Financial Aid Handbook - Camden County College
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Financial Aid Handbook FINANCIAL AID HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................................................3 Using The Financial Aid Handbook .................................................................................................................................................................3 Financial Aid Overview ....................................................................................................................................................................................4 Accessing Financial Aid And Other CCC Information On The Web ................................................................................................................5 Financial Aid Office Hours And Locations .......................................................................................................................................................6 Student Rights And Responsibilities ...............................................................................................................................................................6 Confidentiality And Privacy Of Financial Aid Information ............................................................................................................................8 The Financial Aid Application Process .....................................................................................................................................................10-22 Financial Aid Forms .....................................................................................................................................................................10 Financial Aid Calendar – At A Glance ........................................................................................................................................11 Filing The FAFSA ..........................................................................................................................................................................11 Acceptable Use Of Technology .....................................................................................................................................................13 Minimum Eligibility Criteria .......................................................................................................................................................13 Deadlines ......................................................................................................................................................................................13 FAFSA Data Matching ...................................................................................................................................................................16 Dependency Status .......................................................................................................................................................................18 Ability To Benefit (ATB) ................................................................................................................................................................19 Appeals...........................................................................................................................................................................................22 The Verification Process...................................................................................................................................................................................22 Packaging Information And Guidelines ...................................................................................................................................................24-28 Expected Family Contribution (EFC)...........................................................................................................................................24 Cost Of Attendance (COA).............................................................................................................................................................24 Eligibility .......................................................................................................................................................................................25 Conditions Governing Financial Aid At Camden County College...............................................................................................27 Consortium Agreements................................................................................................................................................................28 Federal Title IV Financial Aid Programs ..................................................................................................................................................28-45 Financial Aid At A Glance .............................................................................................................................................................29 Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG).........................................................................................................................31 New Jersey Gear Up - Gaining Early Awareness And Readiness For Undergraduate Programs (NJGRP) ................................32 Federal Pell Grant (Pell) .............................................................................................................................................................33 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) ...............................................................................................34 Federal Science And Mathematics Access To Retain Talent Grants (SMART)............................................................................35 Federal Science Technology Engineering And Mathematics (STEM) Scholarship....................................................................36 Federal Student Support Services Grant (SSSTRIO) ...................................................................................................................37 Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)............................................................................................................................................38 Federal Parent Loans For Undergraduate Student (PLUS).........................................................................................................40 Federal Stafford Loans - Subsidized And Unsubsidized .........................................................................................................41-43 Frequently Asked Stafford Loan Questions .............................................................................................................................43-45 Student Loan Forgiveness Program .............................................................................................................................................45 State Financial Aid Programs ...................................................................................................................................................................45-55 Bloustein Distinguished Scholars Program And Urban Scholars Program ..............................................................................46 Educational Opportunity Fund Grants (EOF) ............................................................................................................................47 1 Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (STARS) ....................................................................................................48-51 NJ STARS 1 ...................................................................................................................................................................................48 NJ STARS 2 ...................................................................................................................................................................................51 Survivor Tuition Benefits (STB) ...................................................................................................................................................52 Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) ...............................................................................................................................................................53 Tuition Aid Grant-Part-Time (TAGPT) ........................................................................................................................................54 New Jersey College Loans To Assist State Students (NJCLASS) ....................................................................................................55 Camden County College Scholarships ............................................................................................................................................................56 External (Non-College) Scholarships.............................................................................................................................................................57 College Tuition Waiver Programs..............................................................................................................................................................58-59 Unemployed Persons Tuition Waiver Program (NJDOL).............................................................................................................58 New Jersey National Guard Tuition Waiver Program (GUARD) .................................................................................................59 U.S. Veterans Administration – Providing Access To Higher Education..................................................................................................61-67 The Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB-AD) Chapter 30..................................................................................................62 The Montgomery GI Bill - Vocational Rehabilitation And Employment (MGIB-VR&E) Chapter 31 .......................................63 The Montgomery GI Bill - Post-Vietnam Veterans Educational Assistance Program - (MGIB-VEAP) Chapter 32...................63 The Montgomery GI Bill - Survivors’ And Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (MGIB-SEAP) Chapter 35 .............64 The Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) Chapter 1606......................................................................................65 The Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-REAP) Chapter 1607.................................................................................66 Veterans Tuition Credit Program ..................................................................................................................................................66 Former Prisoners of War...............................................................................................................................................................67 Frequently Asked Veterans Affairs Questions ................................................................................................................................67 Book Vouchers..................................................................................................................................................................................................69 Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy For Financial Aid Programs........................................................................................................70-73 Tuition Refunds .........................................................................................................................................................................................74-77 Refund Policy For Financial Aid Students ...................................................................................................................................75 Return Of Title IV Federal Aid Formula ......................................................................................................................................77 Stipend Checks ................................................................................................................................................................................................78 Important Tax Information ............................................................................................................................................................................79 Web Resources - Financial Aid Web Sites .......................................................................................................................................................83 Frequently Asked Financial Aid Questions .............................................................................................................................................84-107 Glossary Of Financial Aid Terms ...........................................................................................................................................................108-122 Monthly Budget Worksheet............................................................................................................................................................................123 Financial Aid File Completion Check List ....................................................................................................................................................124 Expense – Financial Aid Worksheet..............................................................................................................................................................125 Stipend Worksheet..........................................................................................................................................................................................126 Loan Worksheet..............................................................................................................................................................................................127 Academic Progress Advising Worksheet ........................................................................................................................................................128 FAO Follow Up Form......................................................................................................................................................................................129 Financial Aid Service Survey .........................................................................................................................................................................131 Fast FAFSA Filing ...........................................................................................................................................................................................133 Notes...............................................................................................................................................................................................................134 Authorization And Certification Form ..........................................................................................................................................................137 Financial Aid Tip Sheet .................................................................................................................................................................................139 2 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook INTRODUCTION Today’s financial aid programs for postsecondary students were established with passage of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA*). The Department of Education offers a broad range of programs under the umbrella of the Higher Education Act. Federal, state and institutional financial aid programs have provided access to higher education for millions of students over the past four decades and, as such, have had a deep and lasting impact on the nation. Access to education has the power to profoundly change the individual’s life thereby also positively impacting the family, the community, the nation and the world. The mission of the Office of Financial Aid is to enable access to higher education through the provision of financial assistance, for as many students as are eligible, by processing applications in a timely and efficient manner and by awarding financial aid in accordance with federal and state guidelines. The office positively impacts recruitment via its commitment to delivering quality customer service, accurate, thorough information and timely response, to students, parents and to the community. The office maintains a high level of service to students by making use of current processing technologies and by providing accurate, up-to-date consumer information. The Office of Financial Aid works to assist students in establishing their eligibility for financial aid in support of the College’s goal to enable students to achieve academic success and career competence, to pursue further higher education and to identify and develop their personal attributes. Camden County College (CCC) offers a variety of financial aid programs to assist students in meeting their educational goals. The philosophy of the College and of the financial aid programs is that the primary responsibility for meeting the cost of attending college rests with the student and the family (when applicable). To those who meet the eligibility criteria aid may be offered in the form of grants*, scholarships*, loans*, or employment, and is funded through federal, state, institutional and private organizations. Grants and scholarships are considered gift aid and do not require repayment. Loans, which must be repaid, are usually offered at a low interest rate and have an extended repayment period. Typically, eighty percent of the College’s aid applicants are eligible for some type of financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans and/or work-study). Therefore all students are encouraged to apply. Information on application procedures, types of aid, program requirements and the students’ rights and responsibilities is detailed in the following pages. Most general questions will be answered in these pages. USING THE FINANCIAL AID HANDBOOK This handbook is provided by the Office of Financial Aid for your use in better understanding the financial aid programs at Camden County College. This handbook does not and cannot present every circumstance that might occur. The handbook is abridged from the statutory regulations governing the federal, state and institutional financial aid programs, and is limited in scope to providing a general overview of the policies and procedures of those programs at CCC. As a financial aid recipient, you are subject to regulations and policies additional to those that are present in this handbook. This handbook is intended for multi-year use. The handbook is intended for your use for the years 2006 to 2010. Any policies or procedures that the College updates will be reflected in the electronic version of this handbook, which is available on the College’s web site in the financial aid e-forms library. The web site always contains the most current version of this and all other financial aid forms and publications. The College’s web site can be accessed at www.camdencc.edu. Ideally, all financial aid applicants should read this handbook in its entirety. Should you elect not to read this handbook in full, you are advised to at minimum read those sections that have particular application to your circumstances. Failure to read and understand the regulations and policies governing your financial aid does not excuse you from responsibility for adhering to those policies and regulations. Whether or not you read and understand the policies and regulations governing your financial aid, you will be held accountable for the consequences of the enforcement of those policies and regulations. Whether or not you receive financial aid, you are PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for all financial charges that you incur at Camden County College. The * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 3 College may permit you to register before a determination is made regarding your eligibility for financial aid. If, however, you are or become ineligible for financial aid (includes grants, loans, scholarships, employment and waivers) for any reason, you are responsible to pay your account in full including any collection and/or attorney’s fees that may be incurred by or on behalf of the College to satisfy your personal financial obligations. A glossary is provided at the end of this handbook to explain common financial aid terms and acronyms. Instances of the most commonly-used financial aid terms in the handbook that are contained in the glossary are followed by an asterisk. This handbook does not and cannot contain information governing every situation that may arise. The College administers all financial aid programs in accordance with all applicable federal, state and institutional regulations. As such, the College reserves the right to unilaterally impose policies and procedures governing the administration of the financial aid programs that may not appear in this handbook. The College likewise reserves the right to revise any information herein at its discretion and without notice. The financial aid staff is available to answer specific or personal questions and to provide additional guidance to you. FINANCIAL AID OVERVIEW The financial aid programs were developed and are carried forth to provide financial resources to students who would otherwise be unable to pursue a college education. The philosophy of the College and of the financial aid programs is that the primary responsibility for meeting the cost of attending college rests with the student and the family (when applicable). If the student is dependent* the family is defined as the student and the student’s parent and that parent’s spouse (if applicable). If the student is independent* the family is defined as the student and the student’s spouse (if applicable). Camden County College expects that students and their families will, to the extent of their abilities, contribute to meeting the cost of tuition and any other costs associated with enrollment. In order to meet the minimum academic qualifications for financial aid, students must be matriculated (working toward an eligible associate’s degree or certificate) and must be in Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP*). Every student who wishes to be considered for financial assistance must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA*) for the academic year* of planned enrollment. The FAFSA must be completed for each academic year of the student’s enrollment. Financial aid eligibility begins where the family’s ability to pay ends. The family’s ability to pay is measured by an analysis of their financial information as presented on the FAFSA. The family’s ability to pay is calculated as the Expected Family Contribution* (EFC*) and is based upon the analysis of the FAFSA. The primary factors taken into consideration when evaluating the EFC include parental income and assets, spousal income and assets, the applicant’s own assets and earnings, the number of household members, benefits such as those from Social Security or the Veterans Administration, and awards from outside agencies. The College evaluates the financial need* an of all full and part-time applicants using the federal methodology, as required by law. Financial need* is defined as the difference between the estimated Cost Of Attendance (COA*) at CCC (including tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, food, personal expenses and transportation) and the family’s federally calculated contribution to these costs, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Cost – EFC = Need. Where need exists, the College assists in meeting the student’s educational costs within the resources available to the institution. Eligibility for aid is based upon the applicant’s financial need, the ability to meet individual program requirements, and the availability of funding. The four most common types of financial aid are: Grants: Financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Grants are usually based on financial need*. Financial aid that must be repaid. Repayment includes the full principal borrowed plus interest. Loans: Scholarships: Financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Scholarships are usually based on merit. Work-Study*: Financial aid that students can earn by working for an hourly wage. The student’s eligibility for financial aid may increase or decrease from one year to the next, depending on the financial circumstances of the student (and the family) and the availability of funding to the College. 4 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook ACCESSING FINANCIAL AID AND OTHER CCC INFORMATION ON THE WEB E-MAIL You may e-mail your inquiry to the Office of Financial Aid. Your cyber financial aid counselor will review your question and will forward an answer to you usually within 24 hours (excluding holidays, weekends, and periods when the College is closed). For information specific to your file, you must inquire from your official CCC e-mail address. (A CCC e-mail address will be issued to you after you enroll at the College). Strict privacy laws govern the dissemination of student financial aid information. Due to the impossibility of verifying the identity of the correspondent in this medium, the financial aid staff cannot release any confidential information specific to your file to non-CCC e-mail addresses. We will, however, provide as much general information in answer to your question as possible. WEBADVISOR WebAdvisor is a fast, easy, convenient way to find up-to-the-minute information! WebAdvisor is a Web-based information source that students can access via the College’s Web site at www.camdencc.edu. WebAdvisor enables you to conduct your College business from anywhere. Use WebAdvisor 7 days a week, 20 hours a day. There are no lines; no waiting; no hassle! Need help? Call the help desk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-877-241-1781. Services available • Check the status of your financial aid file and award • Get your schedule • Get your transcript and grades • Pay your bill or check your balance • View course offerings (“Search for Classes” – no login required) • Check course availability (seats remaining) • Register for classes • Change your schedule (drop and add) • Request official transcripts/check the status of transcripts requests • Change your password • Check who is teaching a course • Obtain a program evaluation • Forgot your ID? – Use the “What’s My ID” feature • Forgot your password? – Use the “Reset My Password” feature Steps 1. Go to the College’s home page www.camdencc.edu 2. Click on “WebAdvisor Access” at the center of the page 3. Click on “Student Menu” 4. Click on the service (feature) you want 5. Enter your ID and your password* 6. Click submit *Your ID is the first initial of your first name, the first initial of your last name, followed by your seven-digit Colleague ID number. Your Colleague ID number appears on grade reports, registration statements, and other College forms. Your ID is not your Social Security Number. Your password is initially set to your 6digit date of birth (mmddyy). You must change your password the first time you log into WebAdvisor to one that contains both letters and numbers. Tips • Click on the “Help” button under each feature for instructions • Print WebAdvisor screens for confirmation of transactions • Do not use the “Back” button once in WebAdvisor, use “Menu” • Do not use the enter button to “Tab” to the next field • For more information about WebAdvisor and registration, go to the College’s home page, click on “Registration” on the main navigation bar and then “WebAdvisor Info” • The automatic “Log Out” is 15 minutes * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 5 OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID HOURS AND LOCATIONS The time that the financial aid office opens and closes is subject to change. Prior to visiting the financial aid office, please call to confirm our current hours. BLACKWOOD CAMPUS, WILSON WEST 100 The time that the financial aid office opens and closes is subject to change. Prior to visiting the financial aid office, please call to confirm our current hours. Academic year hours of operation: Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Summer hours: Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Telephone: (856) 374-4985 Fax number: (856) 374-4980 CAMDEN TECHNOLOGY CENTER, ROOM 209 The time that the financial aid office opens and closes is subject to change. Prior to visiting the financial aid office, please call to confirm our current hours. Academic year hours of operation: Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Summer hours: Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Closed on Friday Telephone: (856) 968-1340 Fax number: (856) 968-1397 WILLIAM G. ROHRER CENTER The Office of Financial Aid does not maintain a physical presence at the Rohrer Center in Cherry Hill. Student who attend the Rohrer Center and wish to access the financial aid office can do so at either the Blackwood or Camden locations. STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES The receipt of financial aid is a privilege, which creates both rights and responsibilities. 1. Whether or not students receive financial aid, they are PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for all financial charges that they incur at Camden County College. The College may permit students to register before a determination is made regarding their eligibility for financial aid. If, however, students are or become ineligible for financial aid (includes grants, loans, scholarships, employment and waivers) for any reason, they are responsible to pay their accounts in full, including any collection and/or attorney’s fees that may be incurred by or on behalf of the College to satisfy their personal financial obligations. 2. Students have the right to know the methodology used to determine their financial need*; the right to have access to information and records that are part of the student’s College file used in determining need; and the right to be awarded aid as equitably as funds permit. Under the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA*) a student is defined as a person who has enrolled for classes at a post-secondary institution. 6 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook 3. Students have a right (as defined by FERPA*) to the privacy of their financial aid information. Students (and any others who inquire about an applicant’s status) are required to properly identify themselves in order to receive service. Students should present their College identification card or a state issued photo ID card. The financial aid staff is governed by strict federal privacy laws and is therefore limited in both the type of information that can be released, and the persons to whom student information can be disclosed. For additional information please read the FERPA section. 4. Applicants and students have the right to receive financial aid based solely upon their ability to meet financial aid program regulations. Students are not required to, nor are they encouraged to, in any way perform favors for, provide services or goods to, or in any way to remunerate any member of the financial aid staff in exchange for financial aid, counseling, advice, processing or funding. 5. Applicants and students should not engage in financial transactions (i.e. loaning to or borrowing from, payment for services or goods, receipt of payment for goods or services) with members of the financial aid staff. Any student to whom the suggestion is made or advice is given by a member of the financial aid staff that his or her financial aid will in any way be positively affected by the provision of remuneration, favors, goods or services should immediately report such to the Director of Financial Aid (notice may also be given to the Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services’ Office or to the College’s Compliance Office). 6. Applicants and students have the right to receive financial aid based solely upon their ability to meet financial aid program regulations. The receipt of financial aid is to be free from any threat of reprisal, and is not to be under threat to in any way act beyond the specific requirements of the financial aid programs. Any student to whom a suggestion is made by a member of the financial aid staff that his financial aid will in any way be negatively affected by the failure to provide remuneration, favors, goods or services should immediately report such to the Director of Financial Aid (notice may also be given to the Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services’ Office or the College’s Compliance Office). 7. Applicants and students are discouraged from giving gifts to members of the financial aid staff. While it is understood that the provision of a gift can be a means of expressing gratitude, office policies and College regulations prohibit staff members from accepting personal gifts. 8. Applicants and students have the right to expect professional and courteous service from the financial aid staff. Students should expect to receive accurate advice and timely responses to their inquires. Students who have received poor customer service from the financial aid office are encouraged to report such to the Director of Financial Aid. 9. Students are responsible for maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress*. Students who fail to maintain satisfactory progress will lose their eligibility for financial aid until the required credits and grade point average have been earned. 10. Students who fail to meet financial aid filing deadlines and document submission deadlines, and as a result have outstanding account balances with the College, will not be permitted to register for any upcoming semester, will be denied access to grades and transcripts, and will be subject to collection activity. 11. Applicants, students, parents and spouses applying for financial aid are responsible for accurately and truthfully portraying information, financial resources and circumstances, and for notifying the Office of Financial Aid of any changes in status, including the receipt of outside scholarships; for applying by the deadline; and for maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress*. Students who receive external scholarships or other resources (such as VA benefits, employee tuition benefits, or any other educational benefits) are required to report the receipt of these benefits in writing to the Office of Financial Aid. 12. Applicants, students, parents, spouses or others who knowingly provide false or misleading information on any financial aid document (financial aid documents include but are not limited to the FAFSA*, verification* forms, work-study* time cards, appeal applications, correspondence, and loan applications) will be referred for disciplinary action, which may include loss of financial aid, reprimand, suspension or expulsion from the College. Additionally, students so identified will be billed for all aid disbursed and may face criminal prosecution by the Department of Education, which may result in imprisonment, a fine of $20,000 or both. 13. Applicants, students, parents, spouses, and others are responsible for interacting with the financial aid staff with civility and courteousness. All students enrolled at Camden County College acknowledge with their enrollment an obligation to abide by the College’s regulations and policies, as approved by the administration and Board of Trustees. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 7 Students are responsible for their own actions and are expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct at all times and in all places affiliated with the College. Each student must, of course, respect the rights and privileges of all other students, as well as College administrators, faculty and staff. The College reserves the right to dismiss from a course or from the College, or restrict from any other College activity or facility, any student whose behavior is detrimental to the College or its students. For a full explanation of the College’s Code of Conduct read the Student Handbook. (Academic policies and procedures shall govern dismissal or suspension for academic reasons.) 14. In order to preserve the privacy, confidentiality, and comfort of other visitors and staff, cell phone use in the financial aid waiting areas and offices is prohibited. Students and other visitors are expected to complete their cell phone conversations, text messaging, and other use in the corridor, prior to entering the financial aid office. 15. While the financial aid office staff is available to assist applicants through the application process, it is the applicant’s responsibility to see to the correctness and completeness of his or her applications. If the applicant receives notification that his or her FAFSA* or loan application is incomplete, she/he must determine what is necessary to complete his or her application(s), and submit the required information. 16. Policy on Non-Discrimination in Educational Programs. Camden County College complies with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Older Americans Act of 1975 and New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination. These laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, sex, familial status, domestic partnership status, disability and handicap. Decisions on admission, recruitment, financial aid programs, access to course offerings or other aspects of its educational programs or activities, including vocational programs and vocational opportunities, are not made on the basis of any of these factors. Inquiries regarding these laws may be directed to the Executive Director of Institutional Compliance, Wilson Hall West, Room 103, Camden County College, P.O. Box 200, Blackwood, NJ 08012, (856) 227-7200, extension 4752 or to the Secretary, Department of Education, Washington, DC 20201. 17. An application for financial aid will have no affect on the decision concerning admission. The admission decision is made without access or reference to financial aid data. CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY OF FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION FERPA (FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT OF 1974) Under FERPA* (also called the Buckley Amendment) educational privacy and access rights accrue to the student when she/he turns 18 or enrolls in a postsecondary institution. Camden County College is a post-secondary institution. FERPA controls the institution’s ability to disclose student information. Individuals who have applied to, but who have not attended, the College as an enrolled student are not covered under FERPA. Under institutional policy, applicants are extended the same privacy rights to their financial aid information as students. Applicants, students and parents are governed by the following institutional financial aid privacy policies. The financial aid staff is permitted to and will discuss or otherwise disclose a student’s financial aid information to the following parties: 1. the student; 2. the student’s parent(s) whose information appears on the FAFSA*; 3. other College officials having a legitimate educational reason to know the student’s financial aid information (i.e. staff in the billing office so that they can manage the student’s account); 4. external agencies and organizations such as guarantors, lenders, state grant agencies and auditors that have a legitimate educational reason to know the student’s financial aid information (i.e. staff at such agencies authorized to process loans and grants for the student); 5. external federal agencies granted such rights under FERPA . Under FERPA , institutions are required to disclose a student’s information (sometimes without notification to the student) in response to commands from the courts (typically subpoenas) and demands from specific federal agencies. The Office of Financial Aid must and will comply with all lawfully issued demands for information from the entities identified in the FERPA regulations, and will (or will not) notify the student as required. 8 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Students and parents should be aware that their signatures on the FAFSA* and other financial aid documents (i.e. loan applications) authorize the release of their information to certain federal and state agencies. Please read the FAFSA and other financial aid documents for more information. Depending upon the scope of the information requested by the student or other authorized parties, the Office of Financial Aid may require time to present the records requested. When the information requested cannot be produced immediately, the Office of Financial Aid may require such time as is permitted under FERPA regulations to retrieve and present the records requested. The financial aid staff is not permitted to discuss or otherwise disclose a student financial aid information to others, including but not limited to: 1. the student’s parent(s) or stepparent(s) whose information does not appear on the FAFSA* (the non-filing parent) without written permission from the student and the filing parent; 2. the student’s parent(s) or stepparent(s) whose information does appear on the FAFSA when the parents have separated or divorced and the other parent has been identified as the custodial parent, without written permission from the student and the custodial parent; 3. high school guidance counselors and teachers; 4. the student’s spouse (even when the spouse has disclosed his/her information on the FAFSA); 5. interested relatives, neighbors and friends. The financial aid staff is not permitted to discuss or otherwise disclose academic information (which includes but is not limited to scholarship eligibility, financial aid eligibility, grades, grade-point average, academic standing or probationary status) to anyone (except the federal and state agencies responsible for processing the student’s financial aid or having authority under FERPA to access such information) other than the student (whether or not the student is dependent*, whether or not the parent pays the invoice) without the student’s written authorization. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER POLICY In compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-579): disclosure of applicant’s Social Security number is required on applications for financial aid. The applicant’s Social Security number will be used to identify the student’s account, verify the student’s identity during the period of attendance, and to ascertain that there is no improper simultaneous funding under other federal financial aid programs. As above, applicants are required by federal law to provide their Social Security numbers (SSN) on the FAFSA*. Provision of the College’s Colleague Student ID or SSN (as specified on the individual document) is required on all supporting documents used to apply for financial aid. The SSN will be used for the College’s system of student records, for compliance with federal and state reporting requirements, as well as for debt collection. The College will not disclose the SSN to anyone outside the institution except as required by law, and will make every effort to protect the applicant’s privacy. DISCLOSURE AUTHORIZATION When extraordinary circumstances exist that prevent the student from accessing and understanding financial aid information, the financial aid staff will discuss normally confidential information with the individual(s) the student designates on the disclosure authorization form. Students may request a disclosure authorization form from the Office of Financial Aid. Students must complete and sign the disclosure authorization form in the Office of Financial Aid in the presence of a financial aid staff member. Students can rescind the disclosure authorization at any time. Due to the highly sensitive nature of financial aid and academic information, facsimiles, photocopies or mailed disclosure authorization forms will not be accepted. PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (PIN) Students can apply for and will be issued a PIN* to access their FAFSA* data on line. Students can apply for a PIN to access their College information via WebAdvisor*. Students may also be issued a PIN to access financial aid funds at the campus bookstores. Any account activity that is conducted under the access of the student’s PIN is the student’s responsibility. Students are therefore reminded not to disclose their PINs to anyone. Students should report lost or stolen PINs to the College or to the Department of Education as appropriate. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 9 THE FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION PROCESS FINANCIAL AID FORMS The following list of financial aid forms is abridged. The list does not include every form processed by the Office of Financial Aid. The processing time for most financial aid forms is thirty days. The Office of Financial Aid requires approximately thirty days from the date the document is submitted (provided the student’s file is complete) to process the forms listed below. 10 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook FINANCIAL AID CALENDAR – AT A GLANCE FILING THE FAFSA All students who wish to be considered for financial aid must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA*). The information must be released to the U.S. Department of Education and to the College. The FAFSA is fundamental to the College’s financial aid application process and is essential to the determination of the student’s eligibility for all types of aid (including but not limited to Pell*, SEOG*, TAG*, EOF*, NJ STARS*, as well as Federal Workstudy* and loans). A student cannot be considered for any type of financial aid until a correct and complete FAFSA has been processed. To apply for financial aid, the student must file the FAFSA for the applicable award year. The Department of Education has provided an easy way to apply electronically for financial aid. For fastest processing, the FAFSA should be completed and submitted online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The fafsa.ed.gov Web site is the official Web site of the Department of Education and charges no filing fees. Students are advised not to pay any fees to file the FAFSA at any online site. Students are also advised not to pay for financial aid, scholarship or other advice, assistance or guidance. Filing the FAFSA and researching scholarships is free to students and their parents. To assist students in completing the FAFSA electronically the financial aid office has online FAFSA worksheets available. Before applying online, it is highly recommended that the student first visit www.pin.ed.gov and apply for a PIN* (Personal Identification Number - an electronic access code number). The parent of a dependent* student can also apply for a PIN. Students and parents of dependent students who have a PIN and file the FAFSA online will not have to print and mail a signature page. Applicants and parents can use the PIN to electronically sign the FAFSA thereby completing the entire process online. A signature (electronic or on paper) is required in order for a valid application to be processed. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 11 Applicants can also apply for a PIN within the FAFSA application. However applied for, the PIN will be delivered to the applicant in approximately one week. The PIN is valid for the applicant’s lifetime. The PIN should be kept in a safe and secure place and must not be disclosed to anyone. A FAFSA (hard copy) can be obtained from a number of sources including: a high school guidance office, a college financial aid office, a local public library or by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243. The paper FAFSA must be completed and mailed to the Federal Student Aid Processing Center. Although the paper FAFSA is an acceptable means of applying for financial aid, this method of filing slows the application process and is therefore not recommended. Remember, a student should submit only ONE FAFSA application each year. Students should NOT submit an additional FAFSA as a means of making corrections to a previously submitted application. The College does not require the CSS, ACT, FAF, Profile, or other financial aid applications in order for the student to be considered for financial assistance. Both the Blackwood and Camden financial aid offices have self-service terminals where applicants can complete and submit the FAFSA. Self-service terminals are also available at various locations throughout all of the College campuses. The student should be prepared to produce acceptable identification to use the computer labs. In some locations (such as the library) the student may incur a fee to print. The financial aid staff is available to assist the student with his/her questions pertaining to completing the FAFSA. The financial aid staff cannot complete the paper FAFSA or the electronic application for the student in whole or in part. Students who require assistance with the entering of data on their FAFSAs must demonstrate a recognized disability in order to receive such intervention from the financial aid staff. Online help with completing the FAFSA is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA is a comprehensive application that is used nationwide to apply for federal and state need*-based aid. All students are urged to apply for aid as soon as possible after January 1 of the calendar year in which the academic year* begins. When completing the FAFSA, the student must enter Camden County College’s Federal School Code (006865) in Step Six so that the Office of Financial Aid will receive the student’s information. The College receives the student’s information in an electronic document called an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR`*). The ISIR is an electronic version of the processed FAFSA that is imported into the financial aid office’s database. It contains the same information as the paper Student Aid Report (SAR*) that the federal processor mails to the student. CCC gives priority to financial aid applications that are filed on or before May 1. The spring semester priority deadline is October 1. A complete application includes a federally processed valid ISIR, a CCC Authorization/ Certification Form, notification of state aid eligibility and verification* of income (if selected for review). Other information also may be requested, depending upon the individual student’s circumstances. After the May 1 deadline, applications will receive consideration on a remaining available funds basis in each of the various financial aid programs. 