FINANCIAL AID OVERVIEW

Financial Information &

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

What is Financial Aid?

Funding intended to help students pay educational expenses including tuition and

fees, room and board, books and supplies, etc. for education at a college, university, or

private school.

Financial Aid Mission

To get the RIGHT amount of aid to the RIGHT student at the RIGHT time!

Types of Financial Aid

• Federal Pell Grant• HOPE Grant/Zell Miller Grant• Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant• HOPE Scholarship/ Zell Miller Scholarship• Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant• Federal Work Study• Student Access Loan • Private Loans

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

(FAFSA)• www. fafsa.gov–No charge for completing the

FAFSA• Financial Aid Year July 1 – June 30• Application that is used to process

all student aid• FAFSA will now utilize an FSA ID

instead of the PIN.

Financial Aid Process

FAFSA

Pell Grant

Federal Work Study

Private Loans

GA STATE AID:Hope Grant/Scholarship

Zell Miller Grant/Scholarship

SIWDGSAL

Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements

• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)- Returning Students

• 2.0 GPA (cumulative)• 66.66% Completion Rate (cumulative)• 150% Program Time Frame

• Residency– Proof of Citizenship for PELL/HOPE and/or

Georgia Residency for HOPE

• Program of Study• Defaulted Loans and Title IV Overpayments

Pell Grant Eligibility Requirements

• Expected Family Contribution (EFC)– Award based on enrollment hours

• Selected for Verification– Verification documents must be submitted to

complete application process

• Dependent Students– All students born after January 1, 1992

• Independent Students– All students born before January 1, 1992 or that

meet other independent student requirements

Pell GrantEligibility Requirements

• Program of Study– Degrees– Diplomas– Certificates

• Health Care Science• Health Care Assistant• Certified Microsoft Office Specialist• Esthetician

• Students who possess a baccalaureate degree are ineligible

Pell Grant Tuition/Fee Coverage

• Awards based on EFC and Enrollment Hours– <5 = less than part time (1/4 of award)– 6 to 8 = half time (1/2 of award)– 9 to 11 = three-quarter time (3/4 of award)– 12 + = full-time (100%)

• Tuition/Fees – Technology $105– Registration $50 – Special Instructional $50– Activity $45– Insurance $4– Tutorial Assistance $25

Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements

• Classes in Major– Covered by HOPE, Pell and loans

• Classes Out of Major– Not covered by Financial Aid

General HOPE Eligibility Requirements

• Be enrolled as a degree-seeking (scholarship) or diploma or certificate (grant) student at an eligible public or private college or university or technical college in Georgia.

• Meet HOPE's Georgia residency requirements.

• Meet HOPE's U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements.

• Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements.

• Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990. A student may be ineligible for HOPE payment if he or she has been convicted for committing certain felony offenses involving marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs.

• Not be in default or owe a refund on a student financial aid program.

• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by college

General HOPE Eligibility Requirements

• Students with a Bachelor’s Degree or higher do not qualify for HOPE

• HOPE will pay $67.00 per credit hour• Move On When Ready (formerly Dual

enrollment) hours will not count in checkpoint calculation

• Students may regain eligibility ONLY ONCE after losing the Scholarship or Grant

Hope Scholarship

• GPA requirement of 3.0 at 30, 60 and 90 semester hour checkpoint.

• HOPE Scholarship will not pay for learning support courses

HOPE Scholarship • Scholarship is capped at 127 semester hours

• Beginning July 1, 2011, first time recipients must use the HOPE scholarship within 7 years of graduating high school or completing their GED.

• Students must submit official transcripts from ALL colleges attended AND a HOPE scholarship evaluation form to be considered

• Student who received HOPE Scholarship before 2011 can receive HOPE Scholarship until 2099, unless they have a Bachelor’s Degree or reach the 127 hour cap.

HOPE Grant• Georgia's HOPE Grant (a separate program from the

HOPE Scholarship) is available to residents of Georgia who are attending eligible colleges or universities in Georgia to earn a certificate or diploma regardless of high school graduation date or grade point average.

