Office: Manzanita 18-3
Phone: 209.588.5105
FAX: 209.588.5391
email:
Financial Aid Technician
Student Responsibilities
Your responsibilities include each of the following items:
Terms of Agreement:
In accepting an offer of financial aid, you acknowledge responsibility for understanding and complying with the TERMS OF AGREEMENT . This official agreement between you and the Financial Aid Office is in force throughout the length of the award. The TERMS OF AGREEMENT is subject to amendment without notice because of frequent changes in the laws, rules and regulations that govern financial aid. The following TERMS OF AGREEMENT applies to all financial aid programs.
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS - All financial aid awards offered by Columbia College are limited to the availability of funds. In the event that the state or federal government reduces or eliminates funds, the Columbia College Financial Aid Office will reduce and/or cancel your award.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS - To be eligible to receive Financial Aid funds, you cannot be concurrently enrolled in high school and must have:
RELEASE OF INFORMATION - Your financial aid application information may be shared with other institutions or governmental agencies as deemed necessary for processing.
CHANGE IN ENROLLMENT/ATTENDANCE STATUS, WITHDRAWAL, AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE - Our offer of financial aid is contingent upon your admission, enrollment, and attendance at this college. You must be enrolled for the purpose of obtaining a degree or certificate, or you must be enrolled in a transfer program leading to a Bachelor's degree. Minimum enrollment for all programs except Federal Pell Grant is six units. For students meeting specific eligibility requirements, Federal Pell Grant is available at less than half time. Your award offer is based on full-time enrollment and is subject to change if your unit load is less than full-time. The Federal Pell and Cal Grants are disbursed according to your unit load as follows:
12 units: 100% of award; 9-11.5 units: 75% of award; 6-8.5 units: 50% of award
A change in enrollment/attendance status during a semester could change or cancel your award. Should you withdraw or take a leave of absence, your remaining financial aid award for the current semester will be canceled.
USE OF FINANCIAL AID FUNDS - You must use your financial aid funds only for expenses that are directly related to your cost of education (tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, personal expenses, and school-related dependent care expenses).
DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS - Financial aid funds are typically disbursed in installments over the course of each semester. Your disbursement schedule may vary depending on your application date and the types of aid you are awarded. All disbursement dates are listed on your award letter.
OVERAWARDS - Regardless of any reason, any funds received in excess of the amount to which the student is entitled must be repaid by the student.
Columbia College Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress:
To be academically eligible to receive federal financial aid from the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work Study and/or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant programs, you must meet the standards of satisfactory academic progress as outlined below.
I. EDUCATIONAL PREPARATION - You must be a high school graduate, or have the equivalent of a high school diploma orbe beyond the age of compulsory high school attendance and have the ability to complete an educational or training program, as measured by passing a Federally approved college placement test.
II. COURSE OF STUDY - You must be a regular student enrolled in an eligible program for the purpose of obtaining a degree or certificate or transferring to a four-year institution as outlined in the college catalog.
III. MAINTENANCE OF SATISFACTORY PROGRESS -
A. You need to maintain a cumulative grade point average of "C" (2.0) or higher.
B. You must complete your stated goal within the maximum time frame of 150% of the published length of the educational program, as described below.
AA/AS OR TRANSFER
Full-time (12+units) - Six semesters (three years)
Three quarter time (9-11) - Nine semesters
Half-time (6-8) - Twelve semesters
CERTIFICATE
Maximum time frame is 2.5 years for programs requiring 40-48 units. Programs requiring fewer units would have prorated maximum time frame.**
Examples of a two-year time frame:
Full-time (12+ units) - Four semesters (two years)
Three quarter time (9-11 units) - Six semesters
Half-time (6-8 units) - Eight semesters
C. Within the above described time frame, you must make steady progress towards your goal, achieving a percentage of your total requirements each semester. The following grid outlines this principle:
Time Frame**
End of 1st semester................................7 units earned
End of 2nd semester..............................15 units earned
End of 3rd semester..............................25 units earned
End of 4th semester..............................36 units earned
End of 5th semester..............................49 units earned
End of 6th semester..............................62 units earned
The time-frame will be adjusted on an individual basis for students enrolled less than full-time
*Number of units of required courses that you need to complete each semester. The requirements for threequarter and half-time students would be prorated.
**Please review Maximum Duration of Eligibility located at the bottom of this page.
There is a one-year (30 units) limit on the amount of non-credit and remedial course work for which you may receive funds. On the other hand, if at the end of your financial aid eligibility, you have not reached your goal, we will subtract the remedial units earned from the total, in light of determining if you are eligible for more aid.
IV.EVALUATION - PROBATION AND DISQUALIFICATION - The Financial Aid Office reviews your progress each academic year. If you have not completed the required units and/or maintained a "C" average, you will be notified and placed on probation the following term, during which you are expected to make up the units you did not complete in addition to carrying those required of you for the new term. You would receive financial aid during that semester. If, at the end of that term you have not achieved the minimum requirements; your financial aid would be discontinued until all deficiencies are corrected.
V.APPEAL PROCESS - If you have been denied or disqualified from receiving financial aid, you may appeal in writing to the Director of Student Financial Services. Once a decision is made, you will receive a written response. Any requests for further determination may be directed to the Financial Aid Advisory Committee, in writing, through the Director of Student Financial Services. You would be notified of the decision in writing.
Federal regulations limit financial aid to the maximum time frame of no more than 150% of the particular program as stated in the Columbia College catalog. To continue to receive financial aid from Columbia College, students must submit a petition / appeal form to the Financial Aid Office if the student has:
-Received financial aid for six semesters (full time equivalent) in and eligible program; orStudents may only submit an appeal for the following reasons:
-Student has mitigating or extenuating circumstances (beyond the student's control) that prevented him/ her from meeting SAP standards (documentation supporting statements must be submitted with appeal). Examples include, but are not limited to: change in family circumstances and medical conditions requiring a doctor's care.Financial Aid Withdrawl & Repayment Policy:
Per federal regulations, 34 CFR Parts 668, 682 and 685, any student who receives financial aid and withdraws from all classes prior to completing 60% of the semester / program and / or course will be required to repay a portion of all federal financial aid received. At Columbia College, this includes the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) programs.
Overpayment, Refund, Repayment Policy:
Institutional refund policy is outlined in the Columbia College Catalog. Pro-rata refund to the Pell Grant program of the enrollment fee waiver will be calculated if a first time student withdraws during the first 60% of the term.
Direct disbursement of grants are made to the students throughout the year. Unit status is confirmed prior to each disbursement.
Maximum Duration of Eligibility
Per the HEOA section 401, effective August 14, 2008. All students who receive a Federal Pell Grant for the first time on or after July 1, 2008 have a limited period of time in which they may receive a Federal Pell Grant which is up to 18 semesters. This 18 semester period provides fractional equivalents for terms which a student is enrolled in less than full-time. As a result, a student is eligible to receive up to nine Federal Pell Grant Scheduled Awards. This provision pertains to a student's academic duration as a whole and does not supersede the maximum time frame allowed at Columbia College which is stated in our Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress.