Applying
for Financial Aid
To be eligible
for MCCC and federal and state assistance, a student must:
- have financial
need, except for some loans.
- have a
high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate,
or pass an independently administered test approved by the U.S. Department
of Education
- be enrolled
as a regular student in an eligible program.
- be a U.S.
citizen or eligible noncitizen.
- have a
Social Security Number.
- make satisfactory
academic progress.
- sign a
statement of educational purpose/certification statement on refunds
and default.
- sign a
statement of updated information.
- register
with the Selective Service, if required.
The
Application Process
Students can apply for federal and state
aid by filling out the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid"
(FAFSA) on the web, available at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov,
or by obtaining a paper FAFSA from your high school, or the Financial
Aid Office located in the Administration Building, Room 159.
Students who have previously applied for
federal student aid may be able to fill out a "Renewal FAFSA."
When using a "Renewal FAFSA" there are fewer questions to answer.
You may submit
a FAFSA
FAFSA on
the Web is a free U.S. Department of Education Web site where you can
complete a FAFSA or a Renewal FAFSA online and submit it via the Internet.
You can use FAFSA on the Web on a personal computer (PC) or a Macintosh
that is equipped with certain U.S. versions of Netscape. The address is
www.fafsa.ed.gov .
To be considered
for non-federal aid such as institutional and/or state aid, students may
have to fill out an additional application. Check with the Financial Aid
Office to see which non-federal application to fill out, if any. Remember,
there's no charge to apply for federal student aid.
For the Federal
Family Education loan programs, there are
some additional steps students must take to apply.
Read the
instructions when applying for financial aid whether filing the FAFSA
or the "Renewal FAFSA". Pay special attention to any questions
on income, because this area is where most mistakes are made. Also, in
Section H of the FAFSA or "Renewal Application," fill out carefully
the name(s) of the school(s) you're interested in attending. If any of
these schools participate in at least one of the programs mentioned in
the
Federal Student Guide, it will have a "Title IV Institution Code."
You can get a list of Title IV codes from the College's financial aid
office, your high school, or your local public library and on the World
Wide Web at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
Apply as
soon as possible AFTER January 1st. (Do not apply before this date.) If
not applying electronically, mail the completed FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA
in the envelope(s) found in the application package. It will take approximately
four weeks for the federal application to be processed. When you apply,
you should have certain records on hand. These records are listed on the
application. You should save all records and all other materials used
in completing the application. You may need them later to prove that the
information you reported is correct. This process is called verification.
All MCCC
awards are made for a period of one academic year only. Reapplication
must be made for each year. Copies of the required forms may be obtained
from the Financial Aid Office.
Financial
aid awards for the prospective student are not approved before the student
has attained regular admission status through the Admissions Office.
Financial aid funds are limited, late applicants
may be either denied for some types of assistance, given loan and job
aid only, or receive lower than normal scholarship awards.
The Financial
Aid Office reserves the right to request income and asset verification
of financial statements submitted for need-based aid. Failure to provide
the requested information will result in cancellation of award action.
Falsification of income information submitted for the purpose of receiving
financial assistance will result in cancellation of all future assistance
and repayment of all prior assistance received falsely. If federal and/or
state funds are involved, notification of the false information will be
provided to the proper agencies (U.S. Office of Education and/or Michigan
Higher Education Assistance Authority) for their further disposition.
Appeal Procedure
Denial of federal financial aid to students
who have not maintained satisfactory progress may be appealed to the Director
of Financial Aid. Fill out a Satisfactory
Academic Progress Appeal sheet outlining the reasons for failure to
meet the standards, as well as the appropriate third-party documentation,
may be required. The decision is final.
Should other
non-federal financial aid be involved where different criteria for renewal
exists, such as MCCC scholarships, their criteria will be applied to that
aid independently.
Financial
Aid Probation
A student
who fails to complete the minimum number of credits or grade point average
required for his or her attendance status, e.g., full time, etc., will
be placed on financial aid probation. To be removed from probation, the
student must complete the minimum number of credits in the full- or half-time
status in which he or she was placed on probation. Upon completion of
the required credits, the student will be removed from probation. Failure
to earn the required credits and grade point average may result in financial
aid suspension. While on probation, students may still receive financial
aid. Students who are suspended are not eligible to receive aid from financial
aid programs listed in this document.
Financial
Aid Suspension
To be removed from financial aid suspension
status, a student must complete a regular semester, attaining the minimum
credit earned or grade point requirements, while not receiving financial
aid governed by this policy. Successful students then may make a written
appeal to be placed on financial aid probation status.
Mitigating
Circumstances
It is recognized
that special mitigating circumstances may cause a student to fail to achieve
satisfactory progress. If, in the judgment of the Financial Aid Director,
mitigating circumstances justify continued financial aid eligibility,
the Financial Aid Office reserves the right to make this determination.
Right
to Appeal
Any student
who is placed on probation or suspension may appeal this decision by submitting
in writing a statement explaining his or her performance and the reason
why he or she believes he or she should not be placed on probation or
suspension status to the Director of Financial Aid.
Financial
Need
Aid from
most financial aid programs is awarded based on financial need. (An exception
is the Federal Loan Programs. It's possible to receive a Federal Stafford
Loan regardless of income.)
The information
reported when applying for aid is used in a formula, established by Congress
that calculates your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), an amount families
are expected to pay toward education. For the Federal Pell Grant Program,
if the EFC is below a certain number, students are eligible for a Pell
Grant.