12 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook ACCEPTABLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY Computers in the Office of Financial Aid are provided for students to access the FAFSA, to access CCC’s Web site, and to research scholarship opportunities. All other use is prohibited. Access to College computers is not a right, it is a privilege enjoyed by all who observe an honor system based on guidelines that give notice and provide for due process. Camden County College’s policy governing acceptable use of technology is excerpted on the next page. GUIDELINES In making acceptable use of technology you MUST: 1. Use files, information and software for authorized purposes only; 2. Use files, information and software for which you have authorized access; 3. Comply with state and federal copyright regulations; and In making acceptable use of technology you MUST NOT: 4. Give your password or PIN to anyone else or misrepresent your identity; 5. Use the College’s equipment or software for commercial use or personal gain; 6. Engage in activities that are against federal or state law; 7. Use, copy or modify anyone else’s files without permission; 8. Interfere with College operations; 9. Use resources to annoy, harass, discriminate or intimidate anyone; 10. Use resources to send, download or transmit materials that contain profanities, obscenities or sexually explicit materials 11. Destroy, remove or modify College computer equipment or software. By using any campus computer you are agreeing to abide by the College’s acceptable use of technology policy. The College considers any intentional violation of the acceptable use guidelines to be a serious offense that will lead to disciplinary action under standard College rules for misconduct and existing judicial, disciplinary or personnel processes. MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA In order to qualify for financial aid a student must: 1. complete the FAFSA* for the academic year* of anticipated enrollment by the established deadline; 2. be a U.S. citizen, or eligible non-citizen per immigration regulations; 3. be admitted to the College; 4. be in satisfactory academic standing in accordance with the College’s financial aid policies; 5. not have received aid for the maximum number of allowable of credits for financial aid eligibility; 6. not be in default* of a previous federal education loan; 7. be registered with Selective Service (applies to males born after January 1, 1960); 8. be matriculated in an eligible program that terminates in a degree or certificate; 9. be enrolled for a minimum of one credit; 10. and have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. In lieu of a high school diploma or GED, students age 18 and over will have the opportunity to demonstrate Ability To Benefit (ATB*). DEADLINES The College’s deadline for submission of the FAFSA* is May 1 of the academic year the student plans to attend. Deadlines are used to assist the College in determining how many students wish to be considered for aid from the available funds. We also use deadlines so that we will receive the necessary information, and are able to forward a response to you, in time for you to make important decisions regarding your enrollment plans. Students who miss the filing deadlines may not receive all of the aid for which they might have been eligible. Late applicants are also subject to out-of-pocket expenditures for aid that has not been processed, as well as the withholding of registration and class attendance in the event of outstanding balances. All eligible students are considered for financial assistance regardless of filing date, depending upon the availability of funds. However, College-administered funds will not be used to replace federal or state grants, or loans for which a student may have been eligible but for which she/he failed to successfully apply. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 13 PRIORITY FILING DEADLINE The student must submit the FAFSA by the College’s priority deadline. The priority deadline for submission is May 1. Please note that state deadlines may differ from the College’s priority deadline. See ‘State Application Deadlines’ on the front of the FAFSA and in the following text for detailed information. AWARDING DEADLINE The Office of Financial Aid must receive a valid ISIR* prior to the student’s last day of enrollment for the academic year*. Additionally, all required forms must be received in the Office of Financial Aid by the last day of the semester or the student’s last day of attendance, whichever comes first. LATE FILING DEADLINES It is highly recommended that all students apply for financial aid early enough to meet or precede the May 1 priority deadline. However, the following information is provided for students who are late filers and may be ‘spring only’ students and/or who plan to enroll for a summer session. If the student enrolls for the fall, spring or summer semesters, and pays his/her tuition charges and then files for financial aid late in the academic year, the FAFSA must be submitted such that the valid ISIR* is received by the FAO by the student’s last day of attendance or June 30, whichever comes first. For students who plan to enroll in summer and want to receive summer Pell* or a summer loan, the FAFSA should be filed (either by mail or online) no later than June 1. Students who file after these dates may jeopardize their eligibility for assistance by failing to provide the Office of Financial Aid with a complete application prior to their last day of enrollment for the semester. STAFFORD*/PLUS* LOAN APPLICATION DEADLINE The May 1 Stafford PLUS and NJCLASS deadline is a suggested deadline. Eligibility for these loans will not necessarily be affected if applications are submitted after May 1. Students should submit loan application(s) as soon as they have decided which college to attend in the fall, because loan applications require several weeks of processing time. We cannot guarantee that loan applications that are submitted after May 1 will be processed in time for fall billing. If a loan application(s) is submitted late, the student will be required to pay tuition from other resources and then wait to be reimbursed from loan proceeds. NEW JERSEY STATE GRANT DEADLINES The state’s deadline for receipt of the completed FAFSA application is June 1, for the academic year* of anticipated enrollment. Applicants who have not previously received a NJ state grant are subject to the October 1 receipt deadline for fall semester funding. The state’s deadline for those students who are seeking funding for the spring semester is March 1. Applications received after these deadlines render a student ineligible for NJ State grants (include but are not limited to EOF*, GEAR UP*, STARS*, and TAG*). ENROLLMENT/CENSUS DATE DEADLINE The census date of the semester is usually the 10th day of classes (of a 15-week semester). The census date is a critical date for establishing financial aid eligibility. The student’s enrollment for calculating financial aid eligibility is frozen at the census date of the fifteen week semester. The student’s enrollment for the summer session is frozen at the end of the tuition refund period. Courses dropped (including those in which the student receives an “XA”, “NA” or “W”) before the census date of the semester will not be included in the enrollment status for financial aid purposes and will not be funded by financial aid awards. Therefore, any student who drops a course after the first day of class for the semester, but before the census date of the semester will be personally responsible for all costs incurred. Classes added after the census date will likewise not be included in the enrollment status for financial aid purposes and will not be funded by financial aid awards. 14 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook PROCESSING THE FAFSA After the student has completed and submitted the FAFSA*, it will be processed by the Department of Education and by the College. This initial processing typically requires three weeks. After the Department of Education has processed the student’s FAFSA, a confirmation called the Student Aid Report (SAR*) will be mailed to the student. If the FAFSA was submitted electronically, and the student provided an e-mail address, the SAR will be e-mailed. If the student did not provide an e-mail address or submitted the FAFSA on paper, the Department will mail a paper SAR to the address on the FAFSA. Aid from most financial aid programs is awarded on the basis of financial need*. The information reported on the FAFSA is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC*). The formula used to calculate your EFC is established by law and is used to measure your family’s financial strength based on their income and assets. The EFC is used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid. Worksheets that show how the EFC is calculated can be downloaded from the federal student aid Web site, www.ifap.ed.gov. At the Web site under FSA Library, click on Current Publications By Title, then click on E in the alphabet list across the top of the page to go to EFC Formula Information. FAFSA Processing Schematic – The above diagram depicts the processing cycle that your FAFSA follows from your initial submission to your receipt of the SAR*. The acronyms are explained in the following text and also appear in the glossary. To determine your financial aid eligibility, your EFC is deducted from your educational expense budget, also known as your Cost Of Attendance (COA*). The amount remaining, if any, represents the maximum amount of need*-based aid you may receive. Need-based aid includes grants, loans and work-study. The equation used to calculate your eligibility for financial aid is: Cost – EFC = Need (in this equation need is the maximum amount of need-based aid that you are eligible to receive). After the FAFSA has been initially screened, the financial aid staff will analyze the data. In this review, the student’s eligibility for financial aid grants and work-study will be evaluated. If the file is complete and no discrepancies or other problems exist, an award will be calculated for the eligible student. The FAO will then mail a letter to the student advising as to grant and work-study eligibility. This notification letter is called an award letter*. Students should keep the award letter for future reference. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 15 Students who are not eligible for grants or work-study are so advised by letter. If a student cannot be awarded because the student’s file is incomplete, has errors, has discrepancies, or is selected for verification*, the student will be so advised in a letter as to what action is required and urged to comply in a timely manner, so any problems may be resolved and an award letter forwarded. Students who were previously enrolled (during the 2001 year and beyond) can check their current financial aid award status, their grades, transcript, schedule, account balance, registration, as well as make schedule adjustments and pay their bill on the College’s Web site. Visit the College’s home page at www.camdencc.edu and access WebAdvisor via the “Popular Links” drop-down menu on the Web page. Applicants who have any questions regarding the award package should review the pertinent sections in this handbook to gain an explanation of the calculation process and eligibility criteria for the various financial aid programs. FAFSA DATA MATCHING* After the student completes and mails or transmits the FAFSA* to the U.S. Department of Education, it is reviewed and processed. In this review, the FAFSA is screened for errors and discrepancies. The FAFSA is also screened to verify the identity of the applicant and to ensure that she/he meets the minimum financial aid eligibility criteria. When processing your FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education verifies your information with the following federal agencies (among others): • Social Security Administration - www.ssa.gov (to verify your Social Security number, date of birth and name); • Selective Service System - www.sss.gov (to verify selective service registration status for males); • Department of Homeland Security - www.dhs.gov (to verify citizen or non-citizen status); • National Student Loan Data System* - www.nslds.ed.gov (to verify prior receipt of federal grants and loans); • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - www.gibill.va.gov (to apply for, and check the status of veterans benefits). The Department also matches information with the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) to confirm whether or not you are in default* on a federal educational loan, and whether or not you owe money on a federal educational grant. If the financial aid office, after receiving your application, determines that a discrepancy exists for one or more of the above data matches, you will be notified in writing of what is required of you to rectify the problem. DRUG CONVICTIONS Students who have been convicted under federal or state law of sale or possession of illegal drugs may be rendered ineligible for financial aid of any type. The period of ineligibility depends on whether the conviction was for sale or possession, whether the student was a financial aid recipient at the time of the infraction, and whether the student had previous offenses. The student regains eligibility when the period of suspension ends, or in some cases only when the student completes an acceptable drug rehabilitation program. Students, who, due to a drug conviction or other issues, are ineligible for federal aid, should complete the FAFSA and answer the drug conviction question (Question 31). To obtain additional information about the law, call the federal student aid information center at 1-800-433-3243. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) - CITIZENSHIP Any student whose federally approved need analysis* report (FAFSA results = the SAR* or ISIR*) contains a message that his/her citizenship status has not been confirmed, via a match with the Department of Homeland Security, will be required to submit documentation of his/her citizenship status. The original documents must be viewed by a member of the financial aid office staff. The FAO will photocopy from the original documents. The FAO will then forward a copy of the documents to the DHS with a Form G-845. Aid will be awarded if the DHS confirms in writing that the student is a citizen or eligible non- citizen. In some cases, the student will be required to confirm his/her citizenship each year. The DHS typically requires 8-10 weeks to respond to the request to confirm a student’s citizenship status. If you are neither a U.S. citizen nor an eligible non-citizen under federal law, the financial aid office is not permitted to offer any type of financial assistance to you. Please note, in some instances, the act of photocopying your document may render it invalid by changing the physical appearance of the color or markings therein. NATIONAL STUDENT LOAN DATA SYSTEM (NSLDS) – FINANCIAL AID HISTORY When processing your FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education verifies your information with several federal agencies including the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS*). The data exchange with NSLDS determines if you are in default* on a federal educational loan and if you owe money on a federal student grant. 16 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook If you are currently in default of a federal educational loan, or if you owe money on a federal student grant, you are not eligible for financial aid funding (grants, work-study or loans) of any type. If you made and have maintained a satisfactory payment arrangement with the holder of your loan, you should submit documentation of such to the Office of Financial Aid. Usually a satisfactory payment arrangement will consist of a minimum of six monthly, on-time payments in the amount specified by the holder of your loan to that entity. Acceptable documentation of same is a letter from the holder of your loan, on letterhead, stating that you have maintained a satisfactory payment arrangement and are eligible for Title IV* financial aid. The financial aid office cannot accept verbal statements, nor can we accept receipts for your payments as adequate documentation that you have maintained a satisfactory payment arrangement and are eligible for federal aid. If you owe a grant repayment for a prior period of enrollment, you must make payment in full in order to be eligible for financial aid. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA) Via a data exchange with the Social Security Administration, the student’s (and parent’s) name, date of birth and Social Security Number will be matched to an existing record in the SSA data base. If your (or your parent’s) name, date of birth or SSN cannot be matched to an existing record, you will be required to submit documentation to the FAO. Appropriate documentation might include an original birth certificate, an original Social Security card, or an original marriage license. The FAO will make a photocopy from your original document(s). Please note, in some instances, the act of photocopying your document may render it invalid by changing the physical appearance of the color or markings therein. SELECTIVE SERVICE REGISTRATION (SSS) – MALES AGED 18 -25 With few exceptions, all male U.S. citizens, regardless of where they live, and male immigrant aliens residing in the United States, are required to be registered with Selective Service System, if they are at least 18 years old but are not yet 26 years old. Men who are 26 years of age and older are beyond the age of compulsory registration. According to law, a man must register with Selective Service within 30 days of his 18th birthday. Selective Service will accept late registrations but not after a man has reached age 26. Some men who failed to register during the time they were required to do so may now find they are ineligible for certain benefits, such as financial aid. Men born from March 29, 1957 to December 31, 1959 were not required to register because the registration program was not in operation at the time they turned 18. The requirement to register was reinstated in 1980 and applies to all men born on or after January 1, 1960. In order to appeal his ineligibility for financial aid, a student must complete the following appeal process. 1. Obtain a letter from Selective Service stating that you are not registered. You can obtain the SSS letter as follows: If you did not register with Selective Service, and are now a man over age 25, you may be ineligible for certain federal or state programs and benefits, including U.S. citizenship. The financial aid office requires that you provide an official response from the Selective Service indicating if you were or were not required to register. To receive such a letter from the Selective Service System, please call 1-847-688-6888. Your call will be answered by an automated voice processing system. Please refrain from pressing any numbers, and an operator will soon come on the line to assist you. You may also send a written request to the Selective Service System at P.O. Box 94638, Palatine, IL 60094-4638. Ask for a “status information” letter. You will have to describe, in detail, the circumstances you believe prevented you from registering and provide copies of documents showing any periods when you were hospitalized, institutionalized or incarcerated between your 18th and 26th birthdays. If you are a non-citizen, you may be required to provide documents that show when you entered the United States. Please include your name, Social Security number, date of birth and return address. For your convenience, you can download the “Request for Status Information Letter” form along with the directions for completing this form from the Selective Service Web site at www.sss.gov. Both documents are in PDF format. 2. Write a letter of appeal to the Office of Financial Aid If you have passed your 26th birthday and are now being denied eligibility for federal, state or institutional financial aid (you may also be ineligible for federal job training, or federal employment, or U.S. citizenship because you failed to register), you have the following recourse available to you: Write a letter to the Office of Financial Aid explaining the reasons for your failure to register with Selective Service. Citing ignorance of your responsibility to register is not sufficient excuse for having failed to register. Offer as much evidence supporting your appeal, and as much detail, as possible. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 17 3. The Office of Financial Aid, not the Selective Service, will determine whether you have shown that your failure to register was not knowing and willful. The appeal review requires approximately 30 days. The final decision regarding your eligibility for aid at Camden County College will be made by the Office of Financial Aid. 4. If your appeal is approved, you will be awarded financial aid on the same basis as other students, provided you meet all other program eligibility requirements. 5. If your appeal is denied, you will not be eligible for financial aid (including loans) of any type at Camden County College. The above text was excerpted in part from the Selective Service Web site. DEPENDENCY STATUS Federal student aid programs are based on the principle that students and their families should bear the primary responsibility for meeting the cost of higher education. A student’s responses to the questions in Step Three of the FAFSA* determine whether she/he is considered dependent* or independent*. Dependent students must report their parent’s (and spouse’s, if married) income and assets, as well as their own. Independent students report their own income and assets (and spouse’s, if married). In order to be considered independent for financial aid purposes, the student must be able to answer at least one of the following questions ‘Yes:’ 1. Will you be at least 24 years old by December 31 of the applicable award year for which aid is sought? 2. Will you be enrolled in a master’s or doctorate program or graduate certificate at Camden County College? 3. As of today, are you married? Answer ‘Yes’ if you are separated but not divorced. 4. Do you have children who receive more than half their support from you (now and through the academic year*)? 5. Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, (now and through the academic year)? 6. Are you an orphan or ward/dependent of the court, or were you a ward/dependent of the court until the age of 18? 7. Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? If the student answers ‘No’ to all of the above questions, she/he is considered a dependent student for financial aid purposes. Federal law sets the rules for dependency, thus each student must first be evaluated against the above guidelines. If you do not meet the above federal criteria to be considered independent, and there are unusual circumstances that prevent your parent’s from reporting their information on the FAFSA, you may submit a Dependency Override* Appeal Application to the financial aid office. Your written explanation must clearly state the unusual circumstances upon which the appeal of your dependency status is based and should include documentation. Your FAFSA, or your appeal, should document your means of support, as well answer the questions in section III, below. Under federal and institutional policy, the first responsibility for college costs is the student’s and his or her parent(s), thus appeals of dependency status are rarely granted. I. None of the circumstances below, singly or in combination, merit a dependency override: 1. Parent’s refusal to contribute to the student’s education. 2. Parent’s unwillingness to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification*. 3. Parents did not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes. 4. Student does not reside with parents. 5. Student is financially self-sufficient. 18 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook II. Unusual circumstances might include: 1. An abusive family environment. The abuse should be documented in a corroborating letter or document. 2. Parental abandonment. The abandonment should be documented in a corroborating letter or document. 3. Parental incarceration. The incarceration should be documented in a corroborating letter or document. 4. Incapacitating parental illness. The illness should be documented in a corroborating letter or document. 5. Other highly unusual family circumstances. The circumstance should be documented in a corroborating letter or document. III. The following questions should be answered in your application for a dependency override: 1. When was the last time you resided with your parents? 2. When was the last time you received financial support from your parents? 3. When was the last time you had contact with your parents? 4. With whom and where do you currently reside? 5. Did you file a federal income tax return for the most recent tax year? 6. If you did not work, how did you support yourself? IV. Additional important information Camden County College’s financial aid office is not bound by a dependency override that was approved at another college. An override at one college is not binding at another. Federal law requires the financial aid office at the college the student plans, to attend or is currently attending, to determine whether a dependency override is warranted. Dependency overrides that are approved at Camden County College do not automatically carry over from one year to the next. The financial aid office must reaffirm each year that the unusual circumstances persist, and that a dependency override is still approved. Students may be required to submit an appeal for a dependency override along with year-specific documentation each year for reevaluation of dependency status. The appeal should confirm that the circumstances persist and must be documented to the extent required by the Office of Financial Aid. Please contact the financial aid office for additional information and application procedures for submitting documentation regarding your dependency status appeal. ABILITY TO BENEFIT (ATB) In order to receive federal financial aid (grants, work-study and loans) the student must have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. In lieu of a high school diploma or GED, students age 18 and over will have the opportunity to demonstrate Ability To Benefit (ATB*). If you do not have a high school diploma or a GED, and you would like to apply for financial aid, you may take the ATB test in lieu of the diploma or certificate. The ATB test is named for the Ability To Benefit regulations governing the federal financial aid programs. The ATB regulations mandate that colleges require that students who lack a high school diploma or GED must demonstrate that they have sufficient academic skills to enroll in college courses. Additional information about ATB and GED testing is presented in the following pages. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 19 Do you require the ATB, GED, or high school diploma? Are you 18 years of age or older? YES You must take and pass all three sections of the ATB* test in a single sitting. The minimum passing scores are: Do you have a GED or high school diploma? Arithmetic 34 Reading Comprehension 55 Sentence Skills 60 If you are less than 18 years old, you must have either a high school diploma or a GED in order to enroll or to qualify for financial aid. STOP STOP YES You can self-certify your eligibility on the FAFSA* and application for admission. STOP In order to qualify for financial aid (and admission if you are younger than 18) you must have a high school diploma, a GED or a passing score on the ATB test, as above. The FAO cannot waive the ATB, GED, or high school diploma requirement. 20 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook ATB TEST The ATB test consists of three sections: reading, sentence sense and arithmetic. You must meet or exceed the minimum score on each test to pass. If you do not meet or exceed all three passing scores, you must take the entire test over again. You may only retake the test one time within a three-month period. You must wait at least two weeks after the initial test to retake the test. Students can demonstrate Ability To Benefit from financial assistance by taking the Accuplacer test and scoring at least 55 in reading comprehension, 60 in sentence skills, and 34 in arithmetic. These scores indicate that students have the Ability To Benefit from college enrollment, in spite of the fact that they do not have a high school diploma or GED. For more information about the Accuplacer test, visit the College Web site: www.camdencc.edu or call (856) 2277200, ext 4710. You will receive your scores immediately after taking the test, and your scores will be recorded in the College’s database. If you passed the test, and meet all other program eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for financial aid. If you have to retake the test, we suggest that you enroll in an adult education or GED class, hire a tutor or study on your own before taking the test again. A list of adult (GED) education programs appears below. The test is available at the Blackwood, Camden and Cherry Hill testing locations during the scheduled placement test walk-in hours. Blackwood: Monday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Tuesday 12:30 – 3 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Thursday 12:30 – 6 p.m. Camden: Wednesday Noon – 2 p.m. and 6 – 7 p.m. Cherry Hill: Saturday 9 – 10 a.m. Gloucester County Community College Day and Evening classes Office of Testing 1400 Tanyard Road Sewell, NJ 08080 (856) 415-2263 The GED Program Office of Youth Services 713-715 Broadway Camden, NJ 08103 (856) 757-7644 Camden City Adult Education Jerothia Riggs Education Center 1656 Kaighns Avenue Camden, NJ 08103 (856) 966-5224 or 4634 GED PREPARATION If you wish to earn a GED, contact one of the following centers for assistance and guidance. There are a number of conveniently located centers at which students can attend GED preparation classes free of charge. Following are addresses and telephone numbers for a few of these centers: Camden Housing Authority Success Learning Center 1300 Admiral Wilson Blvd. Camden, NJ 08109 (856) 968-6197 Volunteers of America 235 White Horse Pike- 2nd Floor Collingswood, NJ 08107 (856) 854-4660 J. Riggs Adult Learning Center 1656 Kaighns Avenue Camden, NJ 08103 (856) 966-5223 Pennsauken Board of Education Adult School 1695 Hylton Road Pennsauken, NJ 08110 (856) 662-8500, ext. 5302 Triton Regional High Adult School 250 Schubert Avenue Runnemede, NJ 08078 (856) 939-4500 Woodrow Wilson Evening High School 3100 Federal Street Camden, NJ 08105 (856) 966-5223 or (856) 966-5457 (eve.) (856) 966-8901 (day) * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 21 APPEALS REDUCTION OF INCOME The FAFSA* collects information about a family’s income and assets from the previous year. For most people, this information is a good predictor of the current year’s income, since most people do not experience wide swings in income from year to year. If, however, a family’s income in the current year will be significantly different (more than 20 percent) from last year’s, the student should notify the financial aid office in writing, by completing an Income Reduction appeal application and including all available documentation. Reductions in income that are caused by involuntary job loss, non-reimbursed medical expenses that exceed 3% of the adjusted gross income, separation, divorce, death of a wage earner, or the like may be considered. If a student’s circumstances meet these criteria, the FAO will calculate the financial aid award based upon the estimated current year figures for the academic year*. At the discretion of the financial aid office, the family may be required to provide documentation (such as final pay stub, or an estimated return) for evaluation of the change in financial standing. Regrettably, the FAO is not able to consider reductions in income due to voluntary job changes, back taxes owed, high consumer debt, multiple mortgages, employment bonuses received in the previous year, overtime, self-employment losses, fluctuations in income from commission sales, or discretionary purchases. DIVORCE OR SEPARATION When a married student or parent is separated or divorced (or widowed) at the time the FAFSA is filed, the information therein should reflect the current marital status. Thus, even if the couple filed a joint tax return, only the applicant’s and the filing parent’s income should be reflected on the FAFSA. When a married student or parent separates from or divorces his/her spouse subsequent to the filing of the FAFSA, the student or custodial parent should notify the FAO in writing by completing an income reduction appeal application. With sufficient documentation, the financial aid office will consider adjusting the income and assets to reflect the separation/divorce. The divorced/separated individual may be required to provide proof of separate addresses, legal documentation of the dissolution or the marriage, or other information to substantiate the change in marital status. In the case of separation or divorce, the FAO is permitted to discuss the student’s record only with the custodial parent. DEATH When a married student or parent is widowed at the time the FAFSA is filed, the information therein should reflect the current marital status. Thus, even if the couple filed a joint tax return, only the applicant’s and the filing parent’s income should be reflected on the FAFSA. Sadly, the FAO occasionally is called upon to assist a student whose parent or spouse has died, subsequent to the filing of the FAFSA. Should the student suffer the loss of the parent or spouse, please contact the financial aid office immediately and we will offer every assistance possible. OTHER APPEALS The financial aid office will not consider proposals to adjust information on the FAFSA based on any circumstances other than those listed above. THE VERIFICATION PROCESS Verification* is a review, mandated by law, conducted by the financial aid staff wherein the applicant’s FAFSA* is compared to external documents, such as the federal income tax return, in order to substantiate the FAFSA data. Students, parents and spouses are reminded that by signing the FAFSA, and certain other financial aid documents, they are agreeing, if asked, to provide information that will verify the accuracy of their completed forms. The student is ineligible for financial aid if the student, parent(s) or spouse refuses to submit verification documents as requested. Nearly one-half of each year’s financial aid applications are identified for review in the verification selection process. Most students are randomly selected for verification review. Thus, students whose FAFSAs are selected for verification should not feel that they have been singled out, nor should they conclude that the Department of Education or the financial aid office is suggesting that their FAFSA was falsified. The Department of Education requires that financial aid applications are verified to insure that funds are awarded as maximally as the law allows to eligible applicants. When the FAFSA data is reviewed the student may well qualify for additional financial aid. 22 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook If the FAFSA reflects significant numerical improbabilities (such as a tax liability number that is equal to, or that exceeds, the adjusted gross income) the applicant may be non-randomly selected for verification in order that the financial aid staff can correct the apparent discrepancy. The financial aid office staff is required, by federal regulation, to resolve any discrepancies that are created by information submitted at any point that conflicts with that already in a student’s file. Resolution of discrepancies may result in revision to a student’s aid amounts and/or types. Depending upon the nature of the discrepancy, the financial aid staff may be required to correct a student’s financial aid awards for a past year(s), whereupon the College will bill the student for previously disbursed aid. The student will be required to repay previously disbursed aid prior to being permitted to register for a subsequent semester, or to access their grades or transcripts. Students who are selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education, the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA*) or the College’s Office of Financial Aid will be required to submit verification documents prior to the finalization of any aid. In order to receive any aid, all students selected for full verification must provide documentation of untaxed income for the applicable calendar year, a signed copy of the appropriate tax returns for that year, a competed verification worksheet, and any other requested information. Documents usually can be submitted to the FAO by mail, by fax or in person. At the discretion of the financial aid office, certain documents may be required as originals submitted in person for inspection by a staff member and for photocopying. Please note, in some instances, the act of photocopying your document may render it invalid by changing the physical appearance of the color or markings therein. Students who are selected for verification by HESAA must send requested documents directly to HESAA in Trenton. Verification worksheets are available on the College’s Web site (www.camdencc.edu), in the financial aid forms library and in the FAO. If the student is dependent*, the worksheet must be completed and signed by the student and the student’s parent(s). Students who are independent* and single are not required to obtain any parent information or parent signatures. If the student is married, he or she must provide his/her spouse’s income information and signature on the verification worksheet. If the student, parent or spouse filed a federal tax return in the base year*, a signed copy of the return, along with all associated W-2’s and schedules must be submitted. The tax return(s) must be signed by the tax filer and/or bear the preparer’s identification number and stamp. Students, parents and spouses who have not filed a tax return can document this on the verification worksheet. In some cases, such as when there is a discrepancy in the reported filing status between the FAFSA and any other information, students, parents and spouses will be required to obtain an IRS Form 4506T to document their filing status. If the individual has filed, but does not have access to her/his return, then she/he must request a tax return transcript from the IRS. Under IRS regulations, individuals who meet certain income thresholds (regardless of the source of that income) are required to file a federal tax return. Under Department of Education regulations, students, parents and spouses, who are selected for verification, and who were required to file a federal return, must submit a copy of the tax return. Individuals who work “under the table” or who otherwise have earned income that was not taxed, but whose earnings are at or exceed IRS filing thresholds, must present a tax return to the financial aid office. If the student, parent or spouse was required under IRS regulations to file but failed to do so, and as a result cannot produce a tax return, the student is therefore ineligible for financial aid. In some cases, additional documents may be required to complete the verification process, if so, the student will be notified. If a review of submitted documents indicates that corrections to the FAFSA are necessary, the FAO will electronically submit the corrections to the federal processor. After the corrected FAFSA data is accepted by the federal processor, and imported to the College’s data base, the student can be awarded. Eligible students will be awarded and an award letter* will be mailed. If verification results in the student being ineligible for financial aid, she/he will be notified of this status in writing. The FAO normally requires approximately thirty days from the time the applicant’s file is complete to complete the verification review. A complete file for students not selected for verification includes: 1. valid Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR*); 2. CCC Authorization/Certification form; 3. notification of state aid eligibility; 4. and any other requested documentation. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 23 A complete file for students selected for federal, state or institutional verification includes: 1. valid Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR); 2. CCC Authorization/Certification form; 3. notification of state aid eligibility; 4. completed and signed verification worksheet; 5. signed federal tax return forms (if dependent, for student and parent; if independent, for student and spouse), including all associated W-2’s and schedules; 6. and any other requested documentation. Any person who purposely submits false or misleading information on the FAFSA, verification forms, or on any supporting document, is subject to disciplinary action, which may include fines, imprisonment or both. FRAUD, FORGERY AND OTHER CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT Students, parents, spouses, college staff and all others are responsible for accurately portraying information submitted on the FAFSA*, and in all supporting documents to the financial aid application process. Such documents include, but are not limited to the FAFSA, verification forms, time sheets, signature pages, appeal applications, correspondence, et cetera. Falsification of financial aid documents is an extremely serious offense. Students and others who fraudulently complete financial aid documents will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include loss of eligibility for all financial assistance, termination from all College employment programs, and referral to the U. S. Department of Education for criminal prosecution. Students so identified will also be referred to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the College. All monies paid to a student that are determined to have been the result of fraud will be immediately due the College. If not repaid, this debt will be referred to a collection agency for collection and legal action, and may also be referred to the U. S. Department of Education. Debts that are referred to a collection agency are subject to fees for the costs associated with collecting the debt, including attorney fees and court costs. Students, or their paying agents, will be responsible for all collection costs and attorney fees. When the College has credible information that suggests that an individual has engaged in fraud or other criminal misconduct, the case will be reported to the Regional Office of the Inspector General and, if applicable, the state or local law enforcement agencies as specified by the U.S. Department of Education under section 668.14(g) of the General Provisions Regulations. Any fraud that the College refers to the Department of Education may result in criminal prosecution. Criminal prosecution may result in a fine of up to $20,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. PACKAGING INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES Packaging is the process of awarding one or more financial aid funds to eligible applicants. In order to understand the packaging process it is important to first define the Expected Family Contribution (EFC*) and the Cost of Attendance (COA*) as below. EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION (EFC) Financial need* is determined using information from the processed FAFSA*. The information provided on the FAFSA is processed using the Federal Methodology (FM) which is a formula created by the United States Congress to calculate the EFC. The EFC* is a measure of your family’s financial strength, based on their income and assets. The EFC is the amount that the student (and family, if applicable) is expected to contribute to the educational expenses for one year. The EFC is used to determine the student’s eligibility for all types of need-based financial aid. COST OF ATTENDANCE (COA) The COA* is the total estimated amount it will cost the student to attend the College. The standard components of the COA include tuition and fees; housing and food; books and supplies; transportation; and miscellaneous personal expenses, such as for clothing and toiletries. Other costs may be taken into consideration on a case-by-case basis. The maximum award package for a student cannot exceed the COA for that category of student, based upon place of residence (i.e., at home with parents or away from home) and enrollment status. Each year standard COA budgets are created for all students based upon their residency, as reported on the FAFSA. Budget component additions are created for students in programs whose costs exceed the average enrollment costs. The COA for students who attend during both the fall and spring semesters is based upon a nine-month budget. The COA is prorated for those who attend only one of the semesters. The summer COA is also prorated and the EFC is adjusted for a three-month period. Room and board, transportation and miscellaneous expense components of COA for the summer session are 1/3 of the applicable academic year* budget. Tuition/fees and books/supplies components will be the same as those used in the academic year. 24 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook The COA is prorated for half-time and three-quarter-time enrollment status for all semesters. Semester enrollment status for financial aid eligibility: 12.0 + credits – full-time 9.0 - 11.5 credits – 3/4 time 6.0 - 8.5 credits – 1/2 time 1.0 - 5.5 credits – less than 1/2 time The costs for food, housing and other expenses are estimated, based upon national and regional averages. Your actual expenses may vary and will depend upon your own spending habits. If you have expenses not listed here, such as childcare or mandatory equipment or supply costs, your COA is subject to individual adjustment by the FAO. Please contact the office for additional information. For information about COA’s for the current academic year, visit the College’s web site at www.camdencc.edu. Award letters will be sent to students beginning in late spring. The financial aid office staff will be available to counsel students at any point during the application process. Students should be aware that some aid is conditional on the availability of funds to the College, and if these funds are reduced, the College will reduce aid accordingly. If an award is estimated, that indicates some additional steps must be taken before the student can receive those funds, such as completing verification*. For example, to receive the Stafford*, the students must submit the loan application and their funds must be disbursed. Stafford loan proceeds are disbursed* to the College electronically or by paper check. Additional steps are required to claim these forms of financial aid: FEDERAL WORK-STUDY (FWS) In order to claim a FWS* award, the student must locate an eligible job. Students who have been awarded FWS should contact the Office of Student Employment (in the Community Center, on the first floor) for additional information. Students cannot work, nor can they be paid, until all required paperwork is submitted and proper identification is documented. FWS cannot be deducted from the tuition invoice. PLUS AND STAFFORD LOANS The PLUS* and Stafford* loans must be applied for through the student’s lender. Proceeds from these loans are disbursed to the College. Most loans will be disbursed to the College electronically and will not require the student’s signature. If a student’s loan is disbursed by check, it cannot be credited to his/her account until she/he signs the check. Loan checks will be available in the business office for signature. ELIGIBILITY In order to receive aid from any fund, all students must be matriculated in a degree or certificate program and have a complete file. Important note: GEN, DUAL, CASUAL, MINOR and TEMP are not valid programs of study for financial aid purposes. The following certificate programs are NOT eligible for federal or state financial aid: CIA.CT Crime and Intelligence Analysis EDM.CT Emergency Disaster Management FOP.CT Fundamentals of Policing JDP.CT Basic Juvenile Detention MUS.CT Music Recording Certificate PNF.CT Faux Painting Certificate PTW.CT Programming Tool for Web Pages UNX.CT UNIX Certificate HSR.CT Developmental Disabilities Financial aid awards are based upon the student’s enrollment status, as of the census day of the 15-week session (usually the tenth class day of the semester). Financial aid cannot be awarded for any credits to which a grade of ‘XA’ has been assigned. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 25 Financial aid awards are usually packaged according to the following sequence: 1. PELL* 6. NJ GEAR UP* 2. TAG* 7. Federal Work-Study* 3. Other State Aid (EOF*, GSS*, STARS*) 8. Stafford* Loan (subsidized*) 4. SEOG* 9. Stafford* Loan (unsubsidized*) 10. PLUS* and NJCLASS* loans 5. SSSTR* Students who are aid eligible for the academic year*, and have a completed file as of June 1, will be packaged, normally within 4 weeks of their file complete date. Packaged students will receive an estimated award letter*. If the student has registered early, the award amount will be based on the actual enrollment status. If, at the time the award is made, the student has not registered, the award will be based on the enrollment status indicated by the student in Step Six of the FAFSA. If the student did not answer the enrollment question on the FAFSA, then the student will be awarded at full-time status. Each student’s enrollment status will be reviewed as of the census date for the 15-week session (the 15-week session census date is usually the 10th day of class). The student’s award will be adjusted to reflect his/her actual enrollment status at census date. Under federal regulations, the financial aid award cannot be increased to reflect additional credits added after the census date and the financial aid award must be adjusted to reflect reductions in enrollment (XA’s, NA’s and other negative grades). For students whose files are completed after the priority deadline (May 1), awarding will continue on a rolling basis throughout the academic year. Other Policies and Procedures 1. To determine if the assets reported by students, parents or spouses are reasonable, interest and dividends reported on the base year* tax return will be compared against the FAFSA asset answers. Interest reported on the tax return will be divided by 5% (.05) to determine the estimated capital value of assets. Dividends will be evaluated according to source. If there is an apparent discrepancy, the FAO may elect at its discretion to update the FAFSA with the calculated estimated value of the assets, or may solicit further explanation or documentation. 2. Winter intersession enrollment is combined with spring semester credits, for the calculation of financial aid eligibility for the spring semester. Provided that the student has been awarded sufficient aid to cover both the spring and winter intersession costs, she/he is permitted to use anticipated spring semester aid eligibility in lieu of cash payment for the winter intersession. 3. Semester enrollment status for financial aid eligibility: 12.0 + credits – full-time 9.0 -11.5 credits – 3/4 time 6.0 - 8.5 credits – 1/2 time 1.0 -5.5 credits – less-than 1/2 time THE AWARD LETTER All students who have been authorized to receive financial assistance will be sent an official communication called an award letter*. The award letter will include the name and the amount of each award. The award letter* is subject to revision under the following circumstances: 1. If government-funding levels to the College are reduced, individual awards will be decreased accordingly. 2. Verification* - The Office of Financial Aid is required by federal regulation to resolve any discrepancies in information submitted during the verification review with that already in a student’s file. Any discrepancies may result in revision to a student’s aid amounts and/or types. 