Spartanburg Community College

Financial Aid Information Session

Presented by: Laura MooreFinancial Aid Counselor

What is Financial Aid?

• Money in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and employment that is available to help pay the cost of attending college.

Sources of Financial Aid

• The federal government• S.C. State government• Spartanburg Community College• Public and private agencies

Types of Financial Aid

• Grants– Free money that does not have to be paid back

and is generally based on need.• Scholarships

– Free money generally based on merit.• Loans

– Borrowed money that must be paid back.• Work-Study

– Money earned by working a part-time job.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

• FAFSA must be completed for federal financial aid, S.C. Need Based Grant, Lottery Tuition Assistance and some scholarships.

• FAFSA must be completed annually and covers the full academic year (fall, spring and the following summer semester). Available January 1 each year

• SCC’s priority deadline is May 1.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

(FAFSA)• Two ways to apply

– By using FAFSA on the Web: www.fafsa.ed.gov• Process is faster.• Student and parents of dependent students must

apply for a PIN number at www.pin.ed.gov to use as the electronic signature.

– By mail with a paper application• Process can take up to 4 weeks.• Renewal reminders sent via email in November for

next academic year – not the spring semester.• Student may request up to 3 from the Department of

Education

Additional Applications

• SCC has a separate application process for the following programs:– Federal Stafford loan– SCC Foundation scholarships– Federal Work-Study (FWS) program– Palmetto Assistance Loan (PAL)

General Eligibility Requirementsfor Federal Financial Aid

• Be a regular student enrolled in an eligible program• Have a high school diploma or GED• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (except for ACG)• Be registered with the selective service (males only)• Not be a member of a religious community that directs the

program of students or provides maintenance• Not be in default on federal student loan• Not have borrowed in excess of federal loan limits• Not owe a repayment on a federal grant or scholarship• Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP)• Not be enrolled concurrently in an elementary or secondary

school• Provide a valid social security

Regular Student in anEligible Program

• “Regular” means that a student is seeking a recognized credential such as a certificate, diploma or degree.

• An eligible program must be at least 15 weeks and require at least 16 credit hours.- Networking Operations is not eligible.

Ineligible Courses

• General Education Development (GED)• Continuing Education• Courses taken by an ASAP student• Audited courses (A student can only receive aid for those courses

required for graduation or as a prerequisite for courses required for graduation. The Financial Aid Office should be notified if you are aware that a student is taking classes that are not required.)

Cost of Attendance (COA)

COA is:• An estimate of the costs a student

incurs for the enrollment period.• Includes tuition, fees, books, supplies,

personal, transportation and miscellaneous expenses.

• Different at each college.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

EFC is:• The amount the family is expected to

contribute for a student’s education.• Calculated by the central processor based

on the information submitted on the FAFSA.• Subtracted from the COA to determine

financial need.• The same regardless of the college

attended.

Financial Need

• Financial need exists if the family’s EFC does not meet the total cost of attending college (COA).

COA - EFC

Financial Need

How Does It Work?

• Student applies and puts college of choice on FAFSA• Receive a letter from Financial Aid Office if additional

items needed to complete file• Once file completed, award is made and award letter

mailed– Award letter is mailed with inserts explaining rights and

responsibilities and award criteria• Awards are applied to the student’s tuition, fees and

sometimes books• Funds available (credit balance) after these expenses

have been paid will be disbursed by the business office-2 weeks after start of class.

• Federal Work Study students are paid monthly.

Enrollment Status

• Awards are based on full-time status, but students can be enrolled part-time and still receive financial aid.

• Most financial aid programs require student to be enrolled at least ½ time.

• Awards are reduced for less than full-time, and the student pays less tuition and fees.

Summer Aid• Available for those students who qualify and is awarded

separately from the fall and spring semesters.– Financial aid awards for summer can be viewed on

WebAdvisor after March 1.• Federal Pell Grant is only available if the student has not

been enrolled full-time during the previous fall and spring semesters.

• S.C. Need Based Grant, LIFE Scholarship and S.C. Teachers Loan are not available.

• Lottery Tuition Assistance is not available if LIFE was used during the previous fall or spring semesters.

Withdrawals and Return to Title IV

• Eligibility must be recalculated if student withdraws from the school before 60% point of semester.

• To be an official withdrawal, the student must initiate the withdrawal with Student Records.

• Unofficial withdrawals resulting from excessive absences, administrative withdrawals, etc. must be calculated as if the student withdrew at the 50% point.

Federal Aid Programs

• Federal Pell Grant• Federal Supplemental Educational

Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)• Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)• Federal Work-Study (FWS)• Federal Stafford Loans

Federal Pell Grant

• Eligibility is determined by student’s EFC

• Awards are reduced for less than full-time attendance

• For 2007-2008, awards range from $400 to $4310 for full-time enrollment

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity

Grant (FSEOG)

• Need based program which supplements the Federal Pell Grant.

• Funds are limited; awarded on a first come, first served basis.

• The average award for an SCC student is $400 per year.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

• Must have completed a rigorous high school program

• Must be eligible for Federal Pell Grant• Must be enrolled full-time in a degree program• Must be a United States citizen• Award amount for 1st year=$750; 2nd year=$1,300.• To receive for 2nd year, must earn at least 24 hours,

have a minimum, cumulative GPA of 3.0 and continue to meet all other eligibility criteria.

Federal Work Study Program (FWS)

• Provides part-time jobs for eligible students.

• Positions are limited.

• Can work up to 20 hours per week.