Cost of
Education
Expected Family Contribution
= Financial Need
The financial
aid administrator takes the cost of education for the College and subtracts
the amount you and your family are expected to pay toward that cost. If
there's anything left over, students are considered to have financial
need.
Dependency
Status
Certain questions
answered when applying for financial aid will determine whether students
are considered dependent on their parents and must report their income
and assets as well as their own, or independent and report only their
own income and assets (and those of a spouse). Income and asset information
are used in determining your eligibility for federal student aid.
Students
are classified as dependent or independent because federal student aid
programs are based on the idea that students' parents have the primary
responsibility of paying for their children's education. Students who
have access to parental support (dependent students) should not receive
federal funds at the expense of students who don't have that access (independent
students).
An independent
student is one of the following(2008-2009)
- someone
born before January 1, 1985
- married
- a graduate
or professional student(If yes, you are not eligible for a Pell Grant)
- someone
with legal dependents other than a spouse
- an orphan
or ward of the court
- veteran
of U.S. armed forces or on active duty
If you claim to be an independent student,
the school will ask for proof before awarding any federal student aid.
If you think you have unusual circumstances that would make you independent
even though you normally would be considered dependent, talk to the financial
aid administrator. The aid administrator can change your status to independent
if he or she thinks your circumstances warrant it. Remember, the financial
aid administrator will not automatically do this. That decision is based
on his or her judgment, and it's final-you cannot appeal it to the U.S.
Department of Education.
NOTE: Independence criteria are determined annually by the Federal
Government and are subject to change.
Usually a
combination of gift (scholarship and grant) and self-help (job and loan)
aid is offered the student. The proportion is determined annually.
Where Pell
Grant, Michigan Competitive Scholarship, or Stafford Student Loan estimates
appear, students are responsible for obtaining and completing necessary
application forms to secure this aid.
Changes in the Award
The Office
of Financial Aid anticipates that students will receive the aid package
described in their award announcement. It may, however, be necessary for
the College either to increase or decrease the award if changes occur
in enrollment status, family financial status, or the student's own financial
resources or expenses.
Changes in enrollment status include changing
majors, taking fewer than 12 credit hours per semester, or withdrawal
before the end of the semester. Reductions in credit hours below 12
credits in a semester without approval from the Office of Financial Aid
may result in a cancellation of assistance for that semester. Students
should consult the Office of Financial Aid before making a change of this
type.
Special
Circumstances
Although the process of determining a student's
eligibility for federal student aid is basically the same for all applicants,
there is some flexibility. For instance, the financial aid administrator
can change your status from dependent to independent based on the documentation
you provide to prove your special circumstances.
In some cases, the financial aid administrator
may adjust your cost of attendance or the information used to calculate
your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to take into account circumstances
that might affect the amount you and your family are expected to contribute
toward your education. These circumstances could include a family's unusual
medical or dental expenses or tuition expenses for children attending
a private elementary or secondary school. Also, an adjustment may be made
if you, your spouse, or either of your parents (if applicable) has been
recently unemployed. If conditions such as these apply to you or your
family, contact the financial aid administrator.
Check with the financial aid administrator
if you feel you have any other special circumstances that might affect
the amount you and your family are expected to contribute toward your
education. But remember, there must be very good reasons for the financial
aid administrator to make any adjustments, and you will have to provide
adequate proof to support those adjustments. The financial aid administrator's
decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.
Award
Revision
Overpayments
resulting from full or partial cancellation of aid will normally result
in a debt on the student's account and must be paid back according to
normal repayment policies of the College. It is the student's responsibility
to verify the accuracy of billing charges, aid credits, and stipend checks.
Award
Disbursement
Scholarships and Pell Grants are usually
divided in half and credited directly toward the semester bill. When possible,
awards are applied to the first bill in each semester; however, late awards
or award revisions may be applied throughout each semester. When FFEL
Stafford Student Loan checks are received by the College, they will be
released as soon as regulations permit. Remember, loans are a reimbursement
program at MCCC and students should make arrangements to pay their tuition
ahead of time.
Stipend checks
are usually available the day classes begin each semester. However, should
federal or state money not be received, students should plan to have sufficient
funds for books and other expenses until checks are available.
- Students
have the right to be informed of and to apply for all financial aid
programs for which they are eligible. The responsibility to apply by
program deadlines and to acquaint themselves with the application procedure
resides with the student.
- Students
have the right to know how financial need and award packages will be
determined and to request a review of the financial aid package should
circumstances change to affect negatively the family's ability to meet
costs of attendance, and the responsibility to notify the College should
new resources become available to the student which were not originally
considered.
- Students
who borrow to attend the College have a right to full disclosure of
the terms and provisions of loan programs, including typical repayment
schedules and the responsibility to attend exit interviews before leaving
College. They must repay loans on a timely basis and keep the College
informed of their current address.
- Students
have the right to be informed of financial aid policies and have the
responsibility to be aware of all published financial aid policies and
to comply with these policies.
- Students
have the responsibility to submit accurate information on all College
documents relating to the financial aid application process.
The Tax Reform
Act of 1986 amended the Internal Revenue Code section pertaining to the
taxability of scholarship and fellowship grants. Effective January 1,
1987, only the amount of a scholarship or fellowship grant which is used
for qualified tuition and related expenses (i.e. tuition, fees, books,
supplies and equipment) is excluded from gross income. Any amount of a
scholarship or fellowship grant which is used for non-course related expenses
(such as room and board) is taxable and has to be included in the student's
gross income.
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