Student Financial Assistance
At South Louisiana Community College, we want to provide students with the best financial service possible. In order to be considered for assistance for non-federal and federal funding sources, students must complete the FAFSA and submit all requested financial documents and/or forms.
To apply, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
South Louisiana Community College participates in most major federal and state financial aid programs; additional detailed information on student employment, loans, grants, and scholarships may be secured by contacting the Office of Financial Aid. Student financial assistance is available at each college location.
SLCC has partnered with Inceptia to bring an innovative verification platform to our students effective 2021-2022 aid year. The Office of Financial Aid and Inceptia will communicate with students via email, Log On Louisiana (LOLA), and/or Inceptia’s Verification Gateway portal. It is the responsibility of the student to monitor his/her SLCC email, LoLA account and Inceptia portal regularly, as well as any personal email address provided when completing FAFSA. If students would prefer not to receive financial aid communications and award notifications via email, they must contact the Office of Financial Aid for other options.
The Application Process
At South Louisiana Community College, students are encouraged to carefully explore all financial aid options with a Financial Aid Advisor. To start the process, students must:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Check the status of the FAFSA application through LoLA and submit ALL required documents.
- Verification with Inceptia: Verification Gateway is designed to help students submit financial aid verification documents, if requested, quickly and easily through a secure online portal. Students who have Inceptia verification requirements must create an account for student and parent (if dependent) by following the link specific address provided on their LoLA account or in the email from Inceptia. Students/parents must also select preferences for text message and e-signatures during the setup process. After the student and parent, if applicable, setup an account, click here to complete verification, i.e., Task List. If additional assistance is needed, contact Verification Gateway Customer Service by calling 888-374-8427. Verification Gateway Customer Service is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please allow two to three business days from the submission date for administrative processing.
- Non-verification Requirements: Students will be directed via their LoLA account to submit any other requirements viahttps://www.solacc.edu/financial-aid. Upon submission of required documentation, please allow 2-4 weeks for documents to be reviewed and processed.
- If tax transcripts are required, choose from the list of options:
- Utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) on the FAFSA.
- Request them directly from the IRS via online at http://www.irs.gov (select Get Your Tax Record, choose Get Transcript Online or Get Transcript by Mail) or call 1-800-908-9943.
- Provide a signed copy of the tax return for the applicable tax year.
- Accept awards online
- Once aid is processed, students will receive a notification via their SLCC student email address.
- Students are asked to accept or decline each federal subsidized and unsubsidized loan via their Log On Louisiana (LoLA) account. No funding will be disbursed without this acceptance confirmation. Students may accept all or partial of the aid offer.
- Disbursement
- Disbursement of funding is necessary for school tuition and fees to be paid.
- If there is a remaining credit balance after tuition, fees, and authorized charges are paid, the credit balance may be utilized in the bookstore using a book voucher.
- Students can check their account balance by logging in to LoLA.
- Receive Refund
- Refunds are funds paid to a student that are based on the credit balance remaining after tuition and fees and other applicable charges have been paid.
- A negative balance indicates a refund is due.
- All student refunds will be issued through BankMobile; therefore, students are required to select a refund preference via BankMobile. For more information on refunds and BankMobile, please visit http://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoicessso/.
Financial Aid Eligibility
In general, a student must meet the following requirements to qualify for Title IV Financial Aid:
- Demonstrate financial need (excluding certain loans).
- Be a high school graduate/high school equivalency graduate from a state department of education or regionally accredited institution or demonstrate eligibility for Ability to Benefit Title IV funds through (1) successful completion of six non-remedial credit hours or (2) a qualifying score on an approved Ability to Benefit (ATB) Test.
- Be either a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program.
- Make satisfactory academic progress in a course of study.
- Remain in “good standing” (not delinquent) with all educational loans at any school attended. Alternatively, if in default, a student must have fulfilled satisfactory repayment arrangements according to his/her lender.
- Have no outstanding balance from a refund on grants at any school attended.
- Be registered, specifically males, with the Selective Service. If not registered, males (ages 18-25 years of age) may give Selective Service permission to register him by checking a box on the FAFSA. He can also register via online with Selective Service at www.sss.gov/.
- Have a valid Social Security Number.