3. As above, if at any point in the year we become aware of information that conflicts with other documentation in the student’s file (from the current or a prior year), we will resolve the discrepancy and revise the award accordingly. 4. Outside Scholarships - Per federal regulation, a student is not permitted to be “over awarded.” That is, a student’s total amount of scholarships, grants, loan and work-study may not exceed the student’s calculated aid eligibility. If a student would be over awarded, due to an outside scholarship, we are required to adjust the other elements of the aid package to eliminate the over award. We encourage students to seek outside scholarships, and will adjust other grant aid only if absolutely necessary. 5. The College may substitute other aid funds of equal amount and type at any point at its discretion and without any notice. 6. Errors, however caused, in the student’s award will be corrected. Students are responsible for the repayment of all financial aid that has been disbursed to them for which they are found to be ineligible. 26 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook CONDITIONS GOVERNING FINANCIAL AID AT CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE The reverse side of the award letter (following text) contains important information about the applicant’s rights and responsibilities that all students should read. All students should file their award letters in a safe place for future reference. Students also can view their awards online by visiting the College’s Web site, www.camdencc.edu and accessing WebAdvisor. Your financial aid eligibility is based upon information from your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA*). The College reserves the right to revise or cancel your financial aid at any time if it discovers any errors, omissions or discrepancies in the information submitted. In the event that your financial aid award is reduced or cancelled for any reason whatsoever, you will remain responsible to pay all outstanding charges (i.e. for tuition, fees, books, stipends, et cetera). 1. By completing the Authorization and Certification form, you are accepting your financial aid awards and agreeing to the terms governing those awards for all semesters of your enrollment. 2. You must matriculate in a degree program and must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP*) in order to be eligible for financial aid. The SAP policy requires that you maintain a specified minimum grade point average and a minimum 67% rate of credit completion. If you are eligible for financial aid (including grants, loans and work-study), you are required to remain enrolled in your classes in order to receive those funds. If you never attend, cease to attend, withdraw, or receive “F’s”, “W, s”, “NA’s”, or “XA’s”, you will jeopardize your financial aid for both current and future semesters. If you fail to remain enrolled in and attend at least one course until the end of the semester, the College is required to reduce or cancel your financial aid and to retroactively remove it from your account. For additional information about how your attendance impacts your financial aid eligibility read the SAP policy in this Financial Aid Handbook. 3. Your financial aid eligibility is initially estimated based upon either your registration status, or the assumption that you will register fulltime. Your eligibility is reviewed at the 15-week census date* (approximately two weeks after classes begin). Your eligibility for the semester’s financial aid is frozen, based upon your registration status on the census date. Should you register for additional credits after the census date, your financial aid cannot be increased. 4. Federal and state guidelines require that the College obtain documentation to corroborate the information on your FAFSA. For example, a student who indicates that he or she is an orphan, or a ward of the court, must provide official documentation of such. In cases where you are requested to provide additional information, and fail to do so within the specified timeframe, your award will be cancelled and you will be responsible for all charges. 5. An estimated award is the approximate amount that we anticipate you will receive from that source, based upon currently available information. Other action is necessary in order for the award to be disbursed. 6. The business office has been notified of your award(s). Amounts that have been received by CCC will be credited to your fall, spring or summer bill. Financial aid funds must first be used to pay educational expenses that you incur at CCC. Tuition, fees, books (where applicable), et cetera will be deducted from your financial aid. Any remainder will be mailed to you in the form of a stipend check after the mid-point of the semester. 7. Grants and loans from outside sources will not be credited if the funds have not been received. Parents and students are responsible for the amount of the bill in excess of the aid awarded. 8. Renewal of financial aid for ensuing years requires reapplication by May 1 prior to the period for which aid is requested. While it is expected that financial aid will be renewed for each year of the recipient’s enrollment, the form and or amount may change in subsequent years to reflect changes in financial need*, available funding and other circumstances. 9. Your financial aid may be reduced or cancelled as the result of a disciplinary action. Any violation of the regulations governing the financial aid programs is sufficient grounds for termination of your financial aid, and referral for disciplinary action. Violations include, but are not limited to, falsification of any document used to obtain financial aid, using financial aid funds for non-educational purposes, and transfer of financial aid funds to others (e.g. using your book voucher to purchase items for others). 10. If you have received a Federal Work-Study award, you are eligible to continue your employment only until you have earned the indicated amount. 11. The College reserves the right to revise your award without prior notification. If any revision(s) should be necessary a revised award letter will be mailed to you. You may also view your status via WebAdvisor at www.camdencc.edu. Any revised award letter will take precedence over any previous letter(s). 12. If you should change your mailing address, complete an address change form and submit it to the Office of Records and Registration. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 27 CONSORTIUM AGREEMENTS A consortium agreement is an agreement between two institutions that defines which is the student’s home institution and which is the visiting institution for purposes of administering the financial aid programs. Under a consortium agreement, the student could enroll for a portion of his/her classes at one institution, and for the remaining classes at another. Under a consortium agreement, the home institution agrees to administer the financial aid disbursements for the student, while the visiting institution agrees not to process any aid for the student. The Office of Financial Aid will enter into consortium agreements for those students whose home institution is other than CCC. In these cases, the home institution agrees to process the student’s financial aid. Students so enrolled are expected to make payment to CCC in accordance with published due dates. The Office of Financial Aid will not enter into consortium agreements for those students whose home institution is CCC. In these cases, the Office of Financial Aid will process the student’s financial aid, based upon the student’s enrollment at CCC, and will not include any credits taken elsewhere when calculating aid eligibility. Students who enroll simultaneously at CCC and at another institution will be responsible for payment at both institutions, in accordance with published due dates. FEDERAL TITLE IV FINANCIAL AID GRANT PROGRAMS In order to be considered for any of the programs listed, the student must complete the financial aid application process (as described previously) and must meet all eligibility criteria. Those programs having additional application or eligibility requirements as so identified. All annual award limits are estimated, based upon the most recent information available at the time this handbook was printed. For the most current annual award limits, please review the handbook in the financial aid e-forms library on the College’s Web site at www.camdencc.edu. 28 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook FINANCIAL AID AT A GLANCE (chart continued on next page) * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 29 30 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Additional eligibility requirements for the ACG grant: • Must be a U.S. citizen. Eligible non-citizens do not qualify for ACG grants. • Must not have enrolled as an undergraduate prior to September 2006. • Student must be eligible for the Pell* grant. • First-year students must have graduated from high school after January 1, 2006. • Second-year students must have graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. • Student must have completed a rigorous high school program of study. • Must have earned a HS diploma (GED and ATB* students are not eligible). • Must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA . • Student is subject to all financial aid deadline and other program eligibility criteria. The ACG grant was developed to recognize needy students who excelled in academically challenging subjects as high school students. In order to be eligible for a federal ACG grant, a student must be an undergraduate who has not earned a four-year degree (or its equivalent), nor been aided for the maximum number of semesters, and who meets all other program eligibility criteria. ACG grant eligibility is based upon the student’s need, academic achievement and enrollment status. The options for eligibility for a student from New Jersey are: ✦ The State Scholars Initiative requirements. This program, currently offered in New Jersey and 21 other states, and patterned after the recommendations of the National Commission on Excellence in Education, requires at least: • Four years of English; • Three years of mathematics (including Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry); • Three years of lab science (biology, chemistry, physics); • Three-and-one-half years of social studies; and • Two years of a language other than English. ✦ A set of courses similar to the State Scholars Initiative. This program of study requires passing grades in the following: • Four years of English; • Three years of mathematics (including Algebra I and a higher level course such as Algebra II, Geometry, or Data Analysis and Statistics); * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 31 • Three years of science (including at least two courses from biology, chemistry or physics); • Three years of social studies; and • One year of a foreign language. ✦ Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and test scores. This program requires a minimum of two Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in high school, and a minimum passing score on the exams for those classes. Students must score 3 or higher on AP exams and 4 or higher on IB exams. Check www.ed.gov for academic requirements for other states. NJ GEAR UP recruits and serves students from 17 middle and 11 high schools in the cities of Camden, Jersey City, Newark, Paterson and Trenton. Participants receive educational support and assistance to complete high school and enroll in a college or university. This support is provided through activities such as tutoring, academic and personal counseling, college tours, mentoring, GEPA, HSPA, PSAT and SAT test preparation and help with College admissions and financial aid applications. Students who complete the ‘college-readiness’ phase of the Program and then enroll full-time at an eligible college or university in New Jersey, may be able to receive a grant of up to $3,000 per year. First year NJ GEAR UP students must be enrolled full-time in order to be awarded NJ GEAR UP funds. Second year NJ GEAR UP students (earned 31 or more college-level credits) can be funded at either full-time or part-time (6-11 credits) status. The award will be prorated for part-time students. The selection of eligible students is conducted and administered by the NJ Commission on Higher Education. Students are required to file a FAFSA each year and to meet all other financial aid eligibility criteria. The NJ Commission on Higher Education provides the Office of Financial Aid with a roster of students who are eligible for this grant. Approved students must file a FAFSA, must be matriculated and must enroll full-time during the initial year of eligibility. Per federal regulations, the NJ GEAR UP scholarship can be awarded without considering the student’s EFC*, as long as the total Title IV* aid (including NJ GEAR UP) does not exceed the student’s COA*. Specifically, the regulations state that when awarding Pell* and SEOG*, the NJ GEAR UP scholarship may be used to replace the EFC. However, when awarding FWS* and subsidized* loans, NJ GEAR UP funds may not be used to replace the EFC. 32 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook The Department of Education determines eligibility for the Pell grant. Notification is sent directly to the student in the form of a Student Aid Report (SAR*). The student should expect to receive the SAR approximately three to four weeks after the FAFSA has been filed. The SAR should be reviewed for accuracy and corrected if necessary. The student should retain the correct SAR as confirmation of receipt of the FAFSA. The award letter will list the Pell grant amount. Changes to the FAFSA information may affect the student’s Pell grant eligibility. To be eligible for a federal Pell grant, a student must be an undergraduate who has not earned a four-year degree (or its equivalent), nor been aided for the maximum number of semesters, and who meets all other program eligibility criteria. Pell grant eligibility is based upon the student’s EFC and enrollment status. Recent grants at CCC have ranged from $400 to $4410 per year for full-time students. Pell grant eligibility for part-time students is prorated. Students who enroll for a single credit may be eligible for the Pell grant. Pell grants are renewable until completion of the first bachelor’s degree, provided the student is making Satisfactory Academic Progress* and continues to meet all other eligibility criteria. Students become ineligible for the Pell grant program at CCC when they have attempted the maximum number of allowable credits under the College’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 33 SEOG is a federally funded College administered program. The FAO determines eligibility for the SEOG grant. The award letter will list the SEOG grant amount. Changes to the FAFSA information may affect the student’s SEOG grant eligibility. To be eligible for a federal SEOG grant, a student must be an undergraduate who has not earned a four-year degree (or its equivalent), nor been aided for the maximum number of semesters, and who meets all other program eligibility criteria. SEOG grant eligibility is based upon the student’s EFC* and enrollment status. Recent grants at CCC have ranged from $100 to $500 per year for full-time students. The SEOG amount may be awarded outside this range at the discretion of the FAO. SEOG eligibility for part-time students is prorated. Students who enroll for a single credit may be eligible for the SEOG grant. SEOG grants are renewable until completion of the first bachelor’s degree, depending upon the College’s funding levels, and provided the student is making Satisfactory Academic Progress* and continues to meet all other eligibility criteria. Students become ineligible for the SEOG grant program at CCC when they have attempted the maximum number of allowable credits under the College’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. 34 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Additional Eligibility Requirements for the SMART grant: • Must be a U.S. citizen. Eligible non-citizens do not qualify for SMART grants. • Must meet ACG program requirements. • Must be eligible for the Pell* grant. • Must meet all admission criteria at the participating four-year institution. • Must matriculate in an eligible major at the four-year institution. Mathematics, science, technology and engineering are among the eligible majors. • Must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA • Student is subject to all finiancial aid deadline and other program eligibility criteria. The SMART grant was developed to recognize needy students who excelled in academically challenging subjects as high school students and in their first two years of college. In order to be eligible for a federal SMART grant, a student must be an undergraduate who has not earned a four-year degree (or its equivalent), nor been aided for the maximum number of semesters, and who meets all other program eligibility criteria. SMART grant eligibility is based upon the student’s academic achievement and enrollment status. Students who were eligible for the ACG grant, while enrolled at CCC, may be eligible for the SMART grant at a participating four-year college. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 35 The STEM for scholars program offers financial, academic and social support to assist academically talented, low-income students who show promise as computer science, engineering and mathematics majors to achieve an associate’s degree in a STEM discipline. The primary goals of the STEM program are to provide improved educational opportunities for students, especially underrepresented populations in STEM disciplines, and to increase the retention of students to degree achievement. Students who wish to be considered for the STEM scholarship are required to submit a FAFSA, for the appropriate academic year, and to meet all financial aid eligibility criteria. Applicants are also required to submit a scholarship application. Selection of STEM scholars is based upon both academic achievement and financial need. 36 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Additional eligibility requirements for the SSSTRIO grant: • Full-time and part-time non-traditional students with significant financial need*, who are active participants in the Student Support Services Program may be eligible. • Students must file the FAFSA*, must be a PELL* recipient and have a minimum GPA of 2.0. • Grants at Camden County College are typically $400 for the academic year*. Future funding for this program is not guaranteed. FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS In order to be considered for any of the programs listed, the student must complete the financial aid application process (as described previously) and must meet all eligbility criteria. Those programs having additional application or eligibility requirements as so identified. All annual award limits are estimated based upon the most recent information available at the time this handbook was printed. For the most current annual award limits, please review the handbook in the financial aid forms library on the College’s Web site at www.camdencc.edu. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 37 FWS is a federally funded program administered by the College. Eligibility for this program is based upon the availability of funds to the College and the student’s EFC*. The Office of Financial Aid will make a determination of the student’s eligibility to earn money through the FWS program. Notification of eligibility will be included in the award letter. A FWS award is not an offer or a guarantee of a job; it is the amount a student is eligible to earn should she or he secure a job. Work-study awards are not applied against the student’s tuition invoice. Payment is made directly to employed students bi-weekly by College payroll check. FWS provides part-time jobs for students with financial need*, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. Employment opportunities are arranged on the College campus in academic departments, College offices, the library, et cetera. by the Student Employment Coordinator. Positions require various levels of skill and experience. Students may work a maximum of twenty hours per week when classes are in session. Students may work a maximum of thirty-five hours per week when classes are not in session. The minimum pay rate is equivalent to the state minimum wage - $7 per hour as of October 2006. For students who are interested in working in the larger community, there are several off-campus work-study positions available. These jobs are located at sites such as community organizations, daycare centers and other non-profit businesses. In order to claim a FWS award, the student must locate an eligible job. Once hired, the student must go to the student employment office to complete the necessary payroll paperwork. Students cannot work, nor can they be paid, until this paperwork is submitted and proper identification is documented. Again, FWS cannot be deducted from the tuition invoice. The institutional FWS minimum is $400 per year. In order to award FWS funds to as many students as possible, the standard maximum award is $4,000 per year. Students who meet the College’s priority deadline, and answer ‘Yes’ to FAFSA question #28 (Are you interested in work-study?) and/or complete a FWS application, will be given priority in the awarding of FWS. Awards may be increased above $4,000 on a funds available basis by the FAO, so long as the student’s financial need is not exceeded. The student’s need amount is calculated based on the remaining amount of need after Pell*, state grants and other types of financial aid are subtracted. FWS wages may be reportable as taxable income, depending upon the student’s total earnings and other income during the tax year. 38 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook FRAUD, FORGERY AND OTHER CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT Students, parents, spouses, College staff and all others are responsible for accurately portraying information submitted on the FAFSA and in all supporting documents to the financial aid application process. Such documents include, but are not limited to the FAFSA, Verification* forms, FWS time sheets, signature pages, appeal applications, correspondence, et cetera. Students and supervisors are responsible for accurately portraying the hours worked. Time cards may only reflect those hours completed during the pay period in question, by the student employee, at the times indicated, under the direction of his or her supervisor. Timesheets may not reflect anticipated time that has not been worked at the time the timesheet is submitted. Falsification of FWS records (which includes but is not limited to misrepresentation of hours worked or forgery) is an extremely serious offense. Students who fraudulently complete time records will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include termination from all College employment programs, loss of eligibility for all financial assistance, and referral to the U. S. Department of Education for criminal prosecution. Students so identified will also be referred to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the College. Supervisors who fraudulently complete time records will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include termination from the College, and referral to the U. S. Department of Education for criminal prosecution. Remember, your FWS award is a determination of the maximum you may earn in this program. In order to earn a paycheck, you must be hired, complete the necessary paperwork, and work. You cannot be paid for any hours which you do not actually spend working for the College in the employing department, under the direction of your supervisor. All monies paid to a student that are determined to have been the result of fraud will be immediately due the College. If not repaid, this debt will be referred to a collection agency for collection and legal action. Debts which are referred to a collection agency are subject to fees for the costs associated with collecting the debt, including attorney fees and court costs. Students or their paying agents will be responsible for all collection costs and attorney fees. When the College has credible information that suggests that an individual has engaged in fraud or other criminal misconduct, the case will be reported to the regional office of the Inspector General and, if applicable, the state or local law enforcement agencies, as specified by the U.S. Department of Education under section 668.14(g) of the General Provisions Regulations. Any fraud that the College refers to the Department of Education may result in criminal prosecution. Criminal prosecution may result in a fine of up to $20,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID LOAN PROGRAMS In order to be considered for any of the programs listed, the student must complete the financial aid application process (as described previously) and must meet all eligibility criteria. Those programs having additional application or eligibility requirements as so identified. All annual award limits are estimated, based upon the most recent information available at the time this handbook was printed. For the most current annual award limits, please review the handbook in the financial aid e-forms library on the College’s Web site at www.camdencc.edu. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 39 The PLUS loan is a type of financial aid in which the parent of a dependent* student is the borrower. These loans provide additional funds for eligible dependent students who are enrolled at least half time, are making Satisfactory Academic Progress toward a degree or certificate, and are citizens or eligible non-citizens. A parent may be denied a PLUS loan due to adverse credit history. The parent of a dependent student may borrow up to the cost of education (which includes living expenses) minus any other financial aid the student is scheduled to receive. Repayment begins 60 days after loan funds have been disbursed. The PLUS loan interest rate is variable and caps at nine percent. Approval for the PLUS loan is based upon credit history. Typically the loan application process requires four weeks. In order to deduct the anticipated proceeds from a PLUS loan from the invoice, the loan must have been approved. Therefore, parents wishing to use PLUS proceeds toward the fall balance must submit a complete application by May 1 in order to deduct the amount of the anticipated loan check from the fall invoice. The PLUS loan cannot be certified until a complete FAFSA has been processed. Under PLUS, parents may borrow for each dependent enrolled in an approved school. PLUS loan applications are available at participating commercial banks, credit unions and at the College’s financial aid office. Parents can apply with any other lender of their choice. 40 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Federal student loans are available at low interest rates, and with extended repayment terms to assist students in meeting both tuition and living expenses. Because loan indebtedness has serious implications, students should carefully consider the amount of their borrowing (both yearly and cumulative) and borrow the minimum necessary to reasonably meet those expenses that remain above the financial aid grant award. All loan applications are based on the FAFSA application; thus this application is prerequisite to the filing of the Master Promissory Note(MPN). While the loan application is an element of the financial aid application process, it is also a separate transaction between the student and his or her lender. It is critical that the student understand that it is he or she alone who is responsible for repaying funds borrowed, and that for many students this will be the most serious long-term financial obligation yet undertaken. All students, regardless of state of residency, may borrow from a New Jersey bank. Students who have previously received a Stafford at CCC, using an MPN, are not usually required to file another MPN for 10 years at CCC. You may view information about the Stafford loan program at www.camdencc.edu or any other lender of your choice. Please contact the financial aid office for additional information. If the student has previously borrowed under any of the student loan programs, he or she is encouraged to use the same bank to avoid having multiple loan payments upon graduation. All first-time borrowers are required to complete an Entrance Interview form before the College will release loan funds. This form is available on the Web at www.camdencc.edu and www.educaid.com and in the FAO. The Stafford loan has a low interest rate and provides a variety of deferment* options and extended repayment terms. The variable interest rate is adjusted each year on July 1, but by statute will not exceed 8.25 percent. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 41 To be eligible for a Stafford loan, a student must not owe a refund on any Title IV* programs, and must be enrolled at least half time, making Satisfactory Academic Progress* towards a degree or certificate, a citizen or eligible non-citizen of the United States, and not currently in default*. Students who are in default on a federal loan, and have not maintained a satisfactory payment arrangement, are not eligible for Stafford loans, or other financial aid while enrolled at Camden County College. To apply, students must complete and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for CCC. MPNs are available at participating commercial banks, credit unions, and at the College’s financial aid office. A loan request form, on which the student indicates the amount she/he wishes to borrow, must also be completed if the student wishes to borrow more or less than the institutional maximum loan amount. (See the chart at the end of this section for the institutional Stafford grade-level maximums). After the student graduates, leaves school or drops below half-time enrollment, there will be a six month grace period* before she/he is required to begin repayment. A Stafford loan cannot be approved until a complete FAFSA has been processed and all required documents have been submitted. There is a worksheet at the end of this handbook to assist you in estimating the amount you will need to borrow to cover your tuition and other expenses at CCC for the academic year*. Disbursement Amount The lender may deduct origination and insurance fees from Stafford*, PLUS*, and other alternative loans before they are disbursed*. These fees can total up to four percent (or more for some alternative loans) of the principal amount; thus, the amount available from the loan to pay educational costs may be less than the amount borrowed. Entrance and Exit Loan Counseling Entrance loan counseling is a federally mandated requirement for all first-time student loan borrowers. The purpose is to help students understand their rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower. Exit loan counseling is a federally mandated requirement for all student loan borrowers who will graduate or no longer be enrolled at least half time. The purpose is to help students to understand their rights and responsibilities as they enter the repayment phase. Entrance and exit counseling may be completed online at www.educaid.com or in person in the FAO. Deferment* is a postponement of repayment under specific conditions including: • At least half-time study at a postsecondary school; • Study in an approved graduate fellowship program or in an approved rehabilitation training program for the disabled; • Unable to find full-time employment (up to 3 years); • Economic hardship (up to 3 years). Forbearance* is a status in which payments are either temporarily postponed or reduced. Students who are not eligible for a deferment might be granted forbearance for a limited and specific period. Forbearance must be formally requested from the loan holder and might be granted for persons who are unable to pay due to poor health or other unforeseen personal problems; serving in a medical or dental internship or residency; serving in a position under the National Community Service Trust Act of 1993; and/or obligated to make payments on certain federal student loans that are equal to or greater than 20 percent of the student’s monthly gross income. Students should contact their loan holder for additional information about conditions for forbearance. Clearing House The Clearing House is a national database that receives and stores enrollment information for student borrowers. Colleges and universities send enrollment information to the clearing house, which then shares that information with lenders across the country. The exchange of enrollment information is performed as a courtesy to borrowers to assist them with their responsibility to report their status to lenders. Borrowers remain solely responsible to advise their lender of their current enrollment status and contact information. 42 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook SUBSIDIZED STAFFORD LOAN Application procedures for the unsubsidized* loan are the same as those for the subsidized* Stafford* loan. Loans made under the subsidized loan program qualify for an interest subsidy. That is, the federal government pays any interest that accrues on the loan during the student’s enrollment and grace periods*. Thus, the student is not responsible to make interest payments during enrollment and grace periods. Matriculated students who have remaining unmet need* after all grant aid is awarded may be eligible for a subsidized Stafford loan. Students must be enrolled for a minimum of six credits during the semester for which a loan is being requested. Students must apply for the Stafford loan by completing a Master Promissory Note (MPN*) and must meet all other program requirements. The approved Stafford amount will not exceed academic year loan limits. A student may choose to borrow in lieu of FWS, however, no student may substitute gift aid (i.e., Pell*, TAG*, SEOG*, EOF*) for which he or she is entitled, in order to accept a loan. The financial aid administrator will assume eligibility for TAG* and any other expected state grants in certifying loan eligibility, even if those grants have not actually been approved at the time of certification. The Stafford loan will be certified based on the remaining amount of need up to the maximum for the student’s class year. The Stafford loan amount that will be certified by the financial aid office will not exceed the student request, regardless of remaining need. The class year, and corresponding annual amount, are based on the number of credits completed. To qualify for the Stafford as a first-year student, the number of completed credits must be between one and 30. To qualify for the Stafford as a second-year student, the number of completed college-level credits must be 31 or above. (Remedial and ESL courses are not counted when calculating grade level.) Per federal regulation, all one-semester loans (i.e., fall only, spring only, summer only) are required to have two separate disbursement* dates. Half of the loan amount will be disbursed no sooner than thirty days after the census date for the semester, and the other half will be disbursed at the midpoint of the semester. UNSUBSIDIZED STAFFORD LOAN Application procedures for the unsubsidized* loan are the same as those for subsidized* Stafford* loan. Loans made under the unsubsidized loan program do not qualify for an interest subsidy. That is, the federal government does not pay any interest that accrues on the loan during the student’s enrollment and grace periods*. Thus, the student is solely responsible to make interest payments during enrollment and grace periods. Students may elect to capitalize* the interest that accrues on the unsubsidized loan. Capitalization adds the interest back to the principal. Interest then continues to grow on the new higher balance. If a student is eligible for subsidized loan funds, these funds will be approved before an unsubsidized loan will be certified. The unsubsidized Stafford loan is not need-based*. Students who do not have enough unmet need to receive the maximum subsidized loan (or the requested amount within loan limits) can receive the additional amount in unsubsidized funds. Additional Information About the Stafford Loan Program Students are urged to borrow responsibly. Borrowing responsibly means limiting the amount you borrow to those loan funds that you will need to assist you with your educational expenses during the academic year* at Camden County College. To accurately plan for the academic year you should carefully project your anticipated expenses for each semester that you will be enrolled. Should you have any questions concerning your loan eligibility, borrowing or repayment, please speak to a financial aid staff member. FREQUENTLY ASKED STAFFORD LOAN QUESTIONS Q: How long does it take for the financial aid office to process my loan? A: Generally, the turn around time for the processing of a loan is 30 days from the time that your financial aid file is complete. Q: How long does it take for my loan to be applied to my account? A: The first loan disbursement* of the semester is credited to student accounts at the mid-point of the semester. If you submit your loan application after the initial disbursement, your loan proceeds will be credited to your student account approximately 30 days from the time that your entire financial aid file becomes complete. Q: Will I receive the full amount that I borrowed? A: Most student will be disbursed the full amount they borrow. However, your lender has the option to withhold up to 4% of the amount that you borrowed for guarantee and insurance fees. If your lender elects to withhold a percentage of your loan proceeds, the amount that you receive will be less than the amount that you borrowed. You must always repay the full amount borrowed. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 43 Q: What is the definition of subsidized? A: Loans made under the subsidized loan program qualify for an interest subsidy. That is, the federal government pays any interest that accrues on the loan during the student’s enrollment and grace periods*. Thus, the student is not responsible to make interest payments during enrollment and grace periods. Q: What is the definition of unsubsidized? A: Loans made under the unsubsidized* loan program do not qualify for an interest subsidy. That is, the federal government does not pay any interest that accrues on the loan during the student’s enrollment and grace periods*. Thus, the student is solely responsible to make interest payments during enrollment and grace periods. Students may elect to capitalize* the interest that accrues on the unsubsidized loan. Capitalization adds the interest back to the principal. Interest then continues to grow on the new higher balance. Q: When are stipend checks mailed? A: The College begins to process refund checks at the mid-point of the semester after loans are disbursed. Thus, students must plan to meet their living expenses from their own resources for the first several weeks of the semester. The College CANNOT accommodate requests for early disbursements or inperson pick-up, due to the volume of stipend checks that are processed. Q: What are the enrollment requirements for the Stafford loan? A: Students must enroll for a minimum of six credits each semester, must matriculate in a degree program and must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP*) in order to be eligible for the Stafford loan. The SAP policy requires that students maintain a specified minimum grade point average (generally 2.0) and a minimum 67% rate of credit completion. Students are required to remain enrolled in their classes in order to receive financial aid funds (including grants and loans). If you never attend, cease to attend, withdraw or receive “F’s”, you will jeopardize your financial aid for both current and future semesters. If you fail to remain enrolled in at least six credits until the end of the semester, the College is required to cancel your Stafford loan aid and to retroactively remove it from your account. If your financial aid is cancelled, you will remain responsible to pay for all tuition, fee, book voucher and stipend amounts. For expanded information about how your attendance impacts your financial aid eligibility, please read the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy in this handbook. Q: I will graduate after completing one semester of the academic year. How will my status affect my loan? A: Stafford loans for students who enroll such that they will complete their program by attending only one semester of the academic year* must be prorated. Under federal regulation, when students will complete their program during a single semester of the academic year, the financial aid staff is required to reduce the Stafford loan to the percentage of the annual loan limit that corresponds to the student’s enrollment. Thus, as examples under the federal loan proration rules, a student who is enrolled full time for one semester is usually limited to 50% of the annual loan amount, and a student who is enrolled 1⁄2 time for one semester is usually limited to 25% of the annual loan amount. Q: When are students required to begin repayment of the Stafford loan? A: You must begin to repay your loans six months after you graduate or separate from school (completely withdraw, or drop below half time status). Q: What are the grade-level borrowing limits for the Stafford loan? A: Students who have a valid Stafford MPN* on file, and who submit the FAFSA* and all other required paperwork for a given academic year*, and who meet all program eligibility requirements, will be packaged with a Stafford loan. Students will be packaged with the maximum Stafford loan for which they are eligible as indicated in the chart below. Federal Stafford loan limits are higher than the College maximums listed in this chart. Students who wish to borrow either less than or more than the maximums listed in this chart must complete a loan request form in the Office of Financial Aid. Q: I am a nursing student. How is my Stafford eligibility affected? A: Third year nursing students who have earned at least 61 credits are eligible to borrow at the highest Stafford undergraduate annual maximum. Stafford loans for nursing students who enroll such that they will complete their program by attending only one semester of the academic year* must be prorated. Under federal regulation, when students will complete their program during a single semester of the academic year, the financial aid staff is required to reduce the Stafford loan to the percentage of the annual loan limit that corresponds to the student’s enrollment. Thus, as examples under the federal loan proration rules, a student who is enrolled full time for one semester is usually limited to 50% of the annual loan amount and a student who is enrolled 1⁄2 time for one semester is usually limited to 25% of the annual loan amount. 44 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook STUDENTS WHO REQUEST TO BORROW MORE THAN THE MAXIMUMS LISTED IN THE CHART BELOW MUST MEET ALL FEDERAL AND COLLEGE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. CCC Subsidized* and Unsubsidized* Stafford* Loan Annual Maximums DEPENDENT* Subsidized and Unsubsidized Maximum One Semester Enrollment Maximum $2,625 $3,500 â– $2,625 â– $1,312 â– $3,500 â– $1,750 $5,500 â– $5,500 â– $2,500 Subsidized Maximum Subsidized and Unsubsidized Maximum One Semester Enrollment Maximum $2,625 $3,500 â–¼ $6,625 â–¼ $3,312 â–¼ $7,500 â–¼ $3,750 $5,500 â–¼ $10,500 â–¼ $5,250 Subsidized Maximum 1st Year Students 0-30 Credits 2nd Year Students 31 + Credits 3rd Year Nursing Students (ONLY) 61 + Credits (NHF V & VI; NOL III & IV ONLY) INDEPENDENT* 1st Year Students 0-30 Credits 2nd Year Students 31 + Credits 3rd Year Nursing Students (ONLY) 61 + Credits (NHF V & VI; NOL III & IV ONLY) Federal Stafford Loan Undergraduate Aggregate Maximums DEPENDENT INDEPENDENT Subsidized and Unsubsidized Subsidized and Unsubsidized $23,000 $46,000 â– These loan amounts may be subsidized or unsubsidized depending upon the student’s financial eligibility. If the loan is subsidized, the student is not responsible for making any interest or principal payments during enrollment. If the loan is unsubsidized*, the student is responsible for making interest payments during enrollment. â–¼ Dependent students whose parents have been denied the PLUS* loan may apply for the maximum amounts as listed for independent students. STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM The federal Family Education Loan Forgiveness program allows eligible borrowers to benefit from cancellation or reduction of their loans for certain types of services performed (such as teaching or nursing). For more information on loan forgiveness, contact the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education: (609) 292-4310 or the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJHESAA): (609) 588-3226 or 1800-792-8670. STATE FINANCIAL AID GRANT PROGRAMS In order to be considered for any of the programs listed, the student must complete the financial aid application process (as described previously) and must meet all eligibility criteria. Those programs having additional application or eligibility requirements as so identified. All annual award limits are estimated, based upon the most recent information available at the time this handbook was printed. For the most current annual award limits, please review the handbook in the financial aid e-forms library on the College’s Web site at www.camdencc.edu. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 45 Students demonstrating the highest level of academic achievement, based upon their secondary school records and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, will be selected for consideration by their secondary schools. Additional scholarships will be provided to students from the New Jersey’s urban and economically distressed areas, based on class rank and grade point average. From these selections, awards will be offered to secondary school seniors who intend to enroll at a New Jersey college as full-time undergraduate students. Recipients must be residents of New Jersey for at least 12 consecutive months prior to receiving an award. Because financial need* is not a factor in determining eligibility, recipients are not required to file a FAFSA*. However, they must complete a CCC authorization/certification form. Many recipients choose to file a FAFSA and some are also eligible for PELL*, TAG* and EOF* grants. Bloustein awards are renewable, based on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP*), continued undergraduate enrollment in an eligible New Jersey college or university and continued program funding. Under HESAA regulations, the 12-month period of New Jersey residency is defined as follows: • 12 months prior to September 15 for fall semester awards • 12 months prior to February 15 for spring semester awards For additional information about the Bloustein scholarship, call the HESAA hotline at 1-800-792-8670 toll free, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 46 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook EOF is an educational support program as well as a financial aid program. EOF counselors provide academic support services to participating students. Students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, with financial need*, who have been New Jersey residents for at least 12 consecutive months, may be eligible. Under HESAA regulations, the 12-month period of New Jersey residency is defined as follows: • 12 months prior to September 15 for fall semester awards • 12 months prior to February 15 for spring semester awards Applicants must complete the FAFSA*, the EOF Program Application and must also provide income documentation (dependent* students must provide documentation of their parents income). First time EOF students are required to submit documentation of base year* income to the financial aid office. The financial aid office will review the income documents and make corrections to the ISIR*, if required, and confirm whether or not the student’s income meets the eligibility criteria. In addition, applicants must be matriculated and must enroll full time. The EOF office submits requests to the state for approval of new applicants and each EOF participant is assigned an EOF counselor. A small percentage of returning EOF students may be permitted to enroll part time (minimum six credits) and receive a prorated EOF award. The College’s EOF office will annually compile a list of students who are making Satisfactory Academic Progress* per the EOF policy. Students whose academic progress is unsatisfactory will not receive an EOF award. Grants are renewable annually, based upon Satisfactory Academic Progress and continued financial eligibility. For more information, contact the EOF office at (856) 968-1325. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 47 STUDENT TUITION ASSISTANCE REWARD SCHOLARSHIP (STARS) NJSTARS is the first New Jersey financial aid program to guarantee that every student who performs at the top of his or her high school class will have access to a college education. All tuition and approved fees are covered for up to five semesters at the community college level for eligible students. Students who are Camden County residents must attend CCC to receive the NJSTARS scholarship (unless they are pursuing a program of study not offered at CCC). Under HESAA regulations, the 12-month period of New Jersey residency is defined as follows: •12 months prior to September 15 for fall semester awards •12 months prior to February 15 for spring semester awards Financial aid awards will be processed for students who are eligible for federal and/or state grants. All STARS applicants must file the FAFSA* by the deadline for the applicable academic year*. All applicants must complete their files and submit any documentation that is required to expedite the processing of their applications. Any tuition charges (and approved fees) for up to 15 credits during each semester of eligibility that are not covered by grant funds will be covered by NJSTARS. Students should review their Student Eligibility Notice (SEN) for correctness. The SEN indicates the institution to which the STARS scholarship is released. If you intend to attend CCC, and your STARS scholarship grant is not released to CCC, you must immediately contact HESAA to change your college code to 2121 (this code is used exclusively for HESAA*, CCC’s federal code is 006865). Students who do not release their STARS scholarships to CCC by the deadline (fall-October 1 and spring-March 1) will lose eligibility for this source of funding. 48 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook The following is a list of terms, conditions and policies governing the NJSTARS scholarship. This list is abridged from the NJ STARS statutory regulations and therefore does not, and cannot, address every circumstance that may occur. Policies and procedures governing the NJ STARS program are subject to revision without prior notice. 1. The NJ STARS scholarship is a financial aid program, and as such, the student must comply with all applicable financial aid policies and procedures. The student must submit all information and documents required to complete the financial aid file by the following deadlines. a. June 1 for renewal applicants b. October 1 for fall enrollment for first time applicants c. March 1 for spring enrollment for first time applicants 2. The student must have graduated from an accredited New Jersey high school in May of 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 or beyond; 3. and must enter the NJSTARS program within five semesters of his/her high school graduation. 