Pay Rates• On-Campus $7.00/hour• On-Campus Community

Service $8.00/hour• Off-Campus Community

Service $9.00/hour

Federal Stafford Loan Program

• Requires an additional SCC application and a master promissory note.

• Low interest loan made by a lender.• Must attend an entrance loan counseling

session prior to having the loan certified.• Must complete an exit counseling session

after graduating or ceasing to be enrolled at least half time.

Federal Stafford Loan Program

• Maximum Amounts (after July 1, 2007): – Dependent Students:

• Grade level 1: $3,500• Grade level 2: $4,500

– Independent Students:• Grade level 1: $7,500 ($4,000 is unsubsidized)• Grade level 2: $8,500 ($4,000 is unsubsidized)

Students in certificate and diploma programs will always be grade level 1. Students in degree programs will be a grade level 1 until they earn at least 24 credit hours.

State Aid Programs

• S.C. Need Based Grant (SCNBG)• LIFE Scholarship• Lottery Tuition Assistance• S.C. Teachers Loan

South Carolina Need Based Grant (SCNBG)

• Must be S.C. resident for previous 12 months• Awarded on a first-come, first-served basis• Continued eligibility for next academic year

– Full-time student must earn 24 credit hours minimum– Part-time student must earn 12 credit hours minimum– Combination of full- and part-time must earn 18 hours

minimum– Maintain minimum, cumulative 2.0 GPA– Meet SCC’s satisfactory academic progress policy (SAP)– Must complete the FAFSA and their financial aid file

while SCNBG funds are still available• Award amounts vary; maximum=$2,500 per year

LIFE Scholarship• Must be a S.C. resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-

citizen.• Must have a minimum 3.0 high school GPA and graduated

from a S.C. high school.• Have no felony or drug/alcohol convictions.• Must enroll in at least 12 non-remedial credit hours (may

defer for up to one year for remediation).• Cannot receive a LIFE Scholarship and receive Lottery

Tuition Assistance. If LIFE received during the fall or spring, cannot use Lottery Tuition Assistance during the summer.

• To renew this scholarship, must complete 30 non-remedial hours, earn a minimum 3.0 GPA and be enrolled in a degree program.

• Cost of tuition plus $300 for books; $150 per semester.• Is not available during a summer semester.

Lottery Tuition Assistance• Must complete the FAFSA and SCC’s financial aid process.• Qualify to pay in-state tuition.• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.• Be enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program.• Not owe a a repayment to a federal or state grant program

or be in default on a federal student loan.• Be enrolled in at least 6 hours.• After attempting 24 hours, must have a cumulative 2.0 GPA• The student must have unpaid tuition and fee charges

remaining after other federal and state grants have paid charges. Lottery funds cannot be used for textbooks.

• A student cannot receive Lottery Tuition Assistance for more than one certificate, diploma or degree (unless it constitutes progression in the same field of study) in a five year period.

Lottery Tuition Assistance

Lottery Tuition Assistance pays the unpaid portion of tuition and fees up to $912 for a full-time student or up to $76 per credit hour if student is enrolled less than full-time.

Scholarships

• SCC Foundation Scholarships – Availability and amounts vary– Deadline of July 1

• Current Scholarships– Website updated with information

• Scholarships Requiring Nomination• Community Scholarships

Scholarships

• Other Outside Scholarships Resources– Community, civic and/or religious

organizations– Free scholarship searches online

• www.brokescholar.com• www.fastweb.com

– Local Library

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

• For federal aid or S.C. Need Based Grant, the student must make satisfactory progress.

• Must monitor all students to ensure they are making satisfactory progress and will finish their program within a reasonable period of time.

• This policy is in addition to the academic standards required by the College and is a cumulative review.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

• Must earn at least 67% of all hours attempted– Courses with grades of F, W, WF, I or U are not considered

completed courses.

• May receive aid for 1.5 times the published length of the program (150% rule)– For example, AA requires 62 hours; suspend for length at 93

hours

• Must maintain a GPA as defined by the College’s academic standards

• Allowed 2 program changes – if after the 2nd change the student’s GPA is below 2.0 then suspended

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Probation:• Not meeting the 67% completion rate and/or

GPA required for the program.• Must take at least 6 hours, complete 100% of

the attempted hours and have at least a 2.0 term GPA.

• Remain on probation until meeting the policy overall or is suspended for not meeting these stipulations.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Suspension:• Did not meet stipulations of probation.

– Student must attend at least one semester, take at least 6 hours, earn 100% of the attempted hours and have at least a 2.0 term GPA. Then the student can appeal.

– OR appeal immediately if extenuating circumstances happened during the probationary term.

• Has exceeded the length (150%) or has 2 or more programs changes and GPA is less than 2.0.– Student can appeal these decisions– Will need to attach a list of courses required to complete

the program

Remedial Credit Hours

• Overall limit of 30 credit hours. Once a student has attempted 30 remedial hours, cannot be awarded for additional remedial hours.

• For S.C. Need Based Grant – must be in at least 3 non-remedial credit hours and be at least ½ time (6 hours).

• For LIFE Scholarship – must be in at least 12 non-remedial credit hours.

• Zero level, 100 level, COL 101 and ESL 102 are considered remedial courses.

SCC Financial Aid Office

Location Dan Lee Terhune Student Services

BuildingRoom 147

Phone Number(864) 592-4810

Toll free 1-888-591-3810

Hours • Mondays & Tuesdays

8:00 AM-6:30 PM• Wednesdays &

Thursdays8:00 AM-5:00 PM

• Fridays8:00 AM-1:30 PM