General Information
South Louisiana Community College has a comprehensive financial assistance program to help meet the cost of education. The College offers the following student financial assistance programs:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Louisiana GO Grant
- Federal Work-Study (FWS)
- Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Direct Subsidized Loans
- Direct PLUS Loans for Parents
- Private Sallie-Mae Loans
- Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)
- Veterans Benefits
- Chafee Educational Training Center Program
- Strategies To Empower People (STEP)
- Go Youth Challenge Program
- Chancellor’s HiSet Grant
- 5 for 6 Scholarship
- LCTCS Scholarships
Financial assistance is the economic assistance available to help students meet the difference between what they can afford to pay and what it will actually cost to attend school. This assistance is provided in one of the following forms:
- Grants - Grants are a form of non-repayable assistance. Grants are awarded based on the student’s need and availability of funds.
- Scholarships - Academic scholarships are awards based on academic achievement. Participation in student activities or special talents are required for Leadership Scholarships. Scholarships do not have to be repaid.
- Loans - Loans are financial awards with a low-interest rate made to students attending at least half-time. Loan funds must be repaid to the lender. Repayments usually begin 6 months after graduation, withdrawal from school, or when student’s enrollment status drops below half-time. All first-time loan recipients must complete entrance counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) online at www.studentloans.gov before receiving student loan funds. In addition, SLCC’s Federal Default Management Program requires that all funds for first-time loan recipients be delayed thirty (30) days from the first day of class.
- Employment - Employment opportunities are provided through the Federal Work-Study Program, the Federal Community Service Program, and the Campus Work-Study Program.
Grants
Federal Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is an entitlement program. It is awarded to help undergraduates pay for their college education. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be paid back. Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree are ineligible for a Pell Grant. To qualify for a Pell Grant the student must have financial need and be enrolled in a degree-seeking program on a full- or part-time basis. The maximum award is distributed over two semesters.
In certain situations, an eligible student can receive up to 150 percent of his/her scheduled Pell Grant award for an award year. For example, if you are eligible for a $2,000 Pell Grant for the award year and enrolled full-time for both the fall and spring semesters, you will likely receive $1,000 in the fall and $1,000 in the spring. However, under certain circumstances, you may be eligible to receive an additional $1,000 in the summer semester (resulting in your receiving 150% of your original award). This situation is often referred to as “year-round Pell.”
Pell Lifetime Eligibility Limit
The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over a student’s lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Because the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student receives each year is equal to 100 percent, regulations state that a student may receive up to 12 semesters or the six-year equivalent of 600 percent.
Whether a student has used all of his/her Pell Grant eligibility or only a portion, the student needs to be conscious about the lifetime limit of the Pell Grant when changing majors and/or scheduling classes; the Pell Grant equivalent of 600 percent will be for the student’s entire award history.
To view Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU), students can log on using their FSA ID login information on the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at www.nslds.ed.gov/. (The LEU will be found on the Financial Aid Review page.) The information will include all Pell Grants received over a lifetime from any college, not just South Louisiana Community College. If the student has not utilized his/her 600 percent of lifetime eligibility, some Pell Grant funds may be available.
For additional information on the Pell Grant program, please visit http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/pell/calculate-eligibility.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
FSEOG money is limited and available only for those who have exceptional financial need. Students with exceptional financial need are those who are eligible for a Pell Grant, have the lowest expected family contribution (EFC), are enrolled at least half-time, and still, have unmet financial need.
Louisiana Go Grant
The purpose of this program is to provide a need-based component to the state’s financial aid plan to support nontraditional and low to moderate-income students who need additional aid to afford the cost of attending college.
Student Eligibility
To be eligible for a Louisiana Go Grant, a student must:
- Be a Louisiana Resident.
- File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Receive a federal Pell Grant.
- Have remaining need after deducting Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) and all federal/state/institutional grant or scholarship aid (“gift aid”) from student’s Cost of Attendance (COA).
- Be a student enrolled at least half-time.
*Transfer and re-entry students are eligible for the award if they meet the other above listed criteria.
Renewal Requirements
* The award can be renewed for subsequent years to a maximum lifetime award that correlates to that of the Federal Pell Grant; however, a student is not guaranteed he/she would receive the award subsequently.