4. The student must have graduated in the top twenty (20.00%) percent of his/her high school class, and agrees to provide documentation of his/her class rank to the Office of Financial Aid, if requested. 5. The student must maintain continuous full-time enrollment. If she/he is a transfer student, she/he must have attended another college for no more than one semester, and must not have had a break in his/her enrollment. 6. The student must matriculate in an associate’s degree program at Camden County College. 7. The student must enroll as a full-time student each semester. As a full-time student, she/he must register for at least twelve (12) college-level credits each semester. 8. In addition to the required twelve (12) credits of college-level coursework, the student is permitted to register for an additional three credits of remedial coursework each semester. 9. The NJ STARS scholarship will pay the tuition and approved fees for a maximum of fifteen (15) credits each fall and spring semester. NJ STARS does not pay for the summer semester. The NJ STARS scholarship does not pay for books, supplies or any other costs associated with the student’s enrollment at CCC. 10. The NJ STARS academic progress policy requires that the student achieve a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) prior to the beginning of his/her third semester of enrollment. The policy also requires that the student maintains a minimum cumulative 3.00 GPA thereafter. The student will lose his/her eligibility for the NJ STARS scholarship (1 and 2) if she/he fails to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in accordance with the NJ STARS academic progress policy. 11. The student is eligible for the NJ STAR scholarship for a maximum of five (5) semesters as long as she/he continues to meet all program requirements. 12. Whether or not the student receives financial aid (includes the NJ STARS scholarship, grants, loans, other scholarships and waivers), the student is PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for all financial charges that she/he incurs at Camden County College. The College may permit the student to register before a determination is made regarding his/her eligibility for the NJ STARS scholarship and other financial aid. If, however, the student is or becomes ineligible for the NJ STARS scholarship or other financial aid for any reason, she/he agrees to pay his/her account in full, including any collection and/or attorney’s fees that may be incurred by, or on behalf of, the College to satisfy his/her personal financial obligations. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 49 ADDITIONAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE NJSTARS PROGRAM Student’s name did not appear on the state’s list but she/he graduated in the top 20% of his/her class If you believe that you meet the academic qualification for the STARS program (rank in the top 20% of your graduating class) but were not included on the state’s master list in your junior year, you may be able to document your eligibility by providing a letter from your high school. The letter must be written on letter head, signed by an appropriate official, and must state your class rank at the point of your graduation. Please contact the financial aid office for additional information. Academic progress appeals If you encounter academic, personal, financial, family or other difficulties during the semester, you must bear in mind that withdrawing from the College will cause you to become ineligible for the NJSTARS program (STARS 1 and STARS 2) for life. If you are on a college-approved medical or emergency leave, due to the illness/emergency of the student or a member of the student’s immediate family, you may appeal for continued eligibility. Exceptions are handled as appeals, must be accompanied by full medical documentation of the mitigating circumstance, and must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid. Out-of-county registration If you are a resident of Camden County, you must attend Camden County College (CCC) to qualify for NJSTARS, unless you document that CCC does not offer the program (major) that you want to study. If you are a resident of another county and want to attend Camden County College, you may, if your home county college does not offer the program (major) that you intend to study. You must submit documentation that your home county college does not offer the program (major) that you intend to study. The letter from your home county college indicating that your major is not available there must be submitted it to the Office of Financial Aid at CCC. CCC will then be able to charge you the in-county tuition rate and review your eligibility for NJSTARS. Financial aid recipient who does not qualify for STARS funding If you are a financial aid recipient whose federal and state grants fully pay your tuition and fee costs, you must still adhere to all NJ STARS eligibility criteria. As a NJ STARS scholar it is critical that you preserve your eligibility for the STARS 2 scholarship by meeting all NJ STARS eligibility requirements, while you are enrolled at Camden County College. Additional information: For more information on NJSTARS, visit www.njstars.net or contact Ed Reynolds at ereynolds@camdencc.edu or at 856-227-7200, ext. 4226. Additional information is also available online at www.camdencc.edu and in this book. 50 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook NJSTARS is the first New Jersey financial aid program to guarantee that every student who performs at the top of his or her high school class will have access to a college education. All tuition and specific fees are covered for up to five semesters at the community college-level for eligible students. Under HESAA regulations, the 12-month period of New Jersey residency is defined as follows: • 12 months prior to September 15 for fall semester awards • 12 months prior to February 15 for spring semester awards Students who meet the NJSTARS program eligibility criteria at the community college, and graduate with an associate’s degree, may be eligible to receive up to four semesters of free tuition at a participating New Jersey state public institution. The following is a list of terms, conditions and policies governing the NJSTARS 2 scholarship. This list is abridged from the NJSTARS statutory regulations and therefore does not, and cannot, address every circumstance that may occur. Policies governing the NJSTARS program are subject to revision without prior notice. NJSTARS 2 minimum eligibility criteria 1. Student must be a NJSTARS recipient or non-funded (tuition and approved fees fully covered by other state and/or federal aid) during the semester of graduation 2. NJSTARS student must graduate from a NJ county college with an associate’s degree 3. Student must graduate with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher 4. Student must be admitted to a participating NJ four-year public institution 5. Student must enroll in a baccalaureate degree program no later than the second semester immediately following CCC graduation 6. Student must be enrolled in a full-time course of study (minimum 12 college-level credits) each semester 7. Student must apply for all forms of state and federal need-based* grants and merit scholarships, and submit any requested documentation to complete or verify FAFSA* application data within established deadlines 8. Student must attain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 before the start of the third semester of study at the participating NJ four-year public institution to maintain eligibility for the third and fourth semesters. Summer courses are included in determining GPA. 9. Student must maintain continuous full-time enrollment, unless on an approved medical leave due to the illness or injury of the student, a member of student’s immediate family, or a family emergency. Any leave must be approved by the institution. 10. Student may receive the NJSTARS 2 scholarship for a maximum of four semesters, excluding summer sessions * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 51 The Survivor Tuition Benefits (STB) program (formerly Public Tuition Benefits) was enacted into law in 1979, to provide tuition for spouses and dependents of law enforcement officers, fire or emergency services personnel killed in the line of duty. Eligible recipients who wish to attend any public institution in the state may enroll part-time or full-time, free of tuition charges. Recipients may also attend any independent institution in the state; however, the annual value of the grant cannot exceed the highest tuition charged at a New Jersey public institution. Eligibility to receive tuition benefits under the program is limited to a period of eight years from the date of the member’s death in the case of the surviving spouse attending college, and eight years following the date of high school graduation in the case of a surviving child attending college. Recipients will not be eligible for more than eight semesters of payment for fulltime enrollment or the equivalent for half-time enrollment. Payment for half-time enrollment shall count as one-half a semester of payment. Applications may be obtained by calling 1-800-792-8670 toll free, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The completed application should be returned to HESAA for processing. Applicants are notified of their eligibility for these benefits and New Jersey institutions are advised of the procedures necessary to receive payment from HESAA for tuition charges incurred by eligible students. HESAA P.O. Box 540 Trenton, NJ 08625-0540 52 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Students who enroll as full-time undergraduates at approved New Jersey colleges may be eligible. Applicants must have financial need*, and must be residents of New Jersey for at least 12 consecutive months prior to receiving the grant. Under HESAA regulations, the 12-month period of New Jersey residency is defined as follows: • 12 months prior to September 15 for fall semester awards • 12 months prior to February 15 for spring semester awards Parents of dependent* students must also meet the residency requirement. Eligible students must be United States citizens or eligible non-citizens, must be registered with Selective Service if required, and must not be in default* on a federal or state student loan or owe a refund on a federal or state student grant. TAG grants at CCC are renewable annually, based on continued financial need and Satisfactory Academic Progress*. The grants have a graduated value based upon the student’s financial need and tuition charges. Students are required to file a FAFSA, and to provide whatever documents the College may require in order to complete their financial aid file. Students must also submit requested verification documents to HESAA in Trenton, if the state audits their application. Students who have received an associate’s or higher college degree are not eligible. Most students are eligible for a maximum of five TAG payments at a two-year school. Students who were required to enroll in 12 or more credits of basic skills might be eligible for a total of six TAG payments. Certain EOF, remedial and ESL students may be eligible for up to six TAG payments at a two-year school. Students should review their Student Eligibility Notice (SEN) for the amount of their TAG grant. The SEN also indicates the institution to which the TAG is released. (Your TAG grant will be released to the first institution listed on your FAFSA). If you intend to attend CCC and your TAG grant is not released to CCC, you must immediately contact HESAA to change your college code to 2121 (this code is used exclusively for HESAA, CCC’s federal code is 006865). Students who do not release their TAG grants to CCC by the deadline (fall – October 1 and spring – March 1) will lose eligibility for this source of funding. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 53 Students should review their Student Eligibility Notice (SEN) for the amount of their TAG grant. The SEN also indicates the institution to which the TAG is released. (Your TAG grant will be released to the first institution listed on your FAFSA). If you intend to attend CCC and your TAG grant is not released to CCC, you must immediately contact HESAA to change your college code to 2121 (this code is used exclusively for HESAA, CCC’s federal code is 006865). Students who do not release their TAG grants to CCC by the deadline (fall – October 1 and spring – March 1) will lose eligibility for this source of funding. Students who are enrolled for at least six credits may qualify for TAG under the part-time TAG program. All other eligibility criteria and deadlines for the TAG program apply. 54 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook STATE FINANCIAL AID LOAN PROGRAMS In order to be considered for any of the programs listed, the student must complete the financial aid application process (as described previously) and must meet all eligibility criteria. Those programs having additional application or eligibility requirements as so identified. All annual award limits are estimated, based upon the most recent information available at the time this handbook was printed. For the most current annual award limits, please review the handbook in the financial aid eforms library on the College’s Web site at www.camdencc.edu. The undergraduate and graduate student, or parent, legal guardian, spouse or relative may be eligible to borrow under this program. The borrower must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen of the United States prior to filing a NJCLASS application, and must not owe a grant refund nor be in default* on any educational loans. The borrower must also have a minimum income that meets or exceeds the federal poverty guidelines for a family of four, as adjusted annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A satisfactory credit history is required. If the borrower is denied based upon his/her credit history, she/he may reapply with a credit-worthy cosigner. Approval is based on credit worthiness and ability to repay the loan, not on financial need*. The student must be enrolled at least half-time at an approved school and must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress* towards a degree. The student must be a permanent resident of New Jersey prior to filing NJCLASS application, however residency is not required if enrolled in an eligible institution located in New Jersey. The student can be the borrower, but if she/he earns less than $18,850, the student will require a credit-worthy cosigner. The student must file a FAFSA* and provide all documentation required by the FAO to determine his/her eligibility for the federal Stafford loan, prior to having eligibility certified for NJCLASS. An NJCLASS loan application and promissory note must be completed and signed by the borrower, the student and the cosigner (if applicable). For undergraduate students, NJCLASS is a fixed-rate loan and the lender is HESAA. The minimum loan amount is $500. There are no annual or aggregate loan limits except as imposed by the COA*. Although the amount of the loan is not restricted by aggregate limits, the loan amount may not exceed the student’s cost of attendance, minus any other financial aid. There is no interest subsidy. Loans approved after June 1, 2005, bear a 5.99% interest rate for loans in either monthly repayment of principal and interest or with quarterly interest payments. Loans with deferred payment of principal and interest will carry a rate of 6.29%. HESAA will deduct a 3.0% administrative/application fee from the proceeds of the approved loan amount at the time of disbursement*. Applicants are required to repay the full amount borrowed. Loan applications can be obtained by calling the HESAA toll-free hotline: 1-(800)792-8670. Students may also access and complete the application online at: www.hesaa.org. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 55 The Camden County College Foundation awards a number of scholarships to students pursuing various fields of study at the College. These scholarships are made possible through the generosity of private donors who believe in the mission of CCC and want to help students reach their fullest potential. Most scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need*, but others are awarded to students possessing academic merit or unique talent, such as in music or art. Students applying for a scholarship are required to have completed a minimum of 12 college-level credits and to have a minimum grade point average of 3.0. In addition to the minimum criteria, each scholarship has additional criteria that are used to determine student eligibility. Each year, the Foundation prepares a scholarship application packet that contains everything students need to apply. The application packets usually have a February deadline date and are made available for pick up in the Advisement Center, the Office of Financial Aid, Student Support Services, Student Activities and other offices on all three campuses. The application packet also can be downloaded from the College’s Web site. At various times during the year, additional scholarship information is made available to students. These scholarships generally have application deadlines that fall between February and June. 56 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook The College encourages students to explore all options for outside scholarship assistance. Local businesses, foundations, churches, unions, civic organizations, et cetera, often sponsor scholarships that can be used toward educational costs. The Web is an invaluable resource for planning your college education, submitting your financial aid application, and searching for scholarships. The following Web sites are safe places to begin your search for scholarships on the World Wide Web! www.fastweb.com - FASTWEB, one of the Web’s most complete scholarship search sites. FASTWEB is free and puts scholarship possibilities at your fingertips! www.finaid.org - be smart about your financial aid search. FINAID is brimming with information about scholarships, how the FAFSA* works, answers to your questions, and other funding options. www.scholarships.com - SCHOLARSHIPS.COM searches while you sleep. Just type in your profile and this free site will start searching for scholarships for you. Tip for parents and students – filing the FAFSA and searching for scholarships is free. You should never have to pay to file your FAFSA or to find out if you qualify for scholarships! * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 57 COLLEGE TUITION WAIVER PROGRAMS In order to apply for a tuition waiver under the Unemployment Job Training Program, as set forth by the NJ Department of Labor (NJSA18A:64A-23.2), the applicant must comply with the following policies and procedures: I. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION 1. A completed ES Certification/Referral from the New Jersey Division of Employment Services. A new certification must be submitted prior to each semester of enrollment and must be dated no earlier than 30 days prior to the first day of the semester. 2. A properly completed and processed FAFSA* for the academic year* of enrollment. 3. A properly completed financial aid authorization and certification form. 4. Any other documentation requested by the Office of Financial Aid. II. APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 1. Must be currently unemployed (or have received a lay-off notice) and must have been in the labor market for at least two years. If employment is obtained during the course of the semester, the student will be permitted to complete the semester as a participant in the program. 2. Must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy for financial aid students. 3. Must be matriculated in an approved degree or certificate program. May only register for courses specified by CCC. Courses that are not eligible for a waiver include, but are not limited to, nursing cooperative courses, other cooperative courses, consortium agreement courses, customized training courses and self-enrichment courses. 4. Must meet all appropriate federal, state and institutional financial aid eligibility regulations. 5. May register for courses online and in person. May only register on the day prior to the first day of the semester or beyond, on a space available basis. 58 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook III. ADDITIONAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 1. Any applicant who has paid to reserve a seat in a course, or registered prior to the authorized registration date, or is ineligible for the waiver or financial aid for any reason whatsoever, will not receive a refund nor will she/he be eligible for the tuition waiver or any tuition adjustment after the fact. 2. If eligible, up to 15 credits of tuition will be waived. The student is responsible for all other costs associated with enrollment, which include but are not limited to, the general fee, lab fees, books, supplies and transportation. 3. If an applicant is ineligible for state/federal grants, for reasons other than default* or unsatisfactory academic progress*, the applicant must complete a CCC Unemployed Persons’ Tuition Waiver form. The applicant must submit the waiver to the financial aid office for review and signature. 4. If the student drops or withdrawals from a course or courses during the semester, and has established eligibility for the waiver prior to the cessation of attendance, she/he remains eligible for the waiver. The student who has not established eligibility for the waiver at the point of cessation of attendance will not receive a refund, nor will she/he be eligible for the tuition waiver or any tuition adjustment after the fact. Students who do not complete the courses for which they enroll may jeopardize their eligibility for a future waiver and for financial aid, as a result of failing to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress*. 5. If eligible for state/federal aid, the applicant must accept those forms of assistance and must submit all other documents required to receive such aid. In those cases where financial aid will not cover all tuition costs, a waiver will be approved to cover the remaining costs of up to 15 credits of tuition. Students are not eligible for the waiver and financial aid grants simultaneously, if together they exceed the cost of tuition. Students are eligible for financial aid loans in excess of tuition. 6. Students who are enrolled in a course program not available at their home county college must submit a “Certification of Charge-back Eligibility.” Failure to do so, if required by CCC, can result in additional costs to the student that will not be covered by the Unemployment Tuition Waiver program. 7. Students who have not complied with all CCC waiver and financial aid policies by their last day of enrollment, or the last day of the semester (whichever comes first) will be ineligible for the waiver. The student who has not established eligibility for the waiver, at the point of cessation of attendance, will not receive a refund, nor will she/he be eligible for the tuition waiver or any tuition adjustment after the fact. Ineligible students will be held responsible for tuition costs, as well as all other costs incurred. 8. If for any reason the student determines that she/he does not want to remain enrolled in the courses for which she/he registered, the student must take action to drop or withdrawl from classes. The student must not assume that she/he will be dropped for non-payment. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 59 In order to apply for a tuition waiver under the New Jersey National Guard program, the applicant must comply with the following policies and procedures: I. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION 1. A Letter of Eligibility from the Guard –“Commander’s Certification.” A new Commander’s Certification must be submitted each semester at the time of registration, and may not be more than 60 days old. 2. A properly completed and processed FAFSA* for the academic year* of enrollment. 3. A properly completed financial aid authorization and certification form. 4. Any other documentation requested by the Office of Financial Aid. II. APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 1. Must be a member of the NJ National Guard or a child/surviving spouse of a deceased member of the NJ National Guard, who completed initial active duty and was killed in the performance of duty while a member. 2. Must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress* policy for financial aid students. 3. Must be matriculated in an approved degree or certificate program. May only register for courses specified by CCC. Courses that are not eligible for a waiver include, but are not limited to, nursing cooperative courses, other cooperative courses, consortium agreement courses, customized training courses and self-enrichment courses. 4. Must meet all appropriate federal, state and institutional financial aid eligibility regulations. 5. Applicants are permitted to register for courses on-line and in-person. Applicants are not permitted to register during priority registration periods. III. ADDITIONAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 1. Any applicant who has paid to reserve a seat in a course, or registered prior to the authorized registration date, or is ineligible for the waiver or financial aid for any reason whatsoever, will not receive a refund, nor will she/he be eligible for the tuition waiver or any tuition adjustment after the fact. 2. If eligible, up to 15 credits of tuition will be waived. The student is responsible for all credits above 15, as well as for all other costs associated with enrollment, which include but are not limited to the general fee, lab fees, books, supplies and transportation. 3. If an applicant is ineligible for state/federal grants, for reasons other than default* or unsatisfactory academic progress*, the applicant must complete a Camden County National Guard tuition waiver form. The applicant must submit the waiver to the financial aid office for review and signature. 4. If the student drops or withdrawals from a course or courses during the semester, and has established eligibility for the waiver prior to the cessation of attendance, she/he remains eligible for the waiver. The student who has not established eligibility for the waiver at the point of cessation of attendance will not receive a refund, nor will she/he be eligible for the tuition waiver or any tuition adjustment after the fact. Students who do not complete the courses for which they enroll may jeopardize their eligibility for a future waiver and for financial aid, as a result of failing to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress*. 5. If eligible for state/federal aid, the applicant must accept those forms of assistance and must submit all other documents required to receive such aid. In those cases, where financial aid grants will not cover all tuition costs, a waiver will be approved to cover the remaining costs of up to 15 credits of tuition. Students are not eligible for the waiver and financial aid grants simultaneously, if together they exceed the cost of tuition. Students are eligible for financial aid loans in excess of tuition costs. 6. Students who are enrolled in a course program not available at their home county college, must submit a “Certification of Charge-back Eligibility.” Failure to do so, if required by CCC, can result in additional costs to the student that will not be covered by the National Guard tuition waiver program. 7. Students who have not complied with all CCC waiver and financial aid policies by their last day of enrollment, or the last day of the semester (whichever comes first), will be ineligible for the waiver. The student who has not established eligibility for the waiver at the point of cessation of attendance will not receive a refund, nor will she/he be eligible for the tuition waiver or any tuition adjustment after the fact. Ineligible students will be held responsible for tuition costs, as well as all other costs incurred. 8. If, for any reason, the student determines that she/he does not want to remain enrolled in the courses for which she/he registered, the student must take action to drop or withdrawl from classes. The student must not assume that she/he will be dropped for non-payment. 60 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook U.S. VETERANS ADMINISTRATION – PROVIDING ACCES S TO HIGHER EDUCATION On June 22, 1944, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed into law one of the most significant pieces of legislation ever produced by the United States government: The Servicemembers’ Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights. By the time the original GI Bill ended in July 1956, 7.8 million World War II veterans had participated in an education or training program and 2.4 million veterans had home loans backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Today, the legacy of the original GI Bill lives on in the Montgomery GI Bill. It has been heralded as one of the most significant pieces of legislation ever produced by the federal government – one that impacted the United States socially, economically and politically. Veterans of the United States Armed Forces may be eligible for a broad range of programs and services provided by the VA. These benefits are legislated in Title 38 of the United States Code. This handbook contains a summary of these benefits effective Jan. 1, 2006. For additional information, visit the VA Web page at http://www.va.gov La versión en español de este folleto se encuentra disponible en formato Adobe Acrobat a través de el link: http://www.va.gov/opa/ feature/index.htm. Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Generally, men and women veterans with similar service may be entitled to the same VA benefits. Dishonorable and bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees must contact a VA regional office to determine eligibility. VA benefits will not be provided to any veteran or dependent wanted for an outstanding felony warrant. The U.S. Veterans Administration and State Veterans Services offices sponsor programs that offer veterans, reservists and dependents of veterans access to educational benefits. Honorably discharged veterans who have a high school diploma or GED or, in some cases, twelve hours of college credit, may be eligible for VA educational benefits. All veterans, except Chapter 31 recipients, are required to pay their tuition and other enrollment expenses from their own resources. The VA pays the College directly for veterans who qualify for Chapter 31 benefits. All other education benefits for veterans and dependents are paid directly to the student. Students who are veterans are reminded that the VA requires approximately 12-14 weeks to process benefit claims. Therefore, students are urged to register and submit all paperwork, as far in advance of the semester start as possible. The College’s Veterans Affairs Coordinator is located the Office of Financial Aid at the Blackwood Campus in Wilson Hall West. 100. The Veterans Affairs Coordinator assists students with application procedures for the Veterans educational program benefits, and also certifies enrollment. The Veterans Administration processes the individual’s benefits claim and disburses Veterans Educational Benefits to the student. For additional information, review your benefits at www.gibill.va.gov. Additional information and CCC application materials are available online at www.camdencc.edu. You may also email to va@camdencc.edu or call (856)374-4960. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 61 THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL - ACTIVE DUTY (MGIB-AD) CHAPTER 30 Description This program provides up to 36 months of education benefits payable for 10 years following release from active duty. Basic monthly benefits are prorated based on enrollment. Benefits are available to those who first entered active duty after June 30, 1985, and had their military pay reduced for education benefits. Additional stipulations may affect eligibility. You should contact your VA regional office for more information, or visit www.gibill.va.gov or www.state.nj.us/military/saa. MGIB provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible veterans for: • College • Technical or Vocational Courses • Correspondence Courses • Apprenticeship/Job Training • Flight Training • High-tech Training • Licensing & Certification Tests • Entrepreneurship Training • Certain Entrance Examinations Eligibility You may be an eligible veteran if you have an honorable discharge, AND you have a high school diploma or GED, or in some cases, 12 hours of college credit, AND you meet the requirements of one of the categories below: Category I • Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985 • Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for first 12 months • Continuously served for three years, OR two years if that is what you first enlisted for, OR two years if you entered the Selected Reserve within a year of leaving active duty and served four years (“2 by 4” Program) Category II • Entered active duty before January 1, 1977 • Served at least one day between 10/19/84 and 6/30/85, and stayed on active duty through 6/30/88, (or 6/30/87 if you entered the Selected Reserve within one year of leaving active duty and served four years) • On 12/31/89, you had entitlement left from Vietnam-Era GI Bill Category III • Not eligible for MGIB under Category I or II • On active duty on 9/30/90 AND separated involuntarily after 2/2/91, • OR involuntarily separated on or after 11/30/93, • OR voluntarily separated under either the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program • Before separation, you had military pay reduced by $1,200 Category IV • On active duty on 10/9/96 AND you had money remaining in a VEAP account on that date AND you elected MGIB by 10/9/97 • OR entered full-time National Guard duty under title 32, USC, between 7/1/85, and 11/28/89 AND you elected MGIB during the period 10/9/96, through 7/8/97 • Had military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months or made a $1,200 lump-sum contribution Period of Eligibility You usually have 10 years to use your MGIB benefits, but the time limit can be less, in some cases, and longer under certain circumstances. How to Apply for Benefits at Camden County College Complete an online application (VA Form 22-1990) at www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/How_to_Apply.htm. Matriculate into a degree program at Camden County College. Complete a Camden County College Veterans Enrollment Certificate and attach a copy of your online application confirmation, along with your DD Form 214. Submit packet to the Office of Financial Aid. 62 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL - VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT (MGIB-VR&E) CHAPTER 31 Description The Department of Veterans Affair’s Veterans Benefits Administration’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) service is vested with delivering timely, effective vocational rehabilitation services to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Enabling our injured soldiers, sailors, airmen and other veterans with disabilities for a seamless transition from military service to a successful rehabilitation and on to suitable employment after service to our nation. For some severely disabled veterans, this success will be to live independently, achieving the highest quality of life possible, with a realized hope for employment given future advances in medical science and technology. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment service strives to exceed the service delivery expectations of veterans and their families. VR&E’s primary benefit program is vocational rehabilitation services for veterans who have a service-connected disability. To receive services a veteran must be found both eligible and entitled. The outcome of these services lead to suitable employment that is consistent with their aptitudes and interests, or achieving independence in their daily living. VR&E also provides the following benefit services. Educational and vocational counseling is provided for eligible service members, veterans and veterans’ dependents. The outcome of this counseling is assistance in the selection of an educational or vocational goal and/or assistance in the selection of training institutions where this goal may be pursued. Additionally, the VR&E program provides educational and training benefits for certain dependent children who have the disease of spina bifida, as a result of a veteran-parent’s service in the Vietnam Theater. Benefits cover tuition, mandatory fees, books, supplies for a period of time determined by a VA counselor in the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. If the authorized enrollment period is extended, the VA counselor will notify the College. Payments are made directly into your Camden County College student account. You may also receive a monthly stipend. Eligibility To qualify, you must meet the following requirements: You may qualify for these benefits if you: • Served after September 16, 1940; • Have a service-connected disability rated at least 20 percent disabling by the USDVA; and • Need vocational rehabilitation to overcome an employment handicap. Period of Eligibility Period of eligibility will be determined by the VRS at the Department of Veterans Affairs. How to Apply for Benefits at Camden County College Eligible students must contact to the Department of Veterans Affairs to apply for Chapter 31 benefits (not the Veterans Affairs Coordinator at the Camden County College). If the student is eligible to receive benefits per the the Department of Veterans Affairs, the College’s Veterans Affairs coordinator will receive notification (Form 22-1905), and a payment authorization will be sent to the third-party billing coordinator in the College’s student accounts Office and to the Blackwood Campus bookstore. Students are required to matriculate into a degree program at Camden County College and complete a Camden County College Veterans Enrollment Certificate. Submit packet to the Office of Financial Aid. THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL - POST-VIETNAM VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - (MGIB-VEAP) CHAPTER 32 Description VEAP is available if you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the government. You may use these benefits for degree, certificate, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training programs, and vocational flight training programs. In certain circumstances, remedial, deficiency and refresher training may also be available. Benefit entitlement is one to 36 months, depending on the number of monthly contributions. You have 10 years from your release from active duty to use VEAP benefits. If there is entitlement not used after the 10-year period, your portion remaining in the fund will be automatically refunded. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 63 Eligibility To qualify, you must meet the following requirements: • Entered service for the first time between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985; • Opened a contribution account before April 1, 1987; • Voluntarily contributed from $25 to $2700; • Completed your first period of service; and • Were discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable. If you are currently on active duty and wish to receive VEAP benefits, you must have at least three months of contributions available. Contributions may be withdrawn if you do not meet the basic eligibility requirements or if you formally request a refund of the contributions withheld. How to Apply for Benefits at Camden County College You should make sure that your selected program is approved for VA training. The VA makes the final determination concerning your eligibility and attendant requirements. Obtain and complete VA Form 22-1990 Application for Education Benefits. Send it to the VA regional office with jurisdiction over the state where you will train. If you are not on active duty, send copy four (Member Copy) of your DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty. If you are on active duty, you must have your enrollment approved by your base education services officer, and you must have your service verified by your commanding officer. If you have started training, take your application and Member Copy of DD Form 214 to the Veterans Affairs Coordinator in the Office of Financial Aid. Request that the Coordinator complete VA Form 22-1999, Enrollment Certification, and send all the forms to VA. If you wish to withdraw your contributions from VEAP, obtain and complete VA Form 24-5281, Application for Refund of Educational Contributions, and send it to your nearest VA regional office. THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL – SURVIVORS’ AND DEPENDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MGIB-SEAP) CHAPTER 35 Description Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeships and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Eligibility You must be the son, daughter or spouse of: • A veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces. • A veteran who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence. • A servicemember missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force. • A servicemember forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power. Period of Eligibility If you are a son or daughter and wish to receive benefits for attending school or job training, you must be between the ages of 18 and 26. In certain instances, it is possible to begin before age 18 and to continue after age 26. Marriage is not a bar to this benefit. If you are in the Armed Forces, you may not receive this benefit while on active duty. To pursue training after military service, your discharge must not be under dishonorable conditions. VA can extend your period of eligibility by the number of months and days equal to the time spent on active duty. This extension cannot generally go beyond your 31st birthday, but there are some exceptions. If you are a spouse, benefits end 10 years from the date VA finds you eligible, or from the date of death of the veteran. How to Apply for Benefits at Camden County College Obtain and complete VA Form 22-5490, Application for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance. If you are a son or daughter, under legal age, a parent or guardian must sign the application. Matriculate into a degree program at Camden County College. Complete a Camden County College Veterans Enrollment Certificate and attach your VA Form 22-5490. Submit packet to the Office of Financial Aid. 64 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL - SELECTED RESERVE (MGIB-SR) CHAPTER 1606 Description The Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. You may use this education assistance program for degree programs, certificate or correspondence courses, cooperative training, independent study programs, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and vocational flight training programs. Remedial, refresher and deficiency training are available under certain circumstances. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components. VA makes the payments for this program. You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits. Your benefit entitlement ends 14 years from the date of your eligibility for the program, or on the day you leave the Selected Reserve. Eligibility To qualify, you must meet the following requirements: • Have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed after June 30, 1985. If you are an officer, you must have agreed to serve six years in addition to your original obligation. For some types of training, it is necessary to have a six-year commitment that begins after September 30, 1990; • Complete your initial active duty for training (IADT); • Meet the requirement to receive a high school diploma or equivalency certificate before completing IADT. You may not use 12 hours toward a college degree to meet this requirement; and • Remain in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit. Your unit will give you DD Form 2384-1, Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE), when you become eligible for the program. Your unit will also code your eligibility into the Department of Defense personnel system so that VA may verify your eligibility. Period of Eligibility If your eligibility to this program began on or after October 1, 1992, your period of eligibility ends 14 years from your beginning date of eligibility, or on the day you leave the Selected Reserve. If your eligibility to this program began prior to October 1, 1992, your period of eligibility ends 10 years from your beginning date of eligibility, or on the day you leave the Selected Reserve. If your Reserve or National Guard unit was deactivated during the period October 1, 1991, through September 30, 1995, or you are involuntarily separated (e.g., reduction in force) from Reserve or National Guard service during this same period, you will retain eligibility for MGIB - SR benefits for the full 14 year eligibility period. You will also retain MGIB - SR eligibility if you were discharged from Selected Reserve service due to a disability that was not caused by misconduct. Your eligibility period may be extended if you are ordered to active duty. How to Apply for Benefits at Camden County College Complete an online application (VA Form 22-1990) at http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/How_to_Apply.htm. Matriculate into a degree program at Camden County College. Complete a Camden County College Veterans Enrollment Certificate and attach a copy of your online application confirmation along with your NOBE. Submit packet to the Office of Financial Aid. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 65 THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL - SELECTED RESERVE (MGIB-REAP) CHAPTER 1607 Description The Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2005. It is a new Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components, called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the president or Congress. This new program makes certain reservists, who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits. Eligibility The secretaries of each military service, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security (Coast Guard) will determine eligibility and establish the program to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserves of the armed forces who are called to duty for 90 days or more. Members may be eligible after serving 90 consecutive days on active duty after September 11, 2001. Members released early for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty receive REAP benefits, at the rate they were qualified for when they were released. For example, if a claimant served on active duty of one year and six months prior to being released, he or she would be entitled to receive benefits at the 60% rate for as long as they’re entitled to REAP benefits. Members released prior to completing 90 days of active duty service would be entitled to benefits at the 40% rate. If you are released for disability, you are entitled to REAP benefits for 10 years from your date of eligibility. You cannot receive assistance under more than one VA education program at one time. If you are eligible for MGIB-Active Duty (Chapter 30) because you served on duty for a minimum of 24 consecutive months, you must make an irrevocable election as to which program you will apply your time on active duty. If you are eligible for a Chapter 1606 kicker, you can still be paid that kicker while receiving REAP. In order to better understand the REAP program, and whether or not the benefit is right for you, visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH1607/REAP_FAQ.htm#2. The VA has posted frequently asked questions that should answer all of your questions. Period of Eligibility You will receive 36 months of full-time entitlement at your given rate. A REAP participant may not use more than 48 months of entitlement under any combination of VA educational programs. For example, if you’ve already used 20 months of Chapter 1606, you will only receive 28 months of REAP. You may use your benefits under REAP, as long as you remain within your component. Benefits must be terminated if you leave the Reserves, or participate in a ROTC program under Title 10 Section 2107. How to Apply for Benefits at Camden County College Complete an online application (VA Form 22-1990) at www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/How_to_Apply.htm. Matriculate into a degree program at Camden County College. Complete a Camden County College Veterans Enrollment Certificate and attach a copy of your online application confirmation along with your DD Form 214 and call to active duty orders. Write REAP at the top of the application. Submit packet to the Office of Financial Aid. VETERANS TUITION CREDIT PROGRAM Veterans enrolled in an eligible course of study at any approved educational institution may apply for the Veterans Tuition Credit Program (VTCP). Under the VTCP program, partial reimbursement is provided to the institution to offset the cost of the veteran’s tuition. Maximum reimbursement is $400 per year for full-time students and $200 per year for part-time students. To qualify, the veteran must have been on active duty between December 31, 1960 and May 7, 1975, and have been a legal resident of New Jersey at the time of entrance into or discharge from the service, or not less than two years immediately prior to making application. Applications for this program are available on the Veterans Administration Web site at www.gibill.va.gov. 66 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR Since World War I, more than 142,000 Americans, including 85 women, have been captured and interned as POWs. Not included in this figure are nearly 93,000 Americans who were lost or never recovered. Only one fifth of America’s former POWs since World War I are still living (about 29,350). More than 90% of living former POWs were captured and interned during World War II. About 18,000 former POWs are in receipt of compensation for service-connected injuries, diseases or illnesses. In 1981, Congress passed Public Law 97-37 entitled Former Prisoners of War Benefit Act. This law accomplished several things. It established an Advisory Committee on former prisoners of war and mandated medical and dental care. It also identified certain diagnoses as presumptive service-connected conditions for former POWs. Subsequent public laws and policy decisions by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs have added additional diagnoses to the list of presumptive conditions. Benefits for Former POWs and Their Dependents/Survivors Certain veterans and their dependents may be entitled to education and training benefits. Certain disabled veterans may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation and employment service. Certain dependents/survivors may be entitled to education and training benefits. Each VA regional office has a coordinator for former POWs. For information on benefits available to former POW’s (and their dependents) contact the former POW coordinator at you local VA office. Additional former POW information is available at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/POW/index.htm. FREQUENTLY ASKED VETERANS AFFAIRS QUESTIONS Q: How do I apply for veteran’s benefits? A: Review the benefits descriptions in this book. If you believe you are eligible to receive education benefits under any of the programs, click on the education link on www.gibill.va.gov and follow the instructions for completing an application for benefits. Q: My application for veteran’s education benefits has been submitted to the VA, what’s the next step? A: Once you receive confirmation from the VA that you are eligible for benefits, contact the Veterans Affairs coordinator in the Office of Financial Aid , Wilson Hall West 100, at va@camdencc.edu, or call 856-374-4960. The coordinator will notify you of any other documents you may need to submit in order to complete your file. Q: I have enrolled in classes; am I required to pay for them? A: Yes. Since the program is a tuition-reimbursement program, students must pay their student accounts bill according to the payment schedule set forth by the College’s student accounts office. Q: May I use VA education benefits for short-term, high-cost programs, such as Novell and Microsoft certification? A: Yes, if the program has been approved for VA purposes. Contact Camden County College’s Continuing Education department at 856-374-4955. Q: What must I do if I change my enrollment? A: Submit a Camden County College Veterans Change in Enrollment form to the College’s Veterans Affairs coordinator immediately. If you reduce the rate of your training after the end of the drop period at your school, you are advised to explain in writing to the VA coordinator the reason or reasons for the change in your enrollment. Provide any documentation that may support your request. For instance, provide medical documentation if you were physically incapacitated and were unable to attend classes; provide a letter from your employer if your work hours have changed and your work schedule conflicts with your class schedule. If your reasons are accepted by the VA, payments will be reduced or stopped from the date of change. If your reasons are not acceptable or if you don’t tell us your reasons, your payments may be stopped or reduced from the beginning date of the term. Keep the following things in mind when you’re reading through this paragraph. • This requirement applies only if you’re in a school that operates on terms, quarters, semesters or blocks of instruction equivalent to terms, quarters or semesters. • The changes you must explain include withdrawal from one or more courses, and the receipt of one or more non-punitive grades. A non-punitive grade is one that won’t count toward graduation. • You don’t have to explain a failing grade. Students are paid for failing grades because they are punitive. It counts against your grade point average, and maintenance of your grade point average is required for graduation. VA calls acceptable reasons “mitigating circumstances.” Mitigating circumstances are unexpected and unavoidable events beyond your control that directly interfere with your pursuit of a course. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 67 Examples of reasons VA may accept are: • Extended illness; • Severe illness or death in your immediate family; • Unscheduled changes in your employment; and • Lack of child care. Examples of reasons VA will not accept are: • Withdrawal to avoid a failing grade; • Dislike of the instructor; and • Too many courses attempted. If you have never before changed your enrollment while receiving VA education benefits, you can withdraw from, or receive a non-punitive grade for, six hours without being required to give an explanation. For example, if you are taking 12 hours on your very first enrollment with VA assistance and you withdraw from nine hours, you only have to explain your withdrawal from three hours. Q: Do I need to contact the Veteran’s Affairs Coordinator each semester I enroll? A: Yes, in order to avoid delays in benefits processing, students are required to submit a Camden County College Veterans Enrollment Certificate to the Veterans Affairs Coordinator for each semester of their enrollment. Q: How does the VA know I’ve been attending my classes? A: Chapter 30, 32, 1606 and 1607 students must submit a monthly verification of enrollment to the VA either online at www.gibill.va.gov/wave, or by phone at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). Chapter 35 students are not required to personally verify enrollment to the VA. Q: How do I find out if the program I am pursuing is approved under the Veterans Administration benefits program? A: Contact the College’s Veterans Affairs Coordinator. Q: Can I enroll in courses that are not required under the degree program I am pursuing? A: The VA will only pay for courses covered under your degree program. Exceptions are made for developmental/pre-requisite courses students must take in order to be eligible to take future courses required to complete their program. Q: How much money can I expect to receive from the program? A: Individual benefits vary, visit www.gibill.va.gov for information regarding monthly benefit payment amounts, or call the VA at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) Q: How does VA pay for training at less than one-half time? A: If you are training at less than one-half time, VA will pay you for the tuition and fees of your course or courses. VA will make payment in one lump sum. Even though you will receive a lump-sum payment, the monthly rate of your payment based on your tuition and fees cannot be more then the maximum monthly rate, based on your training time. For example, if you are training at less than one-half time for a 30-day enrollment and the tuition and fees for your course or courses equals $200, VA will pay you $200. However, if you are training at less than one-half time for the same 30-day period, and the tuition and fees for your course or courses is $700, VA will only pay you $213.94. That is the most the VA can pay for one month, or 30 days, of one-half time training. Q: How long does it take to start receiving payments from the VA? A: The Veteran’s Administration usually requires 12 to 14 weeks from the initial date of certification to process payments. 68 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook BOOK VOUCHERS As a service to eligible financial aid recipients, the College offers students the opportunity to purchase books and supplies using financial aid funds (that exceed tuition and fees) as a book allowance. In order to access the book allowance, a student is either issued a paper book voucher or a Student Disbursement Card (SDC). The book allowance is an early refund of financial aid funds (e.g. the Pell* or TAG* grant or a Stafford* loan). Your book allowance is deducted from your grants and loans; it is not a separate or additional type of financial aid. The SDC is a plastic debit card that is similar in appearance and function to a MAC card. At this time, the SDC is limited to use at the campus bookstores. The financial aid office will issue the book allowance as a SDC to those students who file their FAFSA* in accordance with published deadlines, and who are awarded prior to the start of the semester. Other students will receive the paper book voucher. Students using a paper book voucher or SDC will be able to purchase books and supplies at any campus bookstore. The following FAQ is designed to assist financial aid recipients in understanding how to use the paper book voucher or a SDC to purchase books and supplies. Q: How do I choose a bookstore? • If you are a student who is enrolled in courses at the Blackwood Campus, you are advised to buy your textbooks at the bookstore in Blackwood. • If you are a student who is enrolled in courses at the Camden Campus, you are advised to buy your textbooks at the bookstore in Camden. • If you are a student who is enrolled in courses at the William G. Rohrer (Cherry Hill) Center, you are advised to buy your textbooks at the bookstore in Rohrer. • If you are enrolled in courses at the Camden Campus AND courses at any of the other College locations, you are advised to purchase your Camden Campus course textbooks at the Camden bookstore and the textbooks for the other courses at the Blackwood bookstore. Q: How is my book allowance calculated? The financial aid office will calculate your book allowance each semester, based upon your registration status and financial aid eligibility, as it stands approximately four to six weeks before the semester begins. If you change your schedule by dropping or adding classes subsequent to this point, your book allowance may not correctly reflect your registration status and financial aid eligibility. If your financial aid does not cover your bookstore purchases, because your registration status changed, you became ineligible for some or all of your financial aid, a calculation error was made, you did not attend any classes, or for any other reasons whatsoever, you are still responsible for payment in full of any amount that you expend in the bookstore(s). • Tuition and fees will be deducted from your financial aid award before a book allowance is calculated. • The chart below lists the maximum amount that can be issued to you in a book allowance (SDC or paper voucher) for your purchase of books and supplies: Maximum Book Allowance Per Semester Full time (12 or more credits)...........................$600 Three-quarter time (9-11 credits) .....................$450 Half time (6-8 credits) .......................................$300 Less than half time (1-5 credits) .......................$150 Your actual allowance may be less than the amounts listed above. Your allowance is individually calculated, based upon your financial aid eligibility and the cost of your tuition and fees. PLEASE NOTE: The maximum book allowance listed above is the maximum for ALL purchases, whether they are made at one bookstore or any combination of bookstores. It is critical that you manage your book allowance, especially if you purchase books at more than one location. If you exceed the maximum, you will be responsible for payment of the overage. The College continues to evaluate and refine its services. As the College implements new technology the process and procedures for disbursing financial aid book funds to students is subject to change. Q: When can I begin to use my book allowance? (and other important timeframes). • If you are registered and have been awarded financial aid by the end of July for the fall semester, or mid-December for the spring semester, the College will notify you by letter containing a SDC. A second letter or e-mail will be mailed to you containing your PIN* number. The letters or e-mail will instruct you to go directly to the appropriate bookstore where you will be able to begin charging books and supplies. • If you register, or are awarded later than the dates above, you must obtain a paper book voucher or a SDC from the financial aid office in person. You will then take the paper voucher or SDC to the bookstore to begin purchasing. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 69 Book allowances (vouchers and the SDC) are issued beginning two weeks prior to the start of the 15-week semester. • Fall book vouchers will be issued beginning in mid-August and will expire on October 1. • Spring book vouchers will be issued at the beginning of January and will expire on March 1. • Summer book vouchers will be issued at the beginning of May and will expire July 1. • Book vouchers are not issued for the winter intersession except on appeal. Contact the FAO for information. Q: May I use my book allowance to purchase items that are not required for my classes? You are advised not to use your book voucher or SDC to purchase items that are not required for your classes. It is a federal violation to use financial aid funds for non-educational purposes (e.g. using your book voucher to purchase non-educationally related items, such as, electronic devices like MP3 players, DVDs or CDs) or to transfer your financial aid funds to others (e.g. using your book voucher to purchase items for others). Students are permitted to purchase food with the book voucher or SDC. Q: Can the maximum allowance on my book voucher or SDC be increased? The student may appeal to the financial aid office for an increase to the maximum allowance in certain limited circumstances as follows: • The student must have sufficient remaining financial aid to cover the requested increase; and • The student must be enrolled in classes for which the book and supply expenses exceed the maximum allowance, and the student must document that the initial allowance was spent exclusively on items required for his/her classes. Q: How do I get a refund of my unused credit from my book voucher or SDC? The College will refund any unused credit from your book voucher or SDC, along with any other financial aid refund to which you are entitled by check. All refunds are issued by stipend check and are mailed after the mid-point of the semester. Additional information and reminders about your book voucher or SDC: • Do not store your pin with your SDC. • Report a lost or stolen SDC immediately (to the financial aid office, business office or public safety) • Please keep all bookstore receipts in case you need to return any items. • Be aware of the book allowance expiration date. You will not be able to charge books and supplies against your financial aid award at the campus bookstores after the expiration date. • You will not loose your unspent allowance; it will be included as a refund in your stipend check. • You are responsible for all purchases you make in the bookstore. If you drop classes, fail to attend, or stop attending, your financial aid will be reduced or canceled. If your financial aid does not cover your bookstore purchases for any reason whatsoever, you are still responsible for payment in full of any amount you expend in the bookstore(s). Violation of the regulations governing the financial aid programs is sufficient grounds for termination of all financial aid and referral for disciplinary action. Violations include, but are not limited to, using financial aid funds for non-educational purposes (e.g. using your book voucher to purchase non-educationally related items), transfer of financial aid funds to others (e.g. using your book voucher to purchase items for others), and using someone elses SDC or book voucher. SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY FOR FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS Federal and state regulations require all institutions to establish a policy and procedure for measuring the academic progress of its students. Following are the academic progress guidelines establish by the College. Camden County College’s academic progress policy governs the receipt of funds under all federal and state financial aid programs (grants, loans and workstudy) except the Educational Opportunity Fund program (EOF*), which is evaluated separately. 70 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook All students must make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP*) towards the attainment of a degree or certificate to remain eligible for financial aid. Students who are not SAP are in Unsatisfactory Academic Progress standing (USAP*). Students who do not meet all criteria as listed, after having attempted at least two semesters of coursework, are USAP and will be TERMINATED from all relevant financial aid programs until such time as they have met the criteria to be SAP. Academic progress will be evaluated at least once per year, at the end of each spring semester. Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid is determined as follows: 1. Attempted credits = all credits for which a student receives a grade (including A, B, C, D, P, F, I, NA, W, XA, RV, MP). Repeated courses are included in credits attempted. Credits by Examination are counted as credits attempted and completed satisfactorily. Courses with grades of AU are neither counted as credits attempted nor completed. All students must receive a passing grade in at least 67% of all credits attempted. Passing grades are A, B, C, D, or P. Grades of I (Incomplete), MP (Making Progress), RV (Math Review Recommended), NA (Not Attending), W (Withdrawal), and XA (Never Attended), as well as F (Failure) are NON-passing, unsatisfactory grades, which count as credits attempted but do not count as credits completed. 2. After having attempted the first 12 college-level credits, all students must have a cumulative GPA that falls at or above the following minimums: College Credits Attempted 12 – 18 19 – 32 33 – 48 49 + Minimum GPA Required 1.50 1.75 1.90 2.00 The cumulative GPA under the SAP policy is the GPA based upon all (including remedial and ESL) credits the student has attempted, and may differ from the GPA calculated for the student’s transcript, which is based solely upon the college-level credits attempted. 3. Remedial/ESL student = one requiring 12 or more credits of remediation or ESL. (Because ESL courses do not count as credits toward a degree, they are treated in the same manner as remedial courses by this policy.) No student may receive aid for more than 30 credits of remedial or ESL coursework. Remedial/ESL students who are enrolled in certificate programs are no longer eligible for financial aid after attempting a maximum of 75 credit hours. Remedial/ESL students who are enrolled in degree programs are no longer eligible for financial aid after attempting a maximum of 126 credit hours. 4. Non-remedial student = one requiring less than 12 credits of remediation or ESL. Non-remedial students who are enrolled in certificate programs are no longer eligible for financial aid after attempting a maximum of 45 credit hours. Non-remedial students who are enrolled in degree programs are no longer eligible for financial aid after attempting a maximum of 96 credit hours. 5. Students who are enrolled in the nursing degree programs are no longer eligible for financial aid after attempting a maximum of 134 credit hours. 6. Students, who transfer in credits from other colleges, will have their maximum number of attempted credits reduced accordingly, up to a maximum of 30 credits. (See numbers 1 and 2 above.) 7. The quantitative and qualitative standards used to evaluate academic progress include all periods of the student’s enrollment. Federal regulations require that all credits attempted from the first day of the student’s enrollment are included, even when the student initially enrolled fifteen, twenty, even thirty years ago (or more). All periods of enrollment are counted including periods during which the student did not receive financial aid funds, and paid for all costs from his or her own resources. 8. When a student is USAP she/he cannot regain eligibility for financial aid simply by not enrolling at CCC (thereby being out of school for a period of time) or by paying for classes from his or her own resources. 9. Academic forgiveness is the process through which a student can apply to have credits attempted and grades earned in previous semesters excluded from the calculation of the student’s grade point average. (The student must have been on hiatus from the College for five years or more in order to submit an appeal for academic forgiveness). The College’s academic forgiveness process does not overturn the financial aid SAP policy. Although a student’s GPA may be reset after an approved academic forgiveness appeal, the federal financial aid program regulations do not provide for exclusion of any prior credits from the SAP calculation. In evaluating a student’s academic progress for financial aid purposes, the College always includes the qualitative and quantitative values of all credits attempted at CCC along with the quantitative value of credits transferred from other institutions. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 71 10. Students are permitted to appeal the loss of financial aid caused by Unsatisfactory Academic Progress (USAP). Students may appeal by completing an appeal application for the appropriate year and submitting it to the Office of Financial Aid. The financial aid appeal committee will review cases on an individual basis to determine if mitigating circumstances are responsible for poor progress. Mitigating circumstances might include, but are not limited to serious illness or injury of the student; death of an immediate family member; extreme family upheaval; or deployment to active military duty. Verbal appeals are NOT accepted. The appeal committee requires approximately thirty days to review appeals. Written notification of the committee’s decision will be mailed to the student (the outcome of the appeal is not available by telephone or in person). 11. All circumstances upon which the appeal application is based must be documented to the extent required by the FAO. Documentation should be submitted with the appeal application. (Please submit legible photocopies rather than original medical records, death certificates or other official documents). Appeals that are determined to have been submitted without sufficient documentation of the circumstances cited in the application will be denied. In the case of an insufficiently documented appeal, the student will be notified by letter of the denial and will be offered an opportunity to resubmit the appeal with appropriate documentation. 12. If the student’s appeal is approved, she/he will be permitted to continue to receive financial aid only for the period indicated in the letter of appeal notification. Students who have been regained financial aid eligibility on appeal must earn only A’s B’s and C’s and will be reevaluated after the enrollment period specified in their notification letter. 13. If the student does not enroll for the semester, the approval becomes void and the student must request a reevaluation of his/her appeal. The student may be required to submit a new appeal, and/or additional documentation. 14. In the case of a denial, students must pay for classes from their our resources until such time as the student has achieved the required GPA, has passed 67% of the credits for which the student has enrolled, and has met all other stipulations of the SAP policy. When the student has met all academic progress requirements, she/he is eligible to be reinstated for financial aid for the next semester of enrollment. 15. If a student whose appeal application has been denied believes that she/he has earned at least 67% of all of the credits she/he has attempted at Camden County College, and her/his GPA is equal to or above the benchmarks set in the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy at the conclusion of a fall semester of enrollment, she/he may request that the financial aid office review his status at mid-year to determine if she/he is SAP, and thereby eligible to receive financial aid for the following spring or summer semester(s). 16. Retroactive appeals are not granted. Appeal applications must be submitted by the College’s published withdrawal deadline during the semester for which the student is appealing for aid. Appeals that are submitted after the withdrawal deadline for the semester in question will be denied. 17. Students who register for a semester when they are USAP will be responsible for all charges resulting from their registration activity. Students must drop their registration by published deadlines, or they will be liable for all charges whether or not they attend classes. Such students must disregard any communication from the College that suggests that their classes will be automatically dropped for non-payment. 18. The appeals committee will not entertain retroactive appeals for reimbursement for a semester during which a student was USAP. The College will not credit the account of, or otherwise reimburse, a student with financial aid funds for any past semester during which the student was USAP or otherwise ineligible for financial aid. 19. The appeals committee will not entertain appeal applications based upon the same circumstances as previously submitted, documented and denied. Appeal applications that substantially duplicate previous submissions will be summarily denied. 20. USAP appeal approvals and academic forgiveness do not impact the student’s account balance. Any balance remains the student’s responsibility regardless of the outcome of the academic forgiveness or USAP appeal. 72 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 73 TUITION REFUNDS When a student registers for courses, a seat in one or more classes is reserved for him/her, and tuition and fee costs are incurred. These charges must either be paid by the student, or charged to his/her financial aid awards. It is the responsibility of the student to take advantage of the instructional services that have been reserved. If a student does not want to remain in a particular class, and does not want to be liable for the tuition and fees for the course, then she/he must officially drop the course before the session begins (100% of tuition will be refunded). If the course is not dropped before the session begins, then tuition is refunded on the basis of the following schedule: REFUNDS FOR APPROVED DROPPED COURSES Percentage Refunds 100% Prior to the beginning of the first scheduled day of the semester 50% Up to and including the census date* of the semester (usually the 10th day of classes)✦ 0% After the census date of the semester (usually the 10th day of classes)✦ ✦ An equivalent census date is calculated for each session within a semester. The census date for sessions that are fewer than 15 weeks is earlier than the actual 10th day of the session. The census date is a critical date for establishing financial aid eligibility. The student’s enrollment for calculating financial aid eligibility is frozen at the census date of the 15-week semester. The student’s enrollment for the summer session is frozen at the end of the tuition refund period. Courses dropped (including those in which the student receives an “XA”, “ NA” or “W”) before the census date of the semester will not be included in the student’s enrollment status for financial aid purposes, and will not be funded by financial aid awards. Therefore, any student who drops a course after the first day of class for the semester, but before the census date of the semester, will be personally responsible for all costs incurred. Classes added after the census date will likewise not be included in the enrollment status for financial aid purposes, and will not be funded by financial aid awards. All students who absolutely must drop classes are urged to do so before the semester begins to avoid incurring charges. Failure to attend a class does not absolve a student of responsibility for the course related charges. Students who register for classes, and fail to drop their classes, are financially responsible for all tuition and fees costs associated with their enrollment. 74 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook REFUND POLICY FOR FINANCIAL AID STUDENTS If a student has received federal funds, and has withdrawn from all classes on or after the census date of the payment period, a portion of the financial aid awards may be refunded to the Title IV* programs and/or the student may be required to repay a portion of the funds she/he received. Federal regulations govern the refund of Title IV aid to federal programs. If a student has completed 60% or more of the payment period (semester), she/he is considered to have earned 100% of the Title IV grant and loan aid received for the payment period. However, if a student withdrawals before completing 60% of the payment period, the amount of any Title IV aid received must be recalculated to reflect the portion of the payment period that she/he completed prior to withdrawal. For example, if a student withdraws after attending 20% of a payment period, the student earns 20% of any awarded Title IV aid for which she/he established eligibility prior to withdrawing. The unearned Title IV loan and grant aid for the percentage of the payment period not completed must be returned to the applicable Title IV aid programs. Applicable Title IV programs include: Federal Stafford* loan (subsidized* and unsubsidized*), Federal PLUS* Loan, Federal Pell* Grant, FSEOG*, NJ GEAR UP* and other federal sources of aid, excluding Federal Work-Study. A student who receives a financial aid refund (in the form of a stipend check or student loan refund check) and then withdraws before the 60% point in the semester may be required to return a portion of those funds to the financial aid programs. CCC will reimburse the programs for the amount due from the student and subsequently bill the student for the amount refunded to the federal Title IV programs on behalf of the student. The business office will notify students of the amount they are responsible to repay. As previously stated, the guidelines for the return of Title IV funds applies only when a student has totally withdrawn from all classes during a semester (payment period). Students who have totally withdrawn may have either officially withdrawn or unofficially withdrawn from all classes. Official withdrawal occurs when a student, sometime between the third and the thirteenth weeks of the semester or its equivalent, completes a course withdrawal form and submits it to the Office of Records and Registration. The Office of Records and Registration will record the date the student submits the course withdrawal form as the withdrawal date. A record of the course and a grade of ‘W’ will appear on the student’s transcript. There is no refund of tuition and fees. The financial aid office obtains weekly listings of students who have withdrawn and uses the withdrawal dates to calculate earned aid for each student. Unofficial withdrawal occurs when a student does not complete and submit a course withdrawal form, but she/he simply stops attending all classes. A record of the course and a grade of ‘NA’ or ‘F’ will appear on the student’s transcript. Another case of unofficial withdrawal occurs when a student never attended class at all. This results in a grade of ‘XA’ or ‘F’ which will be recorded on the student’s transcript. Grades of ‘NA’ and ‘XA’ indicate non-attendance. Grades of ‘F’ also may indicate non-attendance when occurring in combination with ‘XA’ or ‘NA’ grades. Courses for which students receive a grade of ‘XA’ are not eligible for the federal aid. Federal aid will be reduced whenever a grade of ‘XA’ results in a reduction of a student’s enrollment status. Students are also subject to loss of state aid (such as TAG* and STARS*) when they receive “XA” grades. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 75 YES YES YES 76 YES Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook RETURN OF TITLE IV FEDERAL AID FORMULA Step One: Determine the percentage of the payment period the student attended before withdrawing. The percentage of the period attended determines the percentage of federal aid earned. If the percentage attended is equal to or greater than 60%, the percentage earned becomes 100%. Step Two: Determine the amount of Title IV federal aid earned by multiplying the total Title IV aid (other than FWS) for which the student qualified by the percentage earned. Total Title IV includes both aid that was disbursed and aid that could have been disbursed. Step Three: Compare the amount earned to the amount actually disbursed prior to withdrawal (other than FWS). • If more aid was disbursed than was earned, determine the amount of Title IV aid that must be returned (i.e., that was unearned) by subtracting the earned amount from the amount disbursed. • If less aid was disbursed than was earned, the student may be entitled to a post-withdrawal disbursement* for the difference. Step Four: Allocate the responsibility for returning unearned aid between the school and the student. Per federal guidelines, refunds to federal aid programs will be accomplished in the following order: 1. Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan 2. Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan 3. Federal PLUS Loan 4. Federal Pell Grant 5. Federal SEOG 6. Other Title IV Aid Programs State Refund Policy Students who receive TAG* grant and complete the semester with every grade equal to “XA” will forfeit their TAG grant in its entirety. The College is required to fully refund the TAG grant previously credited to any student who is graded as having never attended any of his/her classes. Students will remain responsible for any tuition, fee, book, supply and stipend costs that were paid by the TAG grant. Award minimums will be honored where applicable. Funds returned to any program may not exceed those awarded from that program. THE FOLLOWING EXCEPT FROM THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE RETURN OF TITLE IV FUNDS IS PROVIDED FOR YOUR INFORMATION. Overawards, Overpayments and Withdrawal Calculation – Excerpted from the Federal Financial Aid Handbook Sample summary of the requirements of 34 CFR 668.22 Treatment of Title IV Aid When a Student Withdraws The law specifies how the College must determine the amount of Title IV program assistance that you earn if you withdraw from school. The Title IV programs that are covered by this law are: Federal Pell* Grants, Stafford* Loans, PLUS* Loans, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG*), Federal Perkins Loans and in some cases, certain state grant aid (LEAP/SLEAP), GEAR UP* grants, and SSS* grants to students. When you withdraw during the semester, the amount of Title IV program assistance that you have earned up to that point is determined by a specific formula. If you received (or your school or parent received on your behalf) less assistance than the amount that you earned, you may be able to receive those additional funds. If you received more assistance than you earned, the excess funds must be returned by the school and/or you. The amount of assistance that you have earned is determined on a pro rata basis. For example, if you completed 30% of the semester you earn 30% of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive. Once you have completed more than 60% of the semester you earn all the assistance that you were scheduled to receive for that period. If you did not receive all of the funds that you earned, you may be due a post-withdrawal disbursement. If the post-withdrawal disbursement includes loan funds, you may choose to decline the loan funds so that you don’t incur additional debt. The College may automatically use all or a portion of your post-withdrawal disbursement (including loan funds, if you accept them) for tuition, fees, and room and board charges (as contracted with the school). For all other charges, the College needs your permission to use the post-withdrawal disbursement. If you do not give your permission (which some schools ask for when you enroll), you will be offered the funds. However, it may be in your best interest to allow the College to keep the funds to reduce your debt at the College. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 77 There are some Title IV funds that you were scheduled to receive that you cannot earn once you withdraw because of other eligibility requirements. For example, if you are a first-time, first-year undergraduate student, and you have not completed the first 30 days of your program before you withdraw, you will not earn any FFEL or Direct loan funds that you would have received had you remained enrolled past the 30th day. If you receive (the College or parent receive on your behalf ) excess Title IV program funds that must be returned, your school must return a portion of the excess equal to the lesser of 1. your institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage of your funds, or 2. the entire amount of excess funds. Withdrawals and the Return of Title IV Funds The College must return this amount even if it didn’t keep this amount of your Title IV program funds. If your school is not required to return all of the excess funds, you must return the remaining amount. Any loan funds that you must return, you (or your parent for a PLUS loan) repay in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. That is, you make scheduled payments to the holder of the loan over a period of time. Any amount of unearned grant funds that you must return is called an overpayment. The amount of a grant overpayment that you must repay is half of the unearned amount. You must make arrangements with College or the Department of Education to return the unearned grant funds. The requirements for Title IV program funds when you withdraw are separate from any refund policy that your school may have. Therefore, you may still owe funds to the school to cover unpaid institutional charges. Your school may also charge you for any Title IV program funds that the school was required to return. The College can provide you with the requirements and procedures for officially withdrawing from school. If you have questions about your Title IV program funds, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FEDAID (1-800-433-3243). TTY users may call 1-800-730-8913. Information is also available on student aid on the Web at www.studentaid.ed.gov. STIPEND CHECKS The stipend check is a refund of financial aid grants and loans that exceed the student’s tuition, fees, books and other account charges. There is a worksheet at the end of this handbook to assist you in estimating the amount of your stipend. One of the most frequently asked questions by financial aid recipients is “when will my stipend check be mailed?” This following information is provided to assist financial aid recipients in understanding the timeframes the College uses to credit financial aid (which includes grants and loans) to your account and to mail a refund in the form of a stipend check. Financial Aid Disbursement Financial aid funds are not available to the College until the mid-point of the semester. Therefore, the first disbursement* of financial aid grants and loans for a given semester is credited to student accounts at the mid-point of the semester. If your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA*) is submitted after the College’s priority deadline (May 1 for fall enrollment and October 1 for spring enrollment) your aid disbursement and stipend check may be delayed accordingly. • If you submit your loan application after the initial disbursement, your loan proceeds will be credited to your student account approximately 30 days from the time that your entire financial aid file becomes complete. • Remember, your lender may withhold up to 4% of the amount that you borrowed for guarantee and insurance fees. Thus, the amount that you receive may be less than the amount that you borrowed and must repay. • If you requested a one-semester loan it must be disbursed in two payments, each representing one-half of your loan. The one-semester loan maximum is half of the annual maximum amount (or less depending on your enrollment). 78 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Stipend Mailing The College normally begins to process stipend and refund checks at the mid-point of the semester after loans and grants have been disbursed. Thus, students must plan to meet their living expenses from their own resources for the first several weeks of the semester before the stipend or loan refund is available. Regrettably, the College CANNOT accommodate requests for early disbursements or in-person pick-up due to the volume of stipend checks processed. Fall Semester October 30 Anticipated Stipend Mailing Dates Spring Semester March 30 Summer Semester June 30 The College mails stipend checks on a weekly basis after the initial dates listed above. Stipends checks are mailed approximately two weeks after grant and loan funds are received by the College and credited to your account. If your stipend check is lost after it is mailed, you must wait two weeks after the mail date to file a lost check claim with the business office. In the event of a lost check claim, the business office will process a stop-payment and will reissue your check. The stop-payment and reissue process normally requires one week to complete. The College plans to begin mailing stipend checks to students on the above dates. Please note, unexpected events do occur over which the College exercises no control. If unforeseen events prevent the College from crediting aid or mailing stipends by the anticipated dates, students will not receive checks as expected. Important Enrollment Reminders Students must matriculate in a degree program and must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP*) in order to be eligible for any type of financial aid (grants, loans, and work-study). The SAP policy requires that students maintain a specified minimum grade point average and a minimum 67% rate of credit accumulation. If you do not meet the SAP requirements, you must pay for your classes from your own resources until your eligibility for financial aid is re-established. You are required to remain enrolled in your classes in order to receive financial aid funds (including grants and loans). If you never attend, cease to attend, withdraw, or receive “F’s” you will jeopardize your financial aid for both current and future semesters. If you fail to remain enrolled in at least three credits until the end of the semester, the College is required to cancel your financial aid grants and to retroactively remove them from your account. If you fail to remain enrolled in at least six credits until the end of the semester, the College is required to cancel your loan aid and to retroactively remove it from your account. If your financial aid is cancelled, you will remain responsible to pay for all tuition, fee, book voucher and stipend amounts. For more information about how your attendance impacts your financial aid eligibility, please read the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy in this book. Under IRS regulations, your stipend amount may be reportable as taxable income on your federal tax return. Any proceeds that you receive from financial aid grants or scholarships (loan proceeds are not taxable income) are taxable when they exceed your costs for tuition, fees, and required books, supplies and equipment. For example, if you receive $2,000 in grant assistance of which $1,500 is used to pay your tuition, fees books, and supplies, your stipend amount of $500 is taxable income to you. The $500 should be reported on your federal tax return as income. IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION The following tax information is provided to alert you that, as a student, you may be entitled to certain tax benefits; and that as a financial aid recipient you may be subject to certain additional tax liability. This information is not meant to be used as tax guidance. For specific information about how your payment of tuition and receipt of financial benefits may affect your tax filing and liability, you should seek the advice of your tax professional. The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 includes tax credits for education. The Hope Scholarship is a tax credit of up to $1,500 that covers 100 percent of the first $1,000 in qualified tuition and related expenses, and up to 50 percent of the second $1,000, required for enrollment during the first two years of college. The Hope tax credit is generally available for tuition and fees paid, less grants and scholarships, for classes that begin on or after January 1, 1998. The credit is phased out for single taxpayers with adjusted gross income between $40,000 and $50,000 ($80,000 to $100,000 for joint returns). Students who do not qualify for the Hope Scholarship may qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit. If you paid interest on a student loan, you may be eligible for a tax credit. Generally, personal interest you pay, other than certain mortgage interest, is not deductible on your tax return. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 79 However, if your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is less than $65,000 ($135,000 if filing a joint return) there is a special deduction allowed for paying interest on a student loan (also known as an education loan) used for higher education. For most taxpayers, MAGI is the adjusted gross income as figured on their federal income tax return, before subtracting any deduction for student loan interest. For specific information about how these tax credits may affect you, contact your tax professional. Stipends Need-based grants such as Pell*, SEOG*, EOF*, and TAG* and merit-based scholarships alike may be taxable income to you when they are refunded to you and used for living expenses. Grants and scholarships are tax free to the extent used for qualified education expenses during the enrollment period for which a grant is awarded. Any amount of your grant that exceeds the cost of tuition, fees, books and supplies is taxable income to you. Only the taxable amount of your grants and scholarships must be reported on your federal tax return. Education loan funds are not taxable income. Federal Work Study may be reportable as taxable income, depending upon the student’s total earnings and other income during the tax year. Any amount of your grant or scholarships that you use for the following qualified education expenses is not taxable: • Tuition • Fees • Books that are required for enrollment • Supplies that are required for enrollment • Equipment that is required for enrollment Any amount of your grant or scholarships that you use for the following expenses is taxable: • Housing • Food • Travel • Childcare • Personal expenses • Other living expenses • Equipment and other expenses that are not required for enrollment 80 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook If you use your scholarship or grant payment for: Equipment, required for enrollment Personal expenses Other personal expenses Taxable X X X Supplies, required for enrollment Travel Tax free X X Books, required for enrollment Food Then your payment is: X Fees Childcare And you are: Not a degree candidate X Tuition Housing A degree candidate X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X For specific information about how your receipt of grants may affect you, contact your tax professional. Veterans Benefits Payments you receive for education, training or subsistence under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are tax free. Do not include these payments as income on your federal tax return. For specific information about how your receipt of veterans benefits may affect you, contact your tax professional. Financial and Federal Income Tax Filing Requirements Under IRS regulations, individuals who meet certain income thresholds (regardless of the source of that income) are required to file a federal tax return. Under Department of Education regulations students, parents and spouses who are selected for verification*, and who were required to file a federal return, must submit a copy of the tax return. Individuals who work “under the table” or who otherwise have earned income that was not taxed but whose earnings are at or exceed IRS filing thresholds must present a tax return to the financial aid office. If the student, parent, or spouse was required under IRS regulations to file but failed to do so, and as a result cannot produce a tax return, the student is therefore ineligible for financial aid. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 81 82 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook WEB RESOURCES - FINANCIAL AID WEB SITES The Web is an invaluable resource for planning your college education, submitting your financial aid application, and searching for scholarships. The following Web sites are safe places to begin your financial aid experience on the World Wide Web! WWW.CAMDENCC.EDU - on Camden County College’s Web site you can register, pay your bill, check the status of your financial aid, download forms, view your grades and so much more! WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV - filing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid is faster, easier, more secure – and free (no stamp required) - on the official FAFSA* Web site. WWW.PIN.ED.GOV - apply for a PIN*(Personal Identification Number) so that you can sign your FAFSA electronically – a pen is no longer required! Your parent can also apply for a PIN. WWW.HESAA.ORG - New Jersey’s Higher Education Student Assistance Authority is your source for state grants. HESAA* offers grants to New Jersey residents based upon financial need* and academic merit. WWW.FASTWEB.COM - FASTWEB, one of the Web’s most complete scholarship search sites. FASTWEB is free and puts scholarship possibilities at your fingertips! WWW.WACHOVIA.COM - if you need a student loan to help meet your tuition costs – start here. Wachovia offers attractive benefits and great customer service to student borrowers. Students are not required to use Wachovia for their borrowing needs. The student may borrow from any lender of their choice. WWW.STUDENTS.GOV - this government Web site was created to help you plan for and pay for your college education – before, during and after. Find information about colleges, careers and more! WWW.FINAID.ORG - be smart about your financial aid search. FINAID is brimming with information about scholarships, how the FAFSA works, answers to your questions, and other funding options. WWW.STUDENTAID.ED.GOV - want to know more about the resources the Department of Education has available to you to assist you in preparing for and funding your college education? Start here! WWW.SCHOLARSHIPS.COM - SCHOLARSHIPS.COM searches while you sleep. Just type in your profile and this free site will start searching for scholarship for you. TIP FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS – FILING THE FAFSA AND SEARCHING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS IS FREE. YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO PAY TO FILE YOUR FAFSA OR TO FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS! * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 83 FREQUENTLY ASKED FINANCIAL AID QUESTIONS FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION PROCESS AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Q: WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FINANCIAL AID? In order to qualify for financial aid a student must: 1. complete the FAFSA* for the academic year* of anticipated enrollment. 2. be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, per immigration regulations. 3. be admitted to the College. 4. be in satisfactory academic standing according to CCC’s financial aid policies 5. not have received aid for the maximum number of allowable number of credits for financial aid eligibility. 6. not be in default* of a previous federal loan. 7. be registered with Selective Service (applies to males born after January 1, 1960) 8. be matriculated in a program that terminates in a degree or certificate. 9. be enrolled for a minimum of one credit. 