• Grant is capped at 63 semester hours; or a combination of HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Grant, Zell Miller, and MOWR (formerly Accel) program funds totaling 127 semester hours

HOPE Grant• GPA requirement of 2.0 at 30 and 60 semester hour

checkpoint.• Only hours paid by HOPE will count toward checkpoint GPA

and hours.• HOPE Grant will pay for learning support courses

Zell Miller Scholarship/GrantZell Miller Scholarship• The Zell Miller Scholarship program is for students who have demonstrated

academic achievement and that are seeking a college degree. Generally, to become eligible, a student must graduate from an eligible high school with a 3.70 GPA and a minimum score on the SAT/ACT. Must maintain a 3.3 GPA at the 30/60/90 hour checkpoints.

Zell Miller Grant• The Zell Miller Grant Program provides grant assistance to residents of Georgia

pursuing Certificates or Diplomas at Georgia’s public eligible postsecondary institutions. The Zell Miller Grant Program does not include a high school academic requirement, however, recipients are required to have a minimum postsecondary cumulative grade point average of 3.5 at the end of each term. The purpose of the Zell Miller Grant Program is to encourage Georgians to obtain technical education in order to increase the knowledge and skills of Georgia’s workforce.

• Both programs pay 100% tuition.

SIWDGStrategic Industries Workforce Development Grant

• Students who are receiving the HOPE Grant may also be eligible for additional financial assistance from Georgia’s Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant (SIWDG)

• Only certain programs of study are currently eligible.

SIWDG (continued)Strategic Industries Workforce Development GrantAward for the following programs:Early Childhood Care/Education DiplomaChild Development Specialist CertificatePractical Nursing DiplomaHealth Information Coding CertificateMedical Coding CertificateMedical Front Office CertificatePhlebotomy Tech CertificateMammography CertificateComputed Tomography CertificateCentral Sterile Supply CertificateSurgical Tech DiplomaPharmacy Tech DiplomaCNA Certificate Welding DiplomaMultiple Welding CertificatesManufacturing Specialist CertificateManufacturing Operations Specialist CertificateInternet Specialist Web Site Design DiplomaNetworking Specialist DiplomaComputer Forensic and Investigation Specialist CertificateGame Development Specialist Certificate

SIWDG (continued)

• To qualify, a student must be fully admitted to the college, enrolled in one of the above programs and receiving the HOPE/Zell Miller Grant for the same term.

• The amount of the SIWDG Award is a fixed amount for each term of enrollment

Program of Study Enrolled Hours Award Amounts• SIWDG Programs 9 or more credit hours $ 500.00• SIWDG Programs 3 – 8 credit hours $ 250.00• SIWDG Programs 1 – 2 credit hours $ 125.00

• The HOPE GED Grant, HOPE Grant, and SIWDG Award can be awarded in the same term, if all other eligibility requirements are met up to cost of attendance.

• High school students in MOWR (formerly dual enrollment) programs are not eligible for the SIWDG Award.

SAL - Eligibility

• You must be minimum one year Georgia resident and United States citizen or eligible non-citizen.

•  You must complete a valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to apply for this program

•  You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with the SAP policy per federal regulations.

• You must be enrolled in an eligible Georgia postsecondary institution.

• You must be enrolled at least half-time (six or more credit hours).

• You must meet all eligibility requirements

• Deadline for Fall 2015 was September 1.

SAL - EligibilityInterest Rate

Fixed rate of 1% while in school and out of school as long as loan remains in good standing.

Keep In Touch (KIT) Payments

A monthly Keep in Touch (KIT) Payment of $10.00 is required approximately 60 days after the first disbursement is received. The monthly KIT payments are required while enrolled in school at least half-time and while in six month grace period.

Federal Work Study (FWS)

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program gives part-time jobs to undergraduate students with financial need. Under the program, these students can work to make money to pay for their education expenses, including tuition, books, and room and board.