Other Forms of Financial Assistance
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program encourages and provides part-time employment for students to help meet their cost of attending college. Hourly wages must not be less than the federal minimum wage. Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of the application process for FWS assistance. The FAFSA can be completed on the web at https://fafsa.ed.gov/.
Community Service (CMS) jobs are defined as positions that improve the quality of life for community residents, particularly low-income individuals or solve particular problems related to their needs including on-campus childcare services that are open and accessible to the community. CMS also includes services to students who have disabilities and are enrolled in school. On-campus jobs can meet the definition of community services, providing the services are open and accessible to the community and meet the other FWS limitations and conditions.
The Family Literacy Program provides literacy or pre-literacy education to children and literacy training for parents or other caregivers of children in the program. It also provides a means of equipping parents or other caregivers with the skills needed to partner with their children in learning as well as providing literacy activities between parents or other caregivers and their children.
Student Eligibility
Students must meet the eligibility requirements for student aid. There is no restriction for students who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree (unlike the Federal Supplemental Equal Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and Pell programs). Students must be approved for a federal work-study position by the FWS coordinator before beginning employment.
FWS Requirements:
In addition to meeting the general eligibility requirements, students wishing to be considered for FWS:
- Must have financial need as determined by FAFSA.
- Be enrolled at least half-time in a course of study leading to a degree or certificate.
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The SAP policy can be reviewed at https://www.solacc.edu/financial-aid/satisfactory-academic-progress.
Direct Loans
There are two kinds of Direct Loans: Subsidized and Unsubsidized. You may be eligible for a Direct Loan if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
- Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Plan to attend an eligible post-secondary school at least half time.
Eligibility for Direct Loans
All students must meet the following criteria to apply for Title IV federal aid (grants, work-study, and loans):
- Be enrolled as a regular student in a degree-granting or certificate program.
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen (permanent resident).
- Be enrolled at least half-time.
- Remain in “good standing” (not in default) on prior student loans and do not owe a refund on a federal grant.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for purposes of financial aid eligibility.
IIt is the policy of South Louisiana Community College to initially offer federal aid, including direct loans, up to the maximum eligibility for the aid year. Should a student decline all, or part, of their federal direct loan, and later need to make changes, a FA Adjustment & Cancellation form must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid before enrollment is ceased for the aid year. Mid-year, grade level increases are also permissible, by request, via the FA Adjustment & Cancellation form; however, the increase will not be effective until the following term in which a student meets all federal and institutional aid requirements and is enrolled in 6 or more credit hours. FA Adjustment & Cancellation forms may be found at https://www.solacc.edu/financial-aid/loan-change-forms https://www.solacc.edu/financial-aid/financial-aid-cancellation-forms.
You are required to begin repaying Direct Loans six months after withdrawing from school, graduating, or dropping below half-time status.
Direct Subsidized Loans
The Federal Subsidized Loan is a need-based loan that must be repaid upon completion of school or interruption of studies. Qualifying students may borrow up to $3,500 for the academic year as a freshman and $4,500 as a sophomore. All borrowers are required to complete Entrance Counseling online at www.studentloans.gov. Students are required to be actively enrolled for at least six credit hours each semester to maintain loan eligibility.
Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Loans enable students to borrow regardless of need. A Direct Unsubsidized Loan is not based on need. Interest will accrue on this loan while the student is enrolled and may be paid or capitalized as agreed by the borrower and the lender. . If a student elects to pay the interest payments during school, the student should contact his/her loan service providerIf a student elects to not pay the interest payments during school, the interest will be added or capitalized onto the principal balance at repayment, which means the interest will be added to your principal balance.
Direct Plus Loans for Parents
The Direct Plus Loan for Parents allows parents of dependent students to borrow, per year, up to the student’s cost of attendance less any other aid. The repayment period begins on the day the loan is disbursed, and the first installment to the Department of Education is due within 60 days of that date. This loan is not based on need. The parent applying for the loan is responsible for repaying the loan. In this case, parent means your parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent. A Plus loan is available without regard to financial need and may include the dependent student’s full cost of attendance minus other forms of financial aid. The lender is required, however, to verify that the parent borrower does not have an adverse credit history.