10. have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. In lieu of a high school diploma or GED, students age 18 and over will have the opportunity to demonstrate Ability To Benefit (ATB*). Q: WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR FILING THE FAFSA? May 1 CCC gives priority to financial aid applications from matriculated students that are filed on or before May 1. The spring semester priority deadline is October 1. A complete application includes a federally processed valid ISIR*, a CCC authorization/certification form, notification of state aid eligibility and verification* of income (if selected for review). Other information also may be requested, depending upon the individual student’s circumstances. After the May 1 deadline, applications will receive consideration on a remaining available funds basis in each of the various financial aid programs. Although the student may establish eligibility for many types of financial assistance until the last day of his/her attendance, she/he may not be in time to complete program requirements in order for funding to be disbursed if application is made at or near the end of the semester. Therefore, students are advised to submit all application materials by May 1, or in time to allow for normal processing timeframes. Q: HOW DO I APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID FOR CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE? Submit the FAFSA*. All students who wish to be considered for financial aid must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The information must be released to the U.S. Department of Education and to the College. The FAFSA is fundamental to the College’s financial aid application process and is essential to the determination of the student’s eligibility for all types of aid (including but not limited to Pell*, FSEOG*, TAG*, EOF*, NJ STARS*, as well as Federal WorkStudy* and loans). A student cannot be considered for any type of financial aid until a correct and complete FAFSA has been processed. To apply for financial aid, the student must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the applicable award year. The Department of Education has provided an easy way to apply electronically for financial aid. For fastest processing, the FAFSA* should be completed and submitted online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The fafsa.ed.gov Web site is the official Web site of the Department of Education and charges no filing fees. 84 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Students are advised not to pay any fees to file the FAFSA at any online site. Students are also advised not to pay for financial aid, scholarship or other advice, assistance or guidance. Filing the FAFSA and researching scholarships is free to students and their parents. To assist students in completing the FAFSA electronically, the financial aid office has online FAFSA worksheets available. Before applying online, it is strongly recommended that the student first visit www.pin.ed.gov and apply for a PIN* (an electronic access code number). The parent of a dependent* student may also apply for a PIN. Students and parents of dependent students who have a PIN and file the FAFSA online will not have to print and mail a signature page. They can use the PIN to electronically sign the FAFSA, thereby completing the entire process online. A signature is required in order for a valid application to be processed. Applicants can also apply for a PIN within the FAFSA application. However applied for the PIN, it will be delivered to the applicant in approximately one week. The PIN is valid for the applicant’s lifetime. The PIN should be kept in a safe and secure place and must not be disclosed to anyone. A FAFSA (hard copy) can be obtained from a number of sources including a high school guidance office, a college financial aid office, a local public library or by calling the federal student aid information center at 1-800-433-3243.The paper FAFSA must be completed and mailed to the federal student aid processing center. Although the paper FAFSA is an acceptable means of applying for financial aid, this method of filing slows the application process and is therefore not preferred. REMEMBER, A STUDENT SHOULD SUBMIT ONLY ONE FAFSA APPLICATION FOR EACH ACADEMIC YEAR*. Students should not submit an additional FAFSA as a means of making corrections to a previously submitted application. The College does not require the CSS, ACT, FAF, Profile, or other financial aid applications to be considered for financial assistance. Q: AM I REQUIRED TO PROVIDE MY PARENT’S INFORMATION? In most cases, yes. Federal student aid programs are based on the principle that students and their families should bear the primary responsibility for meeting the cost of higher education. Thus, all financial aid applicants must be classified as either dependent* or independent*. A student’s responses to the questions in step three of the FAFSA* determine whether she/he is considered dependent or independent. Dependent students must report their parent’s (and spouse’s, if married) income and assets, as well as their own. Independent students report their own income and assets (and spouse’s, if married). In order to be considered independent for financial aid purposes, the student must be able to answer yes to at least one of the following questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Will you be at least twenty-four by the last day of December of the fall semester? Will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program or graduate certificate at Camden County College? As of today, are you married? (Answer ‘Yes’ if you are separated but not divorced). Do you have children who receive more than half their support from you (now and through the academic year*)? Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, (now and through the academic year)? Are you an orphan or ward/dependent of the court, or were you a ward/dependent of the court until the age of 18? Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? If the student answers no to all of the above questions, she/he is considered a dependent student for financial aid purposes, and must provide parental information. Veterans may be entitled to educational benefits as a result of their service in the Armed Forces. See the section in this handbook on veterans benefits for additional information. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 85 Q: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I FILE MY FAFSA? The financial aid office mails a letter of eligibility to you. The FAFSA* is a comprehensive application that is used nationwide to apply for federal and state aid. All students are urged to apply for aid as soon as possible, after January 1 of the calendar year in which the academic year* begins. When completing the FAFSA the student must enter Camden County College’s federal school code (006865) in step six so that the financial aid office will receive the student’s information. The College receives the student’s information in an electronic document called an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR*). The ISIR is an electronic version of the processed FAFSA that is imported into the financial aid office’s database. It contains the same information as the paper Student Aid Report (SAR*) that the federal processor mails to the student. If the student has information missing from his/her application, the financial aid office mails a letter advising the student as to what information is required. If the student is selected for verification, she/he will be notified as to what documents she/he is required to submit. The financial aid office reviews the student’s FAFSA information to determine if the student is eligible for scholarships, grants, loans or work-study. The financial aid office then mails the student a letter advising the student of his/her financial aid eligibility. This letter of eligibility is called an award letter*. The financial aid normally requires approximately thirty days from the point when the student’s file is complete to mail an award letter. Q: PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE FAFSA IS PROCESSED. Once the student has completed and submitted the FAFSA, it will be processed by the Department of Education and by the College. This initial processing typically requires three weeks. After the Department of Education has processed the student’s FAFSA, a confirmation called the Student Aid Report (SAR*) will be mailed to the student. If the FAFSA was submitted electronically, and the student provided an e-mail address, the SAR will be e-mailed. If the student did not provide an e-mail address, or submitted the FAFSA on paper, the department will mail a paper SAR to the address on the FAFSA. Aid from most financial aid programs is awarded on the basis of financial need*. The information reported on the FAFSA is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC*). The formula used to calculate your EFC is established by law, and is used to measure your family’s financial strength based on their income and assets. The EFC is used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid. Worksheets that show how the EFC is calculated can be downloaded from the federal student aid Web site, www.ifap.ed.gov. At the Web site, under FSA Library, click on current publications by title, then click on E in the alphabet list across the top of the page to go to EFC formula information. To determine your financial eligibility, your EFC is deducted from your educational expense budget, also known as your Cost Of Attendance (COA*). The amount remaining, if any, represents the maximum amount of need-based aid you may receive. Need-based aid includes grants, loans and work-study. The equation looks like this: Cost – EFC = Need After the FAFSA has been initially screened, a financial aid officer will analyze the data. In this review, the student’s eligibility for financial aid grants and work-study will be evaluated. If the file is complete, and no discrepancies or problems exist, an award will be calculated for the eligible student. The College then mails a letter to the student advising as to grant and work-study eligibility. This notification letter is called an award letter*. Students should keep the award letter for future reference. Students who are not eligible for grants or work-study are so advised by letter. If a student cannot be awarded because the student’s file is incomplete, has errors, has discrepancies, or is selected for verification*, the student will be so advised in a letter as to what action is required and urged to comply in a timely manner, so any problems may be resolved and an award letter forwarded. Students who were previously enrolled (during the 2001 year and beyond) can check their current financial aid award status, their grades, transcript, schedule, account balance, registration, as well as make schedule adjustments and pay their bill on WebAdvisor on the College’s Web site. Visit the College’s home page at www.camdencc.edu via the “Popular Links” drop-down menu on the Web page and select WebAdvisor. Applicants who have questions regarding the award package are advised to read the information in the handbook pertaining to the calculation process and eligibility criteria for the various aid programs. Applicants who require further information and explanation should make an appointment in the financial aid office to speak with an advisor. 86 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Q: WHAT IS A SAR? A Student Aid Report. A Student Aid Report or SAR* is the document that the U.S. Department of Education mails to students after processing the FAFSA*. The Department will e-mail the SAR to students who provide an e-mail address when filing the FAFSA. The SAR contains all of the data from your FAFSA, and if it is valid, it will provide your EFC* (expected family contribution). The EFC will be used to determine your eligibility for aid. If there is a problem with your application, the SAR will contain explanatory comments that will advise the student how to begin to resolve the problem. Failure to sign the FAFSA will result in an invalid SAR. Q: HOW DO I CORRECT MY FAFSA? After the student has filed the FAFSA* and has received the SAR*, she/he should review the information for correctness and completeness. The receipt of the SAR is an important opportunity for the student to make updates to any information that is incorrect. Corrections can be made either on the paper SAR or on the electronic SAR. Corrections require approximately two weeks for processing. Q: HOW DO I RENEW MY FINANCIAL AID FOR SUBSEQUENT YEARS OF ENROLLMENT? File the FAFSA* for the appropriate year and meet all other eligibility criteria. At minimum: File the FAFSA by the deadline (May 1) Enroll as a matriculated student for a minimum of one credit Maintain satisfactory academic progress* (generally a 2.0 grade point average and a minimum 67% completion rate). Q: THE EFC LISTED ON MY SAR IS MORE THAN MY FAMILY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO MY EDUCATION. HOW DID THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CALCULATE MY EFC? Aid from most financial aid programs is awarded on the basis of financial need*. The information reported on the FAFSA* is used to calculate your EFC* (expected family contribution). The formula used to calculate your EFC is called congressional methodology and is established by law. The EFC is not a judgment of how much a family ought to be able to pay from current income. Rather, it is a measure of a family’s financial strength, based on their income and assets, and an estimate of a family’s capacity over time to absorb the costs of education. Even if you were not attending college, you and your family would incur costs (an “EFC”) for your support. The cost of your education is comprised of tuition, fees, books and also includes expenses for housing, food, clothing, utilities and other items that a person incurs, whether or not she/he is enrolled in college. Thus, a portion of your EFC usually represents those costs that your family is already absorbing for your daily living expenses. Q: WHAT TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID CAN I APPLY FOR AT CCC? Scholarships, grants, loans and work-study. The four most common types of financial aid are: Grants: Financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Grants are usually based on financial need*. Loans: Financial aid that must be repaid. Repayment includes the full principal borrowed plus interest. Scholarships: Financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Scholarships are usually based on merit. Financial aid that students can earn by working for an hourly wage. Work-Study*: The student’s eligibility for financial aid may increase or decrease from one year to the next, depending on the financial circumstances of the student and the family and program guidelines. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 87 Q: WILL MY FINANCIAL AID COVER ALL OF MY TUITION? Possibly. If the student is financially eligible, it is possible to receive sufficient financial aid (grants and loans) to fully cover tuition at CCC. There is a worksheet at the end of this handbook to assist you in estimating if your financial aid will cover your tuition, and other expenses, at CCC for the academic year*. Most families find the cost to attend CCC manageable. If your financial aid does not fully cover your CCC tuition, the College offers a payment plan that can assist in spreading out your out-of-pocket costs. Q: HOW DOES THE COLLEGE RECEIVE MY FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION IN ITS DATABASE? When you file your FAFSA*, you must indicate which institution(s) you want to receive the electronic version of your processed FAFSA by entering the federal school code in the appropriate section. CCC’s federal school code is 006865. Electronic filers can go online to add or delete institutional codes. Students also can add an institution’s code by calling the federal processor at 1-800-433-3243, or by mailing the paper SAR* to the federal processor. Q: WHAT IS A PIN AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Personal Identification Number A PIN* is an electronic access code number. Students and parents can use the PIN to electronically sign the FAFSA* when filing online. This expedites the entire process by eliminating the need to print and mail a signature page. Students also can use the PIN to sign a renewal FAFSA and FAFSA corrections, and to print a copy of the Student Aid Report (SAR*). Students (and parents of dependent* students) should go online to www.pin.ed.gov to apply for a PIN. Q: WHY IS THERE A SELECTIVE SERVICE STATUS QUESTION ON THE FAFSA? Under federal law, males who were born on or after January 1, 1960, who are at least 18 years old and are not currently on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, must be registered with the Selective Service. Students must comply with this law in order to receive federal, state or institution financial aid. According to law, a man must register with Selective Service within 30 days of his 18th birthday. Selective Service will accept late registrations but not after a man has reached age 26. The Selective Service System (SSS) is the independent federal agency responsible for conducting a fair, equitable and timely draft for the military in a crisis. Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Republic of Palau are exempt from registering. If you are a man who failed to register with the Selective Service during the compulsory timeframe, please read the section in this handbook on the Selective Service appeal process. Q: MY FAFSA WAS SELECTED FOR VERIFICATION, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? The financial aid office is required to collect additional information from you. Verification* is a review, mandated by law, conducted by the financial aid staff, wherein the applicant’s FAFSA* is compared to external documents such as the income tax return to substantiate the FAFSA data. Nearly one-half of each year’s financial aid applications are routinely reviewed in verification. Students whose FAFSAs are selected for verification should not feel that they have been singled out, nor should they feel that the financial aid office is suggesting that their FAFSA was falsified. The Department of Education requires that financial aid applications are verified to insure that funds are awarded as maximally as the law allows to eligible applicants. The financial aid office is required by federal regulation to resolve any discrepancies in information submitted, per verification, with that already in a student’s file. Resolution of discrepancies may result in revision to a student’s aid amounts and/or types. For more information about verification, read the section in this handbook entitled “The Verification Process”. Q: MY APPLICATION HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR VERIFICATION. DID I DO SOMETHING WRONG? Being selected for verification* does not necessarily indicate that something is wrong. 88 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook The U.S. Department of Education randomly selects approximately half of the financial aid applicants for a review of information, which must be checked or verified according to specific regulations. The College financial aid office is responsible for collecting the required documents from the student, verifying data and correcting information if required. The financial aid office may also select applications for verification that appear to contain discrepant information. In order to receive financial aid, all students whose applications have been selected for verification must provide all requested documents within specified deadlines. Q: I DO NOT HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE OR GED. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID? Possibly. In order to receive federal financial aid (grants, work-study and loans) the student must have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. In lieu of a high school diploma or GED, students age 18 and over will have the opportunity to demonstrate Ability To Benefit (ATB*). If you do not have a high school diploma or a GED, and you would like to apply for financial aid, you may take the ATB test in lieu of the diploma or certificate. The ATB test is named for the Ability To Benefit regulations governing the federal financial aid programs. The ATB regulations mandate that colleges require that students who lack a high school diploma or GED must demonstrate that they have sufficient academic skills to enroll in college courses. ATB Test - The ATB test consists of three sections: reading, sentence sense and arithmetic. You must meet or exceed the minimum score on each test to pass. If you do not meet or exceed all three passing scores, you must take the entire test over again. The test is available at the Blackwood, Camden and Cherry Hill testing locations during the scheduled placement test walk-in hours. Blackwood: Monday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Tuesday 12:30 – 3 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Thursday 12:30 – 6 p.m. Camden: Wednesday noon – 2 p.m. and 6 – 7 p.m. Cherry Hill: Saturday 9 – 10 a.m. Q: I HAVE A FEDERAL LOAN THAT IS IN DEFAULT. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID? Possibly, if your loan has been rehabilitated. When processing your FAFSA*, the U.S. Department of Education verifies your information with several federal agencies, including the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS*). The data exchange with NSLDS identifies if you are in default* on a federal educational loan, and if you owe money on a federal student grant. If you are currently in default of a federal educational loan, or if you owe money on a federal student grant, you are not eligible for financial aid funding (grants, work-study or loans) of any type. If you made, and have maintained, a satisfactory payment arrangement with the holder of your loan, you should submit documentation of such to the Office of Financial Aid. Usually a satisfactory payment arrangement will consist of a minimum of six monthly, on-time payments in the amount specified by the holder of your loan to that entity. Acceptable documentation of same is a letter from the holder of your loan on letterhead, stating that you have maintained a satisfactory payment arrangement and are eligible for federal aid. The financial aid office cannot accept verbal statements, nor can we accept receipts for your payments as adequate documentation that you have maintained a satisfactory payment arrangement and are eligible for federal aid. Q: CAN I USE MY FINANCIAL AID TO PAY FOR MY BOOKS? Yes, if your financial aid eligibility is sufficient. As a service to eligible financial aid recipients, the College offers students the opportunity to purchase books and supplies using financial aid funds (that exceed tuition and fees) as a book allowance. In order to access the book allowance, a student is either issued a Student Disbursement Card (SDC) or a paper book voucher. The book allowance is an early refund of financial aid funds (e.g. the Pell* or TAG* grant or a Stafford* loan). Your book allowance is deducted from your grants and loans; it is not a separate or additional type of financial aid. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 89 The financial aid office will calculate your book allowance each semester, based upon your registration status and financial aid eligibility, as it stands approximately four to six weeks before the semester begins. If you change your schedule by dropping or adding classes subsequent to this point, your book allowance may not correctly reflect your registration status and financial aid eligibility. If your financial aid does not cover your bookstore purchases because your registration status changed, you became ineligible for some or all of your financial aid, a calculation error was made, you did not attend any classes, or for any other reasons whatsoever, you are still responsible for payment in full of any amount that you spend in the bookstore(s). Q: WHAT IS A FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE? A financial aid package* is the end result when the financial aid office, using all available federal and state aid, makes an award offer reflecting all of the aid for which a student has applied and is eligible. Because funds for all programs are limited, the amount awarded may be less than the total amount of unmet need*. The financial aid package is presented to the student in the form of an award letter*. Q: DO I HAVE TO BE A FULL-TIME STUDENT IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID? No. You do not have to enroll full time in order to be eligible for financial aid. Several state and federal programs provide funds to students who are part time: EOF*, GEAR UP*, PELL*, PLUS Loan*, SEOG*, TAG*, Stafford Loan*, Federal Work-Study*, among others. The Veterans Administration also offers benefits to part-time students (contact the financial aid office for individual determination, e-mail at va@camdencc.edu or call 856 374-4960). Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SUBSIDIZED AND AN UNSUBSIDIZED STAFFORD LOAN? Whether or not the student is required to pay interest while enrolled. A Stafford* loan is a government-guaranteed loan available to students under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). The subsidized* Stafford is need* based, and the government pays the interest while you are in school. The unsubsidized* Stafford is not need* based, and the student is responsible for the interest payments while attending school. The student can elect to pay the interest while in school or defer it until after graduation. If the student defers the interest, it will be capitalized and will raise the overall cost of the loan. Q: I AM YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS OF AGE AND DO NOT HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE OR GED. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID? No. Students who are younger than eighteen years of age must have either a high school diploma or a GED certificate in order to receive federal financial aid (grants, work-study and loans). Q: AS A FINANCIAL AID APPLICANT, DOES IT MATTER WHAT MY MAJOR IS AT CCC? Yes. Not all majors are eligible to be funded under the financial aid programs. In order to meet the minimum enrollment criteria for financial aid, you must be matriculated in an eligible undergraduate program that leads to a degree or certificate. Although most majors at CCC are eligible for funding, not all undergraduate certificate programs are eligible for financial aid. As a very general guideline, certificate programs that require less than one academic year to complete are not usually eligible for financial aid. Continuing education courses are not eligible for financial aid. 90 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Q: I AM AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD AND DO NOT HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE OR GED. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID? Possibly. Prospective students who do not have a high school diploma or GED have the opportunity to demonstrate Ability To Benefit* (ATB) from financial aid. Students can demonstrate ability to benefit by taking the Accuplacer test and scoring at least 55 in reading comprehension, at least 60 in sentence skills and at least 34 in arithmetic. Students who demonstrate ability to benefit will not be denied financial aid because they lack a high school diploma or GED. The College’s testing and assessment office administers the Accuplacer test and will provide score results and placement information. Q: I AM NOT A U.S. CITIZEN. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID? Possibly. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible for aid if you are an eligible non-citizen. As an eligible non-citizen, you must have a valid alien registration number and your status must be confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security. If you are neither a U.S. citizen nor an eligible non-citizen, under federal law, the financial aid office is not permitted to offer any type of financial assistance to you. Q: MY CURRENT INCOME IS LESS THAN MY INCOME FROM LAST YEAR THAT I LISTED ON MY FAFSA. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR A FINANCIAL AID ADJUSTMENT? Possibly. The FAFSA* collects information about a family’s income and assets from the previous year (the base year*). For most people, this information is a good predictor of the current year’s income, since most people do not experience wide swings in income from year to year. If, however, a family’s income in the current year will be significantly different (more than 20 percent) from last year’s, the student should notify the financial aid office in writing, by completing the Income Reduction application, and including all available documentation. Reductions in income that are caused by involuntary job loss, non-reimbursed medical expenses that exceed 3% of the adjusted gross income, separation, divorce, death of a wage earner, or the like may be considered. If the student’s circumstances meet these criteria, the FAO will recalculate the financial aid award, based upon the estimated current year figures for the academic year*. At the discretion of the financial aid office, the family may be required to provide documentation (such as final pay stub, or an estimated return) for evaluation of the change in financial standing. Regrettably, the FAO is not able to consider reductions in income due to voluntary job changes, back taxes owed, high consumer debt, multiple mortgages, employment bonuses received in the previous year, overtime, self-employment losses, fluctuations in income from commission sales, or discretionary purchases. Q: MAY I USE MY FINANCIAL AID TO PAY FOR MY PARKING PASS AT THE CTC BUILDING? Yes. If your financial aid is sufficient to pay for your tuition, fees, books and other account charges, and a credit balance remains, you are permitted to charge your parking pass to your student account. Check with the welcome desk at the CTC center for more information about the types of parking passes that are available. Contact the Camden Campus business office in the CTC building for additional information. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 91 COMPLETING THE FAFSA APPLICATION FAQ’S For additional information about these topics read the applicable section in this book. Q: CAN A STAFF MEMBER COMPLETE MY FAFSA FOR ME? College staff members are usually not permitted to complete the FAFSA for an applicant. On an exception basis when the applicant has a documented disability that prevents him or her from writing or typing, the financial aid staff will assist in the completion of the FAFSA. The applicant remains fully responsible for the information she/he supplies to complete the FAFSA. Q: HOW OFTEN SHOULD I APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID? Once for each academic year by May 1. You are required to reapply for financial aid for each academic year. The annual FAFSA application applies for aid for the fall, spring and summer semesters. For the new academic year’s fall semester, you must submit a new FAFSA. The College’s priority deadline for submission of the FAFSA is May 1. Q: I MISSED THE FINANCIAL AID DEADLINE. WHAT SHOULD I DO? Submit your FAFSA as soon as possible. The financial aid deadline (May 1) is a priority deadline. A priority deadline is set to assist students with filing in time to have an answer to plan for their enrollment. If you miss the deadline, you should file as soon as possible. Some forms of financial aid are limited, and as such, are only available to applicants who meet filing deadlines. You will be awarded based upon the funds that are available when your file is complete. If you miss the filing deadline, you may have to pay for your tuition and books and then wait to be reimbursed, should you qualify for financial aid. Q: I DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO COMPLETE MY FAFSA. SHOULD I JUST GUESS? No! You should never guess when completing your FAFSA. It is best to gather all of the information that you will need prior to beginning to complete your FAFSA. Much of the information on your FAFSA is checked by the Department of Education and the Office of Financial Aid for accuracy. Submitting your FAFSA with inaccurate information slows down the processing of your financial aid. For example, you should not guess at your parent’s Social Security Number, if you do not know the answer to that question. If you are uncertain as to your answers on the FAFSA, you can save the information that you have completed and reopen the application at a later time. If you will miss the deadline, if you wait a day to check the accuracy of your information, you should submit an incomplete application (be certain to complete as much as you can) so that your application is received on time. You must then update your application with your complete information, as soon as possible. Q: WHAT HAPPENS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO FALSIFY INFORMATION ON FINANCIAL AID FORMS? Applicants, students, parents, spouses or others who knowingly provide false or misleading information on any financial aid document (financial aid documents include, but are not limited to, the FAFSA*, verification* forms, Work-study* time cards, appeal applications, correspondence, and loan applications) will be referred for disciplinary action, which may include loss of financial aid, reprimand, suspension or expulsion from the College. Additionally, students so identified will be billed for all aid disbursed, and may face criminal prosecution by the Department of Education, which may result in imprisonment, a fine of $20,000 or both. Q: I WAS NOT MARRIED LAST YEAR, OR WAS MARRIED FOR ONLY PART OF THE YEAR. AM I REQUIRED TO INCLUDE MY NEW SPOUSE’S INFORMATION ON THE FAFSA? Yes. The regulations governing the financial aid programs require you to include your new spouse’s income and other information on your FAFSA, if you are married on the day that you complete the FAFSA. You are required to include your spouse’s information even if you were married for only part of the year, or were not married at all last year. 92 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Q: I AM PLANNING TO GET MARRIED. SHOULD I INCLUDE MY NEW SPOUSE’S INFORMATION ON THE FAFSA? The regulations governing the financial aid programs require you to include your new spouse’s income and other information on your FAFSA if you are married on the day that you complete the FAFSA. Thus, the date that you complete your FAFSA, as compared to the date that you get married, determines if you are required to include your spouse’s information. Q: MY PARENTS ARE SEPARATED OR DIVORCED. WHOSE INFORMATION DO I USE ON MY FAFSA? WHAT IF THEY FILED JOINTLY? If you are a dependent* student, you should report the information for your custodial parent. If you do not live with either parent you should report the information for the parent with whom you last resided. If your parents filed a joint income tax return, the FAFSA filing parent should calculate his/her portion of the income and taxes and use those numbers to complete the FAFSA. If your parent is either paying or receiving spousal or child support, you must report those numbers on the FAFSA. Q: I AM SEPARATED OR DIVORCED. DO I REPORT MY SPOUSE’S INFORMATION ON MY FAFSA? WHAT IF WE FILED JOINTLY LAST YEAR? No. Report only your information. If you and your (former) spouse filed a joint income tax return, you should calculate your portion of the income and taxes and use those numbers to complete the FAFSA. If you are either paying or receiving spousal or child support, you must report those numbers on the FAFSA. Q: MY SPOUSE REFUSES TO PROVIDE HIS/HER INFORMATION ON THE FAFSA. WHAT SHOULD I DO? If your spouse (to whom you are married but not separated or divorced) refuses to complete the FAFSA, you (or your child) are ineligible for financial aid, including the Stafford loan. Contact the financial aid office to discuss alternative sources of funding (principally loans). Q: MY PARENT(S) REFUSES TO PROVIDE HIS/HER INFORMATION ON THE FAFSA. WHAT SHOULD I DO? If your parent(s) refuses to complete the FAFSA, you are ineligible for financial aid, including the Stafford loan. Contact the financial aid office to discuss alternative sources of funding (principally loans). Q: I DO NOT HAVE A COPY OF MY TAX RETURN OR W-2. WHAT SHOULD I DO? If you are required to submit tax documents to the financial aid office or HESAA*, as part of the verification* process, you must request your tax records from your preparer or from the IRS. Q: I WORKED “UNDER THE TABLE” AND DID NOT FILE AN INCOME TAX RETURN. AM I REQUIRED TO FILE A TAX RETURN TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID? If the financial aid office requests that you submit your income tax return, you must do so. If you are unwilling or unable to produce a copy of your income tax return, your financial aid application will be considered incomplete and you will therefore be ineligible for financial aid, including most loans. Under IRS regulations, individuals who meet certain income thresholds (regardless of the source of that income) are required to file a federal tax return. Under Department of Education regulations, students, parents and spouses who are selected for verification*, and who were required to file a federal return, must submit a copy of the tax return. Individuals who work “under the table”, or who otherwise have earned income that was not taxed but whose earnings are at or exceed IRS filing thresholds, must present a tax return to the financial aid office. If the student, parent or spouse was required under IRS regulations to file but failed to do so, and as a result cannot produce a tax return, the student is therefore ineligible for financial aid. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 93 Q: I AM EXPECTING A CHILD. AM I PERMITTED TO INCLUDE MY UNBORN CHILD AS A FAMILY MEMBER ON THE FAFSA? If the child is expected to be born during the academic year, you are permitted to include him/her in your family size on the FAFSA. You may be required to submit confirmation of the birth to the financial aid office. You may also be required to document that you financially support the child’s expenses in order to claim him/her for purposes of applying for financial aid. Q: I HAVE A CHILD. AM I AUTOMATICALLY INDEPENDENT FOR PURPOSES OF FILING THE FAFSA? No. In order to be independent by virtue of claiming a dependent child, you must be able to document that you supply 51% or more of the child’s expenses. If someone else supports the child (the child’s other parent, a grandparent, et cetera) then you are not independent and must file as a dependent student. Q: MAY I USE MY FINANCIAL AID TO ADD MONEY TO MY COUGAR CARD TO PAY FOR FOOD? Yes. If your financial aid is sufficient to pay for your tuition, fees, books and other account charges, and a credit balance remains, you are permitted to transfer a portion of your financial aid to your cougar card. You are permitted to transfer anticipated financial aid funds to your Cougar Cards to purchase food and beverages in the Blackwood cafeteria. During the first month of the semester, the amount you can transfer will be limited. You can also load your Cougar Card with cash. Contact the Blackwood business office in Wilson Center for additional information. Q: MAY I USE MY FINANCIAL AID TO PAY FOR MY GYM FEES AT RUTGERS? Yes. If your financial aid is sufficient to pay for your tuition, fees, books and other account charges, and a credit balance remains, you are permitted to use your financial aid toward your gym membership at Rutgers. Please contact the Camden Campus business office in the CTC building for additional information. 94 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Q: CAN MY AID FOR THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR BE USED TO PAY A PAST-DUE BALANCE? It is unlikely that you will be able to use current aid to pay a past balance. Under the federal regulations governing the financial aid programs, the College is not permitted to allow students to use current academic year* aid to pay past balances, except as follows: Did the past-due balance originate from a semester prior to the current academic year? YES YES * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 95 WHAT EXPENSES DOES FINANCIAL AID COVER FAQ’S For additional information about thess topics read the applicable section in this book. Q: ARE MY TUITION AND FEES DEDUCTED FROM FINANCIAL AID? Yes. Your tuition and fees are deducted from your financial aid (grants and loans) first. If any financial aid remains after your tuition and fees are deducted, you may be permitted to purchase books and supplies in the campus bookstores with those funds. If a book voucher is issued to you, that money is deducted from your financial aid. The book voucher is not a separate or additional type of financial aid. The cost of your classes, fees, books and supplies will be deducted from your stipend before it is issued to you. In rare cases due to timing issues, your stipend check may be issued prior to all of your charges being deducted from your refund. Even if you have already been issued a stipend check, you will remain responsible for any charges to your account and must pay those amounts to the College. Q: AM I ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID FOR SUMMER CLASSES? If you enrolled on a less than full-time basis in the fall or spring semester, you may have remaining financial aid eligibility for summer classes. For example: if your Pell eligibility for the full year was $2,000, and you used $1,000 in the fall and $500 in the spring, you have $500 remaining in Pell to use during the summer. For assistance in determining if you have remaining financial aid eligibility for summer classes, contact the financial aid office. Q: AM I ELIGIBLE FINANCIAL AID FOR WINTER INTERSESSION CLASSES? If you are enrolled and eligible for financial aid for the spring semester, you may use a portion of that aid to pay for your winter intersession classes. In order to do so, your spring semester aid must exceed your tuition and fee costs for the spring semester. For assistance in determining if you have remaining financial aid eligibility for winter intersession classes, contact the financial aid office. Q: IS MY BOOK VOUCHER MONEY DEDUCTED FROM MY FINANCIAL AID? Yes. Your tuition and fees are deducted from your financial aid (grants and loans) first. If any financial aid remains after your tuition and fees are deducted, you may be permitted to purchase books and supplies in the campus bookstores with those funds. If a book voucher is issued to you, that money is deducted from your financial aid. The book voucher is not a separate or additional type of financial aid. The cost of your classes, fees, books and supplies will be deducted from your stipend before it is issued to you. In rare cases due to timing issues, your stipend check may be issued prior to all of your charges being deducted from your refund. Even if you have already been issued a stipend check, you will remain responsible for any charges to your account and must pay those amounts to the College. Q: AM I LIMITED IN WHAT I CAN PURCHASE WITH MY BOOK VOUCHER OR STIPEND? Yes. Any financial aid balance paid to you in either a book voucher or stipend is designated for bona fide educational expenses. You are not authorized to purchase non-educationally related books and supplies or other items. For example, it is improper for you to use your book voucher to purchase an mp3 player or DVDs, unless those items are required of you by your faculty member on your course syllabus. It is also improper for you to transfer your financial aid to others, by purchasing items for others using your book voucher. Likewise, it is improper for you to spend your stipend on non-educationally related goods or services. Remember, by signing your FAFSA and the Authorization/Certification form, you agreed to use your financial aid only for educational expenses. 96 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Q: MAY I HAVE A BOOK VOUCHER FOR SUMMER CLASSES? If you enrolled less than full-time in the fall or spring semester, you may have remaining financial aid eligibility for summer classes, as well as books. For example: if your Pell eligibility for the full year was $2,000, and you used $1,000 in the fall and $500 in the spring, you have $500 remaining in Pell to use during the summer. For assistance in determining if you have remaining financial aid eligibility for a summer book voucher, contact the financial aid office. Q: MAY I HAVE A BOOK VOUCHER FOR WINTER INTERSESSION CLASSES? The financial aid office does not normally issue book vouchers for winter intersession classes. However, if you are enrolled and eligible for financial aid for the spring semester, you may be able to use a portion of that aid to pay for your winter intersession books. In order to do so, your spring semester aid must exceed your tuition, fee and book costs for the spring semester. For assistance in determining if you have remaining financial aid eligibility for winter intersession books, contact the financial aid office. Q: WHAT IF MY BOOK VOUCHER IS NOT ENOUGH FOR MY BOOKS AND SUPPLIES? If the total cost of your required books and supplies exceeds the amount that the financial aid office has authorized to you in your book voucher, you may make an appeal to the office. In order for your book voucher amount to be increased, the following criteria must be met: 1. 2. 3. You must have sufficient financial aid eligibility for additional book voucher authorization; You must not have spent your initial authorization improperly; and You must have remaining required books and supplies that you have not purchased. The decision to authorize additional book funds to you is wholly at the discretion of the financial aid office. Q: WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT SPEND ALL OF THE MONEY ON MY BOOK VOUCHER? Any money that remains unspent on your book voucher, after the expiration date, will be refunded to you in your stipend. Stipend checks are mailed after the midpoint of the semester. Q: WHEN ARE STIPEND CHECKS MAILED? Stipend checks are mailed after the midpoint of the semester. Stipend checks are typically mailed after the following dates: Fall Semester - October 30 Spring Semester - March 30 Summer Semester - June 30 Q: AM I PERMITTED TO PICK UP MY STIPEND CHECK? No. Due to the high volume of stipend checked that the College processes students are not permitted to pick up their checks in person. All stipend checks are mailed. Q: I DID NOT RECEIVE MY STIPEND CHECK. WHAT SHOULD I DO? If your stipend check is lost after it is mailed, you must wait two weeks after the mail date to file a lost check claim, with the business office. In the event of a lost check claim the business office will process a stop-payment and will reissue your check. The stop-payment and reissue process normally requires two weeks to complete. If you believe that your stipend check was stolen, you should report the theft immediately. For additional information about stipend checks, read page 78-80 in this book. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 97 ACADEMIC PROGRESS FAQ’S For additional information about this topic read the academic process section in this book. Q: DO MY GRADES MATTER FOR FINANCIAL AID? Yes. Your grades, your rate of credit completion, the number of remedial/ESL classes that you take and the number of total credits that you attempt and earn all impact you financial aid eligibility. The financial aid office is required by federal law to monitor your academic standing, as it impacts your eligibility for aid. It is critical that you understand how your academic progress impacts your financial aid eligibility. For additional information on academic progress, read pages 70-73 in this book. Q: MY USAP* APPEAL WAS APPROVED FOR A PAST SMESTER. WHY AM I REQUIRED TO APPEAL AGAIN? The financial aid office is required by federal law to calculate each aid applicant’s academic standing at the end of each academic year. All financial aid recipients are required to be in satisfactory academic standing at the beginning of each academic year, or the financial aid office is not permitted to disburse additional aid to them. If you were granted a USAP appeal for a past semester, but your overall academic standing is still unsatisfactory, you must submit an appeal again for each semester going forward. The USAP appeal committee will review your written appeal and your grades prior to and during your semester of appeal, in order to render a decision. Q: I WAS ENROLLED AT CCC MANY YEARS AGO. DO MY GRADES FROM YEARS AGO COUNT FOR FINANCIAL ACADEMIC STANDING? Yes. The financial aid office is required by federal law to calculate all of the classes for which you have ever enrolled when we measure your academic progress. The financial aid office is not permitted to exclude classes because you completed them ten, fifteen, twenty or thirty years ago. If you are in unsatisfactory academic standing for financial aid, you are not eligible to receive financial aid (including loans). You may submit a written appeal to the financial aid appeals committee. For additional information on academic progress, read pages 70-73 in this book. Q: I PAID FOR MY CLASSES IN THE PAST WITHOUT FINANCIAL AID. DO THOSE CLASSES COUNT FOR FINANCIAL AID ACADEMIC PROGRESS? Yes. The financial aid office is required by federal law to calculate all of the classes for which you have ever enrolled when we measure your academic progress. All of your classes are counted, regardless of who paid for them. The financial aid office is not permitted to exclude classes because you did not receive aid at the time. When a student applies for financial aid, she/he must be in satisfactory academic standing at that point in time, and must meet all other eligibility requirements, in order to be awarded. If you are in unsatisfactory academic standing for financial aid, you are not eligible to receive financial aid (including loans). You may submit a written appeal to the financial aid appeals committee. For additional information on academic progress, read pages 70-73 in this book. Q: I WAS GRANTED ACADEMIC FORGIVENESS. DOES THAT MEAN I AM AUTOMATICALLY IN SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC STANDING FOR FINANCIAL AID? No. The academic appeal process is separate from, and does not update, your financial aid academic progress standing. 