• Students work on campus, as well as work that is related to your classes• You will be making at least the current federal minimum wage. The current

pay is $7.50 per hour.• The total amount of your Federal Work-Study award will depend on when

you apply, your level of financial need and the funding level of your school. • Students cannot work more than 20 hours a week. Students can work until

their awards run out. • Students get paid twice a month.• When scheduling your work, your employer or financial aid administrator

will look at your class schedule and your academic progress.

Pell Grant (information)

• A student can receive up to a maximum of 600% Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) for Pell Grant. (6 years/12 semesters)

Does this affect you?• If you have attended college for 4 years or longer, receiving the

Pell Grant each year, you are likely to exhaust or have already exhausted your lifetime limit for 12 semesters of Pell Grant eligibility during the 2015-16 aid year.

• If you have attended college and received the Pell Grant for 3 years or less you will likely not surpass the lifetime limit during the 2015-16 school year.

Unusual Enrollment• Assigned by Department of Education for students who change schools several times

during the four previous aid years. • Student cannot receive Title IV funds while the Unusual Flag is not cleared.• First form is Unusual Enrollment Pattern 2; which can be cleared if the student received

Title IV Funds (specifically PELL and/or Federal Student Loans) and course credit at CTC in the past four aid years.

• If a student does not have credit at CTC in the past four aid years then their Unusual Enrollment will be treated as the second form of Unusual Enrollment.

• Second form is Unusual Enrollment Pattern 3; which can be cleared if a student presents grades or transcripts (can be unofficial) to the Financial Aid office from each school they have attended in the past four aid years and they must show course credit for each.

• If a student does not have credit at any school or all schools they have attended in the past four aid years they can present documentation as to why they did not receive course credit at each school where they did not receive credit; two forms of documentation per school. This could mean providing documentation for not receiving course credit at CTC while receiving Title IV Funds at CTC.

Private Student Loans

• Students can apply for Private Student Loans through banks and other lenders.

• Sallie Mae and Regions Bank, have stated they will process Private Student Loans for students at Columbus Technical College.

• Students are welcome to look for other lenders.

• Columbus Technical College does not recommend or endorse any particular lender or lenders.

Satisfactory Academic ProgressObjectives

• Basic components of SAP policy

• Qualifications to meet SAP

• What differs from the past?• Financial Aid Warning• Financial Aid Probation

• What to do if you do not meet SAP?

Satisfactory Academic Progress

• Basic Components– Is student’s grade point average high enough to

reach graduation standards?

Students must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0. The GPA is computed by the Registrar’s Office on a scale of 4.0. The GPA is cumulative (includes entire academic history). Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 when transferring programs in order to receive financial aid.

Satisfactory Academic ProgressGPA Calculation• WP and W grades are not counted in semester/cumulative GPAs

GRADE QUALITY POINTS HOURS TOTAL

A 4 X 3 semester hours 12

B 3 X 3 semester hours 9

C 2 X 5 semester hours 10

31 total/11 credit hours = 2.82 GPA

Satisfactory Academic Progress

• 66.66% Completion Rate– Calculated by looking at the overall courses

taken during the academic life of student

CalculationPassed hours Attempted hours Completion rate

33 33 100%

21.99 33 66.64%

Satisfactory Academic Progress

• Basic Components– Is student completing enough hours to

complete program within maximum time frame?

• If your current program of study requires 50 credit hours to graduate, the 150% timeframe would be 75 credit hours

(50 x 1.5 = 75).

Satisfactory Academic Progress

How often is SAP reviewed for

financial aid purposes?

SAP is reviewed at the end of

every semester

Satisfactory Academic Progress

What happens if a student fails to meet one or all of the SAP components?

Financial Aid Warning

Financial Aid Probation

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Financial Aid Warning (1st time)

Status is assigned automatically and student remains eligible to receive aid during the financial aid warning period. The student will have one (1) semester to meet SAP Standards.