Private Sallie-Mae Loans
As a general rule, students should only consider obtaining a private education loan if they have maxed out the Federal Loans. The award may not exceed the student’s cost of attendance less other estimated financial assistance. Interest rates vary based on lender and credit-worthiness and co-signers are often required. The SLCC Office of Financial Aid currently accepts and processes private Sallie Mae loans. Student can apply by visiting https://www.salliemae.com/student-loans.
Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)
TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) is a program of state scholarships for Louisiana residents. Eligibility requirements for TOPS awards are determined by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Aid(LOSFA). LOSFA will notify SLCC of all students who are eligible for TOPS for the upcoming semesters, and we will automatically authorize TOPS awards on individual LoLA accounts. SLCC accepts all levels of TOPS awards, including TOPS Tech.
Veterans’ Benefits
SLCC Veterans Affairs counselors serve as certifying officials who act as a liaison between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the veteran student. This involves assisting with a variety of processing and information needs such as documentation requirements, correspondence, and certification benefits.
Discharged service members, reservists, those currently in the armed forces, or qualified dependents who plan to attend SLCC must apply for certification to the regional Veterans Administration through SLCC’s Veterans Affairs Office. Services which are provided to qualified recipients include:
- Counseling-academic
- Tutoring
- Liaison with personnel from the Veterans Administration
If you have further questions, please contact SLCC’s Veterans Affairs counselor at 337-521-9621 or forward your inquiry to certifying.official@solacc.edu.
Chafee Educational Training Voucher Program
The Chafee Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) Program awards up to $5,000 annually during the academic year to qualified students who have been in the foster care system so they can pursue an academic college education or technical and skill training in college to be prepared to enter the workforce. The actual award amount is determined by the student’s financial need, which is calculated in accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
Strategies To Empower People (STEP)
The Strategies to Empower People (STEP) Vocational Education Program, funded by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), awards payment of postsecondary tuition and up to $300 for books and fees each semester to eligible recipients of the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP).
Go Youth Challenge Program
The GO Youth Challenge Program is a program to encourage and assist those students who graduate from the Louisiana National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program to continue their education and enhance their employment opportunities by providing tuition at an eligible Louisiana postsecondary institution.
Chancellor’s HiSet Grant
The Chancellor’s HiSET Grant will be awarded to students who complete the high school equivalency diploma at South Louisiana Community College. Each HiSET completer will receive a certificate of eligibility that can apply a one-time $500 grant towards their SLCC education.
Five for Six Scholarship
The 5 for 6 scholarship was established to assist students who are currently enrolled in an adult education program and wishes to begin working towards their postsecondary education prior to obtaining their high school diploma (or equivalency). To be eligible, students must:
- Be ages 14-26
- Be in the foster care system, aged out of the foster care system, exited the foster care system through legal guardianship or adoption after attaining the age of 16, or was in the foster care system after the age of 14 and exited for reasons other than adoption, guardianship, or aging out; and
- Be enrolled in postsecondary education; and
- Annually complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Renewal Requirements
- Not have attained the age of 26; and
- Be enrolled in postsecondary education; and
- Not have participated in the program for more than five years, whether or not consecutively; and
- Be making satisfactory academic progress in his/her program of study
LCTCS Scholarships
The Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS), which includes South Louisiana Community College, has entered into agreements with three organizations: Future Farmers of America (FFA), SkillsUSA, and JAG-LA. Qualified students graduating from high school beginning in the 2017-18 school year will be eligible for $500 and $1000 scholarships during the Fall or Summer terms only. For more information, visit https://www.solacc.edu/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid.
Additional Information
First Time Borrowers
Federal regulations require that the college delay delivering the proceeds of educational loans to first-time borrowers until 30 days after the start of classes. In addition, all first-time borrowers must receive loan counseling before loan funds can be disbursed. Students must complete a Master Promissory Note and entrance loan counseling at www.studentloans.gov.
Books/School Supplies
If a student has authorized aid with a credit balance (appearing as a negative balance) on his/her account after all tuition and fees have been paid and if the student has authorized the college to use his/her Title IV funds to pay non-institutional charges, the student may purchase books and supplies in the college contracted bookstore using a book voucher.