98 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook The financial aid office is required by federal law to calculate all of the classes for which you have ever enrolled, when we measure your academic progress. The financial aid office is not permitted to exclude classes from the academic progress calculation. Thus, although you have been granted academic forgiveness, you may remain in unsatisfactory academic standing for financial aid. If you are in unsatisfactory academic standing for financial aid, you are not eligible to receive financial aid (including loans). You may submit a written appeal to the financial aid appeals committee. For additional information on academic progress, read pages 70-73 in this book. Q: I WAS GRANTED A TUITION REFUND APPEAL. DOES THAT MEAN I AM AUTOMATICALLY IN SATISFACTORY STANDING FOR FINANCIAL AID? No. The tuition refund appeal process is separate from, and does not update, your financial aid academic standing. The financial aid office is required by federal law to calculate all of the classes for which you have ever enrolled when we measure your academic progress. The financial aid office is not permitted to exclude classes from the academic progress calculation. Thus, although you have been granted a tuition refund appeal you may be in unsatisfactory academic standing for financial aid. If you are in unsatisfactory academic standing for financial aid, you are not eligible to receive financial aid (including loans). You may submit a written appeal to the financial aid appeals committee. For additional information on academic progress read pages 70-73 in this book. Q: SHOULD I WITHDRAW FROM A CLASS IN ORDER TO AVOID A GRADE OF “F”? Both an “F” and a “W” negatively impact your academic standing for financial aid (as do “XA’s” and NA’s” and other negative grades). The grade of “W” counts as an attempted class for which you have earned no credit, thus negatively impacting your rate of credit completion. The grade of “F” has the additional impact of lowering your grade point average. Both F’s and W’s are to be avoided whenever possible. If however, you are facing a situation where failing a class is a near certainty, withdrawing (by the published deadline) is more prudent to avoid lowering your grade point average. Remember, the “W” will also negatively impact your academic standing and may (in combination with your other grades) cause you to become ineligible for financial aid. If you are already receiving financial aid on an appeal basis, you are required to receive grades of “A”, “B” and “C” only in order to continue your eligibility. Q: IF MY USAP APPEAL IS GRANTED AND I AM STILL USAP AT THE END OF THE SPRING SEMESTER, AM I ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID FOR THE NEXT YEAR? No. The financial aid office is required by federal law to calculate each aid applicant’s academic standing at the end of each academic year. All financial aid recipients are required to be in satisfactory academic standing at the beginning of each academic year, or the financial aid office is not permitted to disburse additional aid to them. If you were granted a USAP appeal for a past semester, but your overall academic standing is still unsatisfactory, you must submit an appeal again for each semester going forward. The USAP appeal committee will review your written appeal and your grades, prior to and during your semester of appeal, in order to render a decision. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 99 DEPENDENCY STATUS FAQ’S For additional information about this topic read the dependency override section in this book. Q: I WAS GRANTED A DEPENDENCY OVERRIDE LAST YEAR. AM I REQUIRED TO REAPPLY EVERY YEAR? Yes. You are required to reapply each year to confirm that the circumstances on which your dependency override were granted persist. At the discretion of the financial aid office, you will be required to reconfirm those circumstances that are subject to change. Contact the financial aid office to discuss your status. Q: I WAS GRANTED A DEPENDENCY OVERRIDE AT ANOTHER COLLEGE. AM I REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A DEPENDENCY OVERRIDE AT CCC? Yes. Dependency overrides do not carry forward from one institution to another. You are required to apply for a dependency override at CCC. You are required to document your circumstances, in full, for the financial aid office at CCC. CCC is not bound by the decision made at your prior institution. If your dependency override is granted, you are required to reapply at CCC each year to confirm that the circumstances on which your dependency override were granted persist. At the discretion of the financial aid office, you will be required to reconfirm those circumstances that are subject to change. Contact the financial aid office to discuss your status. Q: MY PARENT(S) REFUSES TO PROVIDE THEIR INFORMATION ON THE FAFSA. DOES THAT MAKE ME INDEPENDENT? No. If your parent(s) refuses to complete the FAFSA, you are ineligible for financial aid, including the Stafford loan. Contact the financial aid office to discuss alternative sources of funding (principally loans). Q: I DO NOT LIVE WITH MY PARENTS. DOES THAT MAKE ME INDEPENDENT? No. Your dependency status is not based upon your place of residency. Your parents must complete the FAFSA application. If your parent(s) refuses to complete the FAFSA you are ineligible for financial aid, including the Stafford loan. Contact the financial aid office to discuss alternative sources of funding (principally loans). Q: I AM LIVING WITH MY BOYFRIEND OR GIRLFRIEND. DOES THAT MAKE ME INDEPENDENT? No. Your dependency status is not based upon your place of residency. Your parents must complete the FAFSA application. If your parent(s) refuses to complete the FAFSA, you are ineligible for financial aid, including the Stafford loan. Contact the financial aid office to discuss alternative sources of funding (principally loans). Q: I HAVE A CHILD. DOES THAT MAKE ME INDEPENDENT? No. Not necessarily. In order to be independent by virtue of claiming a dependent child, you must be able to document that you supply 51% or more of the child’s expenses. If someone else supports the child (the child’s other parent, a grandparent, et cetera) then you are not independent and must file as a dependent student. 100 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL AID FAQ’S For additional information about thess topics read the applicable section in this book. Q: IS A LOAN CONSIDERED TO BE FINANCIAL AID? Yes. Most education loans (Stafford, PLUS and NJCLASS) are forms of financial aid. Financial aid loans are usually offered at below market interest rates, and are guaranteed by the federal or state government. Most financial aid loans require the FAFSA as part of the loan application process. In order to qualify for a financial aid loan, the applicant must meet the same types of eligibility requirements as grant recipients, such as satisfactory academic progress and enrollment. Q: DOES THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE RECOMMEND LENDERS? The financial aid office does not maintain a preferred lender list. The office staff does recommend lenders to parents and students, based upon the lender’s favorable interest rates, repayment terms and record of customer service. The office follows federal guidelines in its selection of lenders that it endorses. Neither the financial aid staff nor the College receives any financial incentives from any lender. Students and parents remain completely free to choose any lender for their education loan borrowing needs. The financial aid office will process any properly completed loan application that is submitted for an eligible borrower. Q: I AM A NURSING STUDENT. HOW DOES MY MAJOR AFFECT MY FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY? Third-year nursing students, who have earned at least 61 credits, are eligible to borrow at the highest Stafford undergraduate annual maximum. (See the Stafford loan eligibility chart on page 45 for additional information). Stafford loans for nursing students, who enroll such that they will complete their program by attending only one semester of the academic year*, must be prorated. Under federal regulation, when students will complete their program during a single semester of the academic year, the financial aid staff is required to reduce the Stafford loan to the percentage of the annual loan limit that corresponds to the student’s enrollment. Thus, under the federal loan proration rules, a student who is enrolled full time for one semester is usually limited to 50% of the annual loan amount, and a student who is enrolled half-time for one semester is usually limited to 25% of the annual loan amount. Nursing students are permitted to attempt a maximum of 134 credits, after which they are no longer eligible for financial aid, including loans. Students who enroll in the nursing program, after attempting significant numbers of credits, may find that they become ineligible for financial aid before they complete their degree. If you plan to enter the nursing program, and have already accumulated a significant number of credits, make an appointment with a financial aid advisor to discuss your future aid eligibility. Q: WILL MY GIRLFRIEND, BOYFRIEND, NEIGHBOR, SPOUSE, OR OTHER INTERESTED PARTY BE GIVEN ACCESS TO MY FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION? Students have a right (as defined by FERPA*) to the privacy of their financial aid information. Students (and any others who inquire about an applicant’s status) are required to properly identify themselves in order to receive service. Students should present their College identification card or a state issued photo ID card. Normally, financial aid information cannot be disclosed to anyone except the applicant and the filing parent, without written permission from the student (and parent if applicable). The financial aid staff is governed by strict federal privacy laws and is therefore limited in both the type of information that we can release, and the persons to whom student information can be disclosed. For additional information, please read the FERPA section, page 8. Q: I AM THE PARENT. WILL THE COLLEGE DISCLOSE MY CHILD’S ACADEMIC INFORMATION TO ME? Students have a right (as defined by FERPA*) to the privacy of their academic information. Students (and any others who inquire about an applicant’s status) are required to properly identify themselves in order to receive service. Students should present their College identification card or a state issued photo ID card. Normally, academic information cannot be disclosed to anyone except the student, without written permission from the student. The financial aid staff is governed by strict federal privacy laws and is therefore limited in both the type of information that we can release, and the persons to whom student information can be disclosed. For additional information, please read the FERPA section, page 8. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 101 Q: AM I REQUIRED TO REPORT MY STIPEND AS TAXABLE INCOME? Need-based grants such as Pell*, SEOG*, EOF*, and TAG* and merit-based scholarships alike may be taxable income to you, when they are refunded to you and used for living expenses. Grants and scholarships are tax free to the extent used for qualified education expenses, during the semester for which a grant is awarded. Any amount of your grant that exceeds the cost of tuition, fees, books and supplies is taxable income to you. Only the taxable amount of your grants and scholarships must be reported on your federal tax return. Education loan funds are not taxable income. Federal work study wages may be reportable as taxable income depending upon the student’s total earnings and other income during the tax year. See page 80 in this book for additional information. For specific information about how your receipt of grants may affect you, contact your tax professional. Q: AM I REQUIRED TO REPORT MY FWS* WAGES AS TAXABLE INCOME? Federal work-study wages may be reportable as taxable income, depending upon your total earnings and other income during the tax year. For specific information about how your receipt of FWS may affect you, contact your tax professional. Q: WHY WAS I ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS FOR ONE YEAR AND NOT ANOTHER? Each year the student’s financial aid eligibility is calculated based upon the information from that year’s FAFSA. For most students, provided that the FAFSA information has not changed significantly from the prior year, their financial aid funding will be level, or may even increase. If there are changes in the FAFSA information, such as to income, family size, number in college or assets, the resulting financial aid eligibility may be significantly different. If you have questions about why your eligibility for financial aid changed from a prior year, please contact the financial aid office to discuss your status. Q: I AM RECEIVING A SCHOLARSHIP OR OTHER ASSISTANCE. HOW DO I LET THE COLLEGE KNOW? If you are receiving financial assistance of any type from an external agency or organization you are required to notify the College in writing. If the funds are to be remitted directly to the College, provide the payer with the student account office information (below) as the recipient office. Contact the student accounts office for information about your account balance, your account obligations and obtaining a promissory note for your thirdparty payment. Checks and letters should be forwarded to: Student Accounts Office P.O. Box 200 College Drive Blackwood, NJ 08012 The receipt of external financial assistance may impact your eligibility for other types of financial aid. Please contact the financial aid office for additional information about your status. Q: A THIRD-PARTY IS PAYING MY TUITION (DVR, OVR, VA CHAPTER 31, ET CETERA). HOW DO I LET THE COLLEGE KNOW? If you are receiving financial assistance of any type from an external agency or organization, you are required to notify the College in writing. If the funds are to be remitted directly to the College provide the payer with the student aaccount office information (below) as the recipient office. Contact the student accounts office for information about your account balance, your account obligations and obtaining a promissory note for your thirdparty payment. Checks and letters should be forwarded to: Student Accounts Office P.O. Box 200 College Drive Blackwood, NJ 08012 102 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook The receipt of external financial assistance may impact your eligibility for other types of financial aid. Please contact the financial aid office for additional information about your status. Q: AM I REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A FAFSA TO APPLY FOR A TUITION WAIVER PROGRAM? Yes. You must submit a FAFSA as part of the application process for the tuition waiver programs. You must also submit other documents. See pages 58-60 for additional information about the waiver programs. Q: I AM ELIGIBLE FOR VETERANS BENEFITS. AM I REQUIRED TO PAY MY TUITION? Veterans Montgomery GI Bill benefits are reimbursement programs. Therefore, you must pay your account charges to CCC by published payment due dates. The VA pays the College directly for those veterans who have Chapter 31 eligibility. Eligible Chapter 31 veterans are usually not required to make payment directly to the College. If you are eligible for Chapter 31 benefits, provide the payer with the student account office information (below) as the recipient office. Contact the student accounts office for information about your account balance, your account obligations and obtaining a promissory note for your VA payment. Checks and letters should be forwarded to: Student Accounts Office P.O. Box 200 College Drive Blackwood, NJ 08012 The receipt of external financial assistance may impact your eligibility for other types of financial aid. Please contact the financial aid office for additional information about your status. Please read the veterans’ section of this book for additional information. Q: I HAVE A BACHELOR’S DEGREE. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID? Yes, on a limited basis. If you have already earned a bachelor’s degree you are not eligible for financial aid grants such as EOF*, Pell*, SEOG*, STARS*, and TAG*. You are eligible for federal work-study and the Stafford loan program, if you meet all other eligibility criteria. Your loan eligibility will be based upon your grade level at CCC. Q: I TRANSFERRED TO CCC FROM ANOTHER COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID AT CCC? Usually, mid-year transfer students are fully eligible for financial aid at CCC. You can apply for financial aid at CCC by adding the College’s federal school code to your FAFSA (006865). If you did not exhaust your annual financial aid amounts during your enrollment at the other college you may be eligible for aid at CCC. Please read about application procedures in this book for additional information. If you are eligible for the STARS* program, the above information may not apply to you. Please read the STARS’ section of this book for additional information. Q: I ATTENDED ANOTHER COLLEGE FOR BOTH THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID FOR THE SUMMER AT CCC? If you enrolled less than full-time in the fall or spring semester, you may have remaining financial aid eligibility for summer classes at CCC. For example: if your Pell eligibility for the full year was $2,000, and you used $1,000 in the fall and $500 in the spring, you have $500 remaining in Pell to use during the summer. For assistance in determining if you have remaining financial aid eligibility for summer classes, contact the financial aid office. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 103 Q: I AM A CCC STUDENT WHO PLANS TO ATTEND ANOTHER COLLEGE SIMULTANEOUSLY. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID BASED UPON MY ENROLLMENT AT BOTH COLLEGES? No. A Consortium Agreement is an agreement between two institutions that defines which is the student’s home institution, and which is the visiting institution for purposes of administering the financial aid programs. Under a Consortium Agreement, the student could enroll for a portion of his/her classes at one institution and for the remaining classes at another. Under a Consortium Agreement the home institution agrees to administer the financial aid disbursements for the student, while the visiting institution agrees not to process any aid for the student. The Office of Financial Aid will only enter into Consortium Agreements for those students’ whose home institution is other than CCC. In these cases the home institution agrees to process the student’s financial aid. Students so enrolled are expected to make payment to CCC in accordance with published due dates. The Office of Financial Aid will not enter into Consortium Agreements for those students’ whose home institution is CCC. In these cases, the Office of Financial Aid will process the student’s financial aid based upon the student’s enrollment at CCC, and will not include any credits taken elsewhere when calculating aid eligibility. Students who enroll simultaneously at CCC and at another institution will be responsible for payment at both institutions, in accordance with published due dates. Q: I AM A STUDENT FROM ANOTHER COLLEGE WHO PLANS TO ATTEND CCC SIMULTANEOUSLY. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID BASED UPON MY ENROLLMENT AT BOTH COLLEGES? Yes, if your home college agrees to administer your financial aid. A Consortium Agreement is an agreement between two institutions that defines which is the student’s home institution, and which is the visiting institution for purposes of administering the financial aid programs. Under a Consortium Agreement, the student could enroll for a portion of his/her classes at one institution and for the remaining classes at another. Under a Consortium Agreement, the home institution agrees to administer the financial aid disbursements for the student, while the visiting institution agrees not to process any aid for the student. The Office of Financial Aid will only enter into Consortium Agreements for those students’ whose home institution is other than CCC. In these cases the home institution agrees to process the student’s financial aid. Students so enrolled are expected to make payment to CCC in accordance with published due dates. The Office of Financial Aid will not enter into Consortium Agreements for those students’ whose home institution is CCC. In these cases, the Office of Financial Aid will process the student’s financial aid based upon the student’s enrollment at CCC, and will not include any credits taken elsewhere when calculating aid eligibility. Students who enroll simultaneously at CCC and at another institution will be responsible for payment at both institutions, in accordance with published due dates. Contact the financial aid offices at both your home college and CCC for additional information. Q: AM I REQUIRED TO HAVE DOCUMENTS THAT I SUBMIT TO THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE NOTARIZED? Normally you are not required to have documents that you submit to the financial aid office notarized. Upon request, you may be required to have a document or documents notarized. The financial aid office may require you to submit the original raised-seal document for inspection and retention. 104 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook NJSTARS SCHOLARSHIP FAQ’S For additional information about thess topics read the STARS section in this book. Q: WHAT IS STARS? NJSTARS is the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship. STARS is the first New Jersey financial aid program to guarantee that every student who performs at the top of his or her high school class will have access to a college education. All tuition and approved fees, up to fifteen credits per semester, will be covered for up to five semesters at the community college level for eligible students. Financial aid awards will be processed for students who are eligible for federal and/or state grants. All students must complete their files and submit any documentation that is required to expedite the processing of their applications. Q: WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR STARS? In order to be eligible for the STARS program at CCC you must: • Graduate from a New Jersey high school in the top 20% of your high school class in June 2004 or beyond; and enroll at CCC within five semesters of your graduation date. (Your standing is not subject to rounding. Your GPA must place you at 20.0000 or above.); • Be a New Jersey resident; • Be a citizen of the US or an eligible non-citizen; and • Be a resident of Camden County. If you are a resident of Camden County you must attend CCC to receive STARS unless you document that CCC does not offer the program (major) that you want to study. If you are a resident of another county and want to attend CCC, you may if your home county college does not offer the program (major) that you want to study. You must submit documentation that your home county college does not offer the program (major) that you want to study. • Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA*) for the applicable academic year*. The FAFSA is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. • File the FAFSA by June 1 if you are a renewal applicant. First time applicants are required to file by HESAA’s* final October 1 deadline. • Complete any required paperwork requested by the College’s Office of Financial Aid, the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) or the federal government. • Complete and submit a CCC admissions application. • Be accepted into an associate’s degree program. (Certificate programs are not eligible for STARS.) • Enroll for 12 or more college-level credits per semester. • Maintain continuous full-time enrollment. Q: HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM IN THE TOP 20% OF MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS? Your high school guidance office sent a list of those students in the top 20% of your high school graduating class to the NJ Higher Education Assistance Authority (HESAA*) in November, based on your class standing at the end of your junior year. If you are in this group, you meet the academic qualification for STARS. Q: WHAT CAN I DO IF I AM IN THE TOP 20% OF MY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS BUT I AM NOT ON THE HESAA* LIST OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS? Request that your high school administration submit a letter, on high school letterhead or a high school transcript after graduation to CCC’s Office of Financial Aid. The letter or transcript must state your final class rank, the total number of students in your class and your date of graduation. The College’s financial aid office will then submit your name to HESAA for inclusion in the list of STARS. Q: WHAT DOES THE STARS SCHOLARSHIP COVER? STARS will cover tuition and approved fees for up to 15 credits per fall or spring semester. Each semester at least 12 of these credits must be college-level (not remedial/developmental). Q: ARE STUDENTS WHO GRADUATED FROM AN ADULT REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN THE TOP 20% ELIGIBLE FOR STARS? Students who graduate from certain adult regional high schools in the top 20% may be eligible for STARS. These students should contact the College’s financial aid office to find out what is needed to make the determination. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 105 Q: ARE HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR STARS? No. Home-schooled students are not eligible for STARS. Q: DO I HAVE TO ATTEND CCC TO RECEIVE STARS? If you are a resident of Camden County, you must attend CCC to receive STARS, unless you document that CCC does not offer the program (major) that you want to study. If you are a resident of another county and want to attend CCC, you may if your home county college does not offer the program (major) that you want to study. You must submit documentation that your home county college does not offer the program (major) that you want to study. Q: HOW DO I DOCUMENT THAT MY HOME COUNTY COLLEGE DOES NOT OFFER THE PROGRAM/MAJOR THAT I CHOOSE TO STUDY? Request a letter from your home county college indicating that your major is not available there, and submit it to the financial aid office at CCC. CCC will then be able to charge you the in-county tuition rate and review your eligibility for STARS. Q: FOR HOW LONG CAN I RECEIVE A STARS SCHOLARSHIP? For up to five (5) semesters of continuous full time enrollment, as long as you continue to maintain a minimum 3.00 grade point average and meet all other eligibility criteria. Q: WILL I NEED TO DO ANYTHING TO RECEIVE STARS IN MY SECOND OR THIRD YEAR AT CCC? Yes. At the end of the academic year, you must have achieved minimum 3.00 grade point average in a full time course of study at CCC, and meet all of the other criteria that were required the first year. You also must file the FAFSA by May 1. Q: CAN I RECEIVE STARS TO ATTEND IN THE SUMMER? No. The STARS scholarship is only available for the fall and spring semesters. Students may attend CCC during the summer, but they would be responsible to pay the tuition and fees, or qualify for other types of federal or state aid. Students who need several levels of remedial courses are encouraged to take these courses during the summer, since the scholarship will only cover the cost of one remedial course per semester during the fall and spring semesters. Q: AM I REQUIRED TO BE FULL TIME TO RECEIVE A STARS SCHOLARSHIP? Yes. You must be enrolled in at least 12 college-level credits. The scholarship will pay for a maximum of 15 credits. Q: WHAT IF I HAVE TO TAKE REMEDIAL/DEVELOPMENTAL CLASSES? STARS students must enroll in a minimum of twelve (12) college-level credits each semester. If you must take remedial/developmental classes, STARS will only cover 3 credits of remediation each semester, and only when taken in conjunction with the 12 college-level credits. Remedial credits in excess of three per semester will not be covered by STARS. Q: WHAT IF I ENROLL PART-TIME FOR MY FIRST SEMESTER? DO I LOSE ELIGIBILITY FOR STARS? You are encouraged to begin enrollment as a full-time student. However, if you enroll part time for your first semester to complete needed remediation, you will be eligible for a scholarship for the following five semesters, provided that you meet all other eligibility criteria. 106 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Q: WHAT IF I NEED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE COLLEGE? If you withdraw from CCC, you will become ineligible for continued participation in the STARS scholarship program. You will not be eligible to resume your scholarship at CCC or at any other college. Withdrawing from the College is defined as either officially withdrawing (by completing and submitting the required paperwork) or unofficially withdrawing (ceasing to attend your classes without completing the withdrawal process). If you encounter academic, personal, financial, family or other difficulties during the semester, you must bear in mind that withdrawing from the College will cause you to become ineligible for the STARS program for life. If you are on a College-approved medical or emergency leave, due to the illness/emergency of the student, or a member of the student’s immediate family, you may appeal for continued eligibility. Exceptions are handled as appeals, and must be accompanied by full medical documentation of the mitigating circumstance and submitted to the financial aid office. You are advised to consult with one of the following staff members before you make a decision to withdraw for any reason: Lillie Howard or Marie Cifelli at 856-227-7200, ext. 4454; Ed Reynolds at 856-227-7200, ext. 4226. Q: WHY AM I REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID FOR STARS? The STARS scholarship is designed to cover your tuition and approved fees that are not covered by other federal (for example, Pell, SEOG) and state (for example, TAG, GSS) grants and scholarships. Thus, you must file the FAFSA to determine if you are eligible for any other types of grant assistance. Other federal and state grant and scholarship aid for which a student is eligible must be applied first to the cost of tuition and fees. If you are not eligible for any other grants or scholarships, or if they do not total enough to cover all of your allowable tuition and fees, then STARS will be applied. You may also wish to borrow from the federal Stafford loan program to supplement your STARS award. The FAFSA is a prerequisite to the Stafford loan application. Q: CAN I RECEIVE OTHER FINANCIAL AID AND STARS AT THE SAME TIME? Only in certain cases. If you are eligible for federal and/or state grants and scholarships, and those funds do not fully cover your tuition and fees, you will also be eligible for the STARS scholarship to cover the remaining tuition and approved fees. In other words, STARS can be awarded in addition to other grants and scholarships, only if those grants and scholarships are not enough to cover your STARS eligible costs of tuition and approved fees. STARS recipients can qualify for the federal Stafford loan program. Parents of a NJSTAR may qualify to borrow from the state’s NJCLASS program or the federal PLUS loan program. More information about these financial aid loan programs is available in the financial aid office. Q: IF I AM DENIED STARS, CAN I APPEAL THE DECISION? You may appeal your denial of STARS to Camden County College’s director of financial aid, Wilson Hall West, room 100, who will review your application and confer with HESAA, as needed, to determine if you have been denied appropriately. Q: HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT STARS? If your question is not answered here, or you want to learn more about the NJSTARS program, visit www.STARS.net, www.camdencc.edu or contact Ed Reynolds at 856-227-7200, ext. 4226, or ereynolds@camdencc.edu. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 107 GLOSSARY OF FINANCIAL AID TERMS When learning a language, it can be helpful to see new words used in context. Many of the terms will be familiar to you, but sometimes they have specialized applications in relation to the financial aid programs. In general, terms can be grouped into five areas as above. This glossary is not exhaustive and is intended to provide an introduction to the terms listed. Ability To Benefit (ATB) A federal student aid eligibility criteria for Camden County College students who: (a) do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and (b) are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in New Jersey. To be eligible to receive federal student aid, the law requires these persons to show that they have the ability to benefit from postsecondary education. To demonstrate this, they must pass an independently administered test approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Camden County College uses the Accuplacer test to evaluate the applicant’s ability to benefit. Academic Progress Financial aid recipients are required to meet a qualitative, as well a quantitative, standard of academic progress. Aid recipients are required to complete at least 67% of the credits they attempt, and to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 (the GPA requirement is higher for types of financial aid such as the STARS* scholarship) and meet all other federal, state and institutional academic progress standards. Academic Year A minimum period of at least thirty weeks. At Camden County College, the fall and spring semesters each contain fifteen calendar weeks. The summer semester, following the fall and spring semesters, is a trailer and is considered to be a part of that academic year. Accrediting Agency An agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable authority in evaluating the educational quality of programs offered by postsecondary institutions. An accrediting agency sets educational standards, evaluates institutions, and certifies that institutions have met its standards. Camden County College is accredited by Middlestates. Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) ACG is a federal Title IV* financial aid program that is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. ACG eligibility is limited to those high school students who have completed an academically rigorous course of study, and meet all other program eligibility requirements. Administrative Capability To participate in any Title IV* FSA program, a college must demonstrate that it is administratively capable of managing its basic operations. Indicators of administrative capability include: • adequate staffing; • accurate recordkeeping and reporting; • formal student aid procedures and electronic processes; and • adequate communication. For a complete list of requirements, see 34 CFR 600 and 34 CFR 668.16, at www.ifad.ed.gov 108 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Assets Savings and checking accounts, trust funds, stocks, bonds, money market funds, mutual funds, real estate (excluding the principal residence) and business value. The student’s, parent’s and spouse’s assets must be accurately reported on the FAFSA*. Award Letter Written notification of the financial assistance being offered to a student. The award letter provides information about the types and amounts of aid offered, the student’s responsibilities in accepting the aid, and other conditions governing the award. The reverse of the award letter contains important information about the student’s financial aid and account obligations. Award Year The time period, from July 1 to June 30 of the following year, for which financial aid awards are made. Base Year For financial aid purposes, the base year is the calendar year preceding the award year. For example, 2007 is the base year used for the 2007-2008 award year; 2008 is the base year used for the 2008-2009 award year; and 2009 is the base year used for the 2009-2010 award year. Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program A Title IV* financial aid program that makes scholarships available to full-time postsecondary students with exceptional ability and promise. Students apply for the merit-based scholarships through their state education agency (HESAA*). Campus-Based Programs Two Title IV* federal student aid programs administered directly by the College: • Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG*) Program Cancellation Borrowers of federal student loans may be able to have all or part of their student loans cancelled for a variety of reasons, such as: • death of the borrower; • total and permanent disability of the borrower; • certain full-time employment (teaching or public service); • bankruptcy; • school closing prior to completion of the program; and • specific allowable provisions depend on the type of loan borrowed. Capitalization The addition of unpaid interest to the principal of a loan. The borrower can elect to have accrued (accumulated) interest added to the loan principal, rather than making interest payments while enrolled. Additional interest then accrues on top of both the principal and the accumulated interest. Capitalizing interest increases the principal amount of the loan and, therefore, the total cost of the loan. Because compounding this makes the loan principal increase, the borrower is advised to carefully consider the financial prudence of this option. See Unsubsidized* Stafford Loan. Compare Subsidized* Stafford loan. Census Date The census date of the semester is usually the 10th day of class (of a 15-week semester). An equivalent census date is calculated for each session within a semester. The census date for sessions that are fewer than 15 weeks is earlier than the actual 10th day of the session. The census date is a critical date for establishing financial aid eligibility. The student’s enrollment for calculating financial aid eligibility is frozen at the census date of the 15-week semester. The student’s enrollment for the summer session is frozen at the end of the tuition refund period. Courses dropped (including those in which the student receives an “XA”, “ NA” or “W”) before the census date of the semester will not be included in the enrollment status for financial aid purposes, and will not be funded by financial aid awards. Therefore, any student who drops a course after the first day of class for the semester, but before the census date of the semester, will be personally responsible for all costs incurred. Classes added after the census date will likewise not be included in the enrollment status for financial aid purposes, and will not be funded by financial aid awards. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 109 Central Processing System (CPS) The Department of Education (ED) facility that processes applications for federal student aid, determines a student’s eligibility for aid and conducts a series of quality control and eligibility checks on the application data. All FAFSAs* are processed by CPS. Certification The review process wherein the financial aid staff calculates a student or parent’s loan eligibility, verifies academic progress, enrollment, grade level, expected graduation date, and other general eligibility criteria. Certification may be provided electronically or on paper, depending upon the guarantor. All federal educational loans must be certified by the financial aid office, prior to final guarantor approval. Clearing House The Clearing House is a national database that receives and stores enrollment information for student borrowers. Colleges and universities send enrollment information to the clearing house, which then shares that information with lenders across the country. The exchange of enrollment information is performed as a courtesy to borrowers to assist them with their responsibility to report their status to lenders. Borrowers remain solely responsible to advise their lender of their current enrollment status and contact information. Cost Of Attendance (COA) For federal student aid purposes, a student’s total cost of attending a postsecondary institution for a specified period of time, as established by law. The COA includes tuition and fees; room and board (or an allowance for housing and food); an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, loan fees and dependent* care (if applicable); disability related expenses, and some miscellaneous personal expenses, as well. Common Origination And Disbursement (COD) Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) is a streamlined electronic method for processing federal Pell* grant and other federal program data. Use of the COD system allows the College to report enrollment and eligibility data for federal financial aid programs, and to receive payments from those programs. Cohort Default Rate A measure of the percentage of the College’s student borrowers who have defaulted* on their federal student loans. Conflicting Information Any information obtained by the College that is different from information previously available to the institution, conflicting information may impact a student’s eligibility for aid. See also verification*. Consortium Agreement A consortium agreement is an agreement between two institutions that defines which is the student’s home institution, and which is the visiting institution for purposes of administering the financial aid programs. Under a consortium agreement, the student could enroll for a portion of his/her classes at one institution, and for the remaining classes at another. Under a consortium agreement, the home institution agrees to administer the financial aid disbursements for the student, while the visiting institution agrees not to process any aid for the student. The Office of Financial Aid will enter into consortium agreements for those students’ whose home institution is other than CCC. In these cases, the home institution agrees to process the student’s financial aid. Students so enrolled are expected to make payment to CCC in accordance with published due dates. The Office of Financial Aid will not enter into consortium agreements for those students’ whose home institution is CCC. In these cases, the Office of Financial Aid will process the student’s financial aid, based upon the student’s enrollment at CCC, and will not include any credits taken elsewhere when calculating aid eligibility. Students who enroll simultaneously at CCC and at another institution will be responsible for payment at both institutions, in accordance with published due dates. Credit Hour A measure of educational credit, based on the number of classroom hours a week, throughout a semester, trimester or quarter term. 110 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Data Matches When a federal student aid application is processed, the Central Processing System (CPS*) compares (or matches) the application data with records at other federal agencies (the Social Security Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Selective Service) and ED’s internal databases (such as the National Student Loan Data System NSLDS*). Deadlines The College has established preference deadlines for applicants to its financial aid programs. The preference deadline, by which the FAFSA* must be submitted for all students, is May 1. See the section on deadlines in the handbook for expanded information on this topic. Default For federal student loans, a specific status wherein the borrower has failed to make payments in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. (Specific terms vary by loan program.). There can be serious legal consequences (negative credit reports, attachment of tax returns, garnishment of wages, loss of financial aid eligibility, et cetera) for students who default on their loan(s). See also cohort default rate*. Deferment For federal student loans, a period of time in which loan payments do not have to be made and interest does not accrue. Depending on the loan program, students may be granted deferments for many reasons, such as returning to school, economic hardship or disability. Dependency Override In unusual circumstances, the financial aid administrator may use professional judgment to classify a dependent* student as independent*, for the purposes of determining student aid eligibility. Dependent A student who is under 24 years of age by December 31 of the award year, is not an orphan or ward of the court, is not a veteran, is not enrolled in a graduate or professional program, does not have any legal dependents, and is not married. This definition is set by the Department of Education. See step three of the FAFSA*. For the purposes of applying for federal student aid, a student who does not meet any of the criteria to be an independent* student is classified as a dependent student, and must report parent information when applying for federal student aid. See also Independant* student. Disbursement The process by which Title IV* program funds are paid to the College on behalf of the student or parent borrower. After disbursement* to the College, the grant and loan funds are credited to the student’s account. Data Release Number (DRN) The four-digit number on the SAR* that the student uses when changing certain SAR information by telephone. With student permission, schools can use the DRN to access the student’s application information. The DRN is different from the PIN*, which is the student’s personal code and should not be shared with anyone. Edit Checks When a federal student aid application is processed, the Central Processing System (CPS*) completes a series of quality control checks on the application data, in an effort to identify incomplete or inconsistent data and to catch errors. Expected Family Contribution (EFC) A comparative measure, determined according to a need* analysis formula specified by law, of how much the student and his or her family can be expected to contribute to the cost of the student’s education for an academic year. This figure is used to determine an applicant’s eligibility for federal student aid. Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) The automatic transfer of funds to a school or student. EFT is most often used in the Stafford* programs to transfer funds to the school on the student’s behalf. Eligible Institution An institution of higher education that meets all the criteria to participate in Title IV* federal student aid programs (includes public or private nonprofit institutions, postsecondary vocational schools and proprietary institutions). Camden County College is an eligible institution for federal (and state) financial aid programs. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 111 Eligible Program A legally authorized course of study that leads to a degree or certificate and meets specified Title IV* student aid eligibility criteria. Not all programs at the College are Title IV eligible. For example, the continuing education courses are not eligible for Title IV funding. Also, specific undergraduate certification programs are not eligible for Title IV funding. Eligible Student A postsecondary student who meets the federal student aid eligibility requirements. See the financial aid eligibility criteria as listed in this handbook. Electronic Master Promissory Note (EMPN) A Web-based master promissory note, which a student can complete and sign electronically using a PIN*. Also see Master Promissory Note (MPN*). Enrolled Student For federal student aid purposes, a student is considered to be enrolled when he or she completes registration requirements of the College, and begins the attendance period (or, for a correspondence course, submits one lesson). Enrollment Reporting A function of the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS*) that monitors student enrollment status. When a student’s enrollment status changes in any way that affects loan repayment, the College generally notifies NSLDS within 30 days of the change. Formerly called Student Status Confirmation Reporting (SSCR). See also Clearing House*. Enrollment Status A measure of a student’s academic workload each semester. Student enrollment may be categorized as full time, three-quarter time, half time, or less-thanhalf time. Semester enrollment status for financial aid eligibility: • 12.0 + credits = full time • 9.0 -11.5 credits = 1⁄2 time • 6.0 – 8.5 credits = 1⁄2 time • 1.0 -5.5 credits = less than 1⁄2 time Entrance Counseling Title IV* institutions must offer loan counseling to first-time federal student loan borrowers, before disbursing the loan. The College offers entrance loan counseling in person and via the Web at www.camdencc.com. Entrance counseling covers the borrower’s rights and responsibilities, the terms and conditions of the loan, and the consequences of default*. Student are required to sign (in person or electronically) the entrance counseling form. Compare exit counseling. EOF - Educational Opportunity Fund EOF is an educational support program, as well as a financial aid program. EOF counselors provide academic support services to participating students. Students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, with financial need*, who meet HESAA’s* residency requirements may be eligible. Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA) The amount of federal, state and private financial assistance a school estimates a student will receive. ESAR An electronic student aid report generated through a direct computer connection between the student and a federal processing center. Exit Counseling Title IV* institutions must offer loan counseling to federal student loan borrowers who are graduating, leaving school, or dropping below half-time enrollment. Exit counseling covers the borrower’s rights and responsibilities, loan repayment and the consequences of default*. During the exit counseling, borrowers are also required to provide updated personal information, such as address, telephone number and employer. Students are required to sign (in person or electronically) the exit counseling form. Compare entrance counseling*. Financial Aid Officer (FAO) An individual employed by the College to administer the federal state and institutional student aid programs. 112 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) The FAFSA is the only approved application currently in use, which can be used to apply for federal financial aid in the United States. The analysis of the FAFSA yields an EFC*, that is then used to calculate a student’s eligibility for financial aid. The FAFSA cannot be filed before January 1 of the award year. See renewal FAFSA. The FAFSA can be accessed on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Federal Consolidation Loan A loan funded by a private lender, or the federal government, that combines multiple Title IV* student loans into a single loan with one monthly payment. Borrowers may also consolidate certain student loans provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) A federal loan program, under which commercial lenders provide education loans to student and parent borrowers. The program offers four types of loans: • federal subsidized* Stafford loan (for students); • federal unsubsidized* Stafford loan (for students); • federal PLUS* loan (for parents); and • federal Consolidation loan (for students and parents). All of these are long-term loans, insured by state or private nonprofit guaranty agencies, that are reimbursed by the federal government for all or part of any insurance claims paid to lenders. This guarantee replaces the collateral or security, usually required with long-term consumer loans. Federal Need Analysis Methodology The statutorily defined method of analyzing household and financial information from the FAFSA*, to determine a postsecondary student’s eligibility for federal student aid. The calculation that determines the expected family contribution (EFC*), based on information the student and family report on the FAFSA. The calculation used to produce the EFC is called the Federal Methodology (FM). See also Cost Of Attendance (COA*), Expected Family Contribution (EFC), Need Analysis*, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA*), full data element formula* and simplified formula*. Federal Output Document A record of application data and need analysis* generated by ED’s Central Processing System (CPS*), as a result of processing an application for federal student aid. See Student Aid Report (SAR*), SAR Information Acknowledgement, and Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR*). Federal Pell Grant Program The Pell grant is a federal Title IV* financial aid program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education for eligible undergraduate students. Eligibility is based upon financial need*. . Federal PLUS Loan A federal education loan, which parents can borrow on behalf of their dependent* children. Loans are made by commercial lenders such as banks, credit unions or guarantors. Maximum PLUS loan = COA* - other aid. The PLUS loan carries credit worthiness and other requirements. Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan A federally subsidized*, low-interest student loan, funded by a private lender and awarded on the basis of financial need*. The federal government does not charge interest on subsidized loans to the borrower, while the student is enrolled at an eligible school at least half time, during the six-month grace period*, or during authorized periods of deferment*. Compare with Unsubsidized Stafford. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) A campus-based program that provides grant assistance to needy undergraduate students. Priority in awarding SEOG funds is given to students who have exceptional financial need* and are federal Pell* grant recipients. See also campus-based programs. Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan A low-interest loan for students who do not meet the financial-need* criteria for a subsidized* loan. The borrower is responsible for all interest charges on * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 113 the loan. The unsubsidized loan requires the payment of interest by the borrower during the in-school and grace periods. Interest on the unsubsidized loan can be capitalized*, however this makes the loan very costly over time. See also capitalizing interest. Compare with Subsidized Stafford loan. Federal Work-Study (FWS) A campus-based, federally funded employment program that provides paid jobs for students with financial need*. See also campus-based programs. The FWS handbook contains expanded information on this program. FERPA Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also called the Buckley Amendment. Set of regulatory guidelines governing how much and to whom colleges and other educational institutions can release student information. Financial Aid History Information on a student’s previous financial aid, default* status, and overpayments, available on the NSLDS* Web site. This information is also reported on the student aid report (SAR*) and the institutional student information record (ISIR*). See National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Financial Aid Package The total amount of financial aid a student is scheduled to receive. Federal, state, institutional and private sources of aid, such as loans, grants, scholarships and work-study, are combined in a package to help meet the student’s financial need*. Financial Need The difference between the student’s Cost Of Attendance (COA) and the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). This formula is expressed: COA* – EFC* = Need* Fiscal Year Any 12-month period established for accounting purposes, for example July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. The College’s fiscal year begins on July 1 and concludes on the following June 30. Forbearance An approved time period when a borrower is willing, but financially unable, to make required payments on a federal student loan. Payments can be temporarily postponed, payment due dates can be extended, or smaller payments than were previously scheduled can be accepted. The student must contact his/her lender to apply for forbearance. The lender may require proof of income, such a recent pay stub or a tax return. If the appeal is based upon medical circumstances, the lender may require the student to submit medical documentation. Full Data Element Formula A formula that uses the full range of data elements in calculating a student’s expected family contribution (EFC*) under the federal need analysis* methodology. Also called the regular formula. See also Expected Family Contribution (EFC*). Compare with simplified formula. Full-Time Student At CCC, a full-time student is defined as one who is enrolled for twelve or more credits per semester. Compare half-time, less-than-half-time and three-quater-time student. GEAR-UP - Gaining Awareness And Readiness For Undergraduates Program NJ Gear Up is a federal Title IV* financial aid program that is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the NJ Commision on Higher Education. Students who are eligible for this program at Camden County College may receive grant assistance. The Gear Up program finances college mentors and academic programs to prepare low-income, at-risk students for postsecondary education. 114 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Gift Aid Financial aid that does not have to be repaid or earned through work. Generally, gift aid is in the form of a grant or scholarship. Examples of Title IV* gift aid programs for students include: • Federal Pell*Grant Program • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG*) Program • Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP*) Program Compare self-help aid. Grace Period The time period before a federal student loan borrower must begin or resume repaying a loan. For example, the Stafford* program offers, one six-month grace period to borrowers after graduation or cessation of at least half-time enrollment. Graduate Or Professional Student A student enrolled in a program that leads to a degree higher than a baccalaureate degree. To receive Title IV* aid as a graduate or professional student, the student must have completed at least three years of full-time study at an institution of higher education, and may not be concurrently receiving Title IV aid as an undergraduate student. Camden County College does not offer any graduate or professional programs. Therefore, a student cannot be considered to be a graduate or professional student, while enrolled at the College. Guaranty Agency A state agency or a private, nonprofit organization that insures Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL*) program loans. Guaranty agencies pay private lenders for defaulted* student loans, and then in turn are reimbursed by the federal government for all or part of those insurance claims. The state guaranty agency in New Jersey is HESAA*. The state guaranty agency in Pennsylvania is AES/PHEAA*. Half-Time Student To be enrolled half-time, a student must take at least half of the academic course load of a full-time student (as determined by the institution). At CCC, a half-time student is defined as one who is enrolled for at least six credits, and no more than eight credits per semester. Compare full-time student, less-than-half-time student and three-quarter-time student. Higher Education Act (HEA) Federal legislation passed in 1965, and its subsequent amendments and reauthorizations (approximately at five-year intervals), authorizing the majority of the federal student financial aid programs, and mandating that the programs be regulated and administered by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Approximately every five years, Congress reauthorizes the act or extends the legislation for up to one additional year. The statute’s most current version, as amended, is always the official version of the law. Higher Education Student Assistance Agency (HESAA) HESAA is the state agency in New Jersey that manages financial aid programs for students enrolled in postsecondary educational institutions. HESAA is both a grant agency and a loan guarantor. HESAA manages grant, scholarship and loan programs. Among the programs that HESAA manages are EOF*, STARS*, Stafford*, TAG* and NJCLASS. Incarcerated Student A student serving a correctional sentence in a federal, state or local correctional facility (not in a halfway house, home detention or a weekend sentence). Most incarcerated students are not eligible to receive Title IV* aid; however, students incarcerated in local correctional facilities may be eligible for Federal Pell* grant program, FSEOG* program, and LEAP* program funds. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 115 Independent Student To be classified as an independent student for Title IV* aid, a student must meet one or more of the following criteria: • be at least 24 years old by December 31 of the applicable award year for which aid is sought; • be an orphan or a ward of the court through the age of 18; • be a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces; • have legal dependents other than a spouse (for example, dependent children or an elderly dependent parent); • be a graduate* or professional student; or • be married. Compare dependent* student. See the FAFSA*- Step 3. See also professional judgment* and dependency override*. Institution Of Higher Education For Title IV* program purposes, a public or private nonprofit educational institution that meets the basic institutional eligibility criteria and offers: • a program leading to an associate’s, baccalaureate, graduate or professional degree; or • at least a two-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward a baccalaureate degree; or • at least a one-year degree or certificate training program that leads to a degree or certificate (or other recognized educational credential) and prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation. Camden County College is an institution of higher education. Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) An electronic output document transmitted to the institutions that the student specified on the FAFSA* and to state agencies. Sent by ED’s Central Processing System (CPS*), the ISIR summarizes information submitted on a student’s free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) and provides the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC*). The ISIR also includes full applicant data, information on eligibility matches, NSLDS* financial aid history, comments, assumptions and reject reasons. See also Student Aid Report (SAR). Late Disbursement A late disbursement may be made to an ineligible student who has withdrawn or otherwise ceased attendance, if the student became ineligible only because of a change in enrollment status, and he or she is otherwise eligible for the funds. In addition, other conditions must be met depending on the financial aid program from which the late disbursement is to be made. Lender The organization that lends money through the student loan programs. In most cases, the lender is a bank or credit union. Students should use same lender each year in order to avoid having multiple monthly loan payments upon graduation. Less-Than-Half-Time Student To be enrolled less-than-half-time, a student must be taking less than half the minimum course load of a full-time student (as determined by the institution). At CCC a less-than-half-time student is defined as one who is enrolled for at least one credit, and no more than five credits, per semester. Compare full-time student, half-time student, and three-quarter-time student. Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) A Title IV* gift-aid program jointly funded by the federal government and participating states. It provides state scholarship or grant assistance to students who show financial need*. Formerly called the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) program. Loan Borrowed money that must be repaid according to the terms of the promissory note. Master Promissory Note (MPN) Legally binding document in which a borrower agrees to repay a loan, according to the terms and conditions provided. Stafford* and PLUS* loans are based upon the Master Promissory Note. The MPN is effective for ten years from the date of initial submission, so long as it is used within the first year. The MPN may be submitted electronically or in person in the financial aid office. 116 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Multiple Reporting Record (MRR) Procedure in the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) system that is designed to identify and resolve potential overaward payments, and concurrent enrollments before they occur. The MRR identifies originations and/or disbursements reported by more than one school for the same student. National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) The Department of Education database that collects and maintains student loan and grant data on Title IV* federal student aid recipients. The Student Aid Report (SAR*) reflects information from NSLDS about a student’s financial aid history*. Need The difference between a student’s Cost Of Attendance (COA*) and what the student’s family is calculated to contribute — the Expected Family Contribution (EFC*). The Cost Of Attendance minus the Family Contribution equals the student’s financial need. COA – EFC = Need Also see need analysis*. Need Analysis The statutorily defined method of analyzing household and financial information from the FAFSA*, to determine a postsecondary student’s eligibility for federal student aid. The calculation that determines the expected family contribution (EFC*), based on information the student and family report on the FAFSA. The calculation used to produce the EFC is called the Federal Methodology (FM). See also Cost Of Attendance (COA*), Expected Family Contribution (EFC), Federal Need Analysis Methodology*, and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Gaining Early Awareness And Readiness For Undergraduates (NJ GEAR-UP) NJ Gear-Up is a federal Title IV* financial aid program that is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the NJ Commission on Higher Education. Students who are eligible for this program at CCC may receive grant assistance. The Gear-Up program finances college mentors and academic programs to prepare low-income, at-risk students for postsecondary education. Office Of Postsecondary Education (OPEID) An eight-digit identification number assigned by ED’s Office of Postsecondary Education to an institution that has been approved to participate in federal student financial aid programs. (Schools that do not administer Title IV* funds but want their students to qualify for in-school deferments* also are assigned an OPEID number.) Camden County College’s OPEID (Federal School Code) is 006864 Origination Fee A fee assessed on student loans to help support the administrative costs of the program. The origination fee may be deducted from the student’s loan prior to disbursement*. If so, the student is still responsible for repaying the full principal amount borrowed. Overaward An award of federal student aid that in combination with the resources available to that student, exceeds the student’s financial need* or Cost Of Attendance (COA*). Overpayment Any federal student aid paid in excess of the amount the student is eligible to receive. Except for federal work-study funds (which are earned) the student must repay an overpayment, unless adjustments can be made to eliminate the overpayment within the same award year. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 117 Package The total amount of financial aid a student is scheduled to receive. Federal, state, institutional and private sources of aid, such as loans, grants, scholarships and work-study, are combined in a package to help meet the student’s financial need*. Packaging The process of assembling one or more financial aid awards (loans, grants, scholarships and employment) for a student; also referred to as award packaging. Parent For purposes of completing the FAFSA*, the parent is defined as the student’s natural, step, or adoptive mother or father, and that person’s legal spouse. In those states where common-law marriage is recognized, the parents are the common-law spouses. Common-law marriage is not recognized in New Jersey. Pell Grant The Pell grant is a federal Title IV* financial aid program that is funded by the U.S. Department of Education for eligible undergraduate students. Eligibility is based upon financial need*. Period Of Enrollment A term used only for FFEL*. The academic period for which a FFEL is intended, and for which institutional charges are generally assessed (generally, an academic year*). Also referred to as the loan period. (Not the same as the generic and very general term enrollment period). Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (AES/PHEAA) PHEAA is the state agency in Pennsylvania that manages financial aid programs for students enrolled in postsecondary educational institutions. PHEAA is both a grant agency and a loan guarantor. PHEAA manages grant, scholarship and loan programs for state residents and for students who enroll in Pennsylvania institutions. Personal Identification Number (PIN) A unique identifier that lets students access or change their personal information in various ED systems. Similar to a bank PIN, it should be kept secure and private. Any student can, and should, obtain a PIN at ED’s PIN registration Web site, www.pin.ed.gov. The PIN can be used to access financial aid information on ED’s Web sites, and can also be used to sign the FAFSA*. The PIN has no expiration date and thus, is assigned to the student for life. PLUS Loan A federal education loan which parents can borrow on behalf of their dependent* children. Loans are made by commercial lenders such as banks, credit unions or guarantors. Maximum loan = COA* - other aid. This loan carries credit worthiness and other requirements. Postscreening A process by which the NSLDS* database is scanned regularly to check for changes to a student’s eligibility for federal student aid. These changes are reported to the CPS*, which in turn creates new record transactions and generates new SAR*s and ISIR*s. Post-Secondary Education beyond the high school level at a college, university or trade school. Camden County College is a post-secondary institution. Primary EFC The Expected Family Contribution (EFC*) that appears on the first page of the SAR* or ISIR*. Priority Deadline The latest date the institution recommends students apply for financial aid for the award year to be able to receive maximum consideration for institutional funds. Many institutions award the bulk of their institutional financial aid to students who apply by this deadline. The priority deadline at CCC is May 1. 118 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Private, Nonprofit Institution A school under private control that was not established for the purpose of making a profit. Camden County College is not a Private, Nonprofit Institution. Professional Judgment A provision in the law authorizing financial aid officers to make individual adjustments to override a student’s dependency status (from dependent* to independent*), to adjust the components of a student’s Cost Of Attendance (COA*), and to adjust the data elements used to calculate the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC*). Professional judgment can only be used on a case-by-case basis, and the reason must be documented in the student’s file. Professional judgment cannot be used to circumvent the law or Title IV* regulations. Public Institution A school maintained at public expense and under public control. Camden County College is a public institution. Reduction of Income A change in the family circumstances, such as a loss of a job, death of a parent, divorce or separation that could affect the family’s ability to contribute toward the student’s cost of education. Changes to the student’s eligibility based upon a reduction of income are at the sole discretion of the financial aid officer. See professional judgment*. Regular Student A person enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in an eligible program at an eligible postsecondary institution for the purpose of obtaining a degree or certificate offered by that institution. Renewal FAFSA A FAFSA application that is pre-populated with the prior-year data, so that students who applied in the previous year do not have to complete an entirely new application. The FAFSA is the only approved application currently in use, which can be used to apply for federal financial aid in the United States. The analysis of the FAFSA yields an EFC*, that is then used to calculate a student’s eligibility for financial aid. The FAFSA cannot be filed before January 1 of the award year. The renewal FAFSA can be accessed on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov See also Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Repayment A period of time when a federal student loan borrower is required to make payments on the loan according to a schedule agreed to by the lender. Return Of Title IV Funds (R2T4) When a student withdraws from school without completing a payment period or period of enrollment, the school must determine the amount of Title IV* funds earned for the portion of the payment period or period of enrollment the student attended. Unearned federal student aid must be returned. Earned aid that the student has not yet received may be offered to the student by the school as a post-withdrawal disbursement*. At CCC, students who complete the semester with any combination of negative grades (F’s, XA’s, NA’s W’s, et cetera) are subject to the R2T4 reduction of financial aid. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) A satisfactory rate of student course-completion determined using qualitative and quantitative measures. By law, schools whose students receive Title IV* funds must establish policies for monitoring Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Schools must check at least once each academic year* and document for each payment period that each student receiving Title IV aid is progressing satisfactorily in their academic program. See the section on the College’s SAP policy in this book for additional information. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 119 Student Aid Report (SAR) The federal output document sent directly to a student from ED’s Central Processing System (CPS*) that summarizes information submitted on the student’s Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA*) and provides the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC*). If the student provided an e-mail address on the FAFSA, ED will send an e-mail instructing the student how to access the SAR electronically. A student who applies using a paper FAFSA, but does not give an e-mail address, will receive a paper SAR. A student who applies electronically but does not give an e-mail address, will receive a paper SAR. The student should expect to receive the SAR within three to four weeks of submitting the FAFSA. See also federal output document, Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR*). Scholarship Financial aid that does not have to be repaid, and is awarded based upon academic achievement, special talent, ability, potential or affiliation. Financial need * may also be considered when determining eligibility for scholarships. Secondary EFC A second Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is calculated when the student qualifies for the simplified formula but also provides information about assets. In these cases, a primary EFC is calculated excluding assets, and a secondary EFC is calculated with the assets. The secondary EFC only appears in the information summary of the SAR* or ISIR*. Self-Help Aid Financial aid that must be repaid (loans) or is earned through employment. Compare gift aid. Semester A standard of measurement in higher education, used to group weeks of instructional time in the academic calendar. At CCC, the semester provides 15 weeks of instruction during each of the fall and spring semesters. CCC also offers a summer semester. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) A campus-based program that provides grant assistance to needy undergraduate students. Priority in awarding Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) funds is given to students who have exceptional financial need* and are federal Pell* grant recipients. See also campus-based programs. Simplified Formula A statutory simplified financial-need* analysis formula for which certain applicants qualify. Part of the federal need analysis* methodology, it excludes asset information when calculating a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC*). Compare full data element formula*. See also secondary EFC. Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART Grant) The SMART grant is a federal Title IV* financial aid program that is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The SMART grant is limited to those students who meet certain enrollment requirements in their junior and senior years of their undergraduate program at a four-year institution. Stafford Loan (Subsidized) A federally subsidized, low-interest student loan, funded by a private lender and awarded on the basis of financial need*. The federal government does not charge interest on subsidized loans while borrowers are enrolled at an eligible school at least half time, during the six-month grace period*, or during authorized periods of deferment*. See unsubsidized* Stafford loan. Stafford Loan (Unsubsidized) A low-interest loan for students who do not meet the financial-need* criteria for a subsidized* loan. The borrower is responsible for all interest charges on the loan, which is funded by a private lender. The unsubsidized loan requires the payment of interest by the borrower during the in-school and grace periods*. Interest on the unsubsidized* loan can be capitalized, however this makes the loan very costly over time. See also capitalizing* interest. See subsidized* Stafford loan. 120 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (STARS 1) NJSTARS is the first New Jersey financial aid program to guarantee that every student who performs at the top 20 percent of his or her high school class will have access to a college education. Under STARS 1, all tuition and approved fees are covered for up to five semesters at the community-college level for eligible students. Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (STARS 2) NJSTARS is the first New Jersey financial aid program to guarantee that every student who performs at the top 20 percent of his or her high school class will have access to a college education. All tuition and approved fees are covered for up to five semesters at the community college level for eligible students. Students who meet the STARS 1 program eligibility criteria at the community college, and graduate with an associate’s degree, may be eligible to receive up to four semesters of free tuition under STARS 2 at a participating New Jersey state public institution. State Student Incentive Grant Program (SSIG) See Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program. Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Scholarship (STEM) The STEM scholarship is a federal financial aid program that is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the College. The STEM for scholars program is comprised of financial, academic and social support to assist academically talented, low-income students who show promise as computer science, engineering and mathematics majors to achieve an associate’s degree in a STEM discipline. Student Consumer Information (www.camdencc.edu) Information Title IV* institutions are required to disclose to their consumers, enrolled students, and prospective students, including: • basic information about the school’s academic programs, facilities and financial aid; • disclosures on campus security, graduation and transfer-out rates, revenue, and expense data at schools awarding athletically-related student aid; and • for schools participating in the campus-based programs, disclosure on drug-abuse and alcohol-abuse prevention. Student Status Confirmation Report (SSCR) The former name of the enrollment reporting function in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS*) that monitors student enrollment status. See Enrollment Reporting. Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) TAG is a HESAA* financial aid program that is funded by the state of New Jersey for its residents. Students must file and complete the FAFSA* by published deadlines, and must meet all other program eligibility requirements. Term-Based Program A degree or certificate program that uses standard semesters, trimesters or quarters to divide the academic year*. Three-Quarter-Time Student To be enrolled three-quarter-time, a student must be taking at least 75 percent of the academic course load of a full-time student (as determined by the institution). At CCC, a three-quarter-time student is defined as one who is enrolled for at least nine credits and no more than 11 credits per semester. Compare full-time student, half-time student, and less-than-half-time student. Title IV Federal Student Aid Financial aid programs for postsecondary students, authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA*). The programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Title IV federal student aid programs include: • Federal Pell* Grant program • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG*) program • Federal Work-Study (FWS)program * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 121 • Federal Perkins loan program • William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program • Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program • Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) program [formerly State Student Incentive Grants (SSIG)] • Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (SLEAP) program • Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship program In order to apply for the Title IV* programs, the student must submit the FAFSA* for the applicable award year. The student must then meet all program eligibility requirements in order to be awarded Title IV funds. Transaction Number A two-digit number that identifies how many times an applicant’s data is processed by ED’s Central Processing System (CPS*). The CPS* generates a new transaction number (and a new output document) each time an applicant’s data is processed. For example, the initial processed FAFSA* creates transaction 01, the first processed correction creates transaction 02, and a subsequent processed correction creates transaction 03. The transaction number is located in the lower right-hand corner of the applicant’s SAR*, after the applicant’s Social Security number and the first two letters of the last name. Undergraduate A postsecondary student who does not have a first baccalaureate degree or a first professional degree. Unsatisfactory Academic Progress (USAP) An unsatisfactory rate of student course-completion determined using qualitative and quantitative measures. By law, schools whose students receive Title IV* funds must establish policies for monitoring Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP*). Schools must check at least once each academic year* and document for each payment period that each student receiving Title IV aid is progressing satisfactorily in their academic program. See the section on the College’s SAP policy in the handbook for additional information. Verification The process mandated by law that the College uses to check the accuracy of information reported by a student on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA*). Application information is compared to documents provided by the student (and parents, if required) to the FAO, including signed federal tax forms and verification worksheets attesting to the accuracy of data. Vocational-Technical Institution A school that provides a program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation. Camden County College is not a Vocational-Technical Institution. WebAdvisor WebAdvisor is a fast, easy and convenient way to find out up-to-the-minute information about your financial aid account, grades, registration and other College information. WebAdvisor is a web-based information source that students can access via the College’s Web site at www.camdencc.edu. 122 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook MONTHLY BUDGET WORKSHEET 123 FINANCIAL AID FILE COMPLETION CHECK LIST * To complete your financial aid file you must submit (at minimum): 1. A processed _______________ FAFSA* resulting in a complete needs analysis* report being released to CCC * * * (submit each academic year*) 2. A completed Authorization and Certification form (submit once, during the first year of aid receipt). If you are selected for verification or you are an initial applicant for EOF* you must also submit items 3, 4, 5, and 6: 3. A completed verification* worksheet. (Obtain from the CCC web site or from the Office of Financial Aid.) * * * * * 4. Photocopy of the base year*_____________ federal income tax return and supporting W-2’s: Student and Parent return and W-2’s if Dependent*; Student (& spouse) return and W-2’s if Independent*. 5. Documentation of the base year ______________untaxed income (TANF, social security benefits, SSI, child support, untaxed pensions, workmen’s compensation, disability, et cetera Must be listed on the verification* worksheet). 6. Any other documentation requested by HESAA* or the Office of Financial Aid If you are a Stafford Loan applicant you must also submit items 7, 8, and 9: * * * * * 7. A Stafford* entrance counseling* form (submit once at the beginning of the initial year of borrowing) 8. A Stafford Master Promissory Note (MPN*) (submit once at the beginning of the initial year of borrowing) 9. A Stafford exit counseling* form (submit once at graduation or cessation of at least one-half time enrollment) If you are a Federal Work-Study recipient who is hired for a FWS job also submit items 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14: 124 10. I-9 (new FWS* employees only, submit once at initial enrollment) 11. Proper forms of Identification (new employees only, submit once at initial enrollment) 12. W-4 (all employees, submit each academic year*) 13. Employment Application and Authorization form (all employees, submit each academic year) 14. Compliance and Confidentiality form (all employees, submit each academic year) Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook EXPENSE – FINANCIAL AID WORKSHEET 125 STIPEND WORKSHEET 126 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook LOAN WORKSHEET 127 ACADEMIC PROGRESS ADVISING WORKSHEET 128 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID FOLLOWUP Blackwood Campus Tel 856-374-4985 Fax 856-374-4980 Camden Campus Tel 856-968-1340 Fax 856-968-1397 _______________________’s Prescription for Success: 129 1. Special Instructions: 2. Follow-up with the financial aid office: 3. Visit the following office(s): FAO___________________________________________________________________ DATE ________________________ 130 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook FINANCIAL AID SERVICE SURVEY The financial aid office (FAO) is sincerely interested in learning about and improving the service experience of those students who call or visit the office. Please assist us by completing the questions below by checking the box that most closely describes your service experience. THANK YOU! 1) THINKING ABOUT YOUR MOST RECENT CONTACT WITH THE FAO. PLEASE RATE THE FAO STAFF MEMBER’S ABILITY TO HELP YOU, OR TO GET YOU TO SOMEONE WHO COULD HELP YOU. o o o o o o Not Applicable Unacceptable Poor Satisfactory Superior Excellent o o o o o o Not Applicable Unacceptable Poor Satisfactory Superior Excellent 2) PLEASE RATE THE FAO STAFF MEMBER’S OVERALL KNOWLEDGE OR UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR QUESTION. o o o o o o Not Applicable Unacceptable Poor Satisfactory Superior Excellent 3) PLEASE RATE THE FAO STAFF MEMBER’S COURTEOUSNESS OR PROFESSIONALISM. o o o o o o Not Applicable Unacceptable Poor Satisfactory Superior Excellent 4) PLEASE RATE THE FAO STAFF MEMBER’S HELPFULNESS OR WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST YOU. o o o o o o Not Applicable Unacceptable Poor Satisfactory Superior Excellent 5) PLEASE RATE THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION GIVEN TO YOU BY THE FAO STAFF MEMBER. o o o 6) OVERALL, HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH THE SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE FAO STAFF? The service I received from the FAO staff was below my expectations The service I received from the FAO staff met my expectations The service I received from the FAO staff exceeded my expectations 7) PLEASE ADD ANY COMMENTS BELOW AND ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS FORM THAT WILL ASSIST US IN IMPROVING SERVICE TO STUDENTS. 131 ADDITIONAL SERVICE SURVEY COMMENTS: 132 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook FAST FAFSA* FILING! 1. For fastest FAFSA filing – submit your financial aid application on line. 2. www.fafsa.ed.gov is the official Department of Education Web site. Filing your FAFSA is free. You should never pay to file your FAFSA or to search for scholarships! 3. CCC’s federal school code is 006865 4. CCC’s priority deadline is May 1 FAFSA FILING TIPS 1. Gather all of your income information before you start your FAFSA. You will need your federal income tax return. If applicable, you will also need your parents’ or spouses’ income information. 2. The FAFSA on-line worksheet is available in the financial aid office. You may find this worksheet to be helpful to prepare for filing your FAFSA. 3. You must file the FAFSA once each academic year for the fall, spring and summer semesters. 4. If you do not already have a Personal Identification Number* (PIN) apply within the FAFSA application or at www.pin.ed.gov. 5. If you are a dependent student, your parent can also apply for a PIN. 6. Scroll down. The questions are located at the bottom of the FAFSA pages. 7. Save your application periodically by clicking Save at the bottom of the FAFSA screens. 8. If you are not able to complete your FAFSA in one sitting, you can save it and access it again later. 9. You must SUBMIT your application. Don’t quit before you submit! 10. Be certain to submit your signature, either with your PIN or by mailing your signature page. 11. Print out a copy of your confirmation page for your records. 12. Print out a copy of your entire FAFSA application for your records. AFTER YOU FILE YOUR FAFSA After you successfully submit your FAFSA, your application will be processed by the Department of Education. After your FAFSA is processed, CCC will download your information and will mail a status letter to you. You can check WebAdvisor* at www.camdencc.edu to verify that the College has received your FAFSA approximately two weeks after you file. Additional information about applying for financial aid at CCC is available in the financial aid e-forms library at www.camdencc.edu. * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 133 NOTES 134 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook NOTES 135 NOTES 136 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID AUTHORIZATION AND CERTIFICATION IF YOU PURPOSELY GIVE FALSE OR MISLEADING INFORMATION ON THIS DOCUMENT, OR ON ANY FINANCIAL AID FORM, YOU MAY BE FINED UP TO $20,000, BE SENT TO PRISON, OR BOTH. 1. APPLICANT INFORMATION ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (PLEASE PRINT) First Name M.I. *Student ID or Social Security Number Last Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Cellular Telephone Number Home Telephone Number Work Telephone Number 2. AUTHORIZATION TO PROCESS AND CREDIT FINANCIAL AID FUNDS DURING ENROLLMENT • I do hereby authorize Camden County College (CCC) to process, credit and transmit to my student account my financial aid awards (including, but not limited to, the Pell grant, TAG grant, SEOG grant, STARS scholarship, and Stafford loan) for all semesters of my enrollment. Financial aid funds will be transmitted to my account after the midpoint of the semester, if I have maintained my enrollment and met all other eligibility criteria. 3. AUTHORIZATION TO DEDUCT TUITION, FEES AND OTHER CHARGES DURING ENROLLMENT • I authorize my financial aid funds to be first used to pay any educational expenses that I incur at CCC during my enrollment including, but not limited to, tuition, fees, books and supplies from the campus bookstore(s). • I understand that my tuition, fees, book voucher, and other account charges will be deducted from my financial aid funds before any credit balance (stipend) can be disbursed to me. I authorize my credit balance to be disbursed to me either electronically or by paper check (at the College’s discretion). All stipend checks are mailed after the midpoint of the semester. I understand that stipend amounts arising from grant funds are taxable income to me that I may be required to report on my federal income tax return. 4. CERTIFICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT • Whether or not I receive financial aid, I understand that I AM PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for all financial charges that I incur at Camden County College. The College may permit me to register before a determination is made, regarding my eligibility for financial aid. If, however, I am or become ineligible for financial aid (includes grants, loans, scholarships and waivers) for any reason, I agree to pay my account in full, including any collection and/or attorney’s fees that may be incurred by or on behalf of the College to satisfy my personal financial obligations. • I understand that I must matriculate in a degree program and must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to be eligible for financial aid. I understand that the SAP policy requires that I maintain a specified minimum grade point average and a minimum 67% rate of credit completion. I understand that if I am eligible for financial aid (including grants, scholarships, loans, tuition waivers, and work-study), I am required to remain enrolled in my classes in order to receive those funds. I understand that, if I never attend, cease to attend, withdraw, or receive “F’s”, “W, s”, “NA’s”, or “XA’s”, I will jeopardize my financial aid for both current and future semesters. If I fail to remain enrolled in and attend at least one course until the end of the semester, I understand that the College is required to reduce or cancel my financial aid and to retroactively remove it from my account. I understand that, if my financial aid is reduced or cancelled, I will remain personally responsible to pay for all outstanding tuition, fees, book voucher and stipend amounts that I incur at Camden County College. For more information about how my attendance impacts my financial aid eligibility I should read the SAP policy in the Financial Aid Handbook. • I understand that any violation of the regulations governing the financial aid programs is sufficient grounds for termination of my financial aid and referral for disciplinary action. Violations include, but are not limited to, falsification of any document used to obtain financial aid, using financial aid funds for non-educational purposes, and transfer of financial aid funds to others (e.g. using your book voucher to purchase items for others). • I certify that the information in my FAFSA is correct and complete. I understand that the Office of Financial Aid has the authority to verify any item of information in my FAFSA or any other document I submit. I agree to release copies of my (and my parents or spouse’s, if applicable) U.S. Federal Income Tax Return and documentation of untaxed income to the Office of Financial Aid upon request. I may modify or cancel the authorizations (#2 and #3 above) by submitting a written statement to the Office of Financial Aid. My signature below confirms that I have read and agree to abide by the information on both sides of this form. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Applicant’s Signature Date Please read about application procedures and deadlines on reverse side of this form! 137 1. TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID: Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the applicable year. “006865 Camden County College” must be listed on your FAFSA in question 86. File your FAFSA electronically at WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV or mail your paper FAFSA to the Federal Student Aid Programs processor in the inter-application envelope. 2. DEADLINES: Submit your FAFSA by May 1(to meet the College’s and the N.J. state priority filing deadlines). CCC’s financial aid application priority completion deadline (by which time you must complete your financial aid file) is June 1. For spring semester students, the priority completion deadline is October 1. All applications that are complete (see explanation below) by the priority deadlines will receive first consideration for all available types of aid. All applications completed after the priority deadlines will be processed as time permits on a funds-available basis. Late applicants should not expect to receive award letters before classes begin or stipend refunds until after the regularly scheduled disbursement dates. ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID BY THE LAST DAY OF THE SEMESTER OR THE STUDENT’S LAST DAY OF ATTENDANCE, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. New Jersey State Priority Filing Deadlines If you received a New Jersey TAG grant or New Jersey STARS scholarship during the prior award year, your FAFSA application must be received by the central processor no later than June 1. If you did not receive STARS or TAG during the prior award year your application must be received by the central processor no later than October 1. Priority will be given to students who apply by the published state grant filing deadlines. First-time applications received after October 1, but no later than March 1, will be considered for spring semester awards on a funds-available basis. 3. A COMPLETE FINANCIAL AID FILE AT MINIMUM INCLUDES: p a. A processed FAFSA for the current year, resulting in a complete financial aid report being released to CCC p p p p p b. A completed authorization and certification form. If you are selected for verification, or you are an initial applicant for EOF you must also submit items c, d, e and f: c. A completed current year verification worksheet. (Obtain from the CCC Web site or from the financial aid office.) d. Photocopy of prior year federal income tax return and supporting W-2’s: student and parent return and W-2’s if dependent; student (& spouse) return and W-2’s if independent. e. Documentation of prior year untaxed income (TANF, social security benefits, SSI, child support, untaxed pensions, workmen’s compensation, disability, et cetera. Must be listed on verification worksheet). f. Any other documentation requested by HESAA or the Office of Financial Aid. 4. REDUCTION IN INCOME: Financial aid for the current year is based on the prior year’s income/benefit information. If your family’s current income has significantly decreased, please inquire in the financial aid office regarding a possible reevaluation of your eligibility. 5. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Additional information is available in the Financial Aid Handbook or on-line at WWW.CAMDENCC.EDU If you have any questions concerning the application process, please contact the Office of Financial Aid: Wilson Hall West, Room 100, Camden County College, P. O. Box 200, College Drive, Blackwood, NJ 08012, (856) 374-4985 *Social Security Number Policy: You are required to provide your Social Security number (SSN) on the FAFSA. Provision of your Colleague student ID or SSN (as specified on the individual document) is required on all supporting documents used to apply for financial aid. Your SSN will be used for the College’s system of student records, for compliance with federal and state reporting requirements, as well as for debt collection. The College will not disclose your SSN to anyone outside the institution, except as required by law, and will make every effort to protect your privacy. Nondiscrimination Policy: Camden County College complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Older Americans Act of 1975. These laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, sex, handicap and age, respectively, in all educational programs and activities. Decisions on financial aid are not made on the basis of any of these factors. Inquiries regarding these laws may be directed to Human Resources, Camden County College, P.O. Box 200, Blackwood, New Jersey 08012 (856) 227-7200 Ext. 4221, or to the Secretary, Department of Education, Washington DC 20201. 138 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook FINANCIAL AID TIP SHEET APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID ONLINE AT www.fafsa.gov Camden County College’s Federal School Code - 006865 Assistance with the FAFSA* is available by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID. APPLY FOR A U.S. DEPARTMENT EDUCATION PIN* BY VISITING WWW.PIN.ED.GOV You can use your PIN to: • Sign your online FAFSA • Review your Student Aid Report (SAR*) • Correct your FAFSA information • Print a copy of your SAR • Sign loan promissory notes If you are a dependent* student, your parent should also apply for a PIN. SUCCEED WITH NJSTARS*! The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship rewards high academic achievers! www.njstars.net For more information about NJSTARS, visit the Camden County College homepage at www.camdencc.edu and click on the rotating NJSTARS banner on the right. TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT STATE GRANTS AND THE NJCLASS* LOAN PROGRAM visit www.hesaa.org or call 1-800-792-8670. VISIT WWW.STUDENTAID.ED.GOV TO GET THE FACTS ON FINANCIAL AID AND TO START A FREE SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH. DO NOT FALL PREY TO SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS. FOR FREE INFORMATION OR TO FILE A COMPLAINT, call 1-877-FTC-HELP or visit www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams. THE STAFFORD LOAN Interest rate is variable (subject to change) but it is capped at 8.25% For information about repaying your student loan, go to www.studentaid.ed.gov and click on the repaying tab. FEDERAL WORK-STUDY* – EARN MONEY WHILE ATTENDING SCHOOL POLICY ON NON-DISCRIMINATION IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS * Asterisks follow the most commonly used financial aid terms, which are contained in the glossary on pages 108-122. 139 POLICY ON NON-DISCRIMINATION IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS Camden County College complies with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Older Americans Act of 1975 and New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination. These laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, sex, familial status, domestic partnership status, disability and handicap. Decisions on admission, recruitment, financial aid programs, access to course offerings or other aspects of its educational programs or activities, including vocational programs and vocational opportunities, are not made on the basis of any of these factors. Inquiries regarding these laws may be directed to the executive director of Institutional Compliance, Wilson Hall West, Room 103, Camden County College, P.O. Box 200, Blackwood, NJ 08012, (856) 227-7200, ext. 4752 or to the Secretary, Department of Education, Washington, DC 20201. For information about students’ rights and responsibilities, the institution, financial assistance, graduation rates, transfer out rates, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA*), campus safety, security information, crime statistics and alcohol and drug abuse prevention information, please refer to the Student Handbook, the College Catalog, the Financial Aid Handbook and the College’s Web site: www.camdencc.edu. Click on the consumer information link at the bottom of the College’s home page. 140 Camden County College • 2007-2010 Financial Aid Handbook 141 President of Camden County College Raymond Yannuzzi, D.A. Camden County College Board of Trustees * Kevin G. Halpern, Chair Sandee G. Vogelson, Vice Chair Hazel T. Nimmo, Secretary Louis F. Cappelli, Sr., Treasurer Helen M. Albright Annette Castiglione Susan R. Croll Steven J. Greenfogel Anthony J. Maressa Wilbert Mitchell Albert Monillas Ritta Altoun, Alumna Trustee Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders * Louis Cappelli, Jr., Director Edward T. McDonnell, Deputy Director Riletta L. Cream Rodney A. Greco Jeffrey L. Nash Joseph Ripa Carmen Rodriquez * As of July 1, 2007