* If SAP is not met while on FA Warning, FA Probation will be assigned.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Financial Aid Probation

If the student consecutively failed to meet one or all of the SAP components after the warning period, he/she will be placed on FA Probation. The student will not receive Financial Aid funds during this period.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Pay for classes• Pay for classes and successfully meet SAP

(this may mean for more than one semester)• VA• Scholarship• Out-of-pocket

Satisfactory Academic ProgressFile a Financial Aid Appeal (extenuating circumstances only approved)

• Appeal is a process by which a student who is not meeting an institution’s SAP policy

petitions the institution for reconsideration of the student’s eligibility for Title IV aid

• Must meet extenuating circumstances

– Serious illness or injury to the student that required extended recovery time or

significant improvement

– Death or serious illness of an immediate family member

– Significant trauma in students life that impaired the students emotional and/or

physical health

– Other documented circumstances

All extenuating circumstances must have 2 (two) forms of documentation to

prove the situation(s) referenced above.

After Appeal is approved, the student is then moved back to FA Warning. The student must make SAP during this period.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

How can a student be removed from Financial Aid Probation?

1. Pay for classes and successfully meet SAP on their own (this may mean for more than one semester)

2. File a Financial Aid Warning Appeal (extenuating circumstances only approved)

If Financial Aid Appeal is approved but the student cannot make SAP in one semester, the student may be placed on a Financial Aid Academic Plan.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Financial Aid Appeal

(extenuating circumstances only approved)

• The appeal must include–why the student failed to make SAP–what has changed that will allow the

student to make SAP at the next evaluation

Satisfactory Academic ProgressFinancial Aid Academic Plan

• Allows students to receive financial aid while they are below the

cumulative 66.66% and/or 2.0 (GPA)• Written agreement which student signs indicating desire to succeed at

Columbus Technical College

Student submits paperwork for appeal and reviewed in FA Office Student signs contract to abide by the rules of the Academic Plan

after being placed on the plan Student is monitored throughout the semester and evaluated at the

end to ensure SAP is met for current term

If any of the terms are not followed, the student is placed back on

FA Probation and cannot receive financial aid again until they meet

SAP on their own – must pay for classes.

Satisfactory Academic ProgressFinancial Aid Academic Plan

• Register for classes in current program of study (1st semester-maximum 6 credit hours)

• Remain enrolled in all classes (no withdrawals)• Cannot change major while on Academic Plan unless approved by Academic

Advisor and FA Advisor• Maintain a 2.0 for the current term• Attend a minimum three (3) sessions in the Care Center• Meet with Financial Aid Advisor at the end of every semester until 66.66%,

2.0 GPA, and 150% time frame are met

The student may remain on the Academic Plan as long as the student shows academic progress and abides by guidelines of the contract.

If any of the terms are not followed, the student is placed back on FA

Probation and cannot receive financial aid again until they meet SAP on

their own – must pay for classes.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Is it possible to be in good academic standing and still be placed on

Financial Aid Probation?

Or

Can a student be in good financial aid standing and be placed on

Academic Suspension?

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Answer: Yes and Yes

Academic GPA is evaluated per semester by term

Financial aid GPA/withdrawal rate are evaluated per semester cumulatively (all academic history)

Unusual Enrollment

• Assigned by Department of Education for students who change schools several times during the four previous aid years.

• Student cannot receive Title IV funds while the Unusual Flag is not cleared.

• If you are flagged for Unusual Enrollment you will be notified by your Student E-Mail account of needing to submit grades or transcripts.

Financial Aid Resources• State Funded Programs

• http://gacollege411.org

• Federal Programs- Student Aid on the Web - http://studentaid.ed.gov- Funding Your Education Brochure - http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html

Columbus Technical College Financial Aid Office

- Hartline Building, Room 151C-706.649.1859- finaid@columbustech.edu

Financial Aid TV

• Be sure to check out the Financial Aid TV link on Columbus Technical College’s Financial Aid webpage.

• Just click Financial Aid on the “Quick Links” at the top of the page and then click on the button as it appears here.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Questions?