Financial Aid Payments in Excess of Tuition/Fees/Books
At the time financial aid is disbursed or credited to a student’s account, valid outstanding charges will be deducted and any applicable excess credit balance will be refunded to the student within 14 days after the credit balance appears on the student’s account. Refunds are delivered to students through Bank Mobile (formerly Higher One) based on the student’s Refund Selection Preference. SLCC will NOT issue refund checks; therefore, students MUST select a refund preference online through Bank Mobile (formerly Higher One) by visiting http://www.refundselection.com.
Mandatory Exit Interview
Each loan recipient is required by federal regulations to participate in an exit counseling at the time the student ceases to attend South Louisiana Community College at least half-time. Students should report to the Office of Financial Aid at their respective campus before the student withdraws, graduates, drops to less than half-time status or completes his/her last semester at SLCC. Students can complete an exit interview online at https://studentaid.gov/.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
The federal government mandates that students maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward completion of their degrees, certificates, or technical diplomas within a reasonable period of time in order to be eligible for Title IV financial aid programs (including grants, work-study, Stafford, PLUS, and Perkins loans).
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is defined as follows:
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Earning (passing) a required number of hours (67% of all hours attempted).
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Completing a degree program within 150 percent of the published length of the student’s degree, certificate, or technical diploma program.
Disclosure Statement
Students are expected to monitor their own SAP and consult with the Office of Financial Aid when they have questions or concerns. The Office of Financial Aid provides written or electronic notice to students at the end of each semester payment period when on warning, academic plan, or bad status. It is imperative that students keep their mailing and email addresses (preferred) updated with SLCC and check their SLCC email (preferred) and LoLA accounts on a regular basis. Failure to monitor SAP or lack of understanding of how SAP works is not a basis for an appeal.
Terminology Guide
- Payment Period - The period of enrollment established by a college for which tuition and fees are charged and financial aid is disbursed.
- Appeal/Extension- The process by which a student who is not meeting satisfactory academic progress standards must petition the committee for reconsideration of his/her eligibility for federal student aid funding.
- Qualitative- The qualitative standard is the student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA). The qualitative standard requires that as the number of hours attempted increases, the student’s cumulative GPA increases. SLCC students will need to achieve a cumulative GPA relative to the total number of hours attempted as outlined in the “Cumulative GPA chart ” in section E.
- Quantitative/Pace- The quantitative measure is the measure, i.e. “Pace,” at which the student is progressing. A standard calculation used is to divide the cumulative course hours completed/earned by the cumulative/total course hours attempted.
- Maximum Time Frame- Maximum timeframe is 150% of the student’s program published length. Timeframe is evaluated by the number of hours attempted. Students must be able to complete all degree requirements before exceeding the maximum timeframe for the student’s degree, certificate, or technical diploma.
SAP Timeline/When is SAP Reviewed?
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be reviewed and determined before aid is initially awarded and after each period of enrollment/semester.
SAP Status Codes
Students’ SAP status will be categorized as one of the following:
- NEW - student is attending college for the first time - this includes students who received credit (1) before earning a high school diploma (or equivalent), (2) for completing tests or assessments, or (3) for life experience or military service.
- TRANS- student is enrolling in the college with SLCC for the first time and has previously attended another postsecondary institution.
- GOOD - student meets all three standards and is eligible to receive federal financial aid.
- WARN - student failed to meet at least one of the standards at the end of the previous payment period, and student was in “good” or “new” standing during that previous payment period. Students on WARN status will receive an email from the Office of Financial Aid advising them to submit an appeal for consideration should they feel they will not meet SAP standards at the end of the semester and experienced a mitigating circumstance(s) during enrollment.
- BAD- student is not meeting SAP and is not eligible to receive federal financial aid for the next payment period of enrollment.
- APLAN - student failed to meet SAP, was granted an appeal, and is placed on an Academic Plan.
SAP Measures
How is SAP reviewed? Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be measured in three areas - qualitative, quantitative, and maximum timeframe
- Qualitative Measure - Grade Point Average (GPA)
The qualitative standard is the student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA). SLCC students must achieve no less than a cumulative GPA of 2.00 at the end of each payment period. The student’s cumulative GPA calculation will not be rounded. All grades attempted will be considered. These include, but are not limited to, courses passed, courses failed, courses from which the student withdrew (officially or unofficially), repeated courses, transfer courses, and remedial/developmental coursework.
