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Important Policies

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Financial Aid Policies

  1. Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress
    According to Federal and State regulation students receiving financial aid must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The financial aid office at Bladen Community College monitors a student•s academic progress as a condition of eligibility when the student applies for financial aid and at the end of each enrollment period (semester). These requirements are applied to a student•s entire academic history at BCC including transfer hours from other schools and including periods when financial aid was not received. A student is considered to be making satisfactory academic progress when the following three requirements are satisfied.
    1. Qualitative Standard (Cumulative Grade Point Average)
      A student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
    2. Quantitative Standard (Completion Rate)
      A student must pass at least 67% of credit hours attempted.
    3. Maximum Time Frame
      A student must successfully complete the program of study within its time frame. Federal regulations specify that the time frame may not exceed 150% of the published length of the program. For example, if they degree requires 64 credit hours to graduate, they are eligible to receive financial assistance until they have attempted 96 credit hours. Additional time needed to complete the degree beyond the maximum stipulated must be entirely at the student•s expense. Once a student exceeds the time frame for their program of study, they are no longer eligible to receive financial aid. However, the student can appeal to the Director of Financial Aid to have their eligibility extended if there are extenuating circumstances. Course withdrawals, incompletes and course failures count as hours attempted. Repeated courses and transfer credit hours received from another college will be counted in hours attempted. All remedial classes are counted towards maximum time
      frame (150%).
  3. Financial Aid Warning
    Students who fail to meet the minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and/or fail to complete 67% of classes are given a warning. Students placed on a warning remain eligible for financial aid for one payment period (semester).
  4. Financial Aid Suspension
    Students who fail to meet the conditions of a warning which are to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and complete 67% of classes are placed on suspension.
    Students who are placed on suspension forfeit their financial aid. A student may either appeal to have their financial aid eligibility reinstated or may notify the financial aid office once they are meeting the satisfactory academic progress policy for students receiving financial aid so that their financial aid eligibility can be reconsidered.
  5. Financial Aid Probation
    Students who are suspended may appeal to the Director of Financial Aid to have their financial aid eligibility reinstated for one payment period (semester) on probation. (See the appeal process outlined below). A student on probation may not receive financial aid for the subsequent payment period unless:

    1. Student is now meeting the financial aid satisfactory academic progress policy at the end of the probation period (semester).
    2. The financial aid office determines that the student met the requirements specified by the school in the academic success plan.
  6. Continued Probation
    As long as the student continues to make progress as identified by the academic plan, the student will remain eligible for financial aid on continued probation. Students will be notified of their status at the end of each payment period (semester) or when they first apply for financial aid.
  7. Financial Aid Appeal Process
    Students who are suspended for not making satisfactory academic progress standards may appeal for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility for one semester if they have extenuating circumstances which are generally beyond their control such as a death in the family, serious illness or injury. The procedure for appeal is:

    1. Print out and complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Request Form from the financial aid website.
    2. The student will indicate in writing to the Director of Financial Aid the reasons why he/she did not make satisfactory academic progress and why financial aid should not be suspended. Also, it should be addressed as to
      what has changed that will allow the student to make satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation.
    3. Documentation to support the appeal is required and must be attached to the letter of appeal. Appeals submitted without documentation will not be reviewed.
    4. The student must have completed an academic success plan when placed on financial aid warning. A copy of this academic success plan and required documentation associated with the plan must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office prior to the appeal.
    5. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will review the appeal and documentation to determine whether or not the student•s financial aid eligibility will be reinstated. The student will be mailed a letter to be advised of the decision. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee reinstatement of eligibility for financial aid. Each appeal is reviewed on a case by case basis. Paying out of pocket for classes or sitting out a semester is not grounds for reinstatement of aid. Students must bring their academic progress back into compliance or have an appeal approved to have aid reinstated.
  8. Return of Title IV Funds Policy
    Students who withdraw from all classes prior to completing more than 60 percent of the semester will have their eligibility for aid recalculated and may be required to repay a portion of any federal financial aid funds received for that semester. This policy applies to all students who withdraw, drop out, or are expelled from BCC and who have received Title IV funds (federal financial aid.) Title IV aid is earned on a per diem basis up to and including the 60 percent point of the semester. Financial aid recipients enrolled after the 60 percent point of the semester are deemed to have earned 100 percent of federal financial aid awarded.
    Any institutional refunds, to which the student may be entitled, such as tuition and fees, will be calculated according to the state refund policy found in this catalog. Refunds and adjusted bills will be sent to the student•s address of record. Students are responsible for paying any portion of the charges that are outstanding after Title IV funds are returned. Students• records will be placed on hold and he/she will not be allowed to register for classes until the bill is paid in full.
  9. NC State Grant Return Policy
    The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) along with College Foundation Incorporated (CFI) has established a return policy for state-funded grants. State grants at Bladen Community College include the Community College Grant and the Education Lottery Scholarship. This policy is not the same as the Bladen Community College refund policy. State grants are awarded to students contingent upon completion of the semester. State grant recipients who withdraw from class, stop attending, drop out, or are dismissed/suspended from class prior to or at the 35% point of the semester will owe a repayment.
    State grant return calculations are based on the student’s last date of recorded attendance and/or class participation. The Financial Aid Office will be responsible for performing the calculation. If it is determined that a portion of the financial aid received by the student is unearned, the College is required to return the unearned funds back to the State within 45 days. Notification will be sent to the student by mail. The amount of the return (repayment) will be due by the student in full when notification is received. In addition, no student shall be permitted to register for a new term at the institution until she/he has repaid the debt in full.
  10. High School Transcript Required for Financial Aid
    An official High School/GED/Adult High School/ or home school transcript is required to be on file in the Bladen Community College’s Admissions Office to award financial aid.
  11. Developmental Studies
    A student may attempt up to 30 credit hours of developmental coursework with the assistance of financial aid. Any developmental hours beyond the 30 credit hour limit will not be included in the student’s enrollment status calculation.
  12. Repeated Courses
    Repeated courses count as credit hours attempted for each enrollment. If a student has passed a course but repeats it one time after receiving a passing grade, the credits will be counted as part of the student’s enrollment for the purpose of financial aid. Subsequent repetition of the same course will not be counted for the purpose of financial aid.
  13. Financial Aid Eligible Programs
    The following programs are financial aid eligible:

    • All Associate Degree programs
    • All Diplomas with the exception of the College Transfer Diploma
    • The BLET Certificate is the only certificate program eligible.
  14. Lifetime Eligibility for Federal Pell Grant
    A new regulation (Consolidate Appropriations Act of 2012) effective July 1, 2012 limits the receipt of a Pell Grant to a lifetime limit of up to 6 full-time years (600%) which is equal to 12 full-time semesters The U.S. Department of Education will track the limits for student’s eligibility. The 600% total eligibility applies to all schools and colleges. If a student has exceeded the 12-semester/600% maximum, he/she will be ineligible for any additional Pell Grant and other federal and state funds. There is NO grandfather clause nor an appeal process for LEU based on Federal Regulations. There is no exception to this regulation.

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