This appeal must include the reason SAP was not met and steps the student plans on taking to meet SAP. An SAP Appeal Committee will review each appeal. Denial of an appeal indicates that the student will not be considered eligible for financial aid until they attain at least the minimum GPA required for their grade level and a 67% completion rate of all college level courses attempted at Piedmont College

4 Re-establishing Eligibility for Undergraduate Students In the event of termination of financial aid, a student will again be considered making SAP once the student has attain the minimum GPA and a 67% completion rate of all college level courses attempted at Piedmont College. When this occurs, the student should contact Financial Aid to request a review of the student s SAP. Classes taken after losing eligibility will be at the student s expense, using funds other than Federal Grants (Pell, FSEOG, and Teach Grant), Federal Stafford loans, Federal Work Study, state scholarships/grants (HOPE, GTEG, et al.), and Piedmont College Scholarships. A student who re-establishes eligibility and then subsequently falls below minimum SAP requirements will be denied financial aid. A student who exceeds the maximum length of study at Piedmont College (item C) cannot re-establish eligibility. Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid for Graduate Students The U. S. Department of Education mandates that institutions of higher education establish minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving financial aid. Piedmont College applies these standards to all applicants for Federal Grants (Teach Grant), Federal Stafford loans, and Piedmont College Scholarships. Standards Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is determined by careful evaluation of qualitative and quantitative criteria. Determination of SAP will be made at the end of each semester. A. QUALITATIVE CRITERIA - To be eligible for financial aid, a graduate student must have an institutional grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. In addition a student must not have more than one grade lower than a B during the duration of the program. B. QUANTITATIVE CRITERIA - Financial aid recipients must show measurable progress toward earning a degree by successfully completing at least sixty-seven percent (67%) of all courses required by the program of study. This standard will be applied to current students, former students, and transfer students. Semester hours completed will be those courses in which a student has received a grade of A, B, C, or P. Semester hours attempted will include all courses for which a student has received a grade of A, B, C, D, F, P, I, IP, NP, W, WF, or NR. Hours and grades for repeated courses will be used in this determination. The Financial Aid Office receives a report from the Registrar s Office of students who receive all F s for the semester and whether or not the student unofficially withdraws. C. MAXIMUM LENGTH OF STUDY AT PIEDMONT COLLEGE - A student accepted into a graduate degree program may attempt no more than 150% of the required hours in required courses for the degree. (Hours for repeated courses will be included in the total number of attempted hours.) Once a student exceeds the maximum length of study, he/she will no longer be considered making satisfactory academic progress and will not be eligible for financial aid. D. ACADEMIC EXCLUSION - If a student is placed on academic exclusion, eligibility for financial aid will be terminated. When students are removed from academic exclusion, they must contact the Financial Aid Office to request a review of their SAP. E. FINANCIAL AID Warning - Failure by the student to attain the minimum GPA or a 67% completion rate, will indicate the student is not making SAP. In most cases, the first time it is established that a student is not making SAP, he/she will be placed on

5 Financial Aid Warning. A student on Warning may continue to receive financial aid but must meet SAP by the end of the next semester. F. Financial Aid Probation - A student who fails to meet SAP for two consecutive semesters or is academically excluded from Piedmont College may appeal to be placed on Financial Aid Probation. Students are eligible to receive financial aid for one semester while on probation. At the end of the semester a student must meet SAP or meet all stipulated requirements of the appeal to continue to receive financial aid. G. APPEALS PROCESS - A student who has lost eligibility may feel there were unusual circumstances that prevented the student from meeting the SAP requirements. The student may submit an appeal to Financial Aid. This appeal must include the reason SAP was not met and steps the student plans on taking to meet SAP. An SAP Appeal Committee will review each appeal. Denial of an appeal indicates that the student will not be considered eligible for financial aid until they attain at least the minimum 3.0 GPA, have a 67% completion rate of all courses attempted at Piedmont College or replaced any grade(s) that resulted in the student not meeting SAP. Reestablishing Eligibility for Graduate Students In the event of termination of financial aid, a student will again be considered making SAP once they attain a 3.0 GPA, replaced any grade(s) that led to the student not meeting SAP and/or a 67% completion rate of all college level courses attempted at Piedmont College. When this occurs, the student should contact the Financial Aid Office to request a review of their SAP. Classes taken after losing eligibility will be at the student s expense, using funds other than Federal Grants (Teach Grant), Federal Stafford loans, and Piedmont College Scholarships. A student, who reestablishes eligibility, then falls below minimum SAP requirements again will be denied financial aid. A student who exceeds the maximum length of study at Piedmont College (item C) cannot reestablish eligibility. Federal Student Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations A federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student for FSA funds. Convictions only count if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Title IV aid they do not count if the offense was not during such a period. Also, a conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student s record does not count, nor does one received when he or she was a juvenile, unless he or she was tried as an adult. The chart below illustrates the period of ineligibility for FSA funds, depending on whether the conviction was for sale or possession and whether the student had previous offenses. Number of convictions First Offence Second Offence Third Offence Possession 1 year for date of conviction 2 year from date of conviction Indefinite period Sale 2 years from date of conviction Indefinite period Indefinite period

6 If you have any questions about the effect of a drug conviction on your Federal Student Aid please contact the Financial Aid at finaid@piedmont.edu or call