- Quantitative Measure- Pace
- In calculating the quantitative measure, South Louisiana Community College will measure the “Pace” at which the student is progressing. In measuring a student’s “Pace,” SLCC requires that students complete a minimum of 67% of hours attempted and hours earned with passing grades. This percentage is derived by dividing the cumulative (total) number of successfully completed/earned hours by the cumulative (total) numbers of attempted hours.
- All hours attempted will be included in the calculation, even if the student did not receive financial aid. Such courses include, but are not limited to, passed courses, failed courses, incomplete courses, withdrawn courses (officially or unofficially), repeated courses, and non-credit remedial/developmental coursework. (Example: Total attempted hours equal 43 and total hours earned equal 24. Total hours earned of 24 divided by total attempted hours of 43 equal 55.8%. As a result, the student does not meet SAP.)
- Maximum Hours Allowed
- Students may receive federal financial aid if they have attempted below no more than 150% of the hours required to complete their program of study. To determine the maximum allowable hours for a specific program of study, refer to the Program Section and determine the total number of hours required for the program and multiply that figure by 1.50. (Example: If the degree program requires 60 hours to complete the program, multiply 60 hours x 1.50 = 90; thus, the maximum allowable attempted hours for the degree program in this example equal 90 hours.
- Hours attempted include all hours pursued, earned, withdrawn, and failed. All of these hours are counted as attempted even if the student did not receive aid.
SAP will be achieved if the student obtains the appropriate cumulative GPA (see “Cumulative GPA chart” in section E), Pace is equal to 67% or higher, and the student has not reached 150% maximum timeframe allowed for their degree, certificate, or technical diploma. All calculations will be based upon the cumulative academic record as transcribed by the college at the time of SAP evaluation.
Appeals Process
Students who do not meet SAP standards have the right to appeal to the Office of Financial Aid. Appeals may be obtained via the College’s website and must be submitted by the established deadlines; however, submitting an appeal does not guarantee the student’s financial aid will be reinstated. Appeals are typically based upon a mitigating circumstance(s). A mitigating circumstance is an unusual, unexpected, or non-recurring event beyond the student’s control. Examples of mitigating circumstances for which an appeal may be filed include, but are not limited to, personal illness, injury, undue hardship, or death in the student’s immediate family. All appeals must include supporting documentation that: (1) substantiates claims being made in the appeal; and (2) demonstrates a change in current circumstances, making academic success likely if the appeal is granted. Multiple appeals for the same mitigating circumstance(s) are not allowed. Appeals can only be made once per payment period. Lack of supporting documentation may result in a denial of the student’s appeal.
SAP appeal decisions are final and cannot be overridden. If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on an academic plan. Academic plans vary in length and are determined by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee and/or academic affairs advisor. The student may continue to receive federal financial aid as long as they adhere to the academic plan. Students are given specific requirements to show continual progression in order to maintain a good standing with SAP and remain eligible to receive Title IV federal aid. The student’s academic plan will be evaluated at the end of each payment period. The academic plan requires the student to pass 75% of all hours attempted per payment period and achieve at least a 2.0 GPA per payment period. If the student is not successful in his/her academic plan, the student will lose eligibility for federal financial aid.
Transfer Students
Transfer students are required to meet the minimum academic standards set by SLCC in order to receive federal financial aid. A transfer student must supply the Office of Admissions with transcripts from all previous institutions attended. Once all academic grades and credit hours are reviewed, the Office of Financial Aid will determine eligibility based on SAP standards. Transfer credits that count toward the student’s current program must also count as both attempted and completed hours.
Dual Enrollment Students
Students dual enrolled and all other high school students taking college courses during high school will have these courses evaluated when matriculating at South Louisiana Community College.
Program Measured Clock Hour
Students may receive federal financial aid if they have attempted below 150% of the hours as measured by the cumulative number of clock hours they are required to complete in their programs. (SLCC normal SAP policy regulations apply.) However, a student in a clock hour program cannot receive federal financial aid for hours beyond those required in the program. For example, if the program equals 500 clock hours, the student cannot exceed 750 clock hours (500x150%=750).
The maximum allowable timeframe applies to the amount of calendar time the student takes to complete those hours. For example, if it takes 2 calendar years to complete the program, the student cannot exceed 3 calendar years (2 x 150%=3).
Scholarship/Grant Only Students
Students who are enrolled on a scholarship or grant but are not receiving federal financial aid will also have all courses reviewed and counted when assessing academic progression
Factors Which May Impact SAP Determination
- Developmental/Remedial
For SAP purposes, developmental/remedial courses will count as attempted hours, completed hours, and grades received, even if federal financial aid is not received for these courses. However, a student may receive financial aid for a maximum of 30 semester hours of developmental/remedial courses as long as the courses are required as a result of placement testing, the student is in an eligible program of study, and SAP requirements continue to be met.
- Repetitive Coursework
Repetitive (repeated) courses will count toward a student’s hours attempted. Repeated courses that were previously failed are counted in hours pursued and, if successfully completed, hours earned.
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Students are allowed to retake a previously passed course. A passed course is any course in which a student earns a grade of “D,” “C,” “B,” or “A.” HOWEVER, financial aid will not cover the cost of re-taking any previously passed course for the second time. Example: If a student receives a grade of “D” in the fall and receives a “C” in the spring for the same course, the student cannot retake the course for the third time AND receive financial aid for the same course.
If a student withdraws before completing the course, then the federal student aid funding may not be counted as his/her allowed retake course.
- Withdrawals, Non-Credit Courses, and Incomplete Grades
A grade of “W” will not be used in calculating a student’s grade point average. However, in measuring a student’s adherence to the SAP standards, all credit hours for courses in which a student receives a “W” will be included in the number of semester hours attempted.
Non-credit courses or audited courses will not be counted in hours attempted. Additionally, pass/non-pass grades will not impact the cumulative GPA component of a SAP determination; however, they will be included in the pace of progression and maximum allowable hours components.
An “I” (incomplete) will be considered as an “attempted” course but will not be considered to have been “completed.” It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Office of Financial Aid of grade changes.
- Academic Renewal
Academic Renewal does not affect or alter the student’s financial aid records for financial aid eligibility. All courses, hours attempted, and grades will be considered and counted towards the student’s financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Students granted academic renewal have the right to request a financial aid appeal (see “Re-establishing Financial Aid Eligibility).
- Change of Major / Second Degree
Students who change their major or seek a second degree are still expected to complete the coursework for the new major/second degree within the maximum allowable hours. All attempted hours from a prior major will be included in the total attempted hours. If a change in major or additional degree results in a student not meeting SAP, the student may submit a SAP appeal that, if granted, will allow the student to continue receiving aid while under an academic plan.
Return of Federal Title IV Funds
When a student completely withdraws from the College during an academic period for which he or she is a recipient of Title IV funds, the College is required to determine whether the return of Title IV funds must be made according to statutory and regulatory requirements. The rules that govern the return of Title IV funds assume that a student earns his or her aid based upon the period of time that the student remains enrolled.
Explanation of terms:
- Disbursements/disburse/disbursed - the payment of grants and/or loan funds to the student by the school.
- Earned - the percentage amount of Title IV aid student is eligible for based on time in the academic period.
- Unearned - the difference between Title IV aid that was disbursed or could have been disbursed for the payment period of enrollment and the amount of Title IV aid that was earned when a student withdrew.
During the first sixty percent (60%) of an enrollment period, a student “earns” Title IV funds in direct proportion to the length of time that he or she remains enrolled. The percentage of time during an academic period that a student remained enrolled is the percentage of disbursable aid for that period that the student earned.
Title IV funds is “disbursed” if a student is eligible to receive assistance at that point of an academic period when the student withdrew from the College. Total disbursable aid includes the amount of funding that was disbursed and that which could have been disbursed but was not based on the student’s date of withdrawal. A student who remains enrolled at the College beyond the sixty percent (60%) point of an academic period is presumed to have earned all aid for that period. Otherwise, unearned Title IV funds, other than Federal Work-Study, must be returned.
Unearned financial aid is the amount of disbursed Title IV funds that exceeds the amount of Title IV funds earned under statutory and regulatory guidelines. The responsibility to repay unearned Title IV funds is shared by the College and the student in proportion to the Title IV funds each is assumed to possess. The College will notify, in writing, any student who is required to repay and return unearned Title IV funds prior to the end of the enrollment.
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